Daily vs. Weekly Calorie Goals

cassiecarreras
cassiecarreras Posts: 1 Member
edited February 10 in Food and Nutrition
If you go over your daily calorie limit by say, 400 calories, is there any benefit to eating that much less the next day? Or should you start fresh as if it never happened?

Replies

  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Lots of people use a weekly goal rather than a daily one. Some people intentionally "calorie cycle", having higher days and lower days. It's fine in terms of weight loss.

    The only thing I would be wary of, depending on your own history/relationship with food, is "slipping up" one day and then sort of punishing yourself the next day, or trying to make up for "bad eating" or whatever. For some people that can feed into unhealthy eating patterns. It's better from a psychological point of view to just get back to normal the next day rather than trying to atone. As an example, if it's only 400 calories, and it's a one off, then you're not going to gain fat from that anyway, as you would still be at a deficit for the week.

    If that's not an issue for you though, it should be fine. If you know you're going to be eating more on one particular day, you can eat a little less on the days either side to even things out.
  • smanning1982
    smanning1982 Posts: 210 Member
    I was JUST wondering that same thing! I went over by 550 calories yesterday because I had 3 boneless wings at Applebees UGH and was just wondering if I should say eat under by 200 cals for a couple days. I think I will :)
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    My guess something like a + or - 15% fluctuation would be ok for daily targets. I don't have any scientific literature to back this up, only my personal opinion.
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