How detrimental is one day a week of not dieting?

gemmaleigh1989

One day a week I allow myself to not be so strict on myself. I don't binge and go crazy but I do go anywhere between 0-500 calories over maintenance level. All other days I eat at a deficit of about 300. My goal atm Is to get my bf % down.

How detrimental is this one day a week?

gemmaleigh1989

Oh I should also mention I'm quite petite and my maintenance level/TDEE is only 1500 not including additional workouts.

mazdauk

Not detrimental at all if you're still in a deficit overall for the week. In fact it helps keep you going, because you don't get fed up with not eating what you want and your body doesn't get too accustomed to fewer calories.

boboff

Agreed its good for you.

katherinelangley

I think it's beneficial mentally rather than anything. You don't feel so restricted and less likely to go overboard to particular foods you feel are "bad"

Tanja_CHH

So you have a defiency of 1800 calories if you eat at maintenance on the day you do not diet. then if you eat 500 over, you have a deficiency of 1200 a week. So youll still loose. Just don't eat more than 1800 over your TDEE on the day you don't diet

Phrick

So you have a defiency of 1800 calories if you eat at maintenance on the day you do not diet. then if you eat 500 over, you have a deficiency of 1200 a week. So youll still loose. Just don't eat more than 1800 over your TDEE on the day you don't diet

^^ This!

lpina2mi

Not detrimental at all if you're still in a deficit overall for the week. In fact it helps keep you going, because you don't get fed up with not eating what you want and your body doesn't get too accustomed to fewer calories.

Okay, I am trusting you on this. Yesterday, I had a beer, which knowingly put me over my 30% carb ratio for the day. And this meal was after a play...so quite late. I ate healthy and enjoyed a delicious beer. We did do our usual downtown strategy, by parking the car at one end of town and walking to-fro.

mazdauk

I don't worry too much about the macros - its more about calories for me (a calorie is a calorie). I've had way more than one beer this weekend:blushing:

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I've never done cheat days. I just work what I want to eat into my goal. As long as you're still logging though and you realize that your cheat day is eating up part of your deficit it should be fine.

Weight loss is just about calories. Macros are for body composition. Micros are for health.