Feeling guilty for actually eating a "meal"

lovinmamaxo

Most of my dinners have consisted on salad, stir fries. Tonight i made the chicken breast recipe, with salsa, low sodium taco seasoning, and 1 cup brown rice and 1 can of 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup. I measured the sauce at 1 cup and dumped it on my rice... oh yeah and i added frozen corn as well. I don't think i got my measuring sizes right .. but i know i didn't even eat all my food and didn't even eat 1 whole chicken breast maybe 1/2? I had a high sodium day with this recipe but it could also be that my measuring was OFF by quite a bit... i am still under my calorie goal and earned an extra 200 or so from exercise but i can't help but feel guilty..... I've been under 1500 calories all week.. my daily goal is at like 2240. Why do i feel so horrible about eating a meal i made that i didn't accurately measure most likely?

Crystal817

You should never feel bad about eating a real, healthy meal.

mysteryfoxes

Never ever feel bad about actually giving your body something good.

lovinmamaxo

You should never feel bad about eating a real, healthy meal.

I think i feel horrible because i couldn't accurately measure what i was eating and it's driving me nuts!! I know no way i went over my calorie goal but sodium maybe.. i didn't even eat 1 bowl... under 1 1/2 cup brown rice. I ate maybe the 1 cup of rice though. With salad i have more control over portion sizes lol so it's bugging me now. Not like i had 3 bowls of it but still....

becca0211

1. You aren't supposed to be under your calorie goal.
2. You measured your food and reco if it was perfect you have plenty of calories to "play" with
3. You exercised today

Don't beat yourself up, sounds like you are doing a great job. Keep at it and you will see results :-)

missy1970eb

u dont need to feel bad, it was a proper meal and it wasnt junk food

StaceyL76

What good does feeling guilty do? Really, you are the only one that knows why you are feeling guilty. Here is the thing though.. your feelings are feedback.. Maybe, it isn't the meal you are feeling guilty about? Could it be that you don't know exactly what you consumed? What was it that you ate that you feel was a mis-step? Was it the sodium levels? Here is what I would do. Feel you feelings for a bit, then let it go. Make a plan for tomorrow and make sure you feel good about your plan that you set up for tomorrow... Maybe drink some extra water to try and move all that salt through..

From your post, I got that you are feeling guilty about not measuring accurately... I can understand that, as I have felt that way myself. It usually boils down to feeling like you let yourself down.. at least for me.

I hope this helps.

It sounds like you have been meeting your goals all week! Look at your successes and honor those - celebrate - be proud. Strive for progress not perfection.

Stacey

TiDinzeo

There is no harm at all in going over anything, especially if it's only once in a while. If you've been routinely well under your calories, there's even less to feel guilty about. Whilst I'm only very rarely over my calories for the day, I'll often go a little over some of the other numbers, generally fat or sugar. The numbers MFP gives you are only really guidelines as everyone's body chemistry is slightly different.

corrinnebrown

If you ate 6 tacos from taco bell you should feel guilty! This dinner you made sounds like meals I make every night. It is healthy and there is nothing for you to feel guilty about!

lovinmamaxo

Thanks so much everyone.. i really obviously haven't pinned down proper measurement and servings yet... Gotta work on that but this is why i am here right?? To change my life. I've never in my life measured how much food i was intaking, or used any kids of food scale which i have to now buy, i have never made myself accountable for my actions, choices, and overeeating, and losing 14lbs in 8 days is amazing i have to give myself a little break but i want this so bad but i am beating myself up and feeling guilty if i don't exercise for 1 day or keep under my allowance for 1 day.... it's hard but i am slowly learning!

Brittney24

Buy a scale for sure! Not only is it fun (I'm such a nerd) but it also makes sure you're measuring right!

hpsnickers1

It can be good to go up and down with calories. If you eat the same number everyday your body will just adjust to that number. You would have to eat an extra 3500 calories to gain a pound of fat so even if you step on the scale in the morning and see a small jump know it's sodium and all you have to do is down some extra water flush it out.
Some people swear by calorie cycling.

And feeling guilt will only stress you out and dieting and exercise are stressful enough on the body. Don't worry about it. Tomorrow is a new day!

There will be ups and downs but in the end you will be successful!

And yes invest in a kitchen scale (digital). You would be amazed at the difference in actual weight in grams and the cup measurements that are on the nutrition lable. They can be way off.

mrsanne

You mean we are supposed to measure carefully? :laugh: I am lucky if I get a decent ball park measurement! I always feel guilty if I eat enough to get really full, no matter what state my calorie goal is in. It's bizarre but sometimes I feel like I should always be slightly hungry or I'm not working hard enough. Ridiculous but oh well, such is the life of us dieters. Hang in there. Maybe we need to lose our guilt along with our weight.

elliecolorado

That sounds like a healthy meal so there is no reason to feel guilty. Easting salad or stir fry is great, but you need protein too. As far as measuring, using the recipe tool has helped a lot with that. I put in how much of everything I used when I cooked, then if I eat half of it put .5 and it calculates for you.

melissahann2010

Dont be hard on yourself i still have bad days and i have been doing this for 3 months now, i still measure things wrong and miscalculate things, but yes thats why we are here , to learn this new life style we have commited to keep you head up ! and please share more yummy recipies

add me !

carlybarley22

It's not a "diet", it's a lifestyle change. That's what we're all here to learn. Stick with it, and don't beat yourself up about anything. So what if you have a bad day everyonce in a while? There's always tomorrow . And NEVER feel guilty for eating a "meal." We're here to learn how to create healthy meals. And it's better to splurge everyonce in a while then deny yourself the things that you enjoy and go crazy. Good luck on your journey .

Crystal817

Thanks so much everyone.. i really obviously haven't pinned down proper measurement and servings yet... Gotta work on that but this is why i am here right??

Have you tried the recipe tool on mfp? You just plus all of your ingredients in and put the number of servings and it tells you how many calories (and fat, sodium, carbs) in each serving.

becca0211

I bought a kitchen scale and I used measuring cups instead of serving spoons for awhile until I got an idea of what a 1/4 or 1/2 looked like on my plate

webbstace

No feeling guilty! This has to be liveable for the rest of your life. Don't look at this as just a diet but a lifestyle change. It sounds like you had a really healthy meal. You have to give your body the nutrition that it needs. Being way under your calorie goal all the time is going to starve your body and then it actually can do the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. Keep eating healthy and making better choices...each meal at a time. You have been doing great...keep it up and no more feeling guilty!