"Banking" calories

They say its not what you eat in a day, but more important how you eat in the course of a week or more. So in a sense, and within reason, yes. I would still make smarter choices about what you drink and eat that night, though. ANd then get right back on track the next day/week! Have fun!

I suggest eating normally, or dropping perhaps 100 calories a day. Have some veggies before you go to the party and perhaps you won't indulge so much. But it's the holiday season so indulge but within reason. You aren't on a diet, you're changing your lifestyle right? So it might take a few days more with the extra calories from the party. Indulge within reason

I think it is....if you look at your calorie intake over the week rather than a day and your in a defect you should be ok.....i use up my excercise calories on a saturday and it's working for me.
I wouldnt worry about it too much one day will not hurt and if its been a while since you've splurged i've heard it can boost your metabolism go have fun

One day won't hurt even if you don't "bank".

If you do try to bank calories, do it reasonably. 100 or 200 a day for a few days before hand wouldn't hurt anything.

Eating too low is only a risk if it is an average practice. One or two days of eating a bit less to enjoy the 3rd day is totally doable.

In a sense yes. Very active, thin people don't constantly think about when they ate the calories and when they exercised. If you are becoming healthier and more active all the time then it doesn't really matter when you are eating more or less food within a short timeframe. It all evens out throughout the week because you are more active and burning off what you eat.

I've never tried that, so I'm not sure if it "works" or not.

Usually if I know I'm going out to dinner somewhere, I'll workout extra hard and eat light for the day, saving my calories for that night. I've heard that switching up your calorie amounts can boost your metabolism (say you eat 1300 calories normally, you would eat about 1800 one day that you go out.) I've done that method a few times and it seems to work for me.

Does this work? I am headed to a cocktail party with tapas on Saturday night. I want to have a couple of drinks and some snacks. Is it ok to bank a couple hundred calories a day in preparation? Does that work?

Yes, I have done that on several occasions. Yes, it works because weight loss is not a daily thing, but rather a day-to-day thing. That is, it happens over time, so your eating habits matter over time, not just in one given day.

Try a light fast instead. If you know you are going to want drinks and high calorie snacks on Saturday night you could eat a meal at, say, 5pm on Friday night and then just fast on water until your party. Then you would pretty much have your day's worth of calories still to consume. No, IF isn't bad for you. If you have trouble going 24 hours then try to go 12-16 instead. You'll be sleeping through a good portion of it anyway.

Unless not eating makes you insane, which it does for some people.

I wouldn't fast the day of. I know it would cause me to binge! I say get some exercise in the day of and just try to be mindful of what you are eating. Banking 100 calories for a couple days wouldn't hurt either.

Try a light fast instead. If you know you are going to want drinks and high calorie snacks on Saturday night you could eat a meal at, say, 5pm on Friday night and then just fast on water until your party. Then you would pretty much have your day's worth of calories still to consume. No, IF isn't bad for you. If you have trouble going 24 hours then try to go 12-16 instead. You'll be sleeping through a good portion of it anyway.

Unless not eating makes you insane, which it does for some people.

I disagree with this. I think it's important to eat your normal means and not go to the party hungry. Whenever I go to a party hungry, I always end up over eating. Eat your normal meals and then go and enjoy the food and drinks in moderation. The holiday season is about enjoying being around friends and family, don't let the food be the main part of the night. Get a plate and go and sit somewhere and eat it then work the room, talk to people, have water (or wine or whatever), and enjoy conversation over food. But if you go hungry you'll be more likely to eat a lot more and feel guilty later. Just my opinion.

This is true and false at the same time. If you eat regularly and healthy the rest of the day yes you can "bank a few" calories, if you refrain from eating and put your body in starvation mode because you're anticipating these calories, you are only doing more harm. You'd honestly be better off to eat normal, go over your calories a little and exercise the next day. It's fine to go over once in a while, its when it becomes a habit that you put weight on, one night will be fine. Enjoy it!

Thanks everyone for all your diverse opinions! I think it is really interesting to hear different strategies for dealing with the constant offerings of high sugar/fat goodies this time of year. I am a teacher and I know the food is going to be POURING in the building next week. *sigh* This is a true test of my will.

you can do it!