How about "banking calories": cutting back now so you can binge later?

 How about "banking calories": cutting back now so you can binge later?

Imagine you have an upcoming banquet or holiday party but are trying to stick to a diet. You're looking forward to a hearty dinner and an open bar with an abundance of "party snacks." You can't say for sure that the food will be healthy, but you know for sure that you'll be in the mood to party! What are your options? Is it wise to limit your food intake in the morning in preparation for a lavish lunch?
The concept I just described is called "banking calories," and it's a typical strategy among dieters. It's like saving money: you eat less now, so you can eat more later. The correct response, though, is that you should not "bank calories!" if you are truly committed to your fitness and nutrition plans. This is the wrong thing to do, and here's why:
To begin, if you're being really forthright with yourself, you'll admit that the vast majority of gatherings provide some sort of nutritious food. Those tables at holiday gatherings that seem to have an infinite supply of food and drink are covered in what looks like yards of chips, dips, pretzels, cookies, salami, sweets, cheese, punch, and booze. Besides the turkey breast, there's generally a tray of healthy snacks, including carrot sticks, celery, fruit, and celery.

Any given situation always presents you with a set of choices; the key is to maximize those choices to the best of your ability. A tiny serving of "party foods" is better than a large one, if nothing else.
If you're only concerned with calorie counting, skipping meals or eating less during the day to save room for a late-night binge will deprive you of the protein (amino acids), carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs throughout the day, in addition to the small, frequent meals that keep your metabolism running smoothly.
Worse yet, cutting back on breakfast food in the morning in preparation for an evening feast is more likely to make you hungry in the afternoon, leading you to overeat when the time comes.
You won't be tempted to overeat in the evening if you consume healthy food earlier in the day because it will fill you up. Foods rich in fiber, good fats, and, most importantly, lean protein have the greatest effect on reducing hunger.
Personally, I'm not a fan of "banking calories." Your body doesn't function that way; instead, it seeks balance by regulating your hunger so that you end up eating the same amount of calories regardless.
Why, even if it were effective, would you put on weight by starving yourself in an effort to burn more fat, just to gain it all back when you binge? Why even bother letting yourself get fat?
Overeating once in a while isn't going to hurt as much as a pattern of hunger and bingeing. This kind of behavior may even be considered bordering on disordered eating, according to certain nutritionists.
The best course of action is to proceed as normal during the day, eating nutritious little meals, and then reward yourself with a "cheat meal," but be careful to limit yourself to a moderate serving.
If you're worried about how special occasion eating may affect your body composition, you can relax knowing that following the law of calorie balance won't be a problem at parties, restaurants, banquets, or holiday dinners. But you can't hope to avoid bad outcomes by starving and bingeing.
You don't need to be a total "party pooper" or give up all of your favorite foods in order to lose weight and eat healthily; what you do need is the self-control to eat according to your plan the majority of the time and watch your portion sizes.

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