recording calories on bad days

shaunshaikh

Hey guys! I started a few weeks ago, and have been extremely diligent about logging everything. the only time I didnt log, was the super bowl, because it was just too difficult to remember everything and quantify it. Well I just got a friend at work to join, and I don't think she is completely into it yet. She had a "bad" day today at lunch, so she said she didnt want to log her food for the day. I think it is important to log no matter what, that way it makes you more aware of what you are eating and therefore, more accountable. What are your opinions on logging food for days that you know you have gone over?

mamagooskie

sometimes I log them sometimes I don't. I've had some 4000-7000 calorie days I've logged and some I know were up there but it was too hard to log (maybe I drank too much and can't remember everything LOL.....or hit a buffet a bit too hard)

but I like to be accountable as often as I can.

Losing2Live69

Part of recovery (from an unhealthy lifestyle) is honesty and accountability.

italy1677

I'd log it just to see how much you over did it, however your friend shouldn't let it get them down, we all have a few bumps on the trail

kacarter1017

I think it's important to log every day, even if it was a "bad" day. Valuable lessons can be learned about eating habits, which categories were way over (carbs, fat, etc).

JaneZv

Part of recovery (from an unhealthy lifestyle) is honesty and accountability.

I agree. I log my food even on bad days and not logging it doesn't mean it didn't happen. I've eaten 6,000 calories in a day :embarassed: and i log that too lol. The only time i didn't log was during a road trip where i ate whole bunch of miscellaneous junk food making it impossible to quantify.

maffydavison

I made a promise to myself to log everything. I've had bad days where all the totals are in red because I went over my plan, but that's the way it goes. I weigh in now once a week, too - and log it. Last time, I went up; this time I'm down lower than ever before. It is reassuring to me to see the results of good behavior and bad behavior, and my progress report is more accurate. I'm not on a straight path - I'm human, make mistakes, and sometimes even do the right thing. It's okay if I inch up and down a little on the path to my goal. It's all me; it's all good; it's all part of the process.

I know what you mean about superbowl, though. I couldn't figure out HOW to log it. I knew the big things, but there was a whole lot of munching going on... In general, though, I log good and bad.

jrbanta

I log every day no matter what I eat. I'm afraid if I miss a day I may get out of my routine and start to slide down hill from the new habits I'm establishing.

Pandorian

Yeah, I have to log them good or bad days. It helps me when I go back to look at progress (or lack thereof) and can spot a particular bad day with a low loss on weigh-in day.

I've had a couple bad days, they tend to be days where I eat meals out instead of prepared at home. So just pushes me more to prepare meals at home, easier on my calorie goals, easier on the budget and I get ticked at restaurants where things are made their way only. Tried to get a club sandwich with the mayo on the side, but nope, so they won't get my business in the future.

But for me I have to record every day, be it good, or bad, like yesterdays... what 600 calorie day? Was ill and couldn't keep anything down. Today is back on track.

CougNurse2011

In all honesty, I log SOME bad days, and others I just dont.
I think its important to log on bad days tho. In a way it makes me feel better to quantify it all and see it "written on paper."

TonysMiss

I say log it!! No one on here is going to be judging because we are all on here for the same reason. Doesn't matter how much or how little we want to loose. Logging it will keep you accountable to yourself...........
I made a dish for dinner last night that I didn't want to put all the work into putting it "in' so I just did the "quick add" and it at least still gives you something. Something is better than nothing, right?

EricInArlington

I do them all, if not why would you even waste your time on MFP? other people looking at my food keeps me in line

ajbeans

I always do my best to log bad days as well as good days. It keeps me in line. There are times that I don't know exactly how much I ate, but in that case I'll do a quick add calories and just estimate what I think I might have eaten.

MakingAChoice

I log everything, period. If I ever have a bad day that was my choice and I should be willing to accept my choice, not try to hide from it. Being honest with yourself is very important if you want to succeed.

MakingAChoice

I do them all, if not why would you even waste your time on MFP? other people looking at my food keeps me in line

Exactly, that is one of the reasons my food log is public to everyone. Keeps me honest ;-)

jsheph1

I went over today by 650 calories. I am glad I logged because I learned a lesson. I went to a seminar during the day and ate lunch with a buddy. I then went on a date tonight and got a three course meal. I kind of learned that if I am going on a date I should go as low calorie as possible for lunch, because I don't want to look like a sissy on my date and get a salad.

miovlb6

I log it all--the good days and the bad--for a couple of reasons. Mainly, because I know myself, and if I start letting the bad days "not count" I'll have more and more bad days. Also, logging it all keeps me mentally aware of every bite that goes into my mouth so there's no mindless eating to trip me up. Logging the bad days also helps if I want to look back and see trends--to see how those bad days affect my progress, if at all. And, I know it's silly, but often, when I'm craving something I know I shouldn't eat, just telling myself that I'm going to have to log it will keep me from eating it.

However, if skipping a day where she was off track will help your friend to stick with this, then that's what she needs to do. Everybody's different.

Nigel99

I haven't really had any bad days thus far, but when one happens, I plan on logging it in my diary. Have to see exactly what the damage was, and remind myself what a bad day looks like in the diary.

Mariposa187

i take a deep breath and log everything... i tend to do better when i know that my friends on here will tell me to be more aware and try to do better. I was hesitant at first but to make thechanges you really have to do it or else itis like you are closest eating...

stormieweather

I log every bite. I don't cheat, but I do have days where I allow myself to eat up to maintenance (4x since Jan 4th). Cheating and not logging could very well eliminate my hard earned deficit, why would I not be honest with myself?

Also, since I've been graphing my calorie deficits and weight loss, I'm simply unwilling to screw up what's working great.

omgitsgarry

I tend not to log a cheat day, mostly cause it defeats the purpose of a cheat day, but I've been really on my game since I joined.

monylove311

It's ok to have a "bad" day. Though I call them load up days which I think are good once every week or two. I think its up to you to log or not on that day. I have done both. I'll think on that one some more about why I've done both. Thanks for the food for thought. : ) Monica

k2d4p

Not logging it doesn't change the fact that it happened. If a person doesn't want to face what they eat, then in my opinion, they are not ready to change it.

(Sorry, I am of the tough love mentality.)

sugarbeans

I personally record everything. It makes you more accountable and if you had a bad week you can look back and say "oh yeah I had such and such a day"

A week ago my friend and I went to Olive Garden I forgot how horrible the food is in terms of a caloric hit. My meal was almost 2 days worth of calories and I went there starving so I ate everything(stomach felt horrible after). Normally I save half and take it home (usually it gets tossed cause I forget about it or I enter it and say Nah don't need that).

After doing MFP for a couple of months and eating healthy you forget what restaurants can do to you in terms of serving sizes. A year and a half ago Olive Garden meal wouldn't have phased me much.. today? wow too much food.
Anyways enough ranting the point is that if you log in everyday and you are honest with it, you can look back and see the accomplishments in the journaling as well as weight loss.

I haven't "lost" any weight since I've joined, I have lost inches and looking back at my food journal I can see where I've made improvements and where I still need to improve.

zorbaru

the worst day i have had since i started was about 2500 calories, and i logged it all.

was bit hard to be accurate cos we went to a buffet, so it was a bit of this and a bit of that. im not super fussy about accuracy tho. as long as im around the mark im happy.

CatseyeHardcast

Log it. Who cares if we blow out now and then. (Says this after a lunch full of beer)

emott84

I say log it if you can so you feel accountable to it, but don't stress about it too much.
I just logged a dinner at Applebees that brought me almost 1000 calories over my goal and I literally cringed as I did it, but I can't erase it. But I still gotta live (but maybe shouldn't have the cheeseburger next time )!!

thektturner

If logging bad days is going to make you obsess over it and feel guilty, then I'd say don't. Better not to dwell on the bad and then start the cycle of "I'm depressed, so I'll eat, cause it doesn't matter anymore". For some people, that is how their minds work.

I log my "off" days (which I schedule and do on purpose) so that I can see that i didn't go beyond what I wanted and just out of curiosity so I can see what typical meals used to be like for me. Makes me feel a whole lot better about what I'm eating now.

blessedwith3boys

I think it's important to be honest and for myself I do log bad days to show accountablity. For instance today I ate pretty much nothing but crap but stayed up later to burn off more calories. I coud see in black and white what I needed to do. If I went over by thousands of calories, then I was still log it but just start over fresh the next day.

LHarders

It is important to log everyday GOOD or BAD.....it holds you accountable and in the months ahead you will have something to track...I have doubled my recommended calories in one night easy to do with a couple of drinks and snack foods that you just have to try each one Anyway logging on daily keeps your mind in the game.....it isn't always going to be easy. But MFP plan has been wonderful!!!!

dconner13

I log everything. Good and bad. And sometimes on my bad days I find it wasn't as bad as I thought! Like today. I had two Fatburgers and I thought I had done TERRIBLE! It wasn't good but not as bad as I was expecting. Besides we are not on here to be perfect. We are here to learn and be healthy. And if your not honest with yourself and your weight loss buddies. Then you won't learn a damn thing! We all have bad days, (sometimes more often than not) we are human. But not logging certain foods or on days you over indulge is not fooling your *kitten* or waistline.