Hard to explain, just read inside...

donyellemoniquex3
donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Why do people exchange calories between rest days and workout days ?

One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

I say just pick a number and stick with it.

Replies

  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    For one thing....OnMFP you eat more calories when you exercise. Its how the program is designed. Some people also will eat more of some macros, especially protein, to fuel heavy workouts. Also...there's a theory that varying the amount of calories you consume keeps the metabolism burning at a higher rate. I don't know if that's true or not, but it makes some logical sense to me. So...to answer the question.....why not?
  • sandradev1
    sandradev1 Posts: 786 Member
    I calorie cycle because I am doing strength training. On the days that I lift, as the weights are heavy and it takes it out of me I find that I get really hungry and that my body needs more fuel on these days. On my non lifting (alternate) days I don't do much and therefore my body does not need so much fuel. I am also nearing my target weight and body fat % and therefore calorie cycling is preparing me for maintenance too.

    Having said all of that............why do you have a problem with what other people eat and how they choose to eat their calories. Each person needs to do this their own way and having such a strong opinion on what other people choose to do based on your own ideals is not 'a good attitude'

    Each to their own :flowerforyou:
  • CATindeeHAT
    CATindeeHAT Posts: 332 Member
    Why do people exchange calories between rest days and workout days ?

    One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    Homeostasis + Weight Loss. Google it.
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    Why do people exchange calories between rest days and workout days ?

    One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    whats matters is the daily average.. how you get there is up to you.... sounds like cyclical calories is not for you...

    Personally, I dont do it. I tried it and I ddint feel much of a difference. i never enter any of my weight lifting or cardio into the program...
  • imchicbad
    imchicbad Posts: 1,650 Member
    I calorie cycle because I am doing strength training. On the days that I lift, as the weights are heavy and it takes it out of me I find that I get really hungry and that my body needs more fuel on these days. On my non lifting (alternate) days I don't do much and therefore my body does not need so much fuel. I am also nearing my target weight and body fat % and therefore calorie cycling is preparing me for maintenance too.

    Having said all of that............why do you have a problem with what other people eat and how they choose to eat their calories. Each person needs to do this their own way and having such a strong opinion on what other people choose to do based on your own ideals is not 'a good attitude'

    Each to their own :flowerforyou:

    I couldnt have said it better myself. I also hit a plateau for 2 months now and Im cycling my macros not the number at this moment.
  • mom9198
    mom9198 Posts: 83 Member
    For one thing....OnMFP you eat more calories when you exercise. Its how the program is designed. Some people also will eat more of some macros, especially protein, to fuel heavy workouts. Also...there's a theory that varying the amount of calories you consume keeps the metabolism burning at a higher rate. I don't know if that's true or not, but it makes some logical sense to me. So...to answer the question.....why not?

    Not everyone does this. I have one calorie amount that stays the same, every day. I'm rarely hungry between meals and have lost 37 pounds since Thanksgiving. I find all the calculating too time consuming so I do what works for me. My advice is find what works & stick with it.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    Sounds legit.
  • MsPudding
    MsPudding Posts: 562 Member
    One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    It's down to personal preference isn't it. I'd hate to eat the same amount each day because that's not how my body works for me - some days I don't feel hungry at all (so why force yourself to eat X amount?) and other days I'm bloody ravenous and could eat my way through a jigger full of shyte. So I work on daily averages and therefore don't have to worry so much that I've eaten too little on one day or too much on another.
  • Saunz5
    Saunz5 Posts: 165 Member
    Why do people exchange calories between rest days and workout days ?

    One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    You gotta find and do what works for you I spose. I just finished my bulking cycle and am now recomping so I am one of those lucky people who cycles. :)

    http://imagecdn.bodybuilding.com/fitboardimg/posts//2013/03/23/60905322/514e27b70cf278baf3c8a993.jpg
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    Well common sense says that if you're not moving as much, you don't need to eat as much. If you're moving a lot, you need more fuel.....Kind of like a car.
  • xidia
    xidia Posts: 606 Member
    One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    It's down to personal preference isn't it. I'd hate to eat the same amount each day because that's not how my body works for me - some days I don't feel hungry at all (so why force yourself to eat X amount?) and other days I'm bloody ravenous and could eat my way through a jigger full of shyte. So I work on daily averages and therefore don't have to worry so much that I've eaten too little on one day or too much on another.

    ^this^ As long as I hit my protein target for the day and don't blow massively over my carbs, I balance out over the week. It also allows me to have a social life which involves food & wine much more easily than if I were eating the same every day.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    My days are very different - hence my food intake is different!

    Yesterday I just had a gentle walk but Sunday I burned 1600 calories in exercise. Makes more sense for me to fuel my body to match my output.
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    Why do people exchange calories between rest days and workout days ?

    One day they're eating 2000, the next 1400

    I say just pick a number and stick with it.

    so that they have a constant calorie deficit from day to day.

    if your goal is to have a 500 calorie deficit each day, and you only workout some days, then you are going to have different calorie goals on different days.

    TDEE - 500 = calorie goal

    if your TDEE is 2200 on days you don't workout, then 2200 - 500 = 1700
    if your TDEE is 2800 on days you do workout, then 2800 - 500 = 2300
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    I've thought of figuring TDEE -10-15% and sticking with that instead of base + exercise calories...but I love my 2500-calorie big burn days too much to give them up.
  • ChangingAmanda
    ChangingAmanda Posts: 486 Member
    I have a net calorie goal per day. On non- workout days, I eat just my base calorie goal. On workout days, I eat my base + exercise calories as figured by my HRM. As long as I'm within 50-75 calories either way of my net goal, I'm good. It's a mental and motivational thing to be able to eat more the days I work out. This is what's worked for me. Others, as they've said, pick an average and eat that every day. It's all about figuring out what works for you and sticking with it.
  • Dr_Gains
    Dr_Gains Posts: 81 Member
    Im a big believer in calorie cycling. Love it. To me its all about the weekly average per day at the end of the week. Not only does it benefit with more calories on days i train but also with some lower cal days during the work week it leaves way more wiggle room for out to eat dinners with family etc during the weekend.

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