Does anyone bank calories?
 

Lets say that I strive for 1400 calories a day and only eat 1200. Do any of you use those two hundred calories and put them on the next day so you can eat 1600 if you want?

I use sparkpeople which gives me a range of 1370 to 1720 per day. I usually eat at around the 1600 level, but if I eat at the 1400 level I don't add 200 to the next days.

Maybe use a range instead of a number to account for changes.

I do that. I have not thought of it as "banking" but I see how you think of it like that. I average my calories weekly with a target of 1400 to 1500 average. Really the 1500 is the highest I will go. It has worked well for me especially to save some calories for special days.

If I'm not extra hungry the next day I'll wait until a day that I am. Though I've found that I'm often hungrier the next day and need it.

I don't usually think of it that way... I might eat lighter earlier in the day if I'm going to be eating out later, and I guess in a way that's "banking"--but the analogy makes me a little uncomfortable. Not sure why. Maybe it's because while one is "saving up," the body isn't getting enough nutrients.

Jay

I don't bank the calories, but I have a bodybugg that tells me exactly how many I burn and I aim for a 1000 calorie deficit every day. If I get over 1000 calorie deficit then if I'm hungry the next day I may add those calories in. So, it's not exactly the same thing but sorta I guess.

However, I only will use them the next day and I don't really plan for it or anything.

No, I think that is likely to backfire on me, like I would decide to eat 600 a day for a week and then eat a whole jar of peanut butter or something. I tend to think of my count as being like that guy's memory in memento. The last 24 or so hours are relevant, longer than that is out of range. So I might eat a little less tonight because of big plans tomorrow, but I will still try to be on plan tomorrow anyway, because by tomorrow night tonight will have faded into oblivion.

I aim for a weekly average of 1800 cal/day. I tend to stay between 1500 and 2100 calories.

The reason I ask is because a lot of time I'll count up my calories after lunch and realize that I am low so I'll have a higher calorie dinner. I am worried that this could be bad to eat let's say 600 calories all at once. But I guess as long as you stay within your calories its all good....??

In my books it's fine... It's an overall total/average I think... most people tend to have the biggest meal of the day at dinnertime. Just try not to go over your magic number... ;)