Calorie Surplus

OutsideCreativ
OutsideCreativ Posts: 143 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So at the end of the day, I'll have only eaten about 1300 calories (I pre-entered dinner). I am really not hungry and have already reached my sugar limit for the day. Is it OK to be at a deficit from time to time as long as I don't consistently stay at 1300 calories?

Replies

  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    Opinions differ. I say it is ok. I would never force myself to eat :( Tomorrow you will probably make up the calories.
  • Sunka1
    Sunka1 Posts: 217 Member
    So at the end of the day, I'll have only eaten about 1300 calories (I pre-entered dinner). I am really not hungry and have already reached my sugar limit for the day. Is it OK to be at a deficit from time to time as long as I don't consistently stay at 1300 calories?

    Just from reading other peoples comments over the past few weeks, it seems that the advice being put out there on MFP is that you can do that as long as you make up for it within the week. I hear you though about being full. Although today I had to eat lunch out and went over on carbs. Who would have thought split pea soup would have so many carbs.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Opinions differ. I say it is ok. I would never force myself to eat :( Tomorrow you will probably make up the calories.

    ^^^This^^^ I never force myself to eat but I notice that, as my muscles get larger and firmer (and I had trouble finding them when I started) that I want to eat more. But if I have one day when I am especially hungry, I know that it will typically be followed by a day when I am less hungry. You should try to net at least 1200 calories per day though. That is sometimes hard for me when I am on a big exercise day of 600-700 calories of exercise. I'm at about 1400 (without exercise) so that means I should eat 2000-2100 calories on those days. I try to eat in a very nourishing way (I don't eat any junk food at all) and it is sometimes hard to cram in one more morsel of nourishment. On those days, I am okay with eating 1800-1900 calories (but I always want to stay above 1200 calories net, in any case).
  • honeyandmilk
    honeyandmilk Posts: 160 Member
    Don't force yourself to eat if you're not hungry. The day isn't over yet, so if you're hungry later, eat. You won't wither away to nothing if you eat less one day, and it's silly to eat if you don't want to.
  • NaurielR
    NaurielR Posts: 429 Member
    There's no problem with that. In fact, if you're really hungry the next couple days but have already reached your calorie goal for the day, you can borrow calories from the day you were under.
  • shiplizard
    shiplizard Posts: 20 Member
    There's no problem with that. In fact, if you're really hungry the next couple days but have already reached your calorie goal for the day, you can borrow calories from the day you were under.

    This! It's basically the principle behind calorie cycling, which worked fine for me once upon a time (due to some lifestyle changes, it's not so feasible anymore).

    Shoot for a nice consistent average and as long as you're feeling healthy and satisfied you're good to go.

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