weekly calories VS daily calories

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Replies

  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    Is eating a lot of calories then compensating on the other days healthy?

    Very healthy, there's loads of research that intermittent fasting or alternate day fasting is very good for you. It's only recently (in evolutionary terms) that people have been able to eat a perfectly balanced diet day after day whatever the season. We are naturally able to work with feast and famine.
    The projected health benefits as regards hormone regulation and prevention of degenerative illness are very appealing.

    Loads of info on here if you are interested - http://thefastdiet.co.uk/

    Does this work for peri/menopausal women as well?
    Hormonal fluctuations have really messed with my metabolism and fat storage, especially in my belly.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    counting calories on a weekly basis is one thing but what happens to protein, fat, carbs, sodium, sugar ect? should we not pay attention to all those also? what happens if you hit your weekly calorie goal but your sodium,sugar or whatever else intake was off the charts? i don't think that's healthy......i will stick to my daily counting of EVERYTHING not just calories...but then again that's just how i think......Am not perfect but counting everyday will keep me in check.......j/s

    Good point.
    You can be in a calorie deficit for the week, losing weight while still eating "goodies" but I think daily nutrition is important.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    Is eating a lot of calories then compensating on the other days healthy?

    Very healthy, there's loads of research that intermittent fasting or alternate day fasting is very good for you. It's only recently (in evolutionary terms) that people have been able to eat a perfectly balanced diet day after day whatever the season. We are naturally able to work with feast and famine.
    The projected health benefits as regards hormone regulation and prevention of degenerative illness are very appealing.

    Loads of info on here if you are interested - http://thefastdiet.co.uk/

    Does this work for peri/menopausal women as well?
    Hormonal fluctuations have really messed with my metabolism and fat storage, especially in my belly.

    weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.

    Why the mention of "hormone regulation"?
  • counting calories on a weekly basis is one thing but what happens to protein, fat, carbs, sodium, sugar ect? should we not pay attention to all those also? what happens if you hit your weekly calorie goal but your sodium,sugar or whatever else intake was off the charts? i don't think that's healthy......i will stick to my daily counting of EVERYTHING not just calories...but then again that's just how i think......Am not perfect but counting everyday will keep me in check.......j/s

    Good point.
    You can be in a calorie deficit for the week, losing weight while still eating "goodies" but I think daily nutrition is important.

    I'm worried about eating icecream every week D:
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I don't think weekly calories would work for me, because on Sunday I'd be all, "Woo! Look at all the calories I have left to eat! I can just eat a little less on Saturday to make up for my big meal today," and then on Monday, "I can still eat more today and just make up for it at the end of the week," fast forward to Friday >> "ZOMG where did all my calories go?!!"
  • krhn
    krhn Posts: 781 Member
    Here's a longer/broader thought... Try yearly calories xD
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member

    Why the mention of "hormone regulation"?
    It's pointless to mention that, no offense who ever said it...

    ETA: Hormones are proportionate to calories. They also work on a negative feed back loop. This means if some hormones are down other ones are up.

    You know what controls all this? It's calories. If you're in a deficit at the end fo the week, doing 5:2, or standard deficit and calorie deficit at the end of the week is the same, you will get the same benefits.

    No offence taken Pu. I mentioned hormone regulation as regards health benefits (e.g. IGF-1) not as regards weight loss.
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    I'm worried about eating icecream every week D:

    If it fits your macros and calories you can eat it every day...oof! I don't want to eyeroll, but if you are in deficit for the week, you will still lose weight, whether you eat icecream and all those calories on one day a week or not. All you are doing is cycling calories or having what some deem a "cheat" day, etc...pretty common, pretty well known around these parts and yes, you can still lose weight doing this...

    Whatever works best for you. As long as you have enough energy to work out, live normally, eat without feeling famished, etc, then why worry. A deficit is a deficit is a deficit.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I doubt the "alternate fasting" and other dietary theories will have much impact on this:

    Estrogen Dominance Turns Your Body into a "Fat Magnet"

    In his book, From Belly Fat to Belly Flat: How Your Hormones are Adding Inches to Your Waistline and Subtracting Years from Your Life, Dr. C.W. Randolph, MD, makes an excellent case for estrogen dominance, fluctuating hormones, and weight gain.

    According to Dr. Randolph, too much estrogen circulating in the body produces body fat. In turn, fat tissue produces and stores more estrogen, in addition to containing an enzyme which converts adrenal steroids to even more estrogen.

    When there is too much estrogen present, your body's ability to adequately metabolize fat is compromised, which means more estrogen is produced, which means, you've got it - more fat. This cycle then continues to repeat itself over and over again, literally turning your body into a self-perpetuating fat magnet.
  • marcvandenberg
    marcvandenberg Posts: 190 Member
    weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.
    weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.
    weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.

    that's all
  • I'm worried about eating icecream every week D:

    If it fits your macros and calories you can eat it every day...oof! I don't want to eyeroll, but if you are in deficit for the week, you will still lose weight, whether you eat icecream and all those calories on one day a week or not. All you are doing is cycling calories or having what some deem a "cheat" day, etc...pretty common, pretty well known around these parts and yes, you can still lose weight doing this...

    Whatever works best for you. As long as you have enough energy to work out, live normally, eat without feeling famished, etc, then why worry. A deficit is a deficit is a deficit.
    Thank you for the reply, I'm in this weightloss journey for almost 3 years now, but this weekly goal for me is still very new, I was restricting my body so much that it's kinda scary to let go a bit!
  • weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.
    weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.
    weight loss is about a calorie deficit, that's all.

    that's all

    no one is questioning that, this topic is for people discuss and tell their experience :flowerforyou:
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    The calorie deficit formula that causes weight loss in a 25 year old woman will not work as quickly or efficiently in a 45 or 50 year old woman.
    It will take much more effort to produce the weight loss because of the hormonal changes.

    In his groundbreaking book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, Dr. John Lee, MD., a pioneer in the field of bio-identical hormone replacement, coined the term "estrogen dominance."

    According to Dr. Lee, estrogen dominance occurs in perimenopause when estrogen is unopposed by dropping and/or fluctuating progesterone levels. Furthermore, according to Dr. Lee, estrogen dominance is the culprit for many of the nasty symptoms women complain about during perimenopause, weight gain and belly fat included.

    Given the fat-producing-estrogen-producing cycle that occurs when hormones are imbalanced, fighting perimenopause weight gain and belly fat may sound like a losing proposition, but, it really isn't. In fact, both Doctors Lee and Randolph believe that a simple understanding of the role of foods and exercise in balancing your hormones is one the easiest and first things that women should do.

    Unfortunately, Western culture is a fast-food, processed food, get-it-done-quick society. We are so busy burning the candle at both ends that we've lost the connection between wholesome food, good sleep, exercise, drinking enough water, and how we feel.

    Compound this with the fact that we are inundated with health and wellness knowledge and most of us have simply become desensitized to the fact that simple changes can have a huge impact on our health. Yet, the truth is, food, exercise and sleep are three of the most powerful things a woman can do to help balance her hormones and get weight gain under control.

    Finally, also according to Doctors Lee and Randolph, introducing a bio-identical progesterone will help offset estrogen dominance as well. While no one will promise that you will get your twenty-year old body back, if you are willing to implement serious changes in your diet, incorporating more exercise into your daily routine, and getting enough sleep, you will stand a fighting chance in winning the middle-age battle of the bulge.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    i do weekly (but only vary by a few hundred a day, not thousands), and i understand the concept and benefits associated with calorie cycling and alternate day fasting but... what it sounds like you are doing is binging on junk food on one day, and then trying to make up for it by severely restricting the rest of the week.

    Maybe I am wrong and someone can clarify.
  • IIISpartacusIII
    IIISpartacusIII Posts: 252 Member
    I have two "higher calorie" days during the week on purpose. My net calories for the week are pretty damn low because of exercise so in the long term I'm still really under. The purpose of the two high calorie days is to keep my body from becoming too "fuel efficient" and learning to operate well on less calories. Once you're burning less calories at rest you will find it harder and harder to keep losing weight. There is a limit to how low your calories can go and if you understand that a healthy diet requires you to keep your calories up then you already know you shouldn't go lower.

    It's the long term trends that will define your progress not any specific day or week that you step on a scale. Weight loss is not a straight dive into a lower bodyweight, it's a journey of many little variances, some of them being increases in weight and some being decreases. When you have more drops than gains week to week you'll be well on your way to your goal weight.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I average it over the week.
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    Just remember that if u ever increase your daily calories, do it slowly (like 100) at a time or u will gain weight.......
  • i do weekly (but only vary by a few hundred a day, not thousands), and i understand the concept and benefits associated with calorie cycling and alternate day fasting but... what it sounds like you are doing is binging on junk food on one day, and then trying to make up for it by severely restricting the rest of the week.

    Maybe I am wrong and someone can clarify.

    some people eat a lot and compensate over the week, some people like you like to just vary very little, binging is when you don't plan something in advance, and I plan every meal I have, I don't just compulsively binge.

    What I also want to know is if varying so much is OK, if eating 3600 calories in a day and compensating is OK
  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    I use it as a means of weekly planning. I try to go slightly under on days "at home" so that I have a reserve for times out with the fam or weekends/pizza night.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I am a light eater during the working week (and I use the commute as exercise time) so I use the weekend to make sure I'm getting enough for the week overall.

    I was over yesterday and plan on being over today but still make a decent weekly deficit.

    Then back on it Monday ...
  • debykins
    debykins Posts: 1
    I utilized this concept as part of a :smile: regimen called Calorie Shifting. I lost 30lbs a few years back using it. I selected Sunday to eat anything I wanted and made sure I stayed within my range the rest of the week. I also walked 3 to 4 miles, 3 to 5 times a week. I also cutback on Soda. I allowed mysef no more than 2 12 oz 7UP's per day. But most days I only had one. And I cut out most junk food like chips, cookies, candie etc. I snacked on pickles, raisins, yogurt etc. Except for on Sunday. I had what I wanted. I'm 52 now so I'm not sure if it will cut it this time, but I am certainly going to make the attempt. (I Love Yogurt,but I'm going to stay away from it until I reach my goal)
  • I utilized this concept as part of a :smile: regimen called Calorie Shifting. I lost 30lbs a few years back using it. I selected Sunday to eat anything I wanted and made sure I stayed within my range the rest of the week. I also walked 3 to 4 miles, 3 to 5 times a week. I also cutback on Soda. I allowed mysef no more than 2 12 oz 7UP's per day. But most days I only had one. And I cut out most junk food like chips, cookies, candie etc. I snacked on pickles, raisins, yogurt etc. Except for on Sunday. I had what I wanted. I'm 52 now so I'm not sure if it will cut it this time, but I am certainly going to make the attempt. (I Love Yogurt,but I'm going to stay away from it until I reach my goal)


    That's what I do, on monday I eat whatever I want, icecream, pringles, cookies... you name it, I'll have it haha
  • bumping
  • medic2038
    medic2038 Posts: 434 Member
    The calorie deficit formula that causes weight loss in a 25 year old woman will not work as quickly or efficiently in a 45 or 50 year old woman.
    It will take much more effort to produce the weight loss because of the hormonal changes.

    In his groundbreaking book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, Dr. John Lee, MD., a pioneer in the field of bio-identical hormone replacement, coined the term "estrogen dominance."

    According to Dr. Lee, estrogen dominance occurs in perimenopause when estrogen is unopposed by dropping and/or fluctuating progesterone levels. Furthermore, according to Dr. Lee, estrogen dominance is the culprit for many of the nasty symptoms women complain about during perimenopause, weight gain and belly fat included.

    Given the fat-producing-estrogen-producing cycle that occurs when hormones are imbalanced, fighting perimenopause weight gain and belly fat may sound like a losing proposition, but, it really isn't. In fact, both Doctors Lee and Randolph believe that a simple understanding of the role of foods and exercise in balancing your hormones is one the easiest and first things that women should do.

    Unfortunately, Western culture is a fast-food, processed food, get-it-done-quick society. We are so busy burning the candle at both ends that we've lost the connection between wholesome food, good sleep, exercise, drinking enough water, and how we feel.

    Compound this with the fact that we are inundated with health and wellness knowledge and most of us have simply become desensitized to the fact that simple changes can have a huge impact on our health. Yet, the truth is, food, exercise and sleep are three of the most powerful things a woman can do to help balance her hormones and get weight gain under control.

    Finally, also according to Doctors Lee and Randolph, introducing a bio-identical progesterone will help offset estrogen dominance as well. While no one will promise that you will get your twenty-year old body back, if you are willing to implement serious changes in your diet, incorporating more exercise into your daily routine, and getting enough sleep, you will stand a fighting chance in winning the middle-age battle of the bulge.

    You input your age in the calorie deficit formula for this reason. As you said it's a formula, it might over estimate or under estimate. Doesn't matter, if you're in a calorie deficit you will lose weight. Despite your hormonal condition.

    It takes x amount of calories to maintain your weight, eat less than x and your body is forced to shrink. It just can't support the mass.

    I agree with you now (and even about your other posts about hormones). They're important, but I think people put too much emphasis on them.

    The primary reason a 55 year old woman doesn't "burn" the same as a 25 year old women primarily has to do with base LBM composition. Even then the differences in "metabolism" are somewhat minimal.

    Now my diet WILL throw my hormones out of whack. It's only supposed to be short duration, and I'll be reverse dieting this summer. I'm not even going to mention what I'm doing because 99% of the people around here shouldn't even attempt it.
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    Hello everyone, I've been researching about weekly caloric count instead of the usual daily count, and I wanted to hear some opinions, which one works best? Which one is easier?

    To those who don't know, weekly calories is the total amount of calories you consume over the week, you focus on the total, making you able to eat more or less calories throughout the week

    And daily calories are the calories we consume each day of course, for instance, each day you have a goal of 1500kcals, you don't focus on the weekly total, just daily.

    Strictly my opinion ...

    Why not do yearly calories ?? Then you can eat whatever you want and starve yourself the rest of the time ?? Sounds good right ?

    Daily is the only way to go in my opinion, I would not recommend you try the weekly aspect.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    The calorie deficit formula that causes weight loss in a 25 year old woman will not work as quickly or efficiently in a 45 or 50 year old woman.
    It will take much more effort to produce the weight loss because of the hormonal changes.

    In his groundbreaking book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, Dr. John Lee, MD., a pioneer in the field of bio-identical hormone replacement, coined the term "estrogen dominance."

    According to Dr. Lee, estrogen dominance occurs in perimenopause when estrogen is unopposed by dropping and/or fluctuating progesterone levels. Furthermore, according to Dr. Lee, estrogen dominance is the culprit for many of the nasty symptoms women complain about during perimenopause, weight gain and belly fat included.

    Given the fat-producing-estrogen-producing cycle that occurs when hormones are imbalanced, fighting perimenopause weight gain and belly fat may sound like a losing proposition, but, it really isn't. In fact, both Doctors Lee and Randolph believe that a simple understanding of the role of foods and exercise in balancing your hormones is one the easiest and first things that women should do.

    Unfortunately, Western culture is a fast-food, processed food, get-it-done-quick society. We are so busy burning the candle at both ends that we've lost the connection between wholesome food, good sleep, exercise, drinking enough water, and how we feel.

    Compound this with the fact that we are inundated with health and wellness knowledge and most of us have simply become desensitized to the fact that simple changes can have a huge impact on our health. Yet, the truth is, food, exercise and sleep are three of the most powerful things a woman can do to help balance her hormones and get weight gain under control.

    Finally, also according to Doctors Lee and Randolph, introducing a bio-identical progesterone will help offset estrogen dominance as well. While no one will promise that you will get your twenty-year old body back, if you are willing to implement serious changes in your diet, incorporating more exercise into your daily routine, and getting enough sleep, you will stand a fighting chance in winning the middle-age battle of the bulge.

    You input your age in the calorie deficit formula for this reason. As you said it's a formula, it might over estimate or under estimate. Doesn't matter, if you're in a calorie deficit you will lose weight. Despite your hormonal condition.

    It takes x amount of calories to maintain your weight, eat less than x and your body is forced to shrink. It just can't support the mass.

    I agree with you now (and even about your other posts about hormones). They're important, but I think people put too much emphasis on them.

    The primary reason a 55 year old woman doesn't "burn" the same as a 25 year old women primarily has to do with base LBM composition. Even then the differences in "metabolism" are somewhat minimal.

    Now my diet WILL throw my hormones out of whack. It's only supposed to be short duration, and I'll be reverse dieting this summer. I'm not even going to mention what I'm doing because 99% of the people around here shouldn't even attempt it.

    I just want people to think about what they're posting and be knowledgeable.
    Not just beat me over the head with the same response(s).
  • Hello everyone, I've been researching about weekly caloric count instead of the usual daily count, and I wanted to hear some opinions, which one works best? Which one is easier?

    To those who don't know, weekly calories is the total amount of calories you consume over the week, you focus on the total, making you able to eat more or less calories throughout the week

    And daily calories are the calories we consume each day of course, for instance, each day you have a goal of 1500kcals, you don't focus on the weekly total, just daily.

    Strictly my opinion ...

    Why not do yearly calories ?? Then you can eat whatever you want and starve yourself the rest of the time ?? Sounds good right ?

    Daily is the only way to go in my opinion, I would not recommend you try the weekly aspect.

    This doesn't make any sense. I'm not starving myself, no one who does weekly is starving themselves.
  • just weighted in and lost more weight, this weekly stuff really works lol!!
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    i do weekly (but only vary by a few hundred a day, not thousands), and i understand the concept and benefits associated with calorie cycling and alternate day fasting but... what it sounds like you are doing is binging on junk food on one day, and then trying to make up for it by severely restricting the rest of the week.

    Maybe I am wrong and someone can clarify.

    some people eat a lot and compensate over the week, some people like you like to just vary very little, binging is when you don't plan something in advance, and I plan every meal I have, I don't just compulsively binge.

    What I also want to know is if varying so much is OK, if eating 3600 calories in a day and compensating is OK


    Binging doesn't necessarily mean not planned in advance. I've had some huge, planned binges in the past.

    One of your posts says something about eating 960g of ice cream on your big calorie day... that's more than 4 cups (8 servings). This is what makes me feel like it's a bit excessive... like it's not about having a healthier diet in total, its about finding a way to eat as much of anything you want on mondays. If it's working for you and you are losing weight without any ill effects, then great.

    Does anyone have information about ill effects eating 3000-4000 calories of mostly low-nutrition food in a single day, week after week?

    (p.s. i love me some ice cream, so i'm not coming at this from the perspective of someone who thinks being healthy requires cutting out all "bad" foods. I had a pint of ice cream last week, over 2 days.)
  • i do weekly (but only vary by a few hundred a day, not thousands), and i understand the concept and benefits associated with calorie cycling and alternate day fasting but... what it sounds like you are doing is binging on junk food on one day, and then trying to make up for it by severely restricting the rest of the week.

    Maybe I am wrong and someone can clarify.

    some people eat a lot and compensate over the week, some people like you like to just vary very little, binging is when you don't plan something in advance, and I plan every meal I have, I don't just compulsively binge.

    What I also want to know is if varying so much is OK, if eating 3600 calories in a day and compensating is OK


    Binging doesn't necessarily mean not planned in advance. I've had some huge, planned binges in the past.

    One of your posts says something about eating 960g of ice cream on your big calorie day... that's more than 4 cups (8 servings). This is what makes me feel like it's a bit excessive... like it's not about having a healthier diet in total, its about finding a way to eat as much of anything you want on mondays. If it's working for you and you are losing weight without any ill effects, then great.

    Does anyone have information about ill effects eating 3000-4000 calories of mostly low-nutrition food in a single day, week after week?

    (p.s. i love me some ice cream, so i'm not coming at this from the perspective of someone who thinks being healthy requires cutting out all "bad" foods. I had a pint of ice cream last week, over 2 days.)

    I'll be quoting this because I'm also curious about the effects of eating so many calories a day of low nutrition food :O