Changing calorie goal every week - good idea or nah?

HawtTamale
HawtTamale Posts: 35 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone here change their calorie goals weekly? I just got through two weeks @ 1500 calories, and it was pretty doable. I didn't feel hungry, kept my protein levels up, and drank my weight in water. However, there are days when I want to go higher than my set calorie goal, and while it's a mental block, I have a hard time seeing that red, negative number on my diary.
I was wondering if it would be worth experimenting with my calorie goals. One to two weeks I do 1500 and I keep to my goal and then the next week I go up to 1800. And the week after I dropped down to 1300. Ultimately, I would always keep a deficit, just that amount of fluctuate.
Has anyone done it before? Have you experienced any success? Or conversely, has it caused more issues than it's worth?

Replies

  • kwaasen
    kwaasen Posts: 11 Member
    Don't you have days with green numbers? Try to do the red and green math...
    The last time I used MFP I had my work outs 4 times a week and those days gave me nice green numbers while my rest days were not so good. But overall the green numbers beat the red ones, and I lost, well, cm around the waist. So I was really pleased with the result!
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,224 Member
    I do this day by day, rather than week by week. I'm quite happy on 1100-1200 a few days a week, other days I'm around 1600-1700 and one or two I'm 2000 or even more, depending on the rest of the week. The overall trend is what counts.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    I often keep my goal calories to maintain so that it is always on the green.
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    I typically average over the course of a week rather than changing weekly as you're saying. On the app the weekly bar graph clearly shows where your average is, so your goal could be to keep that in the green for the week. (Although I do also look at weekly averages and sometimes eat a little more or less accordingly). It is much easier to handle a day or two of lower calories than a whole week-especially knowing I have a higher calorie day coming up.

    I used to plan it but at this point I just do it intuitively. If I'm hungry I go ahead and eat more calories knowing I can eat a little less throughout the week to even it out, no biggie. Remember this is supposed to be sustainable. Find a way that works for your life, don't obsess. And stop being afraid of a red number, it's silly.
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    I often keep my goal calories to maintain so that it is always on the green.

    Also this. Great idea. As long as you're below your maintenance you are losing, and psychologically you won't have to see red ;)
  • HawtTamale
    HawtTamale Posts: 35 Member
    slaite1 wrote: »
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    I often keep my goal calories to maintain so that it is always on the green.

    Also this. Great idea. As long as you're below your maintenance you are losing, and psychologically you won't have to see red ;)

    GREAT SCOTT!! This is perfect!! You helped me find a way to work around my neurosis WHILE getting my goals.
    You guys are the best - thank you.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    I export all my data to a spreadsheet and am regularly tweaking based on my fifteen and thirty day averages. I'm a numbers nut, though! I also have the paid version which lets you set different calorie goals by day, and I definitely take advantage of that feature. This probably sounds like I'm constantly thinking about numbers when I eat, but oddly, I don't - I've been aiming for "mindful eating" and adjust my goals based on that more than adjusting my food based on my goals.
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