Saving Up Calories for a Splurge?

I called my 2nd grade math teacher, she said it was ok.

I find it's easier and I lose more weight if I just take the time to be aware when I have a "big" meal coming up. I eat smaller, calorie light meals that day, up my exercise in the few days leading up and eat whatever I want. If I go over, meh.

On a recent trip I was over my daily allowance by 2300!!!!! I still lost weight that week. It's okay for your body to get jolted once in a while with more calories than it's used to. Just don't do it all the time.

I'm just getting rolling with this site and have a question for the blogasphere. What's the consensus on saving up extra points for a splurge meal? I've been doing really good on the exercise and the food choices, so there are days when I have about 100-200 calories left over. In Weight Watchers they have "bonus/free points" that you can use for slurges. Any thoughts on doing that here? Trust me, I'm not one that will starve myself on a daily basis but want to be able to plan for special occasions.

I saved up 1600 today for 3 trips to the Chinese buffet - lol

It's actually not good, but once in a while can't hurt.
I am going to eat well and be under goal by tonight.

Call it calorie cycling.

Do you really think our ancestors (or even our great-grandparents or heck even grandparents) made sure to get the exact amount of calories every day?

It's about maintaining a balance. But not a day to day balance.

Its actually a good idea to have a splurge once a week as long as you have been making healthy, consistent choices during the rest of the week. By "splurge" I don't mean bingeing on junk food after starving myself for a long time (although - I am human - this has sometimes happened). I mean treating myself to extra foods or foods that I crave when I have planned for it and have eaten as healthy as possible. I try to plan my splurge days around special events if possible,

There are many different strategies that you can use.

I personally look at my average weekly calories as a guide to how many extra calories I can have on any particular day.

If you do not have enough calories for the "splurge" that you want, also consider that more exercise means that you can also eat more.

I personally believe it is better to eat a little more each day but exercise regularly than simply try to "starve" myself for a weekly binge.

One final note: it is important to think of this as a HEALTHY lifestyle not as a depriving one. I personally subscribe to the theory that I would prefer to take a little more time to lose my weight but have a few indulgences along the way than losing weight the quickest way. Having said all of that, everyone is different. Do what is best for you - and yes, you can save up calories for a splurge if you take a balanced approach to things.