Averaging Calories Out Over Several Days?

McKayMachina · April 2011

Hey, all! Before I say this: I don't zig zag this drastically normally. Most days I net an even 1200. So, just know, I am well aware that this is not ideal and it is a rarity. (Just had to say that before you all start cracking your whips.)

Here goes...

I was under on calories for two days straight by a fair amount and over today, averaging out to just over my prescribed net of 1200:

4/22: 400 under
4/23: 500 under
4/24: 1000 over
AVERAGE: 1233 calories/day

I'm wondering if this makes physiological sense. The math says yes. But bodies march to a different beat and there are so many nuances. I didn't know how to look this up so I'm having a hard time finding any info online. Anyone have an idea?

I never worry when it's within two or three days (and I've lost a good amount of weight so far) so it's more just asking out of curiosity. Thoughts? Thanks for any insight! :drinker:

Atlantique · April 2011

When I was maintaining (for over 20 years) I never made myself stick to a 'daily' food plan. But if I knew I had eaten too much or was planning to eat too much, I balanced it out over a couple of days. Did the same thing if I for some reason didn't think I had eaten quite enough, too. That was fine for maintaining my weight.

I think what you are doing should work for you in your weight loss plans as your body isn't really getting 'used to' a consistent situation of underfeeding. Just try to make sure that you get enough nutrients on the days that you are inadvertently under. You might not be as far under as you suppose, as I think MFP is prone to overestimating exercise calories.

kennie2 · April 2011

if you under eat by quite a lot you'll put your body into starvation mode so next time when you over eat instead of burning it off it'll go into fatty reserves making you not lose any weight (maybe even gain it)

janski2 · April 2011

I did the same thing you did. It works for me. I just do it very rarely. Once every 6 weeks.

Suedre · April 2011

I look at my calories daily, but I also keep track of them in weekly totals (eaten and burned). During the time I was losing weight I've found the weeks I was most successful were when the week added up to around 9 - 10K regardless of how they were composed on individual days and surprisingly enough - regardless of calories burned though I tended to have smaller losses on high burn weeks.

I also found that the best thing I could do for myself when trying out things was to get a solid two - three weeks of data before I decided if it was a good call or not. I wouldnt stress this, unless you plan on doing it regularly then I would closely monitor it for a while and see how it works for you. Good luck!

McKayMachina · April 2011

@Atlantique: Thanks for sharing that you've done similar and it worked.

@kennie123: I appreciate the response, however I must respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. Starvation mode does not occur overnight. Not even close.

@janski: Yeah 6 weeks for me, as well. Not on purpose. Just more of a response to special events.

@Suedre: Good info. Thx! I definitely don't plan to do it often.

iRun4wine · April 2011

@kennie123: I appreciate the response, however I must respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. Starvation mode does not occur overnight. Not even close.

Was just going to say the exact same thing.

When I was maintaining (for over 20 years) I never made myself stick to a 'daily' food plan. But if I knew I had eaten too much or was planning to eat too much, I balanced it out over a couple of days. Did the same thing if I for some reason didn't think I had eaten quite enough, too. That was fine for maintaining my weight.

I'm actually considering doing something similar to this now. I'm still in weight loss mode, but I'm not sure I should be. Anyhow, your comments were interesting. Thanks for sharing :flowerforyou:

Averaging Calories Out Over Several Days?

Replies

Categories