Over for the first time. Ugh.

alicaramik2

So...today I went over my allotted calories for the first time. It's less than 100 cals. but I can't help feeling like I've failed myself. I know I should just shake it off and resolve to do better tomorrow. Truth is, I want to hide in my room and cry. Has anyone else gone over and how do you handle it?

malibu927

As you said, shake it off and resolve to do better tomorrow. One day over will not do any damage, and you're still under your maintenance calories.

skinnyD2308

Not sure what your goals are but if you're trying to lose weight and eating at a deficit most days, 100 calories "over" on one day will likely not even show on the scale in a week. It takes 3500 calories to gain 1 pound, and that is 3500 over your "maintenance" calories.

On the other hand, negative thinking and expecting "perfection" from yourself at all times can set you up for added stress, poor self esteem, and abandoning your goals if you can't do it "perfectly".

For myself, I just have a goal to eat under my maintenance calories more days than not. I try for a 400-150 calorie deficit most days but on "hungry days" allow myself to eat to maintenance, and I allow myself to go over on special occasions, cause, really I'm just trying to figure out how to eat for life. Whatever changes you're attempting to make, make them livable and enjoyable, none of that includes beating yourself up over 100 calories. When I started my journey 255 days ago, I decided to log the good the bad, the ugly and use the information as a guide to changes, as a feedback loop as to how what I put in my body affects my weight AND wellbeing. I eat under my maintenance calories about 70% of the time. I'd like to get it to 90-95% (and some months, Dec and Jan, I was only succeeding 56% of the time), but I've lost 36 pounds, by being consistent with logging, and not letting one bad day get in the way of moving forward, even on days when I log an extra 1000 calories. And 8 months later, the overages are getting less dramatic and less frequent (with the exception of the three weeks around Christmas and New Years). Perfection isn't necessary, persistence and being good to yourself are. Just make a plan for tomorrow, include food you enjoy within your goals, maybe even prep some of tomorrow's food. Sometimes making a plan for success the next day can help shift your focus to what you can change for tomorrow instead of eating yourself up for today's actions.

alicaramik2

Thank you both for the support. I usually have about 200 calories left at the end of the day, so I know I will be ok at the end of the week. I guess I'm just disappointed in myself. I knew I was full during dinner but I still finished everything. I feel so uncomfortably stuffed right now. I hope I can use this as a reminder next time that I don't like this feeling.

missiontofitness

alicaramik2 wrote: »

Thank you both for the support. I usually have about 200 calories left at the end of the day, so I know I will be ok at the end of the week. I guess I'm just disappointed in myself. I knew I was full during dinner but I still finished everything. I feel so uncomfortably stuffed right now. I hope I can use this as a reminder next time that I don't like this feeling.

What is your daily calorie goal?

prattiger65

I dont even look at calories as a daily goal. I look weekly and monthly. I am sometimes over by 100's on any given day, but I am just as likely to be under by 100's as well. I look at my last 7 day average and try to keep it where it ought to be. Sometimes even weekly I'm over, but never monthly. ( bear in mind when I say "over" I mean cutting into my deficit.)

allenpriest

Make the next right choice. Then cut yourself some slack.

annaheyoolay

I went over today as well, for a cherry valentine Good Times frozen custard. I regret nothing.

SergeantSausage

Harden up.

It's the first of many more and you know what? You'll still lose weight.

missiontofitness

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Harden up.

It's the first of many more and you know what? You'll still lose weight.

Can I just say your username is very amusing and I like it?

David2788

annaheyoolay wrote: »

I went over today as well, for a cherry valentine Good Times frozen custard. I regret nothing.

haha!!! love this

obscuremusicreference

alicaramik2 wrote: »

Thank you both for the support. I usually have about 200 calories left at the end of the day, so I know I will be ok at the end of the week. I guess I'm just disappointed in myself. I knew I was full during dinner but I still finished everything. I feel so uncomfortably stuffed right now. I hope I can use this as a reminder next time that I don't like this feeling.

Okay, but on a daily basis, going under the goal that MFP gave you when you put in your information means that you are probably not fueling your body properly. And when you beat yourself up for going over once, you're engaging in disordered thinking that is harmful to your mental health.

Be kind to yourself.

segacs

Yeah, if you're 200 under or more every day, then you're probably not eating enough. MFP gives you a calorie goal, you should aim to eat that many calories.

Think of it like a game of blackjack: Try to get as close as possible to your daily goal without going over.

And 100 calories over on one day is no big deal. Look at weekly deficits.

Merkavar

alicaramik2 wrote: »

So...today I went over my allotted calories for the first time. It's less than 100 cals. but I can't help feeling like I've failed myself. I know I should just shake it off and resolve to do better tomorrow. Truth is, I want to hide in my room and cry. Has anyone else gone over and how do you handle it?

Well considering you didn't fail anything you should shake it off. You just didn't get an A+ and a gold star sticker.

Assuming you have a 500 cal deficit and went over by 100 so now your at a 400 deficit. Still a deficit isn't it?

Now if you went over by 500 or 1000 cal and completely obliterated your deficit then sure you failed and should feel bad, for like 40 sec and then decide to do better tomorrow and that's it.

jenilla1

Over by 100 is still a deficit, so YOU WIN! (*)

pjcfrancis

It's impossible to always hit the goal. As posted above, going too low can harm your body. Going a little over once in a while is life. Many people have stated it's the total over a longer period that makes the big difference. Every day is a new day. I wake up each morning and try to do the best I can at everything I do. Sometimes at the end of the day I'm satisfied; sometimes I know the places I could have done better. I'm not one of those people who weigh everything that they eat, so I like to leave some room for error in my estimates, and usually eat a little under my goal.

DopeItUp

I'm guessing I've gone over around 1000 times at this point. It's not a big deal.

AmyRhubarb

I go over on a regular basis, at least once a week. 100 calories is not a big deal, especially if it's not a regular thing. You'll be just fine.

Honestly, anything within 100 cals on either side of my goal and I'm happy.

alicaramik2

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it. Right now, my daily goal is 1480. So far, I've been under without being hungry. It doesn't seem right to stuff myself just to hit that number.
Mostly, I'm worried about falling back into bad habits. Eating for the wrong reasons, like boredom or stress. I didn't stop when I knew I was full, just kept on simply because it was there. Things look clearer today and I think I'm back on track.