Would you freak out if you ate 3,000 calories

retro_gamer

Hi, I'm a guy trying to lose weight I'm 200 pounds and try to eat 1500 calories a day, been doing good for a few days now but my mom brought me food from Wendy's and now my calories are like 2800 when I was at 1800. I would usually beat myself up over it but for some reason I just don't care, I guess I'm just so used to sabotaging my diet.

jelleigh

Don't sweat a single day - it doesn't need to make or break things. Keep an eye on your weekly calorie goals (you can find it in the Nutrition section) and just try to average your daily goal. Then it's not a big deal if you have a day that's high.
Also, you don't mention your stats, but for a lot of guys 1500 cal might be low. Remember that typically you should only be cutting like 500 calories off your TDEE , or have a goal to lose 1% of your total weight. My hubby is a big guy and can burn upwards of 4000 calories per day. So he can easily eat 3000 calories and STILL lose 2 lbs a week. It really depends on your stats.

DarxPhil

It happens, you just have to get back on it again. In regards to the question, yes i probably would be a little disappointed and angry, but this is a continuing effort, a single day doesn't bring it all down.

malibu927

Nope, because that's not too far over my Fitbit burn on a busy work day (like today I'm at 2971 calories burned at 10:40 PM with 14,000 steps). And even if I didn't burn that much, it's just one day.

Alatariel75

I'm a 180lb woman and I wouldn't be fussed, because that's only about 400 over my TDEE, and it's only one day. But when you're consistently eating over your goal, and chopping and changing plans, and self sabotaging, and having as many issues as you seem to do, you've gotta wonder when you are going to hit the point of either dedicating, or not. Are you seeking any professional help or support, either dietary or generally?

MegaMooseEsq

I've hit 3200-3500 four times this month, and 2700 another three times. I've also lost almost five pounds. I work the big nights into my calorie budget, no freaking out necessary. If you like a big fast food meal once or twice a week, just build it into your goals. I'm at 185 right now and I'm just treating this whole weight loss thing very gradually. If I want to get to my goal weight I'll have to dial back the 3k days, but for right now, I'm still eating a lot less than I was a year ago, and the weight loss has only been accelerating.

Heather4448

Nope.

cmriverside

My goal is 1700 daily. About once a week I hit 3000...and that's with not that much exercise, so it puts me over by about 1000. Hasn't affected me at all. I don't freak out about food overages any more. It's just not a big deal.

ShrinkingViolet1982

Is this an option for next time - split the meal. When that happens to me (and my husband does it a fair bit!) I try to split the meal and add veg/salad on the side from home, and eat the rest for lunch the next day. Then you still get to enjoy it, but it isn't as emotionally draining. Possible for you?

xvolution

If it's only once in a while then it's fine. I sometimes do the same with a chinese restaurant we occasionally go to (usually twice a month) and count that as two meals while sticking to the meal plan for the rest of the time.

mengqiz86

I would, I did it maybe 2-3 times over the past year and I freaked out every single time. But that's just me and I wouldn't recommend it. If I have the power to say "F it life goes on" I would.

SCoil123

I've had days where I've eaten at maintenance or even gone over. It's not a huge deal. Normally I'll try to cut an extra 100 calories every day for the rest of the week to still hit my deficit goal though

shadyj26

Don't feel bad, I need about that many calories per day to maintain. With that being said, I do watch where my calories are coming from.

cat_caffeine

Honestly I think it's FAR better to log the calories and move on instead of beating yourself up, slacking on logging or just feeling crappy about it. It's a journey, it's a lifestyle change, it is whatever it is but in the end it will not be the make or break in the long term unless you choose to do it daily, and even then, if you're logging honestly...at least you know where your calories are coming from and have that as a tool to know where to start.

Also as others have mentioned often your TDEE is much higher than you think and a day here or there with more calories isn't going to overly affect your progress until you are very close to your goal...and even then, when you're in maintenance you're still going to fluctuate over a few pounds

laurabadams

DebLaBounty

Well, we all have those days. Just get back at it! And ask your mom for help in avoiding temptation. I'm sure she just wanted to give you a treat, but...

DamieBird

Nope. I ate 3k+ calories probably 3 times in the past month. I still lose in track, and I'm 180 pound woman. You have nothing to freak out about. Log the cals, move on. Just don't make a habit of it and you'll be fine.

Lleldiranne

Chances are that, as a 200 pound male, 1500 calories is an aggressive deficit. So, eating 3000 calories in one day isn't going to put you over your weekly calorie goal to lose weight. It may even be that 1500 calories is too low (more info would help - height, age, activity level, goal) for long term sustainability and eating that 3000 calories is in reaction to that.

I wouldn't stress it.

PAV8888

If this is the first time this happened to you this week... you SHOULDN'T care, because over the long haul it is not a big deal. Your too low for a 200lb guy 1500 may be a bigger concern.

If this is the THIRD time this happened to you this week... you SHOULD care, because you're getting to be on track to not eating at a deficit. Again in that case your too low for a 200lb guy target of 1500 may be the cause (because it is making things too hard for you) and may be a bigger concern.

Not sure about your height and age... but it is not particularly hard for a guy to reach a TDEE in the high 2K/low 3K range. In that case 3K would not even be above maintenance. However 1500 WOULD be too low.

How many lbs do you have to lose? Are you sure you should be aiming for 2lbs a week? A deficit of 500 Cal a day over 52 weeks = 26lbs.... that would put you in the 175lb range. Think about it.

Alatariel75

DebLaBounty wrote: »

Well, we all have those days. Just get back at it! And ask your mom for help in avoiding temptation. I'm sure she just wanted to give you a treat, but...

Wait, doesn't OP claim to have a 37 year old son in another thread? How often is presumably elderly mom buying him food?

solovino1

Just did it last Friday. I survived. Down 0.6 lbs today. Just made a temporary CICO adjustment. Like you I was (and am) conscious if what took place. That's a key issue in winning at this.

ninerbuff

No because I can eat that to maintain my current weight.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

thunderchild007

I ate 4,700 yesterday and I'm on 1800. its 1 day, I am not going to beat myself up about it or it will spiral in to the whole week being that way.

Be kind to yourself, you are human after all.

Hopefully today I will stick to the 1800 as planned in my diary.

Have a good day x

Mezzie1024

I don't see a problem with sometimes having high calorie days (and when I do high calorie, I go way over 3000). The key is just not to do that too often.

TavistockToad

retro_gamer wrote: »

Hi, I'm a guy trying to lose weight I'm 200 pounds and try to eat 1500 calories a day, been doing good for a few days now but my mom brought me food from Wendy's and now my calories are like 2800 when I was at 1800. I would usually beat myself up over it but for some reason I just don't care, I guess I'm just so used to sabotaging my diet.

i thought you had a grown up son, yet your mom bought you food from Wendys?! :huh: :laugh:

TavistockToad

Alatariel75 wrote: »

DebLaBounty wrote: »

Well, we all have those days. Just get back at it! And ask your mom for help in avoiding temptation. I'm sure she just wanted to give you a treat, but...

Wait, doesn't OP claim to have a 37 year old son in another thread? How often is presumably elderly mom buying him food?

great minds....

valkongr

Nope, I had multiple times on my weight loss journey (birthdays, christmas, easter, other) and just balanced the other days. For example, if I consumed 3k one day, the next days of the current week I will eat 200 calories less per day, or if I am in the middle of the week I would cut from my previous days. In the end of the week I won't lose as much but I won't gain anything and I would be happy because I ate with my family/friends on that special occasion. If you don't even cut you will still lose weight, I am doing that because I feel better.

smh_cliff

Don't blame your mum, unless you have specifically told her you are trying to lose weight. Even then, if she bought it after being asked not to, you are within your rights to refuse it. It was your choice, but 3000 cal on one day is not a big deal, just eat a bit less tomorrow and the next day.

MegaMooseEsq

TavistockToad wrote: »

retro_gamer wrote: »

Hi, I'm a guy trying to lose weight I'm 200 pounds and try to eat 1500 calories a day, been doing good for a few days now but my mom brought me food from Wendy's and now my calories are like 2800 when I was at 1800. I would usually beat myself up over it but for some reason I just don't care, I guess I'm just so used to sabotaging my diet.

i thought you had a grown up son, yet your mom bought you food from Wendys?! :huh: :laugh:

You all might be reading too much into this. I'm 34 and have lived on my own since I was 18, but every so often my mom might call up and say "can you get together tonight, I'll bring Chinese!" Presumably anyone with enough facilities to drive a car could do the same.

TavistockToad

MegaMooseEsq wrote: »

TavistockToad wrote: »

retro_gamer wrote: »

Hi, I'm a guy trying to lose weight I'm 200 pounds and try to eat 1500 calories a day, been doing good for a few days now but my mom brought me food from Wendy's and now my calories are like 2800 when I was at 1800. I would usually beat myself up over it but for some reason I just don't care, I guess I'm just so used to sabotaging my diet.

i thought you had a grown up son, yet your mom bought you food from Wendys?! :huh: :laugh:

You all might be reading too much into this. I'm 34 and have lived on my own since I was 18, but every so often my mom might call up and say "can you get together tonight, I'll bring Chinese!" Presumably anyone with enough facilities to drive a car could do the same.

you haven't been here long, have you?!

MegaMooseEsq

TavistockToad wrote: »

MegaMooseEsq wrote: »

TavistockToad wrote: »

retro_gamer wrote: »

Hi, I'm a guy trying to lose weight I'm 200 pounds and try to eat 1500 calories a day, been doing good for a few days now but my mom brought me food from Wendy's and now my calories are like 2800 when I was at 1800. I would usually beat myself up over it but for some reason I just don't care, I guess I'm just so used to sabotaging my diet.

i thought you had a grown up son, yet your mom bought you food from Wendys?! :huh: :laugh:

You all might be reading too much into this. I'm 34 and have lived on my own since I was 18, but every so often my mom might call up and say "can you get together tonight, I'll bring Chinese!" Presumably anyone with enough facilities to drive a car could do the same.

you haven't been here long, have you?!

Not as a poster, why? As I being too generous, or is there a secret about Chinese food no one's telling me? I live in the Midwest - I assume my mom will be bringing over food until she dies.