Is it OK to save calories for another day?

I am going out with two different friends tomorrow, one for lunch and one for dinner, and I know I’m going to blow my calorie budget by miles. Might get away with a light lunch (though I doubt it), but dinner is set for TGI Fridays hamburgers with fries. Though it’s going to be a calorie feast I still want to go and enjoy myself without having to mentally weighing each French fry.

So my question is; knowing what will happen tomorrow, is it OK to cut the calorie intake today, stop at say 8-900 calories and then do catch-up tomorrow? Or should I do my normal calories today and just think of tomorrow as a one-off and wait for it to balance itself out over the next few days?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I'd vote for the latter - just eat normally, and be as reasonable as you can tomorrow, while still enjoying yourself.

You don't want to be starving by tomorrow from undereating today, and therefore end up eating even more than you would have otherwise.

I don't think that's a very good idea. Why can't you make healthy choices tomorrow? If it's not possible monitor your portions. Eat 1/2 the hamburger and a few fries. Eat something healthy before you go and you will be less hungry and less likey to over eat at TGIF. Exercise a little harder than normal. Or you can indulge and get back on track the next day. One day of bad eating is not going to ruin months of hard work. But it's really your choice. Good luck!

I agree that saving calories for another day will only cause you to blow that day.  You will be starved by then and really make bad food choices.  I vote stay on your normal calories for the day.  Try and choose wise food on your outings with your friends on that day.  If you mess up. forgive yourself and start fresh the next meal.  Don't let food have that much control over you.  Life is to short to constantly be thinking of your food intake.  When you can reach that goal, I promise decisions on food will become alot easier.  I have been over-weight most of my life.  When I finally said food you are not my life, then I was able to control my eating.  I was a binge eater.  I have lost 30 lbs. in the last year.  I have taken days off for special events. 

Thanks for the help guys, I'll eat my veggis today like a good girl and just have a good time tomorrow. Like you say, one day will not ruin months of hard work, and what's the point of all of this if I can't enjoy life (in moderation).

I think you can eat fewer calories the day before but not 8-900. Don't go below 1200-1300 but I do watch on the day or two before my two weekly cheat meals. I still watch with the cheat meal. Don't get mayo, order grilled skip the sour cream but when I know I am going to be eating a lot one day I watch. You can shift like that but just don' go too low or you will be overly hungry and it is not good to drop below 1200 ever.

Late post! But...

I do not think that there is anything wrong with banking calories at all. Forgive me if I am wrong. I lost my weight in such a practice. I never went below 1200 in one day though. Say you have (unsure what you actually have, this is for argument's sake...) 1500 per day, so that is 10,500 per week. If you indulge a little and have 2500 in one day then that leaves you 1333 per day for the other six days. Further to this, I found that I reved up my weight loss when I did consume more energy! I didn't do it all the time of course. What is more, who will consume the exact same amount of cals each day for the rest of their life?! It's all about a balance.

I think Nell's right. I was actually sick last week. Nausea kept me from eating for 24 hours. The next day I pigged out. When I weighed myself on the third day - I had lost 1.9 pounds. This is not a healthy way to do it but I truly believe that having high calorie days causes you to burn the calories faster. (I wouldn't suggest having more than 1 per week)

PS. I hope you REALLY enjoy that burger and fries. After all, we will be living vicariously through you today!

Original Post by nelly1880:

Late post! But...

I do not think that there is anything wrong with banking calories at all. Forgive me if I am wrong. I lost my weight in such a practice. I never went below 1200 in one day though. Say you have (unsure what you actually have, this is for argument's sake...) 1500 per day, so that is 10,500 per week. If you indulge a little and have 2500 in one day then that leaves you 1333 per day for the other six days. Further to this, I found that I reved up my weight loss when I did consume more energy! I didn't do it all the time of course. What is more, who will consume the exact same amount of cals each day for the rest of their life?! It's all about a balance.

calorie-cycling. worked very well for me as well- 25 lbs in 2 months! and it's stayed off!