Anyone eat less calories on days they don't workout?

[biggquis]

If so, why do you do it? I've seen it mentioned a couple of times, but I'd like to know the logic behind it

[AllApologies]

For me, nothing destroys my appetite more than leg day; however, the day after is a different story.

So, no, I usually eat more on non-workout days.

But, the reason is a different TDEE between the days. Considering I am cutting, and need to be at a deficit, it is counter-intuitive to eat more on rest days. However, this is just what I enjoy and it works for me. Isn't that what this is all about.

At the end of 7 days, I will be at a 7,000 calorie deficit, and I will the associated two pounds. It matters little how the extra 200 calories were distributed between workout and non-workout days.

[dmacdonal9]

I believe there may be some advantage to eating more calories closer to your workouts on training days, and fewer calories further away from your workouts (on rest days), in an effort to optimize calorie partitioning.

It's a level of fine tuning that may or may not result in any noticeable effect, but I think I've seen benefits from it.

[lee__d]

I typically have two or three days where I lower calories. Just easier to eat less on some days.

I like upping carbs on w/o days.

Edit: the logic: More carbs/cals to keep intensity up on w/o days. On off days, you can get by with lower cals/carbs. That's all. Keep in mind, everything is continuous, so it's not like you can severely restrict calories/carbs on off days.

[JVRICHARDS]

Simple enough. On workout days, you create a higher caloric deficit. On non-workout days you must consume lower calories to maintain that same deficit. The goal in fat loss is that deficit.

[Tommy W.]

.

. It matters little how the extra 200 calories were distributed between workout and non-workout days.

this

[lee__d]

For me, nothing destroys my appetite more than leg day; however, the day after is a different story.

So, no, I usually eat more on non-workout days.

But, the reason is a different TDEE between the days. Considering I am cutting, and need to be at a deficit, it is counter-intuitive to eat more on rest days. However, this is just what I enjoy and it works for me. Isn't that what this is all about.

At the end of 7 days, I will be at a 7,000 calorie deficit, and I will the associated two pounds. It matters little how the extra 200 calories were distributed between workout and non-workout days.

this

In terms of body comp sure, but the timing of it could aid performance.

[RRJ]

I used to do it, noticed no difference whatsoever except that I enjoyed days I got to eat more than the days I got to eat less. Now I evenly distribute them.

[superstarrky]

Simple enough. On workout days, you create a higher caloric deficit. On non-workout days you must consume lower calories to maintain that same deficit. The goal in fat loss is that deficit.

Couldnt have said it better myself.

[cnh57811]

Yep. Sometimes i do this, but only cause deep down, im still a fat kid that likes stuffing my face.

[stingray72]

I havent done this but im considering doing 400 over three times a week (workout days) and evening it out on my off days by eating 300 less those days.

[JayHendo]

Not really. I usually eat more on workout days because I don't want to be in a deficit and I want to eat prior-to and after my workouts for fueling and recovery. I'm also trying to put on some lean body mass, so I eat slightly over maintenance on non-training days. On training days I eat enough to account for what I burned during my workout plus a couple hundred extra calories over that.

In the end it depends on your goals. If you're trying to cut BF or overall body weight, then you always want to be in a deficit, the opposite of that when you're goal is to bulk-up. When I'm doing neither, I hover around my maintenance calories.

[lee__d]

Not really. I usually eat more on workout days because I don't want to be in a deficit and I want to eat prior-to and after my workouts for fueling and recovery. I'm also trying to put on some lean body mass, so I eat slightly over maintenance on non-training days. On training days I eat enough to account for what I burned during my workout plus a couple hundred extra calories over that.

In the end it depends on your goals. If you're trying to cut BF or overall body weight, then you always want to be in a deficit, the opposite of that when you're goal is to bulk-up. When I'm doing neither, I hover around my maintenance calories.

You won't be cutting and adding muscle: you're not obese and a noob, a growing teen, coming off a long lifting break, or unnatural.

The long term deficit/surplus will matter. Eating more one day and less another day will only add to or subtract from your overall deficit.

[justmightbecraz]

I just tend to be ravenous after completing my weights and an hour of running.

[Kerune]

I do SOME sort of training every day to keep my TDEE away from a sedentary level, most days are lifting while lighter days involve calisthenics and dancing. My maintenance without the exercising is around 2000-2200 so I'm cutting at around 1700-1800, I believe people dramatically overestimate their cals burned from training, I may be burning 300-500 at most daily from exercise so I just keep my cals the same. FWIW I still feel great daily (4th week into cut) and have had no setbacks my calories so no need to change them yet.

[Tommy W.]

All you need to do is think more in terms of meeting a caloric goal on a weekly basis. I've found that eating at the proper time to fuel a good training sesh was all I was concerned with and everything else just had to fall into place caloricly according to goals.