2200 calories = sad :-(

DaniJeanine

Soooo tonight I had an unexpected "cheat night" and decided to count my calories anyway (not a smart move)...they added up to 2200!! I usually eat between 1400-1600. Then, I stepped on the scale--at 10 pm, 5 minutes after my little binge. Result: 5 lbs heavier than usual and super sad :-( Does anyone else beat themselves up this bad on nights like this? Ugh.

Dabbles

It's going to mainly be water weight. Give it a few days and I bet all of that will go away Get back on it tomorrow. It'll be okay!

starwhisperer

oh you poor thing, never never never weigh yourself at night after a full day of anything much less bad eating and think the results are going to make you smile. I bet if you weigh again in the morning the results will be much different.

audram420

Dont beat yourself up...this is why people quit!! Accept that you've done it and you can't change anything except doing better from this point on. Also, you'll see that tomorrow morning after a good nights sleep, you probably won't still have that whole 5lbs there.

Hope the 2200 was enjoyable!!

lilwashee

do not punish yourself, its a spiral one day of eating 2200 is not goin to actually put 5 pounds back on ...breathe

nomerebutterfly

Don't weigh in on your cheat night! If you weigh in less frequently (weekly or even better, bi-weekly or monthly) then you'll find that the "over days" trick your metabolism into not slowing down quite so much in the long run! Enjoy that binge day, girl!

leomom72

yeah, don't weigh at the end of the day..bad idea..im sure it wont be so bad in the morning

CallejaFairey

don't forget, the food you ate has weight too, specially so soon after eating it. there is no point to weighing yourself so soon after, and then feeling bad. the weight is the food. give you system some time to digest and then weigh yourself, see what happens then.

sleepytexan

GOOD FOR YOU FOR LOGGING!

That was the most responsible thing you could have done, congrats!

Now, stop worrying. It's not that bad. If you're on a 1 lb/week loss, you're just 250 cals over for maintaining. So eat 250 fewer tomorrow and back at loss calories on Wednesday.

This will not make you gain.

blessings.

Jorra

The scale went up 5 pounds because you have 5 pounds of food in your belly! You didn't gain any weight, it will be gone in the morning when you get rid of it.

thebunnies

weighing yourself after eating is weighing the food you just consumed.. of course the scale is going to go up. a cheat day is fine, just don't make a habit out of it. back on track tomorrow

Heather75

yeah, don't weigh at the end of the day..bad idea..im sure it wont be so bad in the morning

Exactly. You'll crap it all out.

tgbjr1973

As long as you get back on track tomorrow, all will be fine. Sometimes when I hit a plateau it helps to have a day like you had today to reset my metabolism. I bet within a couple of days the end damage won't be near as bad as you think.

engineman312

i think a cheat day is ok, and you should still count the calories so you don't really over do it. once in a while isn't bad.

Gemini_at_36

First of all, do not step on the scale at this hour. Do Not Step On The Scale. And yes I have those days too. But then you wake up tomorrow and try again to be good to yourself (after the food hangover goes away.) :flowerforyou:

barbiex3

i gained 8 pounds in a day once. the next morning I lost 6 pounds.. don't worry about it

Sasssy69

We did Taco Tuesday last Tuesday. Unexpected. I completely over-indulged. Gained about 2 pounds. Felt like garbage and beat myself up all the next day. It was all water weight. I'm back down. You will be too. Don't be so mean to yourself. :-) One day does not ruin weeks or months of hard work!

lyndyb88

a cheat day is not bad at all...i have usually one per week...it helps keep me on track for the rest of the week...i can make it through knowing that one day i will get to cheat i make the mistake of weighing myself after eating as well...don't trust that number...2200 calories is not anywhere near enough to cause a 5 pound gain in one day!!!! when you get up in the morning and you've gone to the bathroom i guarantee you it will not be anywhere near 5 pounds up Most importantly, don't beat yourself up. If you've had a cheat day you're not a failure...knowing that you've cheated is a thousand times better than when people eat 2200 calories or more every day and it's not a cheat for them...it's just how they eat...but you know it was a cheat day and you'll move on and get right back on track the next day you are amazing...keep reminding yourself of that!

omgsaleslady

i had an ENTIRE WEEK of nothing but burgers and beer...and i only gained one pound. just shake it off and forget about it!

Serrtana

I have had a few nights like the one you had. I've been keeping track of the food I eat so I know how bad it is. I've had five bad days so far. I hope this isn't the beginning of the end:( I really need to get back on track. I do think counting your food is a big plus for you because you can really see where you need to adjust. If your looking for a friend you can count me. I could use someone to help me be accountable. The older I get the pounds dont move so I get discourged.

DaniJeanine

Aww thanks so much everyone. Yes, the scale was a bad, bad, bad idea. I knew a post would make me feel better though--the MFP community is so supportive.

...especially when my boyfriend doesn't get it (this is a guy that can eat a carton of Ben & Jerry's 4 times a week and not gain a pound! lol)

Jennyisbusy

yeah, don't weigh at the end of the day..bad idea..im sure it wont be so bad in the morning

Exactly. You'll crap it all out.

ha ha ha - nicely put

I ALWAYS log my food, especially when I have a bad day. It really helps when a week later I think I am doing great with no loss but then I look back at my entries and see what I really did. Same thing when I drop a bunch of pounds I go hmmm what contributed to that? Don't skew your data!!

Try to channel those bad feelings into a plan for next time or towards burning off a few extra calories this week

Fenyx

To be honest I beat myself up if i don't log it. My first word of advice, don't stress on a day you decided to cheat. Also, never weigh yourself unless you just woke up and relieved yourself. your weight will naturally fluctuate 3-5lbs every day, so weighing in after you have slept (basically fasted) and after you have relieved yourself (cause seriously who want to count waste into their weight if they can help it lol). so don't bat yourself up, just make sure to stick to it for the rest of the week and don't let one bad day ruin all the goo you have already accomplished.

surfino

the most powerful secret on weight loss, imho is how you mentally approach food.
A Diet is just an habit, you don't have to be paranoid because one day you eaten a lot more than your "schemes".. It's nothing. Sometimes this can lead to a bad behaviour AKA "i don't eat for 2 days" etc. etc. which is dangerous for health and the diet itself (you'll gain more when on normal food)
Don't think about it, you did it, it's okay.
Just watch things on a long term point of view

PS: Sorry for my english, im italian

ingies2011

Eating an extra 600 or so calories would represent only about one 5th of a pound of fat or less, ie very little, so don't stress about it, it is about carrying on that is most important.