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

bjdw1

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?

tadpole242

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

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

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

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

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

I have always done that. I don't think my body functions and resets in 24 hour intervals.
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

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

Thanks guys. Sounds like it's fine to keep going the way I am.

holeshottdr

I actually do this on purpose. Your good.

spikefoot

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

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

I am trying out this method right now...unintentionally...:)