higher deficit today to make up for inevitably low one tomorrow?

Tomorrow I am going out for fondue and fancy drinks w/ a friend from out of town and I won't get a chance to work out. I know I can eat very light all day to save up my calories for dinner but can I go for a higher deficit today and Wednesday to make up for the low deficit I'm likely to get tomorrow?

No

Don't worry about it... it's ok and sometimes good to have one day where you eat extra. 

I agree not to worry............but I do exactly what you asked about just because it makes me more comfortable.  I try to stay on the low end of my calories before and after a "big" day.  I think it may not matter a whole lot but it sure is psychologically good for me.  Enjoy the fondue!

could you explain why it's not ok?

Original Post by raynsong:

could you explain why it's not ok?

You're going out for high-calorie, 'fancy' drinks which have next to no nutritional value, so you're going to be limiting your nutritional intake on the day you go out and are then planning to reduce your nutritional intake on the day before to make up for it. 

Actually I am pretty sure you can. 

The way it was explained to me is that 3500 calories of overall deficit = 1 pound lost... so if I average 3500 over the week, I will still lose wieght, it doesn't have to be an even 500 every day of the week.  I am sure you will be fine.

This is a common question for the site.  The general rule is don't bother changing your day to day count if you know one big meal is coming or something.  In your case you are cutting your nutrition.   Unless you plan to eat thousands upon thousands of calories above your maintenance level... it's not going to matter.   You are better off eating normal today and the day after and on that day to cut back some (but still eat nutritionally).

It is important to calculate calories but one day over isn't going (in most cases) to result in any gain.  Infact, in many cases having extra once a week is going to help keep you from getting stuck in a plateau during weightloss.

I assumed the calories left would be "healthy" and not junk.  And I surely wouldn't recommend  fasting before and after, but cutting back seems to be okay.  For instance I am a desert person.  If I know tomorrow will be a high calorie day........I skip the desert.  Just cutting back on each meal helps and noone goes into nutritional deficit in 3 days of eating a bit less!

Kjmadill's comments about calories is the one given over and over and I agree with them. 

I guess the bottom line comes back to doin what works best for you.  None of this is written in granite.  We have to live in this world and have to be able to roll with the punches.

As I said earlier   Enjoy the fondue!

thanks for the input everyone. i will make sure to get at least 1200 calories today and tomorrow i will be sure to get all my nutrients w/ breakfast and lunch since some of my evening calories will be empty (alcohol). the rest will be bread and cheese, which will be a fattening but nutritive delight. i'm sure even w/ the drinks and fondue i'll still be able to keep it around 1500. so far for today i'm only at about 250 and i've had a big salad, a banana and a little cheese. if i can do it the same way tomorrow that leaves me with 1250 for fondue and martinis. yay!

In my experience, it's counter productive to try and make up for a high calorie day.  It leads to getting very hungry and then eating way more than you would have on your high calorie day.  Then if you try to make up for it the next day the same thing happens.

It's better to just have the high calorie day then go back to your healthy meal plan with the very next meal, without skipping anything. 

A tip - before you go out have a hot mug of soup, any kind.  This takes the edge off your appetite so you'll be less likely to overeat.

I agree with clairelaine, making up for it really doesn't work out so well most of the time.  The exception for me is if I'm simply not hungry the next day I'll eat on the lower end of my calorie range (my typical deficit is 300-700 calories).  Go, enjoy and just make sure you're somewhat reasonable.  This week may end up being maintenance instead of weight loss which is still a win.

I prefer to get a couple of extra workouts through the course of the week or go for an after dinner walk while still getting all of my regular nutrition.  I'm certainly in favor of cutting out extra junk food the day before and the day after as long as you still get reasonable calories in.