Eating back calories not ate throughout the week?

GoGoSuku

As the title says really what do you think?

emnk5308

Yeah!! =p You can go under one day and eat the calories back the next day.. some people call that zig zag diet.. *I don't know much about it...but it keeps your body 'confused' you don't get used to it, helps you to not stall out.

You can also earn a cheat day like that!! =p If you go way over one day, eat less the next few days, or the other way around.

GoGoSuku

Awesome Don't feel guilty now XD

Koshkaxo

Sometimes if Im going to go over, I will log the offending food in the next day of my diary lol That way it is accounted for, but I dont feel as guilty lol

KettleBellHoe

Sometimes if Im going to go over, I will log the offending food in the next day of my diary lol That way it is accounted for, but I dont feel as guilty lol

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OMG I SO DO THAT!

taunto

I do it all the time. My method is a bit different. I "save" my workout calories all week and then have a spike day where I eat all the yummy junk foods and not feel guilty because I just used up my banked calories. I have been losing weight so I can't complain about the method

fredd500

You have to draw a line somewhere though. No point saving calories for a whole month then blowing them in one hit. Sure, you will probably weigh less than you did at the start of the month, but the gain on the scales will damage you mentally.

Probably best that you just make sure you average your intake over the interval between weighing yourself. When you get on the scales, you write off any calories you have saved up until that point and start again, that way you are less likely to see a gain.

FitasBarbie

You can zigzag your calories if it works for you... Don't worry about going over some days, most people have cheat days it helps keep you sane and it speeds up your metabolism by confusing it with more food on some days...

WaterBunnie

I think it's a sensible thing to do. Some days I burn close on 1,000 extra calories and would really struggle to eat them all back but on a rest day I'm starving so can eat back some of the previous day's excess calories rather than suffer. As long as it all averages out across the week I can't see a problem with it and it encourages you to account for naughtier meals rather than just have them and write them off.

mummytummybyebye

You have to draw a line somewhere though. No point saving calories for a whole month then blowing them in one hit. Sure, you will probably weigh less than you did at the start of the month, but the gain on the scales will damage you mentally.

Probably best that you just make sure you average your intake over the interval between weighing yourself. When you get on the scales, you write off any calories you have saved up until that point and start again, that way you are less likely to see a gain.

I totally agree, i didn't calorie count yesterday and had my "cheat" day which i don't do often, I tell you, i didn't like what the scales read this morning. It's put me on a downer.

Prahasaurus

In general, I think it's a bad idea, and here's why:

1 - most people underestimate their calorie consumption. Leave yourself a bit of a reserve by being under. Not significantly, but try to stay under.

2 - How many calories are we talking about? If you just want to celebrate a great week with a cheese cake, go for it. Good for you for doing so well. But if you're looking for an excuse to binge, what kind of habits are you forming long term?

3 - Are you hungry when you eat back your calories? I just can't eat a lot in one sitting, even if I try. So why stuff yourself to hit a number when you're better off reinforcing the good habits you've maintained for most of the week.

I don't know your particular situation, but if you're talking about a bit of a celebration on the weekend, for example, or a cheat day - once a week - where you relax your standards a bit, go for it. But if you're talking about stuffing yourself to hit a number that is at best an approximation, I think it's a bad idea.

--P

violetta88

I think it's fine to do it every so often - you need a splurge sometimes!

However I would say to keep an eye on what you're eating - it's so easy to think, "oh, I worked out every day this week, so I can eat whatever I want at the weekend!" Um, no But thinking "well, I was under by a total of 1000 calories this week, so today I can have a couple of drinks at the bar and a bag of crisps" won't kill your diet.

Jeneba

I did a variation on this when I lost 25 lbs. on WW. I would eat under my points allotment all week & then have 2 pieces of pizza every Friday night. But I kept to a rigorous regimen everry single other day, NO exceptions.

CassieReannan

Yeah, I do it

philshirons88

Do it, just make sure for the week you are under.

Some days I find i'm not hungry and some I'm starving so really mix it up!

kazza2cats

I'm always really hungry the day after running so try and keep some calories in reserve to use the day after.

leanby2013

I just count my cals weekly instead, so some days im over, some days im under but i dont mind as long as it adds up to the same amount and the end of the week

fredd500

You have to draw a line somewhere though. No point saving calories for a whole month then blowing them in one hit. Sure, you will probably weigh less than you did at the start of the month, but the gain on the scales will damage you mentally.

Probably best that you just make sure you average your intake over the interval between weighing yourself. When you get on the scales, you write off any calories you have saved up until that point and start again, that way you are less likely to see a gain.

I totally agree, i didn't calorie count yesterday and had my "cheat" day which i don't do often, I tell you, i didn't like what the scales read this morning. It's put me on a downer.

If you only blew it yesterday and the rest of the week was good, you probably haven't done any lasting damage. It might just be fluid retention from too much sodium. Draw a line under it and start again for next week.

Helloitsdan

Personally i'd rather "Feed when I need".
So on heavy lift days when I kill it i'll eat about 20% above TDEE.
On rest days I cut carbs and eat below TDEE.

You only get about 36-48 hours to recover from heavy lifting so you should be eating the proper nutrients.

Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim

Bump

Martina_Who

I do it all the time. My method is a bit different. I "save" my workout calories all week and then have a spike day where I eat all the yummy junk foods and not feel guilty because I just used up my banked calories. I have been losing weight so I can't complain about the method

I do this too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

melanie3103

I used to this all the time when I followed the Weightwatchers programme, so I know it works (for me at least!).. but there are weeks when it doesn't, for whatever reason. So i wouldn't make it a regular thing, but works well for damage control to help eleviate the guilt and fit it in around your lifestyle.

Any diet you follow has got to work long term... its changing your habits. If you have a bad meal or a treat, move on, allow for it, no guilt.

I am starting to do this again (only when i have to mind!) following MFP calorie counting - I am trying to make this a lifestyle choice, rather than just a diet to reach a goal. I am addressing my relationship with food, and so far it seems to be working for me.

I had an "off day" at the weekend, so I'm saving a couple of 100 cals each day (by exercising and not eating back, or simply making better choices/less snacking) - this will "allow" for my excesses over the weekend - at least mentally, if not scientifically (on the scales as well - one hopes).... sometimes it works, other times less so.. but definitely eleviates the guilt for "falling off the waggon"...

So it has to be a good thing, for me at least...


x

Perixi

I do this so that when i go out at the weekends i can enjoy myself without feeling guilty, obviously dont go mental though.

Helloitsdan

You have to draw a line somewhere though. No point saving calories for a whole month then blowing them in one hit. Sure, you will probably weigh less than you did at the start of the month, but the gain on the scales will damage you mentally.

Probably best that you just make sure you average your intake over the interval between weighing yourself. When you get on the scales, you write off any calories you have saved up until that point and start again, that way you are less likely to see a gain.

OP stop overt hinking this stuff.

Eat at a deficit daily to lose weight.
Once every week or 2 have a field day and eat a whole pizza.
This isnt rocket surgery!

lyttlewon

I do this. I also make sure if I am going to have an excessive calorie day I work out that day!

SuperSexyDork

I sometimes bank my calories for a cheat day... I eat under all week most of the time anyway that way when I have a cheat meal/day I don't feel so guilty about those extra calories.

Anna800

I did a variation on this when I lost 25 lbs. on WW. I would eat under my points allotment all week & then have 2 pieces of pizza every Friday night. But I kept to a rigorous regimen everry single other day, NO exceptions.

I've found that my drunken Friday nights with binge eating didn't mess up my results, I think it goes back to the WW method of saving up points for the weekend.

SPNLuver83

Have a big giant high cal day! mmmmmmmm

GetFitE

I do it all the time. My method is a bit different. I "save" my workout calories all week and then have a spike day where I eat all the yummy junk foods and not feel guilty because I just used up my banked calories. I have been losing weight so I can't complain about the method

I do something similar to this. I am "strict" Sun-Friday and then Sat I usually allow myself a little leadway to eat unhealthy foods--i usually don't log these days--I KNOW I'm doing it and I KNOW I'm probably going to eat over my calories. But the KEY to having one or two off days is that you don't let it take you off track completely--gotta make sure you get back on track the next day.