Is it okay to average out cals over a couple of days?

bjdw1
bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
On some exercise days I can't eat all my cals and on rest days I go over my cals, but I do average it out over two or three days. All good? Or should I be zeroing it out on a daily basis?

Replies

  • tadpole242
    tadpole242 Posts: 507 Member
    On some exercise days I can't eat all my cals and on rest days I go over my cals, but I do average it out over two or three days. All good? Or should I be zeroing it out on a daily basis?
    your body doesn't know it's Wednesday or Friday, Eat too much one day work it off the next, thats fine.
    Eat too much three days in a row and try and burn it off over the rest of the week, not so great, Saying that deficit is deficit.
  • defectus
    defectus Posts: 8
    I do that pretty much all the time. I average it over a period of one week so it's smoother. The reason is my running pattern - 2 long (10miles +) runs a week, followed by 4 short (5 miles +) runs and 1 day break (around 2.5miles). That way my calorie intake would oscillate between 2500kcal and 4000kcal which to me is impractical and could lead to overeating.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    On some exercise days I can't eat all my cals and on rest days I go over my cals, but I do average it out over two or three days. All good? Or should I be zeroing it out on a daily basis?

    It's fine to average it out.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I do that all the time. I'm typically not very hungry on days I exercise really heavy, but the next day, I'm ravenous.
  • Zero2hero2013
    Zero2hero2013 Posts: 458
    i dont htink its a massive problem if your aiming to lose weight, overall calorie deficit is the fat thats lost. on a bulk i think over a long period of time it would hurt your gains. not gain as much muscle and probably gain a little more fat.


    are you cutting or bulking (building muscle)?
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I have always done that. I don't think my body functions and resets in 24 hour intervals.
    :smile: In mountain standard time, of course.

    (It's also why I don't "eat back" my exercise calories, specifically. I try to fuel my body, some days I burn more, some days I burn less.)
  • bjdw1
    bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
    i dont htink its a massive problem if your aiming to lose weight, overall calorie deficit is the fat thats lost. on a bulk i think over a long period of time it would hurt your gains. not gain as much muscle and probably gain a little more fat.


    are you cutting or bulking (building muscle)?

    I'm going to lose most of my fat before I start building muscle. So at the moment I'm cutting>
  • bjdw1
    bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
    Thanks guys. Sounds like it's fine to keep going the way I am.
  • holeshottdr
    holeshottdr Posts: 364 Member
    I actually do this on purpose. Your good.
  • spikefoot
    spikefoot Posts: 419
    Look into: circadian rhythm and see if this changes your perspective.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm

    I think our bodies do know what day it is and we should strive to maintain optimum health/eating etc... in a 24 hour cycle.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Look into: circadian rhythm and see if this changes your perspective.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm

    I think our bodies do know what day it is and we should strive to maintain optimum health/eating etc... in a 24 hour cycle.
    I understand about rhythms. I just don't think my body resets its calories at midnight. It's always worked for me to eat roughly the same number of calories daily regardless of whether or not I work out that specific day.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I am trying out this method right now...unintentionally...:)

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