Should we Binge on Food to Boost our metabolism?!?!

rachelhannah543
rachelhannah543 Posts: 11 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
After using Myfitnesspal ritually for 65 days and not grabbing for sweets/biscuits/chocolate/extra portions or any of the nicer things in life, my metabolism had slowed down considerably. Should we, every once in a while, have a day off were we don't count calories and just eat like we would have normally done to give the body a boost it may need?

Suggestions?

Replies

  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    What makes you say that your metabolism has slowed down?
  • seekingstrengthX2
    seekingstrengthX2 Posts: 771
    I say yes. My body responds well to an occasionak day off.
  • kumanekochan
    kumanekochan Posts: 88 Member
    I wouldn't say throw caution to the wind and eat whatever. I have a monthly 'off' day where I eat what I want but I stay under my calorie intake. That why, I don't COMPLETELY lose it mentally and spend all week craving foods
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Occasional diet breaks and purposeful refeed days/weeks protect your metabolism. Any progress you may lose during them will be minimal (expect a big spike from glycogen, water weight, this is normal and will be gone a few days after resuming your diet), however this will be repaid tenfold by it keeping your metabolism from declining.
  • Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim
    Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim Posts: 267 Member
    Bump
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    Unless you've been eating like 50% of your maintenance calories your metabolism probably hasn't slowed down considerably. But if having a 'cheat day' will keep you from binge-ing or feeling deprived or make you feel like you're protecting your metabolism, you probably should.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I wouldn't say throw caution to the wind and eat whatever. I have a monthly 'off' day where I eat what I want but I stay under my calorie intake. That why, I don't COMPLETELY lose it mentally and spend all week craving foods
    How is that an off-day?
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    What makes you say that your metabolism has slowed down?

    i want to know this too.
  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 Member
    1 - your metabolism has not slowed down significantly

    2 - eating lots wont speed it up again
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    I eat to my weekly net goal rather than daily. So, I'll 'bank' exercise cals midweek to have at the weekends for meals out etc. Even on 'bad' days I'll log everything no matter how horrendous it looks in my diary....I think being accountable is key. But I couldn't have done this journey without doing it this way, I don't believe 'life' fits into one calorie amount each day - it's varied. x
  • cobaltis
    cobaltis Posts: 191 Member
    While an occasional day off isn't the end of the world, I would never recommend bingeing. Realize as your body weight gets lower your calories have to decrease, or more exercise to maintain the same rate of weight loss.
  • chris1816
    chris1816 Posts: 715 Member
    What makes you say that your metabolism has slowed down?

    i want to know this too.

    They heard it from a guy who read it somewhere posted on a blog by a person who heard it from someone a couple years ago from Becky.
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    Even many professional body builders allow for 1 cheat day a week. It can help replenish the body after 6 days of strict dieting. I personally have cheat weekends. During the week, I follow my diet, and on the weekends I eat whatever I want. Just add 15 minutes of intense cardio to a cheat day and you'll be fine.

    Edit: And by cheat day I dont mean binge day..just eat when your hungry
  • veganbaum
    veganbaum Posts: 1,865 Member
    As others have asked, why do you think your metabolism has slowed?

    You may benefit, especially psychologically, from a "free" day since you talk about avoiding certain foods. You still have to be somewhat aware of how much you're eating so you don't eat too much into your deficit. Or you also might be one who can eat what you want in moderation while fitting them into your calories. You don't have to avoid "treats" completely. I am not one to work well with daily moderation so I spike. I eat less during the week and eat my BMRx2 on my spike day. It's the only thing that broke my six month plateau, it helps me eat really well during the week, and has helped me control my binging tendencies (which is what contributed to my weight gain). So I go by a weekly deficit, allowing my spike day. It's about finding what helps you both physically and psychologically. If a free day would help, then do it.
  • lynnprice
    lynnprice Posts: 101 Member
    Some say yes.

    You might look into the 4hour body theory. It recommends a day off (free day) every 6 to 10 days to reset your metabolism. The theory is a good sharp calorie spike keeps your body from going into starvation mode.
  • kumanekochan
    kumanekochan Posts: 88 Member
    I wouldn't say throw caution to the wind and eat whatever. I have a monthly 'off' day where I eat what I want but I stay under my calorie intake. That why, I don't COMPLETELY lose it mentally and spend all week craving foods
    How is that an off-day?

    What I want to eat is normally with oils and salt. My normal diet consists of no salt or oils at all. I realize how it could be confusing without specifically noting that. I also have more flour like carbs on my off days.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    Why would you exclude all salts and oils? Our bodies do need some sodium and fat.
  • kumanekochan
    kumanekochan Posts: 88 Member
    Why would you exclude all salts and oils? Our bodies do need some sodium and fat.

    Again my mistake, that's added salt and oils. Naturally according fats and sodium is good, like you said. Your body can't process and function without fats and sodium.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    Even many professional body builders allow for 1 cheat day a week. It can help replenish the body after 6 days of strict dieting.

    Bodybuilders are way different from the average person just trying to lose weight.. Most bbers do not suffer from slow metabolism's. Mainly body building cheat days or Re-feeds are particularly important to low-calorie (and low-carb) dieters who need to replenish muscle glycogen mainly from strength training and to spike the metabolism (by kicking up leptin levels).

    Edit: OP is only 18 year old and she looks thin.. At that age and at her light weight her metabolism is way high already and should not be slowing down any time soon. If you want to eat a "sweets/biscuits/chocolate/" or some thing you can do it in moderation just make sure it fits into your overall daily calorie goal.:drinker:
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Some say yes.

    You might look into the 4hour body theory. It recommends a day off (free day) every 6 to 10 days to reset your metabolism. The theory is a good sharp calorie spike keeps your body from going into starvation mode.


    I'm inclined to think that "theory" has no basis in fact.

    "Tim Ferriss is not a doctor, nutritionist, or scientist. He is a 33-year-old author and blogger."

    "But "rapid fat loss is not possible,” says Barry Sears, PhD, president of Zone Labs Inc. and the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, Mass. “You can lose a lot of water weight or muscle mass quickly, but fat loss is a slow process and hard work.”"

    http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/expert-reviews-timothy-ferriss-4-hour-body?page=2
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