Logging on MFP When Spiking

PrfctGdess
PrfctGdess Posts: 257
edited November 9 in Food and Nutrition
I've been reading and I think a Spike day might be something that would work for me. My question is actually about logistics -- how should I keep up with it in MFP? I'm thinking of setting my calorie goal manually to whatever number I need 6x a week, and adding an exercise called "Spike" or something for my spike day to "add" the calories I need that day. But what do I do about exercise? Just keep up with my standard exercise routine for the week and just not log it at all in MFP?

Also, if someone who has experience with Spiking could check my math, I'd appreciate it. :) I used this site (http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm) and figured my caloric needs (32 yr old female, 185 lbs 5'6"). According to that site, I should be at between 1500-1800 cals/day for weight loss. So I was thinking maybe 1500 cals/day for 6 days and around 2200 calories on my Spike day. Does that sound reasonable?

Replies

  • deanaimee
    deanaimee Posts: 36 Member
    I have no experience with this, but I clicked on your link and it makes a lot of sense to me!
  • lilsassymom
    lilsassymom Posts: 407 Member
    bump. I am curious too. Also is it ok to have a whole cheat day---or is it supposed to be a cheat meal? Also if it is a cheat day, can you just eat whatever, whenever? I am afraid I will binge and gain...

    and 1 more question---do you workout on your spike day?
  • DenverKos
    DenverKos Posts: 182
    As for recording "Spiking", why worry about adding exercise in to offset it? Just eat what you're going to eat and record it in your journal. Yes, it's going to be RED, because you will have gone over your allotted calories. The reason I say this is because if it doesn't work for you, or something isn't working, you have a true picture of what your calories in and calories out are. Logging exercise to offset spike calories will throw off your "real" totals. Just my opinion, but I would want a clear picture of what I'm doing so I can make changes if I needed to.
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    That's a good idea for the spike "exercise." I always figured it's depressing to see all the red on one of those days :)
  • carolann_22
    carolann_22 Posts: 364 Member
    I am doing something similar. I customised my daily calorie goal to what I wanted, then I log my exercise time but just put 1 calorie burned for the burn so it doesn't add to my deficit. In the notes I put the actual calories burned so I still have a record of it, because I want to be able to compare my exercise deficit to my actual weight loss.

    On spike day, then, you could just add the spike exercise and acutally enter calories to add.
  • MinaAriel
    MinaAriel Posts: 138 Member
    I would just log the food as being over and not worry about offsetting it through the calorie goal or with a fake exercise. I say this so that your net calorie reports will reflect your true data. A little red number isn't gonna do you any harm and they aren't gonna kick you out for going over. Maybe just put Spike Day in your food notes.
  • jencute
    jencute Posts: 35 Member
    the psycholgical effects of just seeing those numbers turn red is super fascinating.
  • jworb
    jworb Posts: 146 Member
    it IS fascinating to see the psychological difference when those numbers turn red. I did my first "spike" day today, and only went over by 130 calories and 11g fat (pretty wimpy for a cheat day), but it still stresses me out to see those red digits!

    that's why it took me so long to actually stick with MFP - if I knew I was going to go over I just wouldn't log. now, though I'm sticking to logging and doing much better... we'll see if adding a "spike" day works for me. I'm afraid to look at the scale the next few days!
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    If I have a day where I go over, I keep it real. No sense adding in fake exercise that you didn't do. If you are purposely Spiking, own it! Put a note at the bottom of your food diary that says 'woo-hoo, totally rocked my Spike day today!' I have days where I go over ever on purpose and I go ahead and let people know why it happened, then I'm happy to report back a couple of days later when the scale suddenly drops 'hey friends, looks like my high-cal day worked out just fine!'. Just do it and be real.
  • DenverKos
    DenverKos Posts: 182
    If I have a day where I go over, I keep it real. No sense adding in fake exercise that you didn't do. If you are purposely Spiking, own it! Put a note at the bottom of your food diary that says 'woo-hoo, totally rocked my Spike day today!' I have days where I go over ever on purpose and I go ahead and let people know why it happened, then I'm happy to report back a couple of days later when the scale suddenly drops 'hey friends, looks like my high-cal day worked out just fine!'. Just do it and be real.

    This is awesome - love it! Could be because I agree with you, but... :)
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