Going over.. in a healthy way?

kloco
kloco Posts: 85 Member
in Food and Nutrition
is it okay to go over on calories even if the overage is due to a huge salad?

Replies

  • annepage
    annepage Posts: 585 Member
    With calorie counting, the idea is pretty much to create a calorie deficit. If you're going over, then there isn't a deficit. That being said, it's better in my opinion to go over on salad (as long as it's not due to dressings/fatty ingredients) than to go over with junk food. If you're hungry, you're hungry.
  • lbesaw
    lbesaw Posts: 267 Member
    Not a good idea to go over on a regular basis...especially if you are over in fats. Big salad is good as long as what you put ON it isn't loaded with fat. Good luck :smile:
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    was the rest of the day fried chicken in gravy? Then I'd say probably not the best idea. but if you're hungry and your choosing between twinkies and a salad, then go for the salad by all means :)
  • wibutterflymagic
    wibutterflymagic Posts: 788 Member
    Typically any of use can go over in calories and it's not a big deal. I've lost weight at 1300 calories and at 1500 calories, so you see that a difference of 200 calories and I'm still in the weight loss range. All of the #'s we have: calories, protein, sugar etc are all gauges. They are not set in stone and we won't die or stop losing weight if we go over them. They are just guidelines. The problem arises when you go WAY over them on a consistant basis.
  • DaniH826
    DaniH826 Posts: 1,335 Member
    It's of course better to go over with something healthy rather than something unhealthy.

    Then again you should be eating healthy all along. I didn't sign up for MFP to show me how to log candy bars to see how many of those I can have a day without going over my calorie limit. Not that I think that applies to you ... just saying.

    It's not about one salad. It's about what you eat averaged out over the course of a week or three and what you put in your mouth over the course of an entire day, all day, every day.

    Maybe that'll help. :smile:
  • kloco
    kloco Posts: 85 Member
    My diary is open if you guys want to check it out.
    I'm not over, yet... just worried about going over.
  • jasmine_noel
    jasmine_noel Posts: 62 Member
    it's totally possible to be a 'healthy overeater'... a diet of salads, grilled chicken and fish, stir fried veggies, healthy whole grains, egg white scrambles, avocado, nuts, etc. can still allow you to be overweight. the key (as everyone else has said so far) is to create a calorie deficit over time - if you need the big huge salad today, go for it - create that deficit over the course of a week instead of fixating on today's calorie allowance.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    With calorie counting, the idea is pretty much to create a calorie deficit. If you're going over, then there isn't a deficit. That being said, it's better in my opinion to go over on salad (as long as it's not due to dressings/fatty ingredients) than to go over with junk food. If you're hungry, you're hungry.

    There would still be a deficit, depending on how much you go over, but the deficit will be smaller than planned.

    OP: I would say it is better to be 100 cals over than 300 under your daily goal.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    With calorie counting, the idea is pretty much to create a calorie deficit. If you're going over, then there isn't a deficit. That being said, it's better in my opinion to go over on salad (as long as it's not due to dressings/fatty ingredients) than to go over with junk food. If you're hungry, you're hungry.

    There would still be a deficit, depending on how much you go over, but the deficit will be smaller than planned.

    OP: I would say it is better to be 100 cals over than 300 under your daily goal.


    This. Instead of losing 1 lb this week, you may end up only losing 0.9 lbs, depending upon how much over you are.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    My diary is open if you guys want to check it out.

    Nope - it's not. Maybe just open to friends?
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    If you're worried about it, find out what your TDEE is (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/). This is the number of calories you'd need to eat to maintain your current weight. Anything over that, whether it's a salad or fried chicken, isn't good. Anything under that and you'll probably still lose (though more slowly than if you stuck with MFP's goal). A few days over here and there probably won't hurt you, but it's not a great habit to get into.
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    Not a good idea to go over on a regular basis...especially if you are over in fats. Big salad is good as long as what you put ON it isn't loaded with fat. Good luck :smile:

    Um...wrong about fats. Dietary fat =/= body fat. I routinely go over on fat (but stay under on carbs) and it's not an issue. Also, if you have a large deficit, there's nothing wrong with going over.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Your diary isn't open.

    Is your calorie goal appropriate? One day isn't a big deal, but if you're hungry and need to go over often it might be that your goal is too low, or that your other food choices throughout the day need tweaking.

    For weight gain, it doesn't matter what kind of food you go over with. 500 calories (over your TDEE) of salad will make you gain weight just as easily as 500 calories of chocolate. As for health and satiety, it matters.

    TL;DR, what's the context for having to make this decision?

    ETA: it is true, as stated above, that if you're still under your TDEE for the day you won't lose your progress
  • Catlady87
    Catlady87 Posts: 302 Member
    Are you going to be under overall at the end of the week? Then IMO you'll be fine.
  • kloco
    kloco Posts: 85 Member
    Your diary isn't open.

    Is your calorie goal appropriate? One day isn't a big deal, but if you're hungry and need to go over often it might be that your goal is too low, or that your other food choices throughout the day need tweaking.

    For weight gain, it doesn't matter what kind of food you go over with. 500 calories (over your TDEE) of salad will make you gain weight just as easily as 500 calories of chocolate. As for health and satiety, it matters.

    TL;DR, what's the context for having to make this decision?

    Sorry, try again.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    --
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    It depends on your deficit, how much your'e going over, and how often you're going over. If you're aiming to lose one pound a week, that means you have a 500 calorie deficit. So if you go over by 200 calories, you still have a 300 calorie deficit, so you'll still lose weight. Just not quite as much.

    But going over once, even if it's by a huge amount, isn't going to make much of a difference. Just like a 24 hour stomach flu doesn't cause any lasting weight loss.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Your diary isn't open.

    Is your calorie goal appropriate? One day isn't a big deal, but if you're hungry and need to go over often it might be that your goal is too low, or that your other food choices throughout the day need tweaking.

    For weight gain, it doesn't matter what kind of food you go over with. 500 calories (over your TDEE) of salad will make you gain weight just as easily as 500 calories of chocolate. As for health and satiety, it matters.

    TL;DR, what's the context for having to make this decision?

    Sorry, try again.

    Your goal seems fine. I don't think it would hurt anything for you to go over since you're likely still in a deficit. Are you hungry often or is this just today? I'd suggest trying something with protein for satiety. Are your macros still set to MFP's default?
  • tennesseeleigh
    tennesseeleigh Posts: 169
    Looks good to me. Are you eating back exercise calories? If so you still have a good chunk to play with. Oh, and your salad sounds good!
  • symonspatrick
    symonspatrick Posts: 213 Member
    No.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Some days you'll be hungrier than others, and will go over your goal. Nothing to worry about, just try not to make it a regular thing.

    If your plan is to lose weight, you'll obviously be aiming for a deficit. Going over consistently (regardless of what foods it is) will just decrease your deficit, or wipe it out completely, so if I said it didn't matter at all because it's a salad then I'd be lying.

    It doesn't have to be perfect every day though. Accept the days when you go over, satisfy any extra hunger with sensible choices and move on :) If it's a regular thing, take a look at what you're eating regularly and try and make adjustments.
  • oh_em_gee
    oh_em_gee Posts: 887 Member
    If you're set at a reasonable deficit and you go over by just a little, nbd in my book. If you're consistently over by a lot, not so good. Personally though, I will eat when I am hungry. Doesn't matter if I pigged out earlier and I'm over my calories, my body deserves healthy food when it's hungry, and it will get that. But, I'm generally at my goal and I have a good size deficit, so I have room to go a bit over if I must
  • kloco
    kloco Posts: 85 Member
    Your diary isn't open.

    Is your calorie goal appropriate? One day isn't a big deal, but if you're hungry and need to go over often it might be that your goal is too low, or that your other food choices throughout the day need tweaking.

    For weight gain, it doesn't matter what kind of food you go over with. 500 calories (over your TDEE) of salad will make you gain weight just as easily as 500 calories of chocolate. As for health and satiety, it matters.

    TL;DR, what's the context for having to make this decision?

    Sorry, try again.

    Your goal seems fine. I don't think it would hurt anything for you to go over since you're likely still in a deficit. Are you hungry often or is this just today? I'd suggest trying something with protein for satiety. Are your macros still set to MFP's default?

    I'm usually too busy to eat. I don't usually have a soup but today just seemed like a day for soup and I might go over because of it.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Your diary isn't open.

    Is your calorie goal appropriate? One day isn't a big deal, but if you're hungry and need to go over often it might be that your goal is too low, or that your other food choices throughout the day need tweaking.

    For weight gain, it doesn't matter what kind of food you go over with. 500 calories (over your TDEE) of salad will make you gain weight just as easily as 500 calories of chocolate. As for health and satiety, it matters.

    TL;DR, what's the context for having to make this decision?

    Sorry, try again.

    Your goal seems fine. I don't think it would hurt anything for you to go over since you're likely still in a deficit. Are you hungry often or is this just today? I'd suggest trying something with protein for satiety. Are your macros still set to MFP's default?

    I'm usually too busy to eat. I don't usually have a soup but today just seemed like a day for soup and I might go over because of it.

    Just one day = no big deal

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