Weekly vs. daily calorie levels

Kelley528

I have always went by the idea that daily calorie levels is what I should concentrate on. I alwys thought of going to sleep as your bodies way of restarting itself for the next day so thats why the daily calorie goal should be reached. Now I dont base this on any type of evidence or fact that has just been my outlook and it has worked for me. Here comes my reason for wondering if that is the case----

This weekend was the first time in a year that I went slightly over my calories from holiday goodies. I didnt go over by much, 91 on Saturday, 221 on Sunday= 312 over the weekend. Now on both days I was still below my maintenance level calories but I still have this anxious feeling about what the scale will say. I have never been so anxious to weigh in during the year and change I have been on MFP.

I decided to try and balance the additional weekend calories by leaving a little extra calories left over each night to even out the level for the whole week. I have already accomplished that. I am usually very regimented and hate dealing with the unknown so I dont know what to expect. Dont get me wrong, it is not going to be the end of my world if the scale didnt budge. It is just the unknown making me wonder what to expect.

I have read on the boards before that some people go by they weekly deficit goal and as long as their weekly amount is on target then they still have success. I have read threads where people say they will eat less one day if they know they are doing something special or some social occasion the next day when they know they will consume more. So to those people---has that worked for you? At the end of the week did you still see the results you wanted by scrimping one day and splurging another?

kathymhardy

I would be very interested to hear what others say about this too.

mich1902

I was a member of a different website that counted calories. It is a very good one but i wanted to save money by giving up my membership. Anyway, its based your goal as being weekly. It did promote not going under the minimum amount per day but it's not the end of the world if you do it every now and again. I'd just say make sure you aren't leaving yourself hungry etc. but you sound as if you managed fine. i always used to balance my calories weekly and I still lost. Sometimes it can just depend on the type of food/sodium you had, food in transit etc that will affect the scale. I would bet if it never moved then you might lose a little more the next week. I could go a couple of weeks not osing then it would be like my body just remembered I was eating less and deserved a loss!

mmapags

What happens in 24 hours isn't that critical. It's what happens over a longer period that matters as that what leads to weight gain or loss. Keeping track daily can be a good tracking discipline but it really what happens over weeks and months that matter. Calculate your deficit in the way that works best for you to sustain it and reach your goals.

BTW, being over by 312 calories over a weekend is not going to show on the scale except with possible water weight gain depending on what you ate. You might even show a small loss. Again, our weight fluctuates daily based on food intake, water, waste elimination etc. It's the long term trend that is important not one or 2 days.

BarbieAS

I definitely take a weekly approach to my calories. I use the app bar graph thing to gauge my progress. Some people might disagree, but I have personally found that it's good for your body and soul to have some days where you just eat a little more. For me, it keeps plateaus at bay, as well as allows me a little wiggle room to splurge a little here and there as long as I recognize that I need to sacrifice a smidge to make it up with a little extra gym time or by skipping dessert or something another day in the week. This is a lifestyle change, and we should all strive to be eating in a way we can sustain for the rest of our lives. I know I'm not going to eat the exact same thing/number of calories every single day for forever. As long as I'm doing well for the week overall I feel like I'm on track.

Edited to add: I don't believe this approach has impeded my progress at all. If anything, like I said, I think it helps a little, if not on the scale then at least mentally to keep me on track and not feeling deprived or bored with my food choices, which is the real long-term goal even more than just the number on the scale each week.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I go by weekly. The body continually stores and burns fat. It doesn't matter if it stores a little excess fat one day as long as it burns it off again soon.

HOWEVER, if you were still under maintenance don't worry about it. It's not "right" to be so afraid to weigh. Sounds like you are getting a little too serious about this calorie counting stuff. Take a step back. Deep breaths. Tr not to obsess over it. It's just a tool to get healthy. You don't have to be perfect at it.

BarbieAS

I go by weekly. The body continually stores and burns fat. It doesn't matter if it stores a little excess fat one day as long as it burns it off again soon.

True story. Your body doesn't know when the clock rolls over to midnight.

jacksonpt

Either will work. Changing your body is a long, slow process. Looking at things by the day is good for people who want more finite, shorter time frames to focus on. Looking at things by the week tends to give a bit more flexibility.

Kelley528

Everyone gave me a better perspective on things. That is why these forums are good.

I have been too regimented for my own good in a lot of things other than calories. I didnt really see the flexibility in it before. I think it will make things easier in the long term to be more flexible in a day as long as I am paying attention to the next day and what i did in a week etc...

its good to know that other people are still succeding with that mindset.