Did I really screw this up?

MMGoodSF

Yesterday, for the first time since I started MFP on Feb 5, I had a splurge day. Easter was crazy with the candy and the heavy foods, I decided half way in that I just needed to go with the flow. Now I'm worried I've majorly backtracked. Is yesterday going to make me puff up badly, or if I stay on the course from today on, will it be OK? I'm new to calorie counting.


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stormieweather

You might puff up, but it will go away. Just write it off as a stumble, and continue on the course. :flowerforyou:

pftjill

You will be fine. One day won't do you in. Just get back on track today.

SandyLee1961

Everyone has an off day (sometimes 2) - we aren't perfect! Just get back on track and you'll be fine. Drink a bit more water in the next couple of days and that sometimes will help when you fall off track. Get more water in, get more toxins out And don't worry if you fall on occasion - we all do!

Newfiedan

one day is not the end of the world, just get back on track the following day and you are fine, we all have bad days myself included but it will not hurt me in the bigger picture because I am dedicated to getting the fat gone. You do not have to be a diet nazi to be successful, you do need to be dedicated, log faithfully and learn how to nourish the body to get the best results.

new_view

One day won't end the great work you have done so far! Just remember that you can't keep having days like that and get back on track with your correct calories and you will be fine Don't let it throw you off completely!

jjhanlon

I usually have one of those days once a week!!! I'm (slowly but surely) still making progress :happy:

DEE4560

I think a few of us went off track yesturday. It's going to happen here and there. the most important thing is to get back on track today. I am planning on some extra excersise this week to help balance things out. Good luckQ

tmarie2715

Thank you so much for posting this! I feel much better about yesterday after reading your OP and all the replies. I MFP!

MissAnjy

the only way to really screw it up is to completely quit.
Dust yourself off and keep going. I just spent 2 weeks binging on anything/everything. I'm still here today. That essentially means that I didn't screw up. I overcame the struggle and pushed forward. Struggling is not failure, quitting is.

mydoc3

Eh...you will be fine. Even if you do "puff" up, just work and keep on track. Everyone gets off track from time to time. The secret is moving forward and doing better from that point on!

Barb

Egger29

Fitness is about long-term lifestyle changes...not the minor details of a single day.

Anything is acceptable...in Moderation.

Hope you enjoyed your holiday time with your family and leave it at that.

Today is a new day, as it tomorrow and all the rest of the days to come. :-)

BeckyKSmith

I did the same thing. I didn't even log everything. I felt terrible about it. I didn't even count the amount of cheesy hashbrowns, pistachio torte, and chocolate peanut butter eggs I ate.

I woke up this morning and pretended it didn't happen - until you reminded me

Just exercise, and drinks tons of water (with lemon) - it will deter the bloat.

A_New_Horizon

You will be fine. I know when I stepped on the scale this morning, after my not so great day yesterday, I have gained 3 lbs, so I will now work my butt off to get it back off plus some before Wed. Drink alot of water will help with water retension. You can do this!!! Holidays are hard, trust me. Every week/day is a fresh one so start fresh.

Onesnap

don't beat yourself up over one day. Just be grateful for what joys the holiday brought to your life. Don't dwell on the rough day you had food-wise. Stress makes you store fat after all!

EHuntRN

I agree with everyone else on here...and I think most normal folks on here enjoyed their days without counting cals, including me...and yes I was over and way over on sodium and fat gms..today is the next day...and life goes on!!!

angryguy77

I was under the impression that you should have a cheat day once a week? I remember hearing that it can keep your body from plateauing. I could be wrong though.

MMGoodSF

@BeckyKSmith I didn't record everything either! I'm usually good about it, but didn't want to remember the details of yesterday.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Everyday, I can't believe how supportive this online community is. I'm lucky to have found you all. Today is a new day!

pkpzp228

Don't sweat a day! You've obviously done well so far. Whenever I get discouraged about a day of gluttony I like to think of my goals in perspective of the overall week.

If I'm shooting for say a 500 kcal deficit a day than that's 3500 a week, say I went over my goal by 1000 kcals for a single day, that's 500 kcal plus for the day. in respect to my weekly goals that means I have a deficit of 2500 for the week... hmm that's like 1lb vs .75 lb's lost. Negligible in terms of my goals.

Stressing over it would probably have a more detrimental effect than the calories did.

HaleyAlli

I think you'll probably be fine. I ate 800 extra calories yesterday and weighed LESS this morning than I did on Sunday morning, lol.

TourThePast

Look at it this way, you only screwed up this year by 0.27%.

You still have 99.73% of the year to get it right. :bigsmile:

amelia_atlantic

No worries! Don't beat yourself up.

Yes, you may bloat from water retention but just up your water intake today. Some foods that combat the bloat: sweet potatoes, kiwis, bananas and figs. They're all high in potassium and will help you.

Shadowcasting

I hear you. I threw all 'good habits' out the window this weekend. I paid for it on the scale this morning (hopefully its a lot of 'sodium' weight!) but....It was a holiday and its just one day. I'm back on track today, and I'll go from here. There is no damage that can't be undone!! Its a balancing act, right?! There will always be special occasions or holidays, and its creating good habits that will make those crazy food days just a bump in the otherwise-smooth-road. You'll be okay, just get back on that horse!

kdp552

Don't beat yourself up and let it sidetrack you! Just focus on your goal and start fresh today!

cccathyyy

Tomorrow is another day and another start. The next meal and the next bite is too. You'll be fine! Just keep going and don't give up!

wewon

You might "puff up" in the short term from sodium, bloating ect. but it will not be permanent.

Think about it rationally, how many calories could you have eaten in one day?

Even if you ate 4 lbs of food 14,000 cal (not likely BTW) your body can only absorb a small percentage of that.

amelia_atlantic

You might "puff up" in the short term from sodium, bloating ect. but it will not be permanent.

Think about it rationally, how many calories could you have eaten in one day?

Even if you ate 4 lbs of food 14,000 cal (not likely BTW) your body can only absorb a small percentage of that.

What a great way of putting it! It's so easy to look at the scale, see a gain and think "Well, I gained 4 whole pounds of pure fat because I ate pizza yesterday".

It's important to remember that weight and what we see on the scale will fluxuate constantly. There are too many variables to keep track of if you're weighing yourself every single day.