NSV - birthday overeating...or not?

mkwalk

So I had my panicked moment of "I need to do something about this" realization about a week ago, a few days before my 25th birthday. I took a day to wallow in misery, then promptly got back on the bandwagon. I stocked up on vegetables, started exercising, and tracked everything.

Monday was my birthday, and I figured I'd probably fall apart a bit. It is so hard not to treat yourself on the one day that you are basically permitted by society to eat cake and whatever else you desire. I was going to have a potluck in the park with a few friends, so I figured I'd bike there and only bring healthy foods - a big tray of cilantro lime shrimp, watermelon, and raw french green beans - all things I like, all low in calories. I left my birthday gathering feeling terrible about myself - I ate too much because I was sitting around hanging out with friends and not really paying attention to what I was putting in my mouth.

When I got home, I figured that I should probably put it all into MFP and see what damage I did. Tons of watermelon, shrimp, some guacamole and chips, more watermelon. Turns out, I stayed under my calorie limit! Eating 4 cups of watermelon might not make you feel the greatest afterwards, but it isn't as bad as eating cake and ice cream.

I stuck to my goals, even on my birthday. I didn't have cake, didn't drink, didn't eat any of my favorite (fattening) foods. I still had an awesome birthday, and, looking back, I don't regret a gigantic meal that I'll have to burn off now.

kfheston78

Woot!! Gratz on the NSV!

Look, overeating occaisionally is not what does the damage. It is letting yourself feel guilty and wallowing in it that does.

I ate WAY over my calories yesterday. And lost two pounds. When people diet a while consistently, the reason they plateau is that the body registers a period of famine. It dates back to prehistoric times when food was scarce. The body responds by storing fat. A little indulgence here and there (especially on healthy foods) can actually work in your FAVOR! Just don't bank on it.