Failed my first day calorie counting....

julietcrooks
julietcrooks Posts: 14
in Health and Weight Loss
I am supposed to be consuming 1200 calories a day according to this site in order to acheive my goal, I haven't exactly pigged out or anything and I've consumed about 1800 calories unknowingly. It just goes to show how many empty calories I have been mindlessly consuming and this is where this site can help. I can't give up....I just have to look where I went wrong and tomorrow is another day! Or at least I hope so! Anybody else had similar experiences starting out?

Julie
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Replies

  • yobeme
    yobeme Posts: 169 Member
    I used my first couple of weeks as an education as I had never tracked calories before. It was eye-opening to see what I was really eating and identifying which foods were really high in calories. I could then identify a set a of regular meals which I knew would keep me within my calorie goal and satisfy me.
    MFP set me at 1200 as well but I found myself really hungry and upped my calorie goal to 1300 which was doable for me.
    Spend some time finding out what works for you.
  • julietcrooks
    julietcrooks Posts: 14
    Thank you,

    I'm hoping that a week or so of actually tracking what goes in my mouth will help me drop a few once I find out what works for me! Also, I'm not very well at the moment and have been unable to walk for a few weeks so I'll get back into that when I'm better and think about digging out the good old fitness dvd's too - I don't think you get as good results by dieting alone.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    Just to give you some more options, 1200 is usually low for anyone that's not short and not sedentary. If you have less then 50 pounds to lose, maybe you should set your weight loss to 1 pound or 1/2 pound a week. This will give you more calories to work with. I know we all want the weight to come off fast, but it's just not that easy. Also, if you're using MFP default settings, don't forget to eat your exercise calories.
  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    The good thing is your tried. Keep logging.
  • longfamily1
    longfamily1 Posts: 3 Member
    I'm new to tracking as well. I notice you have lost a good amount of weight.. tracking/logging works for you?
  • lauradawson1123
    lauradawson1123 Posts: 30
    Starting MFP definitely changed the way I grocery shopped and cooked. Whenever I go over my calories, it seems to be from snacking too much. What I found helps for me is to type in all of my main meals in the morning before I actually eat any of them, then I have an idea of how many calories I have left over for snacks throughout the day. You can add me as a friend and I'll try to shoot some extra motivation your way! Don't give up :)
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Just to give you some more options, 1200 is usually low for anyone that's not short and not sedentary. If you have less then 50 pounds to lose, maybe you should set your weight loss to 1 pound or 1/2 pound a week. This will give you more calories to work with. I know we all want the weight to come off fast, but it's just not that easy.

    Agreed.

    Also, the point is, you logged it. Keep trying to hit your target but don't be surprised if you need a couple weeks to find your groove. By logging you are opening your eyes to the trouble spots, which is a great first step. So keep it up!!
  • yobeme
    yobeme Posts: 169 Member
    I agree with keep logging. Don't consider 1 or 2 days of being over a failure. Learn and do better tomorrow.
  • julietcrooks
    julietcrooks Posts: 14
    Thanks for the support guys....I've only got about 12 pounds to lose so I've changed my weight loss goal to 1 and a half pounds per week which has upped my calories to 1370 which is more realistic.....especially if I am going to be adding exercise into the mix too. I'll see if I can stick to 1370 tomorrow! No quitting! lol
  • dporter1183
    dporter1183 Posts: 154 Member
    Did you work out? If you did, you earned some of that 600 calorie overage back.

    I went through the same thing. It was hard for me to look at the numbers before I consumed for a while. I had to adjust.

    At least you learned from it. Way to go.
  • DriaD84
    DriaD84 Posts: 9
    my first day i "thought" i came in a few calories under my target until i realized i was eating 3 times the amount of cereal i posted because i wasn't measuring food out. This site helps because it shows you how something simple like whole milk versus 2% can save you calories you can use toward something else and just start making better food choices.
  • vickilm1976
    vickilm1976 Posts: 141 Member
    I usually log all of my food first thing in the morning, then I know what I can have and I think more about when I eat so I can spread it out over the whole day. Not to say that I don't go over, it has certainly happened before. Especially over the holidays.
  • Carfoodel
    Carfoodel Posts: 481 Member
    Also, the point is, you logged it. Keep trying to hit your target but don't be surprised if you need a couple weeks to find your groove. By logging you are opening your eyes to the trouble spots, which is a great first step. So keep it up!!

    ^^
    This

    It lets you realise what calories you are really consuming and the more you use it the more you see what you get as bang for your buck - you really haven't failed, you have just taken the first steps towards healthier eating :)
  • ImperfectedBeauty
    ImperfectedBeauty Posts: 124 Member
    When I first joined this site a year ago I used my first few days as an eye opener. I would log everything I ate, but ate as normal to show myself how bad my habits were and how unhealthy I was. I was consuming 2200-3000 calories a day and I was completely shocked. Try to remember that your starting out and your bound to have a struggle here and there, but the important thing is that your trying and your making a change that is going to benefit you for the rest of your life. Your right, tomorrow is another day so try to learn from your mistakes and go from there. =)
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    my first day i "thought" i came in a few calories under my target until i realized i was eating 3 times the amount of cereal i posted because i wasn't measuring food out. This site helps because it shows you how something simple like whole milk versus 2% can save you calories you can use toward something else and just start making better food choices.

    Very important thing pointed out here. Most people have no clue what an actual serving size is because everything is supersized these days. Just getting familiar with what foods have how many calories is half the learning.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    That's not failure, that's a lesson!

    Also, with so few pounds to lose you'd be better off aiming for 1 or even 0.5 pound per week.
  • Babeskeez
    Babeskeez Posts: 606 Member
    I was kind of the opposite. Over consuming can be just as bad as under consuming! I was under and have been since I started on the 2nd. My mindset was saving my calories. Hoarding if you will, so that I knew I always had enough! Just take it slow. It is SUCH a learning process!
  • shellbellnz
    shellbellnz Posts: 115 Member
    Yes I used to always go over. I just had no understanding of calories and food and what was good and bad really. This site has really educated me and I know think twice about what I eat.
  • nikknack12
    nikknack12 Posts: 8 Member
    Same here for me, I started using MFP this week. I'm still flailing, trying to figure out exactly how all this works. I have a better idea now after a couple days of reading the posts of others and making a few friends who've been kind enough to offer advice. I will also add that I've been a bit overwhelmed with all the different numbers: BMR, TDEE, exercise calories burned and whether one should eat them or not (a topic for a different post!) and if I'm eating the correct amount of calories. I'm still trying to figure out whether I'm sedentary or not. MFP ask what our daily activity is, what we do at work all day long - I sit at a computer, which I consider sedentary. However, I've been told that I should not put sedentary. I've decided to leave it as it is, see how everything goes for a couple weeks, and then adjust if needed. Like everything else, there's going to be a learning curve. Stick with it, I plan to, and good luck to you!
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    log it BEFORE you put it in your mouth

    amazing how this helps stop the mindless eating and hoping
  • ufoundfaith
    ufoundfaith Posts: 10
    The first few days are more like "educational" days. You're learning how man calories are in each thing that you're eating. Noticing things that you may have never paid attention to before. Don't be too hard on yourself! Think of it as a learning experience.. you're learning whether or not those calories are worth it!
  • julietcrooks
    julietcrooks Posts: 14
    log it BEFORE you put it in your mouth

    amazing how this helps stop the mindless eating and hoping


    Sounds like good advice to me!
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    Just to give you some more options, 1200 is usually low for anyone that's not short and not sedentary. If you have less then 50 pounds to lose, maybe you should set your weight loss to 1 pound or 1/2 pound a week. This will give you more calories to work with. I know we all want the weight to come off fast, but it's just not that easy. Also, if you're using MFP default settings, don't forget to eat your exercise calories.

    ^ This.

    Undereating coming from impatience is a big cause of failure for a lot of folks, so try to reassess your goals a bit to give you some more wiggle room.
    log it BEFORE you put it in your mouth

    amazing how this helps stop the mindless eating and hoping

    ^ this too.
  • SDHudgins1976
    SDHudgins1976 Posts: 140
    Just keep at it!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    You probably have your goals set too low. Did you select the recommended 1lb a wk or did you select 2lbs a week? Unless you have 50+ lbs to lose, you don't have to starve yourself. As a matter of fact, if you eat too few calories, you could end up depriving your body of nutrients that it needs. In turn, your body could react with counter-measure that could hinder your weight loss. I suggest that you re-examine how you have your goals set up.

    Also, tomorrow is another day. No reason to beat yourself up over this.
  • lorac321
    lorac321 Posts: 614 Member
    I found it really helped after I got a HRM and a scale for my food. You're here and logging, keep it up.
  • Dabbadee
    Dabbadee Posts: 9
    I failed at my calorie counting almost everyday, but I continue to strive to make it better.
  • julietcrooks
    julietcrooks Posts: 14
    All good advice :) It's nice to have somewhere to discuss out journey's without judgement :)

    C'est La Vie....tomorrow is another day!

    Thanks!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I used my first couple of weeks as an education as I had never tracked calories before. It was eye-opening to see what I was really eating and identifying which foods were really high in calories. I could then identify a set a of regular meals which I knew would keep me within my calorie goal and satisfy me.
    MFP set me at 1200 as well but I found myself really hungry and upped my calorie goal to 1300 which was doable for me.
    Spend some time finding out what works for you.

    Pretty much same here. When I first started a diary and weiging and measuring food, I didn't make any real changes initially. I wanted to use the first couple weeks for education...see what I was eating and where I was going wrong, not only in RE to my calories, but also in RE to other things I needed to watch (i.e. processed sugars, sodium, saturated fats) due to health concerns and my doc putting a foot up my *kitten*. I started disecting my diet and was pretty well on track within about a week and a half.

    Also, I had to play with my calories a bit. I found MFP's recs to be a bit low for me and I upped them and losing about a pound per week, which is my goal. Obviously I was never at the 1,200 level, but just an FYI, it can be a bit much for some and completely unnecessary in most cases. I know the urge to just jump right in and go all out and lose as much as possible as fast as possible...but trust me, you will find more success in going slow and low and you'll be more likely to make lasting habits going forward to maintenance.
  • UKMarjie
    UKMarjie Posts: 257 Member
    First day? Epic Fail. And I mean 3500 calories worth of epic fail. LOL. So here's my tip - when you go to the birthday party with your kid - don't eat another full meal (especially if it involves bacon, creme a sucre, pancakes, whipping cream, two pieces of chocolate cake and ice cream and bacon - did I say that already?).

    What's that song? "Mama Said There'll be Days like this..."

    All you need to remember is that a year is made up of many days. Get your head around the fact that you are planning on having most of your days be within your goal (being sure it is realistic for what you want to achieve and your level of commitment) and then when that doesn't happen just pick up the next day and keep going.

    It takes a bit of getting used to. I was sucky about it for three days until I realized I could eat anything I like so long as it was within my limits. Forced better choices into my life and made me more accountable for some of the insanity (see bacon reference above).

    Chin up and keep on going! You'll do great!

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