How much should one vary calories?

queen_ana
queen_ana Posts: 35
in Health and Weight Loss
I feel that I vary my calories too extremely. I go from 1750-1500-1450-600/400 in a period of 2 weeks. I do it half consciously as sometimes my appetite just isn't there whereas on other days, it's large and in charge. I try to eat relatively clean 50% (bc i just started and I don't want to dive into it, do it really well, then quit). So is this "ok" to do?

Replies

  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    What is your goal?

    What is 600/400? I hope it isn't the daily amount of calories you eat.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I think it's fine to have a weekly average as a goal, instead of a daily one (this is easy to find on the app, but not really on the website).
  • queen_ana
    queen_ana Posts: 35
    What is your goal?

    What is 600/400? I hope it isn't the daily amount of calories you eat.

    yeah like some days, I just have ZERO appetite and the most i can do is eat some peppers/spinach/onions (idk why I love that trifecta of veggies but I do). It happens maybe 2x a week :/
  • queen_ana
    queen_ana Posts: 35
    I think it's fine to have a weekly average as a goal, instead of a daily one (this is easy to find on the app, but not really on the website).

    i think this is a good suggestion, you're right! I'm going to try to do this :) thank you!
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    What is your goal?

    What is 600/400? I hope it isn't the daily amount of calories you eat.

    yeah like some days, I just have ZERO appetite and the most i can do is eat some peppers/spinach/onions (idk why I love that trifecta of veggies but I do). It happens maybe 2x a week :/

    I think 2x a week and 8x a month is a bit much. You should eat more food on those days. I am not suggesting you stuff yourself into a vomit stage but 400-600 are not enough calories.
  • skyfall91
    skyfall91 Posts: 74
    If you have a day when you just arent hungry maybe choose a high cal version of a food instead? Like instead of fat free yogurt, choose a flavoured creamier yogurt. Your body needs to have the fuel to look after itself and do all it needs to. Im trying to eat to BMR or close to make sure Im giving my body enough fuel. Im pretty sure Iv heard that if you go for a while with a low intake of food your body doesnt feel hungry or feel the need to eat more because you are used to it. Maybe you just arent hungry because you've been eating too little and your body doesnt expect more so doesnt give off any hunger signals? sorry if any of that isnt possible, just what Iv heard x
  • lua_
    lua_ Posts: 258 Member
    Your profile indicates that you're in recovery for an ED, haven't you seen a doctor and received a calorie plan?
  • snowbunnyA
    snowbunnyA Posts: 25 Member
    I think 2x a week and 8x a month is a bit much. You should eat more food on those days. I am not suggesting you stuff yourself into a vomit stage but 400-600 are not enough calories.

    Plenty of people on the 5/2 diet would disagree. I like to try to average out my intake over the week. Without lots of planning, which is almost impossible for me, my caloric intake goes up and down over the days, too. I don't stress, I just even it out over the next couple of days. Seems to work.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I think 2x a week and 8x a month is a bit much. You should eat more food on those days. I am not suggesting you stuff yourself into a vomit stage but 400-600 are not enough calories.

    Plenty of people on the 5/2 diet would disagree. I like to try to average out my intake over the week. Without lots of planning, which is almost impossible for me, my caloric intake goes up and down over the days, too. I don't stress, I just even it out over the next couple of days. Seems to work.

    The OP isn't on a 5:2 plan. She has an eating disorder. She really need to be consulting with professionals and support groups.
  • krawhitham
    krawhitham Posts: 831 Member
    ...
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I think 2x a week and 8x a month is a bit much. You should eat more food on those days. I am not suggesting you stuff yourself into a vomit stage but 400-600 are not enough calories.

    Plenty of people on the 5/2 diet would disagree. I like to try to average out my intake over the week. Without lots of planning, which is almost impossible for me, my caloric intake goes up and down over the days, too. I don't stress, I just even it out over the next couple of days. Seems to work.

    5/2 is MAINTENANCE for 5 days. I don't think OP is maintaining 5 days and fasting 2 days though.
  • queen_ana
    queen_ana Posts: 35
    Your profile indicates that you're in recovery for an ED, haven't you seen a doctor and received a calorie plan?
    I've been recovered for 1.5 years. As an aside: my name is legitimately, ironically Ana. It's not an homage.
    My calorie plan was around 3000-3200 calories a day. This, coupled with no exercise (which I decided), made me ballon up in a year and a half. I'm not happy at this weight but I can recognize that I do not want to be at the weight I was at originally as well. I haven't been back to the doctor bc of pecuniary reasons however I do try to eat well. I just am not happy being overweight as I feel sluggish, sad, lacking in energy, and overall unhappy.
    Thank you for replying though :)
  • queen_ana
    queen_ana Posts: 35
    If you have a day when you just arent hungry maybe choose a high cal version of a food instead? Like instead of fat free yogurt, choose a flavoured creamier yogurt. Your body needs to have the fuel to look after itself and do all it needs to. Im trying to eat to BMR or close to make sure Im giving my body enough fuel. Im pretty sure Iv heard that if you go for a while with a low intake of food your body doesnt feel hungry or feel the need to eat more because you are used to it. Maybe you just arent hungry because you've been eating too little and your body doesnt expect more so doesnt give off any hunger signals? sorry if any of that isnt possible, just what Iv heard x
    the high-for-low swap is a great idea! I hadn't thought of that, I suppose in part bc I don't keep those in the house. I'm going shopping today so I'll pick up some blended yogurts and maybe some less % dark chocolate too. Thank you!
  • queen_ana
    queen_ana Posts: 35
    I think 2x a week and 8x a month is a bit much. You should eat more food on those days. I am not suggesting you stuff yourself into a vomit stage but 400-600 are not enough calories.

    Plenty of people on the 5/2 diet would disagree. I like to try to average out my intake over the week. Without lots of planning, which is almost impossible for me, my caloric intake goes up and down over the days, too. I don't stress, I just even it out over the next couple of days. Seems to work.

    5/2 is MAINTENANCE for 5 days. I don't think OP is maintaining 5 days and fasting 2 days though.

    Thank you both for replying. I am not on ANY sort of diet plan except for less calories in than out. I got a good idea from someone above to swap low calorie version for foods for higher calorie versions (ie blended yogurt instead of plain).
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Your maintenance for the day literally does change though, and that's exactly what MFP does for everyone following their method correctly.

    You eat more on days when you burn more, less on days you do less.
    The difference is those on a diet eat less than they burn every day by the same amount, if they follow the program.

    But your body doesn't respond that fast in 24 hr period either, so balance in 48 hrs isn't bad either. Some go for the balance weekly, and can get a bit nuts on the weekend and compensate to the extreme during the week - that usually doesn't work well unless you've done it totally from the start of a diet.

    So if you are willing to go into the green on one day by big amount, be equally as comfortable going in to the red on another day to compensate.

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