Your thoughts on "saving" calories

I don't "save" calories. I will work out that much harder if I know that I have a get together to go to. I tend to over eat if I save the calories throughout the day....

I would definitely "save" them too. I would be so very careful all day and leave most of my calories in case I couldn't resist a second serving of something or in case they bring something with them I want to try. Also, I would probably plan ahead by entering what I know I will be eating in your food diary to see what is left and try to eat about half of what is left throughout the day so you aren't starving when they arrive. If you go a little over, then the next couple of days I would push the water and eat a bit lighter each day.

Good luck.. it's so hard with these situations but you'll get better as time goes on and maybe you can suggest a different setting or something else to do (card games maybe?) so that you are doing something with your hands and get out of the kitchen?

THANKS Something hit me that you said... Prelogging will work beautifully... like preplanning my meals, this way, I will know how much calories is in what!! ALSO, Duh, what a revelation!! get out of the kitchen!! We really CAN do that, can't we?? I have a new game we have been talking about trying (Apples to Apples). Time to go into the livingroom and try it out!!

I would definitely "save" them too. I would be so very careful all day and leave most of my calories in case I couldn't resist a second serving of something or in case they bring something with them I want to try. Also, I would probably plan ahead by entering what I know I will be eating in your food diary to see what is left and try to eat about half of what is left throughout the day so you aren't starving when they arrive. If you go a little over, then the next couple of days I would push the water and eat a bit lighter each day.

Good luck.. it's so hard with these situations but you'll get better as time goes on and maybe you can suggest a different setting or something else to do (card games maybe?) so that you are doing something with your hands and get out of the kitchen?

Pre-logging has worked best for me! I do it almost every day. Plans change many times but at least its something to strive for!

THANKS Something hit me that you said... Prelogging will work beautifully... like preplanning my meals, this way, I will know how much calories is in what!! ALSO, Duh, what a revelation!! get out of the kitchen!! We really CAN do that, can't we?? I have a new game we have been talking about trying (Apples to Apples). Time to go into the livingroom and try it out!!

dreamer,

You probably won't like what I have to say. Most of you actually. But just please understand that I'm saying this as a realistic and unbiased observer only.

Part of the battle people have with weight loss is justification, it stems from fear of "giving up their lifestyle", similar to an alcoholic, this practice can be self destructive. In my opinion, a majority of the changes that need to be made are mental changes, the physical weight loss and lean tissue building and habits all stem from you having the desire and the willpower to change how you think about yourself, food, and you life, and the biggie here is the concept of "control".

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck is this guy talking about, and what does this have to do with saving up calories for a "special" night?" Well, it's all related folks. I've found out (the hard way mostly) that changing your life means changing how you think about food, "saving up calories" for that one special night isn't really the right mentality to have IMHO, whether or not those calories even out at the end of the week is incidental, what you really should be focusing on is your every day, your habits, how you feel about food, how you feel about yourself, and what your triggers to unhealthy eating are (and the underlying emotional issues you have that cause those to be triggers). Once you square away these things, and view food for what it is (fuel), then you are freeing yourself to enjoy all the other wonderful aspects of life that don't involve food. Focusing on one special night is (in my opinion) like washing your care right before it's about to rain in that yes, you are cleaning the car, but in the end, does it really matter, wouldn't you be better served by an oil change and putting better gas in it? 10 years from now, no body will look at that car and say, "Wow, you sure did do a good job washing it every week."

dreamer,

You probably won't like what I have to say. Most of you actually. But just please understand that I'm saying this as a realistic and unbiased observer only.

Part of the battle people have with weight loss is justification, it stems from fear of "giving up their lifestyle", similar to an alcoholic, this practice can be self destructive. In my opinion, a majority of the changes that need to be made are mental changes, the physical weight loss and lean tissue building and habits all stem from you having the desire and the willpower to change how you think about yourself, food, and you life, and the biggie here is the concept of "control".

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck is this guy talking about, and what does this have to do with saving up calories for a "special" night?" Well, it's all related folks. I've found out (the hard way mostly) that changing your life means changing how you think about food, "saving up calories" for that one special night isn't really the right mentality to have IMHO, whether or not those calories even out at the end of the week is incidental, what you really should be focusing on is your every day, your habits, how you feel about food, how you feel about yourself, and what your triggers to unhealthy eating are (and the underlying emotional issues you have that cause those to be triggers). Once you square away these things, and view food for what it is (fuel), then you are freeing yourself to enjoy all the other wonderful aspects of life that don't involve food. Focusing on one special night is (in my opinion) like washing your care right before it's about to rain in that yes, you are cleaning the car, but in the end, does it really matter, wouldn't you be better served by an oil change and putting better gas in it? 10 years from now, no body will look at that car and say, "Wow, you sure did do a good job washing it every week."

You have a great point at the same time I disagree with some of the nuances. I do think its wrongheaded to save up calories so you can eat whatever because you have friends over. This idea that you save up calories so you can unhealthy isn't a good way to go about a lifestyle change. Right on.

However, it's not all that simple. I love traditional meals (read: multicourse, beautifully prepared, French style dining) I love these meals because they provide an experience and pleasure that is otherwise lost in our everyday mindless, utilitarian eating. Even if I only eat bits and pieces this is still a much larger meal that I would usually have. So yes, if I plan one of these occasions then I will "save up" my calories.

We aren't machines. There should be joy in food and times when you aren't worried about the macro nutrients of a dish or its caloric value. Spending time with friends can be one of those times. But all within reason. Eat only until you are no longer hungry, not stuffed, and consider the whole thing to be part of your healthy lifestyle, not a break from it.