Calorie Counting "Off Day"?

marcotomas
marcotomas Posts: 9 Member
edited October 4 in Food and Nutrition
I've heard before that when restricting calories (I've been doing on average 300-600/day), that every so often you should take an "off day" and eat whatever to assure that your body doesn't adjust to the calorie restriction and stifle the weight loss.

Recently, I've been having good success (4lbs in two weeks), even with a massive 4,100+ calorie day on Halloween weekend (I oddly enough weighed in a full pound lighter the next morning, despite the 5am stop for deep fried cheese curds the night before).

So, that being said, is the occasional "off day" not that bad? May it be even beneficial?

Replies

  • littlesis412
    littlesis412 Posts: 314 Member
    Quick question: Are you restricting by 300-600 calories a day, or only eating 300-600 a day?
  • marcotomas
    marcotomas Posts: 9 Member
    Restricting by 300-600 calories. Not eating only 300-600 calories.
  • kathleennf
    kathleennf Posts: 606 Member
    Look up "calorie cycling"- that's basically what you're doing and it's a good thing. I try to "save" calories during the week and splurge on Sundays...
  • nanodot
    nanodot Posts: 154 Member
    I do an off-day twice a month. It appears to be harmless for me. I think that would change if I did it any more often.
  • pearlsgonewild
    pearlsgonewild Posts: 54 Member
    I have an off day every weekend. My best friend and I call it Fatterday instead of Saturday. I don't count calories on Saturdays...I have still lost 19 pounds since July.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Wow, you scared me for a minute there!

    I don't do a "cheat day" but a lot of people do. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. If you look at your total calories for the week it probably averages out that you didn't eat all that many extra. But 4100 calories in one day? I would explode! :-p
  • nursenelson
    nursenelson Posts: 295
    Quick question: Are you restricting by 300-600 calories a day, or only eating 300-600 a day?
    My question exactly!?!?!
  • sharonsjones
    sharonsjones Posts: 574 Member
    I have a cheat meal and dessert every Firday night and I have been maintaining for years. That is what I look forward to every week!!
  • jofromnz
    jofromnz Posts: 82 Member
    Interesting! I have done weight watchers before and you are allowed to save your unused calories for a special event etc. It's agood concept and great hear that peple have still done this and lost weight! :) But I think I will only use for special occasions or outings :)
  • CindiBryce
    CindiBryce Posts: 438
    Count EVERYTHING. If you binge, count it. If you under-eat, count it. If you have a weight loss problem and you don't count your calories, you have no way of knowing what caused the problem. Therefore, I suggest counting at all times.
  • InTenn
    InTenn Posts: 99
    If you believe that your weight is a function of fuel in versus fuel used, then an off day doesn't fit into that model.

    If you base what you weighed the next morning on what you ate the day before, you will reach some pretty... preposterous conclusions. I don't think you can eat deep fried cheese curds (I really hope that should be "curls") every day and plan to lose weight, just as I don't think a 4100 calorie day helps in the long run.

    And if you are eating 300-500 calories a day, that is probably not a healthy way to lose weight. Food poisoning is effective in the short run, but a bad lifestyle in the long run.

    A nutritionist might be able to shed more light on it.

    Edit - I'm obviously the slowest of the posters here. :)
  • withervein
    withervein Posts: 224 Member
    I don't plan for off days, but I do allow myself to enjoy a pot luck dinner, where there's no way I know what dishes were made with.

    I figure that big family meals (holidays, birthdays, etc) are days where I probably just shouldn't put anything into MFP because it would skew things so much and the stress of remembering what I ate, when I ate it, if I picked up 2 or 3 crackers with cheese on them would drive me crazy.

    I'd rather not know.

    Besides, even if it's an uncounted day, I'm not bellying up to a plate of lard topped with white sugar.
  • Ninnette
    Ninnette Posts: 5
    For the first part of my weight loss journey I would allow myself off days only on occasion like a holiday, out of town vacation or a special family gathering, but it was nothing on a regular schedule. I did however at times go over my daily calorie count goal (like big time) but it was usually just because of one meal I overdid it on, not because I allowed myself a whole free day. I did this so that I wouldn't take free days and go nuts while I was trying to establish a routine and get my stomach use to smaller meals. I also ensured to track the info so I was clearly aware of what was an acceptable overage as opposed to being in the blind and not knowing how "bad" I had been. Once I got to about 75% of my goal and knew that I could easily stay within my 1200 calorie daily goal, I allowed myself to stop counting on weekends, still trying to be mindful of the healthy habits I have become accustomed to, with no measuring and no stress. I did this "weekends off" for the past 6 weeks and I lost my last 6lbs this way (the last 25% of my goal, and actually surpassed my 19 lb goal.) I hope this helps!
  • marcotomas
    marcotomas Posts: 9 Member
    Wow, thanks for all of the immediate, helpful responses!

    Just to be clear, I NEVER eat just 300-600 calories a day. Also, 4100 calories are definitely NOT the norm; but more of an aberration (I was out partying for much of the night with college friends). I actually tend to eat 1800-2100 calories a day and exercise daily. I also intend to continue counting everything, even on any "off day" when I go over--every beer, french fry, cookie, etc., no matter how painful it is to do.
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