Can you 'save calories' for a special occasion?

Chloe71
Chloe71 Posts: 12 Member
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I was wondering what everyone does when they have an occasion coming up that they know will bring them over calories for the day. Can you save some calories from a few days before and/or after and then use them? Is that considered cheating? I know that I can also eat less for my other meals that day and exercise a bit more on that day. I would like to hear what others do.

Replies

  • SlimSadieG
    SlimSadieG Posts: 323 Member
    bump
  • husker_gal
    husker_gal Posts: 462 Member
    I don't worry about special occasions. I still try to be sensible on those days but will just enjoy the food and celebration and not think about it another second. One day will not undo a weeks worth/months worth of great work. :flowerforyou:
  • danewton
    danewton Posts: 15 Member
    I have done that before. I don't consider it cheating. It is smart planning - eat lighter for a couple of days before or after an event so you don't stress during the event and you can have a good time! Don't sweat the small stuff - it's the overall picture, not one day!
  • vettle
    vettle Posts: 621 Member
    Well, 5 months ago I would have said I didn't eat all day until dinner. But I know now that actually does the opposite of what we want and slows our metabolism down because out blood sugar drops, and since our metabolism slows down as the day goes on, eating a big meal at night isn't the greatest either. So maybe just have small little snacks throughout the day and still have your big meal, but just remember that happens.

    You could eat less the day before and after - I currently do this (zig zag calories) and it's been a great shock to my body to drop a few pounds. There is no harm in that.
  • MrsSWW
    MrsSWW Posts: 1,585 Member
    I try to balance the cals over the course of a week - sometimes I just HAVE to go over, other days I can happily finish below. Take an average and don't worry too much about enjoying yourself!
  • shellgib
    shellgib Posts: 196 Member
    yep, that's kind of the concept of zig-zagging. have a low cal day then a high cal day, etc. as long as it all balances out for the week you should be fine
  • kmeekhof
    kmeekhof Posts: 456 Member
    You cannot "bank" calories. We all wish it would work that way. Your best bet is to get in a little extra workout, eat sensible the rest of the day, enjoy the food, but do not gorge yourself.

    All of what we are doing should not limit us from enjoying special occasions in life.... even when we have no control over what food and drink will be served. What we do have control over, is how much we allow ourselves to consume.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I think we just need to remind ourselves that this isn't a race or a test. It's life.

    You don't *need* to get to your goal weight within a time frame or you're a failure, and your food diary isn't a notebook you have to turn in to your professor to be graded. You're not failing if you eat more some days than others.

    As long as your definition of special occasion isn't, "Woo! It's TUESDAY! Let's celebrate!" just enjoy the event and don't stress the calories.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Of course! Someday you will have lost the weight & then you will be doing maintenance. Real life will creep in - birthday parties, holidays, etc. You will have to learn how to deal with "life after dieting" it's all part of the process.

    Look up zig-zagging. There are people who eat this way all the time. Whatever works for you!
  • JillyCornwall
    JillyCornwall Posts: 376 Member
    Yes you can...just reduce by a hundred cals a day for a couple of days before & after then you can enjoy yourself without guilt...and why not...this is your life..not an obsession. Have a great time.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    I have done that before. I don't consider it cheating. It is smart planning - eat lighter for a couple of days before or after an event so you don't stress during the event and you can have a good time! Don't sweat the small stuff - it's the overall picture, not one day!

    I completely agree with this. I lost 80 lbs by looking at the whole week's totals vs. everyday...yes I had to track everyday but it all comes down to the defecit at the end of your week!
  • souperficial
    souperficial Posts: 122 Member
    I do that sometimes. As long as I'm not starving myself and my average calories come out correctly at the end of the week, I think it's okay. Or maybe even work out just a little bit longer than usual.
  • silkysly
    silkysly Posts: 701 Member
    It’s probably better to do things to beef up your metabolism beforehand. If you have a strong metabolism, you will burn through the calories easier. I would think ‘saving calories’ is just shutting down your system a tad & makes it harder overall. Do more cardio the few days before you want to relax on your eating habits. That’s what I do..., it seems to work for me. Good luck!
  • MuffinMan25
    MuffinMan25 Posts: 110
    I have done that before. I don't consider it cheating. It is smart planning - eat lighter for a couple of days before or after an event so you don't stress during the event and you can have a good time! Don't sweat the small stuff - it's the overall picture, not one day!

    I completely agree with this. I lost 80 lbs by looking at the whole week's totals vs. everyday...yes I had to track everyday but it all comes down to the defecit at the end of your week!

    I have done the same, and agree with the above!
  • 4theking
    4theking Posts: 1,196 Member
    This is one of the great things about spike84 and the spike diet. One day a week I eat over maintenance. I plan this day around birthdays, holidays, etc. For example, I can eat 5,000 calories on Thanksgiving and still lose weight for the week.
  • shnazzy
    shnazzy Posts: 213
    save a little all week and also on the day do some extra excercise life is for living enjoy yourself :)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I know that I can also eat less for my other meals that day and exercise a bit more on that day.

    I do this. Maybe a little extra exercise the day after also if I really went over.
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    Try going to the gym that morning to "earn more" calories =)
  • pixiechick8321
    pixiechick8321 Posts: 284 Member
    You can't "bank" calories...they aren't money.

    Like others said, try and work out that morning, eat in moderation, and realize that one splurge day won't hurt you (heck, a whole week won't hurt you, it's a life change, not a year or month change).
  • aj_rock
    aj_rock Posts: 390 Member
    Over a week is fine. There are some dieting styles that actually use changing calorie amounts over the course of a week or so to better suit your goals.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    You can't "bank" calories...they aren't money.

    Like others said, try and work out that morning, eat in moderation, and realize that one splurge day won't hurt you (heck, a whole week won't hurt you, it's a life change, not a year or month change).

    THIS!!
  • dayzeerock
    dayzeerock Posts: 918 Member
    Your body is not a cell phone plan. There are no "rollover" calories. Yes, you can eat better through the week than normal to indulge more on one day, but daily calories to not "roll over", so to speak. However, you said yourself that it is a "special occasion"....so enjoy it regardless...we all need a day like that every once and a while!
  • shellgib
    shellgib Posts: 196 Member
    Your body is not a cell phone plan. There are no "rollover" calories. Yes, you can eat better through the week than normal to indulge more on one day, but daily calories to not "roll over", so to speak. However, you said yourself that it is a "special occasion"....so enjoy it regardless...we all need a day like that every once and a while!

    Actually you can "roll over" your calories from one day to another. You do not need to have a set number of calories that doesn't change from day to day. You don't lose weight in one day....it's over a period of time. And if you create a deficit based on a weeklong period of time then you can eat more on any given day as long as the average for the week creates the deficit.

    Check out http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm for a 7 day calorie cycle plan that works!

    (also, this is the concept that WW uses as well with saving points from one day to the next and it works in their plan...just sayin')
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
    Whatever works for you I say!! I don't think it's cheating. When I know I am going out for a meal I try to eat light for the rest of the day and/or do ;lots of exercise before and after top earn the extra calories. Enjoy yourself!!
  • dayzeerock
    dayzeerock Posts: 918 Member
    Your body is not a cell phone plan. There are no "rollover" calories. Yes, you can eat better through the week than normal to indulge more on one day, but daily calories to not "roll over", so to speak. However, you said yourself that it is a "special occasion"....so enjoy it regardless...we all need a day like that every once and a while!

    Actually you can "roll over" your calories from one day to another. You do not need to have a set number of calories that doesn't change from day to day. You don't lose weight in one day....it's over a period of time. And if you create a deficit based on a weeklong period of time then you can eat more on any given day as long as the average for the week creates the deficit.

    Check out http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm for a 7 day calorie cycle plan that works!

    (also, this is the concept that WW uses as well with saving points from one day to the next and it works in their plan...just sayin')

    Wow, interesting! This sounds super safe! You know, from now on, I'm going to tell all my nutritional clients that it's okay to starve for 6 days out of the week so long as they eat all of their 9000 calories in the seventh day, because you can apparently "roll over" your calories like that without any detrimental effects to your health. Good to know!
  • Lesliecs
    Lesliecs Posts: 930 Member
    I think we just need to remind ourselves that this isn't a race or a test. It's life.

    You don't *need* to get to your goal weight within a time frame or you're a failure, and your food diary isn't a notebook you have to turn in to your professor to be graded. You're not failing if you eat more some days than others.

    As long as your definition of special occasion isn't, "Woo! It's TUESDAY! Let's celebrate!" just enjoy the event and don't stress the calories.

    This is a great way to look at things! I love this!
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    Enjoy the day, and don't worry about it.
  • skinnimini16
    skinnimini16 Posts: 60
    if your going to be going over in calories you cant just make up something to make yourself feel better about eating what your eating, if your going to do it than just do it! there is no such thing as saving calories. your body has a way of taking what it needs if you are not giving it what it needs. so basically what im trying to say is just enjoy it. Dont try to make yourself feel less guilty by justifying what you just did. just move on the next day as if it never happened
  • shellgib
    shellgib Posts: 196 Member
    Your body is not a cell phone plan. There are no "rollover" calories. Yes, you can eat better through the week than normal to indulge more on one day, but daily calories to not "roll over", so to speak. However, you said yourself that it is a "special occasion"....so enjoy it regardless...we all need a day like that every once and a while!

    Actually you can "roll over" your calories from one day to another. You do not need to have a set number of calories that doesn't change from day to day. You don't lose weight in one day....it's over a period of time. And if you create a deficit based on a weeklong period of time then you can eat more on any given day as long as the average for the week creates the deficit.

    Check out http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm for a 7 day calorie cycle plan that works!

    (also, this is the concept that WW uses as well with saving points from one day to the next and it works in their plan...just sayin')

    Wow, interesting! This sounds super safe! You know, from now on, I'm going to tell all my nutritional clients that it's okay to starve for 6 days out of the week so long as they eat all of their 9000 calories in the seventh day, because you can apparently "roll over" your calories like that without any detrimental effects to your health. Good to know!

    way to try to start a fight, good job. However, I never mentioned starving or eating 9000 cals.
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