How long do calories/macros take to work?

deadybai

Lets say my calorie intake needs to be 2000 cals for the day for weightloss.

For arguments sake I eat a huge breakfast at 9am and it comes to 2000 calories. When it gets to 9pm that evening I'm starving but I cant eat because I ate my limit for the day.

Does this mean I cannot eat anything because I had my 2000 cals or else I would sabotage my weightloss? When do the calories actual go into my body?

Now this is an extreme example but the same thing goes for macro intake. Does hitting protein goals in one meal in the morning mean that I dont need to eat protein for another 24hrs?

Alf Veedersane

deadybai wrote: »

Lets say my calorie intake needs to be 2000 cals for the day for weightloss.

For arguments sake I eat a huge breakfast at 9am and it comes to 2000 calories. When it gets to 9pm that evening I'm starving but I cant eat because I ate my limit for the day.

Does this mean I cannot eat anything because I had my 2000 cals or else I would sabotage my weightloss? When do the calories actual go into my body?

Now this is an extreme example but the same thing goes for macro intake. Does hitting protein goals in one meal in the morning mean that I dont need to eat protein for another 24hrs?

It's not that black and white.

Days are used as a timeframe for calories and macros but the body doesn't think in 24 hour timeframes.

If you go over one day, you can offset that across the rest of the week so that your total weekly calorie intake can be in line with your goals.

Days are good time frames to use because it allows you to manage your intake better.

As regards protein, you're better getting protein in at each meal.

Cake Man

As above, your body has no concept of time and contrary to what some think your metabolism doesn't just stop or slow down when it comes to bed time.


If you take in say 300cals over your limit one day, just take in 300 less the next day etc.

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

As regards protein, you're better getting protein in at each meal.

This. It's a lot easier to take it say 20-40g protein per meal throughout the day rather than, for example, trying to chug down 2 or 3 large chicken breasts at dinner. Not saying you couldn't do it but I wouldn't see it as making it easy on yourself.