"Saving calories" or "weekly rather than daily totals"

martinh78
martinh78 Posts: 601
edited October 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm going out on a pub crawl tomorrow, double celebration, and it's gonna be messy :o)

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on weekly calories rather than daily?

Forgetting other health issues etc, I easily have enough calories left from the week for 8 pints of beer and a pizza tomorrow :o)

It's happening anyway, so I'll know the answer by Monday's weigh-in, but is it worth me going to the gym and burning off another 500 calories tonight, and a thousand more in the morning before I go? Saturday will be written off as a recovery day ;o)


PLEASE NOTE: I'm keeping the above really simple, I do get all of my nutrients, proteins, etc, eat back half to two thirds of my exercise calories in GOOD foods, blah blah.

Lets keep it nice and simple and based purely on calories please, forget where they are from :o)

Replies

  • mollykat73
    mollykat73 Posts: 56 Member
    Have fun and drink lots of water on Saturday!
  • glypta
    glypta Posts: 440 Member
    That's a shame you've had no replies! I'm all for it. Right or wrong, I'm not saying either, but I know I do it.
  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    thats how I work it..I do the weekly thing rather than the daily..have fun...
  • asyouseefit
    asyouseefit Posts: 1,265 Member
    You're already safe but if you want to exercise a little more, why not? It'll be your back-up if you end up drinking 10 pints instead of 8!
  • krisntraining
    krisntraining Posts: 201 Member
    Sounds like a great time! You have totally prepared for it, so enjoy it!!
  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    It's my understanding that calories don't work like cell phone minutes and don't roll over! Just enjoy yourself and get right back on track the next day!
  • WPoppysmith
    WPoppysmith Posts: 33 Member
    Just enjoy yourself and get back on track the next day!
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I keep track of weekly average.

    I had a 4000 calorie day a while back that included a 34oz 1200 calorie margarita.

    You gotta live every once in a while.
  • Keelahopkin
    Keelahopkin Posts: 15 Member
    I love the idea of saving calories and splurging- have you seen the weekly average graph? I do a splurge day every Saturday (around 2000 calories instead of my normal 800) and my weight loss has been steady. I have not drank alcohol so can't help you there- keep in mind that alcohol can cause bloating and water retention in the days following your drinking so the scale might be deceiving for a while. Have fun and let me know how it goes on the scale next week :smile:
  • plagirl227
    plagirl227 Posts: 134
    Well, I've done zig-zagging and that's based on weekly calorie totals. AND Weight Watchers operates along those lines. I say it's fine. You really don't lose weight day by day. You lose based on a calorie deficit across a span of days/weeks....

    That's my $.02
  • hholguin
    hholguin Posts: 3
    I totally do the same thing! I'm good pretty much all week, except for two days out of the week. The days aren't necessarily Saturday and Sunday, with football season starting, it could be a Monday or a Thursday. I just make sure that the weekly calorie count is under. Of course, exercise is the greatest equalizer. I've lost 20+ lbs so far... Have fun!
  • girlypop
    girlypop Posts: 80
    I wouldn't worry so much about the calories of the night. If you're consistent and well behaved most of the time a night out for drinking is fine. What I'd worry about it is damage control. Try not to hit up Mcdonald's at 3am after the pub crawl...

    So basically no I wouldn't bother exercising just so I could go out drinking... But it's not bad to exercise anyway. The only thing I almost always end up doing is the day after, my calories will be reduced, but thats partly cuz i'm still full/ hungover from the night before so I don't need to eat as much...

    Have fun!
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    Sounds like you are trying to zig zag your calories...I use it all the time. You have high days, maintenance days and low days, but your weekly totals are the average.


    You can get the 7 day cycle amounts from the link below:
    http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
  • cervenec
    cervenec Posts: 64
    Saving calories and everything is awesome! I try to focus on my weekly total rather than dailies, so I don't feel bad if I go over a bit. Have fun on your pub crawl!!
  • Pancake86
    Pancake86 Posts: 94
    If i know im going to have a heavy weekend or day due to celebration etc i cut back in week, only one week so enjoy, long time dead!!!!
  • steve81872
    steve81872 Posts: 23 Member
    I could not agree with you more.


    Drink up my friend!!!!
  • mamashatzie
    mamashatzie Posts: 238 Member
    I do this. My calorie goal is 1500; I aim for between 1200-1300/day so that I can use those extra calories for a bigger/nicer meal. I keep track of my weekly total and as long as I'm within my weekly range, I think it's fine. I've lost weight for 3 weeks straight doing this.
  • martinh78
    martinh78 Posts: 601
    Thanks all :o)

    Interesting to see the different ideas. As said, I shall go and enjoy anyway! It's my friends birthday and I just got a job offer confirmed today. Looking forward to having a reason to celebrate (I don't celebrate things very often, certainly not little things!)

    I haven't seen the weekly totals, and will have a look at zig-zagging.

    I won't be changing my plan or making this a weekly thing, I enjoy not drinking so much and don't want to start again.

    I've already decided a chicken kebab might be better than a pizza :o)

    Will let you know next week what the results are. If I stall or put on weight I'll know it doesn't work like that. If, by the end of next week I've still lost I'll consider that it might...

    Cheers :o)
  • iwillsoonbeslim
    iwillsoonbeslim Posts: 283
    I've read that the body only has a calorific memory (or whatever you want to call it) of about 12-24 hours. No idea if that's right, but personally I do try to work within 24 hours windows. If I'm having a boozy night out (15 or so pints of Guinness is usually my poison) I will try to factor in a long walk or high hill on the day or day after the event....but if I can't, I don't sweat it, and I know you're not either :) Definitely hit the water harder than ever though - I never cease to be amazed at the difference it makes!

    ***addition*** I don't drink very often either, but I have found since starting CCing that the odd night on the good stuff actually pays off come WI - although I WI on a Wednesday, so usually have a couple extra days hitting the water hard!
  • lp0007
    lp0007 Posts: 125 Member
    I always go by the weekly goal! Have fun!
  • martinh78
    martinh78 Posts: 601
    My weekly goal says I have 4000 calories left, so I'll be enjoying them all :p
  • jjs22
    jjs22 Posts: 156
    I'm still new (not quite a month) but I notice that the "zig zagging" happens kind of naturally. On a day to day basis, I tend to under-eat just a little, the same way you would keep a checkbook on the "good" side of zero. So by the end of the week there are extra calories left over. I have my settings targeted at 2 pounds per week (and I'm losing more than that), so I don't feel like I need to push any harder. And I think its important to keep eating the foods I love (ribeyes !) so I don't feel deprived.

    I'd say the one thing to be careful of is that alcohol, besides not being especially nutritious or good for yo in large quantities, has been known in some instances to affect people's judgement and memory. So you might ask a friend (or very seriously strengthen your own intentions) to make sure you don't "change your mind" about how much you plan to eat, or forget to log anything.

    But in general I think looking at weekly totals is a great thing to do in any case. If for no other reason than it gives you a good feeling to look back and see all that hard work.
  • ladyphoto
    ladyphoto Posts: 192 Member
    It sounds like you have a good plan. I believe in splurgin once in a while and there are even theories that doing one "splurge" night a week actually keeps your body "confused" and running at it's peak. I have unofficially always done that just because I like to live a little.
  • vlc1979
    vlc1979 Posts: 227
    I say it is perfectly fine! I do something of the sort, usually 2-3 times a month on a Sat or Sun I splurge and don't care too much b/c my overall weekly average still has net 300 or so to spare. Live life and enjoy!
  • Missy0104
    Missy0104 Posts: 77
    I'm starting the zig zag method myself. I definitely have days when it's harder to stay w/in my calories (Saturday) so I have worked my week so that I have 2 high days and the rest of them low and at the end of the week I have my desired deficit.
  • DontThinkJustRun
    DontThinkJustRun Posts: 248 Member
    That's how I maintain my weight loss - eat lowish all week, pig out all weekend. Even during weight loss times, I'll do a similar form, but with less pigging out on the weekends. Works for me.
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