Eating 1200 weekdays and binge on weekends?

2»

Replies

  • b0nnyd0g
    b0nnyd0g Posts: 84 Member
    This sounds like the way I am maintaining but would certainly not call it binging ! I am satisfied with the lower number of calories in the week and really enjoy the extras at the weekend. You need to find what suits you long term to maintain successfully
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
    I actually do a similar thing, although not so regimented. I go for an average over the week, helped by the helpful weekly graph the phone app gives you. I would say go for something less extreme than 1200 in the week and 2600 at weekends though, and maybe do it by exercising more?
  • rebalee8
    rebalee8 Posts: 161 Member
    Man, I wish they would update the android version of the app. What you all have on the iOS regarding this sounds great.
  • amyk225
    amyk225 Posts: 154
    well ive managed to maintain doing this but i wouldnt eat as low as 1200 a day, i just dont eat back all my exercise calories and use them at the weekend, id eat about 1700 a day and less on the days i dont have a high calorie burn,then id easily eat 3000 cals on saturday and 2000 on sunday ...ive usually managed to stay under my weekly goal and my weight has stayed the same:):)
  • Allelito
    Allelito Posts: 179 Member
    Man, I wish they would update the android version of the app. What you all have on the iOS regarding this sounds great.

    You mean the weekly average and weekly total?
    We have that on the Android version too.
  • rebalee8
    rebalee8 Posts: 161 Member
    Man, I wish they would update the android version of the app. What you all have on the iOS regarding this sounds great.

    You mean the weekly average and weekly total?
    We have that on the Android version too.

    The iOS app has the ability to the set the day the week begins for you, so it's not just a running total of the last seven days.

    Edit: Nevermind I just realized the bar graph will give you the daily total if you touch the bar.
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    just wanted to point out that 2600 calories isn't a binge.
  • VanderTuig1976
    VanderTuig1976 Posts: 145 Member
    I think there's a difference between a planned weekend caloric surplus and a binge. I would consider a binge to be more eating uncontrollably, until your stomach hurts.

    Yes! Two weeks prior to Easter, I was especially intentional about not going over my daily caloric allotment because I planned to eat what everyone else was having. Although my intake on that day looked nothing like it usually does, I didn't make myself sick....I just enjoyed the things I don't normally eat.
  • kuolo
    kuolo Posts: 251 Member
    Theoretically in terms of weight, yes. Whether it is sustainable/enjoyable/works for you is only something you can find out through trying it out. Like whether such a big calorie variation works for you in the long term, or if it knocks you off kilter.

    Seems kind of like 5:2 in reverse to me so don't see why it wouldn't be fine. And lots of people eat/drink more on weekends and less during the week (I mean also lots of people who don't log their food/drink intake, it's pretty normal I think especially if you drink at weekends too).

    (And ignore all the people who have brought up binging/disordered eating, what you are talking about is not binging/disordered.)
  • ars1300
    ars1300 Posts: 159 Member
    It can turn into a bad cycle! I used to eat very clean all week then eat whatever on weekends, and over eat. All depends on you goals but I could never obtain my optimal body /physique doing it. keeping it more controlled works much better for me, allow meals but dont go onfull weekend binges. You will feel guilty, crappy and your basically ruinging anything good you did all week.
  • Momjogger
    Momjogger Posts: 750 Member
    The real question is why do you want to binge on weekends? Or at all? This could be a sign of a food addiction. Check out www.oa.org.
    \
    I don't think that is true AT ALL. Weight watchers allowed this in their program for a long time. You could "save" points for the weekend. Many of us think of the calories we consume in a weekly framework as opposed to a daily one. This is a MORE normal way to look at it than less. I see naturally normal weight friends eat like this without thinking too much about it.
  • KimiSteinbach
    KimiSteinbach Posts: 224 Member
    I started to reply but then looked at your profile and you are quite thin at about 98 lbs. Go see your doc to get to the bottom of a maybe deeper issue.
  • einzweidrei
    einzweidrei Posts: 381 Member
    Yes. I think it would work, but honestly why do you want to restrict yourself so much and then binge? You can try eating 1400 and save 200 from everyday. Or just eat the 1600 and you won't feel the need to binge on weekends - I promise! I'm on maintance right now (I used to eat below 1200, then eat like 2000 in one day) my maintaince is also 1600 and I don't feel the need to binge at all. It's all good

    Because I don't want to watch my calories every single day of the week.

    Because I enjoy going out on the weekends and stuffing my face.

    Because what works for you doesn't necessarily work for me and restricting and watching every single day would result in me ACTUALLY binging.

    Been maintaining since December. I usually stay within a 3-4 pound range. 3K or less in a day is not a binge. It's all a numbers game I'm happy to play.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I think there's a difference between a planned weekend caloric surplus and a binge. I would consider a binge to be more eating uncontrollably, until your stomach hurts.

    ^^^^ this

    the word binge is overused and incorrectly used

    OP: what you describe sounds like calorie cycling, i.e. over the course of a week having high calorie days and low calorie days, and then you look at your weekly calorie total and make sure you're in deficit for the week... if you're in deficit for the week you should lose weight. There's nothing wrong with this approach, just as there's nothing wrong with having a daily deficit and eating the same number of calories per day. The only thing I'd caution is not to have too many low calorie days in a row such that you get too hungry and prone to unplanned overeating. This is probably the number 1 cause of people screwing up their diets. Most calorie cycling plans I've seen have only 3 low calorie days in a row, then at least 1 high calorie day. And make sure the weekly deficit number is the right size for your goals and how much weight you have to lose (i.e. 20% deficit if you have a lot to lose, 10% deficit if you're just looking to lose the last few lbs - or maintenance calories if you're eating at maintenance)

Categories