Tip for not using your daily calories too fast

Dsgnr

If you find towards the end of the day you don't have enough calories left for dinner try this tip. I often add quick calories at the beginning of the day. For example, I'll add 500 quick calories to the dinner category and 300 to the lunch category. I find it easier to see what calories I have free for snacking knowing that I'll have calories available for lunch and dinner. When I eat lunch and dinner I delete the quick calories I entered and add the actual meal. I find this works well.

zoeysasha37

I prelog it. I know what I'm going to be eating in advance so can spread my calories. If something changes during the day, I can just go back in and change it. Planning my meals and snacks ahead of time, helps me stay on track

Rmfowler1990

I prelog it. I know what I'm going to be eating in advance so can spread my calories. If something changes during the day, I can just go back in and change it.

This is what I do too. I typically have the same thing for breakfast, and pack my lunch the night before so I know how much I have left for snacking and dinner the night before. If I don't finish my prelogged food (or forget it at home lol) I'll just adjust my diary.

janiceclark08

I like the idea of putting in quick add calories, for your dinner or late snack, that way you got a good amount saved for later. I dont pre log because I vary everyday on what I eat, I don't see doing that for me.

marypresent

Good tip Dsgnr- I'll have to try that!

StephanieL14

I prelog it. I know what I'm going to be eating in advance so can spread my calories. If something changes during the day, I can just go back in and change it. Planning my meals and snacks ahead of time, helps me stay on track

I do this, too. Makes it easy to adjust lunch/snacks if needed.

AllieLosingIt

I'm terrible at pre-logging food because for some reason I always end up feeling like I'm hungry, but this might help. Thanks!

SherryTeach

Isn't adding quick calories at the beginning of the day the same as setting all your clocks back so you won't be late? In both cases, you really know the real time/calorie count.

I usually plan the day ahead of time and log at least breakfast, morning snack, and lunch. I can always make adjustments later if I haven't decided on the whole day.

In general, I don't think tricking myself about anything is a good idea.

janiceclark08

I think of it as saving for later, just pre planning, instead of pre logging, not really tricking yourself .

meshashesha2012

how low is your calorie goal that you're running out by dinner?


and if you can't control what you're eating during the day just prelog that day. i dont think tricking yourself is doing any favors in the long run to learn good habits

SherryTeach

I like to know during the day how many calories I have really eaten. Then I can compare my feelings of hunger to what I have actually eaten. I really like reality.

Deipneus

I prelog it. I know what I'm going to be eating in advance so can spread my calories. If something changes during the day, I can just go back in and change it. Planning my meals and snacks ahead of time, helps me stay on track

I need to get back to doing that. I used to.

KameHameHaaaa

I think you should do whatever works for you. Whether it's pre-logging, or logging as you go but saving calories for later, etc. Remember your "reality" might not be the same as someone else's, since we're all different people with different ways of life, schedules, personalities etc.

Personally I don't use quick calories, but I do mentally save a bunch of calories for later in the day/night because I am a night owl/night time eater. I have dinner at like 10pm so it just makes sense to me. And as you can see by my ticker, it has helped so far But again, to each their own. The quick calories thing is a good idea for those people that work better that way, just like pre-logging is a good idea for those people that work better with pre-logging. Happy sunday people

Serah87

Isn't adding quick calories at the beginning of the day the same as setting all your clocks back so you won't be late? In both cases, you really know the real time/calorie count.

I usually plan the day ahead of time and log at least breakfast, morning snack, and lunch. I can always make adjustments later if I haven't decided on the whole day.

In general, I don't think tricking myself about anything is a good idea.

Agree with her. ^^

Infamous624

I have been trying to wait to log in any exercising I did until the evening so it gives me those extra calories, or I exercise a little after dinner so if I go over I can burn it off... motivates me to actually exercise because I am also terrible at having enough dinner calories left over!

Athijade

I prelog and start with dinner (usually doing the whole week of dinners ahead of time once I make my plans). Then I work back from that. Never have I had an issue with running out of calories, but I also use the TDEE method so I don't end up being told to only eat 1200.

_Zardoz_

Personally this seems like a roundabout way to do it. I know the main meals I'm going to have I've a pretty good idea of my exercise and the sort of calories I'll burn. So I plan my meals in advance with some leeway for any snacks and possible changes. Pre logging[planning your meals is normally a far better option as you can then always pair up higher calorie lunch for example with a lower calorie dinner. It's also easier to balance out macros this way and are less likely to under eat as well which is just as important

In the end it's what works for you though

Deipneus

In general, I don't think tricking myself about anything is a good idea.

Agree with her. ^^

Interesting. The clock trick doesn't work for me but I love mental tricks. The obstacles to weight loss and fitness are more mental than physical and mental tricks help a lot of people overcome their subconcious' aversion to healthy habits.

Holla4mom

I guess I am thinking if it's not a helpful tip for you, than by all means ignore it and don't use it.

If this is a helpful tip for you, than use it.



I personally do a rough pre-logging and purposely plan lighter breakfast/ lunch calories because I especially enjoy eating my calories in peace (not at work, and after the kids are in bed!)

dearannna

If you find towards the end of the day you don't have enough calories left for dinner try this tip. I often add quick calories at the beginning of the day. For example, I'll add 500 quick calories to the dinner category and 300 to the lunch category. I find it easier to see what calories I have free for snacking knowing that I'll have calories available for lunch and dinner. When I eat lunch and dinner I delete the quick calories I entered and add the actual meal. I find this works well.

Thanks for this tip - I think it'll be a really good tip for when I am not sure what I am going to eat throughout the day.

riotatme23

I preplan my lunches when I get to work based on the cafeteria menu. If the menu says something I don't want or they switch it up last minute I adjust it accordingly.

I treat my meal diary and planning like a guideline, not like a Bible.

icrushit

Great idea! Putting in some quick calories as a placeholder seems a great idea. Generally I'm happy to do the math in my head to get an idea of what calories I need to set aside for later, but this seems like a handy way I may try.

MoveitlikeManda

I pre log too.

It helps me because i know what im having each day, and also helps me planning the weekly shopping list of things i need to buy.

Infact I have just pre logged every day untill next saturday.

Even when pre logging and have put in a good breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack, I still have a few calories left for each day that if i have any extra snack etc i can simply add it the day I have it. but how my meals are planned and set out i dont usually have to add any other snacks.

I also find that pre logging helps me stay on track for the fact Im already planned around the day and the kids.
It can be hard to remember things when im running around after all 4 of them so if I already have it set out, come lunch time I just have a quick look and see what im doing.
And i usually weigh out my food the night before so its ready to slap together saving me even more time during the day.

AmyRhubarb

I eat breakfast, log it, then plan and pre-log that day's dinner - helpful for filling in lunch and snacks, and because I need to figure out what's for dinner anyway! Win win!

But yeah - if I have breakfast and dinner logged, then I can make better choices for lunch, aiming for more protein or whatever, and have more freedom with snacks during the day as well.

Seabee74

Yea and I set my clock ahead 15 minutes so I'm never late ... Only problem, I know it's fast !

Timmi1978

If you find towards the end of the day you don't have enough calories left for dinner try this tip. I often add quick calories at the beginning of the day. For example, I'll add 500 quick calories to the dinner category and 300 to the lunch category. I find it easier to see what calories I have free for snacking knowing that I'll have calories available for lunch and dinner. When I eat lunch and dinner I delete the quick calories I entered and add the actual meal. I find this works well.

Thank you for sharing, a great idea!

Dsgnr

I'm not tricking myself. It's an easy way for me to see how many calories are available for snacking. I love snacking! If I do know ahead of time what I will be having for meals I log them ahead of time instead of the quick calories. Whatever works is what counts

silentKayak

I find it really helpful to log JUST BEFORE you make/order food. For example, if I'm making lunch which is tuna salad and crackers, I might decide to have half as many crackers or maybe switch out the mayo for greek yogurt in the salad.

Or if I'm eating out, I usually use the mobile app to log right before I order. This weekend I went to brunch and ordered a "healthy" (hah!) eggs florentine ... only to discover AFTER I ate that the hollandaise sauce has like 300 calories. I never knew that before, and if I had, I never would have eaten it. So logging first helps you make better decisions, which is really what it's all about.

StrawberryJam40

I have been trying to wait to log in any exercising I did until the evening so it gives me those extra calories, or I exercise a little after dinner so if I go over I can burn it off... motivates me to actually exercise because I am also terrible at having enough dinner calories left over!

B4 I started using MFP I would do that. I would go walk off my ice cream before I allowed myself to eat it. Go walk, then relax with my little 'bowl' of ice cream.

Since MFP I add treats into my count and have less cravings anyway.

sofaking6

Isn't adding quick calories at the beginning of the day the same as setting all your clocks back so you won't be late? In both cases, you really know the real time/calorie count.

I usually plan the day ahead of time and log at least breakfast, morning snack, and lunch. I can always make adjustments later if I haven't decided on the whole day.

In general, I don't think tricking myself about anything is a good idea.

I'm the opposite, I like to trick myself. I set the clock ahead (only the bedroom one which might be even weirder than doing all of them), hide money thru direct deposit, whatever I can think of. I have a 'spend it if you've got it' mindset that I just have to fool to beat.

I prelog whatever I can, and I do plan out what I'm going to eat and just leave 1-200 cals for snacks.

marissanik

I track ahead and then if I still want to eat more I go exercise. I would probably forget about the quick calories