Carry-over calories ??

simplysassi

Does anybody carry over unused calories from days that you're under for the day to use them on "cheat" days? I am thinking of allowing myself to do this so that I can still enjoy some weekend bar-b-ques, picnics and such without feeling guilty.

b0t23

I don't but as long as you are keeping pretty good track and think that your numbers are accurate, shouldn't hurt in the long term.

horsesandhipbones

I do, and it seems to have worked pretty well so far!

vipergts223

I dont carry over, but i'm sure some people do. I normally dont eat back much of my exercise calories either.

But If I knew I had an event I had to go to that involved some serious food, I would just hit the gym a little longer than morning, Your net calories would still be ok that way.

mikonei

Yes, I do. It's especially helpful on days that I burn a LOT of calories. I have trouble eating that day but feel like I am starving the next day no matter how much food I shovel into my face. lol

dynamicwon

I was wondering the same thing Weight Watchers does it in their program. I think I will try it because sometimes you can't exercise to make up for extra calories

Jezebel_Barbie

I do it sometimes and it's worked ok so far. Last week my brother made homemade pizza for Wrestlemania (I stayed for the pizza and left after the first match haha). It put me over my daily goal by about 900 calories, so I ate 300 less for the next 3 days. My weekly total ended up about right and I still lost 1lb by the end of the week. If I had a deficit one day and wanted to eat a bit more the next I'd do that too.

As long as my diet doesn't swing too wildly from one extreme to the other I aim more for the weekly total than the daily one.

psuLemon

This is the reason i include exercise into my tdee calculation. Deficits can be looked at over a weeks time.

thebigcb

They are the friday night calories. I look at them as like "savings in a bank account", there for a rainy day, or night

sparkle2011

Hi! I have just joined the site on Tuesday, doing ok so far. If anyone would like to add as a friend that would be nice. I went to the gym today and earned 400 calories am I suppose to eat these? Will I still loose weight? Thank you xxx

poedunk65

No only use the calories allowed for that day

Sweet_Potato

I do this. Yesterday, for example, I'd only eaten 1,150 calories by the end of the day but really didn't feel like stuffing in any more. So I'll eat a little extra today or tomorrow.

SafireBleu

Sure you can do it your deficit for weight loss just has to stay the same for a week so as long as you still have a deficit at the end of the week you are good. Just don't go too far under just to have enough to eat or drink on the weekend. It is called zigzagging. Google it. There is lots of info online.

Hev_uk

I'm happy to be over and under calories as long as I net 1200 everyday and stick to an average of net 1500 (my MFP goal to lose 1lb a week). It seems to be working and it helps me make this a lifestyle not a diet. If I stuck rigidly I would miss out on lots of things I enjoy doing and there is no way I will do that the next 70 years!
Your body doesn't know it's midnight when your cals switch over and your metabolism cannot change that fast from day to day

skylark94

I don't aim to carry over, but I will use some "banked" calories if I have a special occasion that I don't want to feel guilty about.

Miss_dannii

I do this! I don't really care what others say, because I'd rather 'bank' 200 calories each day and then not have to feel guilty on a saturday when I'm having a kebab or ice cream or whatever. I still eat over 1000 calories a day which is plenty for me, I don't go hungry at all because I eat the right things. Your body doesn't work on a strict 24 hour basis, think of it that way. Look at it in a way that as long as your calories are in check at the end of the week, then you are fine

Enjoy!
x

*I should add that 'starvation mode' is a myth. I've eaten about 1000/1050 cal per day since I started MFP in January, and I've lost 35 pounds so far. x

Jezebel_Barbie

Hi! I have just joined the site on Tuesday, doing ok so far. If anyone would like to add as a friend that would be nice. I went to the gym today and earned 400 calories am I suppose to eat these? Will I still loose weight? Thank you xxx

Yes eat your exercise calories back. You're looking for net calories consumed, so if you burn an extra 400 you should eat them back (in a healthy way, obv.)

SmartAlec03211988

In addition to my spike day, I use up any calories I didn't use during the week every Sunday. It works for me.

CarrieAnne22

interesting information, guys, thanks

katetaylor999

I generally try to keep my calories around where they should be but on gym days they are usually a bit under, however it gives me a little more freedom at weekends when I don't go to the gym. I work mine over the week and make sure that my weekly calorie goal is pretty spot on target (to within 50-100 calories) and it seems to be working ok for me.

lpeterson

I go out to the bars at least once sometimes twice every weekend so I like to bank up a few hundred calories everyday knowing those are going to be my drinking calories on the weekend and it has worked great for me.

sparkle2011

Thanks guys! xxx

HonkyTonks

Yes and this is fine to do because there's no real "days" for your body, it's the overall deficit that counts

Microfiber_wechange

Was just gonna ask this question