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Calories on weekends

MaddieVioletRainbow
MaddieVioletRainbow Posts: 45 Member
edited November 2024 in Debate Club
Hi everyone, I was wondering how people feel about allowing indulgences that go over your calorie limit during the course of the week. For me, I allow myself to go either 250 calories over on Saturday and Sunday each day, or I allow myself to go 500 over on either Saturday or Sunday. And then it's back to my normal calorie limit during the week. It seems like it would cause me to gain weight based on the increased calorie intake consistently, but it hasn't; I've actually continued to lose weight, much to my surprise! Let me know your thoughts on calories and indulgences in relation to weight gain when planned intentionally and regularly! Thanks MFP users!

Replies

  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    nope, then I won't lose weight. It would wipe out a good chunk of my deficit. I would be sabotaging myself if I did this. I know some ppl can get away with it but I only burn 1400 a day, so no.
  • VeggieBarbells
    VeggieBarbells Posts: 175 Member
    Do what works for you but I'm with @gothchiq its a no no for me. Plenty people will say make sure it fits in your daily calories but only you can decide. Good luck :D
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I eat less during the week so I can eat at maintenance on the weekends. This isn't binging on the weekends...it's maintenance. You sound like you have things under control.
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  • gamerbabe14
    gamerbabe14 Posts: 876 Member
    Yes, I usually set my cals for a loss of 1.5lbs/week M-F and then 1lb/week on SS.
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  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    edited August 2017
    @MaddieVioletRainbow (I like that name) My opinion is that you are doing it the right way. By this I mean that you log it, record it, and stop it without letting it get out of hand.

    A real benefit to you of doing it this way is that you frequently present your body with the opportunity to experience a little bit more than your usual calorie deficit, which keeps your NEAT working as if you were not in famine at all. This maintains your rate of weight loss quite consistently.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    edited August 2017
    MaddieVioletRainbow wrote: »
    @gamerbabe14 Is there a way to set different calorie limits for different days on the app without having to do it manually each time at all?

    Only Premium offers that.
  • Aesop101
    Aesop101 Posts: 758 Member
    I like this question. For me I have to be under all the time not that I am. If I did that I would lose control. However, I do go to a buffet on Saturday evenings. However, no desert, and one plate or less. Then too I make sure I get some exercise that day. In the last 4 weeks I've lost about 10lbs. If I gain I may skip the buffet or cut back a wee bit more. I think like most everyone else, what ever works for you. Also, being over your goal doesn't necessarily mean you will gain wait. Best wishes.
  • gamerbabe14
    gamerbabe14 Posts: 876 Member
    JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
    MaddieVioletRainbow wrote: »
    @gamerbabe14 Is there a way to set different calorie limits for different days on the app without having to do it manually each time at all?

    Only Premium offers that.

    Yea I do it manually. Takes like two seconds to do.
  • lalepepper
    lalepepper Posts: 447 Member
    I prefer to just stick to the same calorie range as any other day of the week. If it's a special occasion I'll generally go up to maintenance.
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  • lalepepper
    lalepepper Posts: 447 Member
    MaddieVioletRainbow wrote: »
    @gamerbabe14 @JeromeBarry1 Another way that I just discovered to log different calorie limits on different days for free would be to make a note in your Food Diary listing the extra calories. I suppose it would be a sort of "work around" as a way to log without MFP saying you're going over and without having to change the limit manually.

    Personally I would not do this as I find the weekly/monthly reports on net intake helpful to monitor my progress.

  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    Hi Maddie

    If you're only going 500 cals total over for the weekend, you're still at a deficit overall, hence why you are still losing weight. It may be a little less than you would lose otherwise, but really not by much, and if it helps you to stick with it that's a good thing!

    To answer your question about NEAT, it stands for Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis - basically the calories you burn with non-exercise movement. When you're restricting calories, you may unconsciously move less (your body's way of conserving energy), by eating a bit more one or two days a week you're helping to negate that.
  • AdamAthletic
    AdamAthletic Posts: 2,985 Member
    edited August 2017
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    Hi Maddie

    If you're only going 500 cals total over for the weekend, you're still at a deficit overall, hence why you are still losing weight. It may be a little less than you would lose otherwise, but really not by much, and if it helps you to stick with it that's a good thing!

    To answer your question about NEAT, it stands for Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis - basically the calories you burn with non-exercise movement. When you're restricting calories, you may unconsciously move less (your body's way of conserving energy), by eating a bit more one or two days a week you're helping to negate that.

    I was planning a long and descriptive reply detailing my opinion but - this is spot on IMO.

    3500 calories either way will produce a 1lb loss or gain - regardless of how long that 3500 takes to loose or gain.
    The problem isn't "will the extra calories affect my weight loss", it's "will I be able to stop, once I start indulging" - which is generally the issue that most people have.
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