I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE THAT HATES THE RED NUMBERS

kjohnson754
kjohnson754 Posts: 54 Member
in Chit-Chat
If you hate the red numbers, what do you do to get away from them? Sometimes I cheat and say that I ate a smaller portion of things than I actually did. I know, it's wrong and it doesn't help me. But I TOTALLY HATE those flippin red numbers. It's like it's telling me I failed. I get them rarely because I hate them so much. My new rule is: If it's not on MFP, I'm not eating it. I need to make sure I know my calories. It's just how I am. I'm weird. But am I the only one?
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Replies

  • spade117
    spade117 Posts: 2,466 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I log absolutely everything and when I see the red numbers it just makes me realize that I didn't do that great and I make sure I do better the next day.

    If you "cheat" and put a smaller portion you're only hurting yourself because the calories DO count and not logging them makes you falsely believe you can eat more. In all honesty I err on the side of caution and probably over estimate on a lot of things.
  • kjohnson754
    kjohnson754 Posts: 54 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    Thanks for that! :)
  • kjohnson754
    kjohnson754 Posts: 54 Member
    I log absolutely everything and when I see the red numbers it just makes me realize that I didn't do that great and I make sure I do better the next day.

    If you "cheat" and put a smaller portion you're only hurting yourself because the calories DO count and not logging them makes you falsely believe you can eat more. In all honesty I err on the side of caution and probably over estimate on a lot of things.

    I guess some of you missed where I said that I knew it didn't help me. This post was more of an exclamation that I hate the red numbers. I hate them but I sometimes get them as most people do because we're not perfect. However, I'm usually under my calorie goal (that's the one that I care the most about). Being over the protein isn't a bad thing IMO. I just don't like the red numbers, sue me. Sheesh! LMAO!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    That's rather reddist.


    I solve the problem by not logging food. Ta Da.


    You're welcome. :flowerforyou:

    .
  • cjh022
    cjh022 Posts: 88 Member
    Ha me too! I usually have one "cheat day" per week but will still try to log everything (I go over my goal but only up to maintenance levels for the day). I log normally until I get close then calculate the "extra" and write it into my food notes section, so it stays green but I still know how much I ate. If I happen to go over on a normal day (RARE) and its only by a small amount, I have been known to go for a late night run until that number goes green! :laugh:
  • fancycupcake
    fancycupcake Posts: 78 Member
    If you don't like the red numbers, don't lie to yourself by not logging something. Evaluate which foods made you go over and just modify your diet a bit the next day. Can't live without the cookies, but they put you over in sugars? Have half as much the next day. Each day is trial and error until you see results.

    If you really can't stand them, ignore everything but the calories and just be sure to stay under those. You can choose to not show the protein/carbs/fats/etc. in your "Goals" settings.
  • Italianyc84
    Italianyc84 Posts: 192 Member
    When you cheat and don't log accurately, you're only cheating yourself. I hate seeing it too, it's what keeps me in check! That's the whole point of logging.
  • surromom2010
    surromom2010 Posts: 457 Member
    I go exercise more until they're gone, or admit I effed up and learn from it.
  • jbutterflye
    jbutterflye Posts: 1,914 Member
    Paint over it in black. There.
  • MG_Fit
    MG_Fit Posts: 1,143 Member
    Why is everyone so mean?!

    But seriously I know what you mean..if I see I'm coming close...I'll just watch my dinner portion.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    it makes you work harder, red is so dam final.its like blood and death.
  • briannakaechele
    briannakaechele Posts: 32
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    So encouraging!
  • loserbaby84
    loserbaby84 Posts: 241 Member
    We all cringe when we see the red numbers. That's the whole scare tactic but don't dispair :)
  • Gin66
    Gin66 Posts: 47 Member
    I go exercise more until they're gone, or admit I effed up and learn from it.





    LIKE!
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    The only time you need to hate the red numbers is if they go up to your deficit.

    Going over by a few isn't going to hurt you one bit. I think the average deficit is 500 calories?

    So If I'm allowed 1,300 calories to lose 1 lb per week, it's not gonna hurt me to eat 1,400 calories one day. I still have a 400 calorie deficit and that's all you really need to lose weight. Even if you eat the whole 500, you're not gonna gain. You'll stay the same, because that would equal your maintenance calories :bigsmile:
  • elaineirene84
    elaineirene84 Posts: 65 Member
    I like my protein and fiber to be in the red. Sodium is the one I have to watch out for. I am getting better. It is definitely a learning process.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    So encouraging!

    *eye roll* Well, they did. You have no one to blame but yourself if you're going over your numbers. Plan better next time but don't beat yourself up over it, it happens. Don't make it a regular occurrence. Plan ahead. Log before you eat. Exercise to earn more cals so you're not over.

    ETA: I think you know you're cheating yourself when you log incorrectly. You're only sabotaging your own weight loss.
  • alasin1derland
    alasin1derland Posts: 575 Member
    Red means stop. Its a good thing.
  • robbie_1982
    robbie_1982 Posts: 21 Member
    By setting your weight loss goal, your daily goal is going to be lower than the maintain amount.

    Therefore, you do have that buffer zone. Red means buffer. You have to eat a lot more to put on!
  • fredf2112
    fredf2112 Posts: 110 Member
    If you hate the red numbers, what do you do to get away from them?

    Adjust the monitor settings so they are not red anymore.

    But that aside, you know that it is just one day and not a lifetime. Look at your numbers for the week or two weeks and you'll see that they are not in the red over time.
  • jeslaughter
    jeslaughter Posts: 131 Member
    I log absolutely everything and when I see the red numbers it just makes me realize that I didn't do that great and I make sure I do better the next day.

    If you "cheat" and put a smaller portion you're only hurting yourself because the calories DO count and not logging them makes you falsely believe you can eat more. In all honesty I err on the side of caution and probably over estimate on a lot of things.

    I agree, I used to under-estimate my quantities and I know now that I only cheated me, so now if I am not sure, I take the largest number suggested and use that...I have actually been having a lot more success with that than I did at the start! I hate the red numbers too but if I see I may get close to them, I will take another quick walk or run up the stairs once or twice to make room for those extra calories.
  • BigDnSW
    BigDnSW Posts: 641 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    BS...when my protein is in the red or my fiber or my potassium or whatever and I burned over 600 cals per exercise...duh! Otherwise, they vary from day to day and it is not the small pic that counts, but the long haul. You're not failing if you keep trying....iggy the naysayers.

    Good Luck!
  • meg7399
    meg7399 Posts: 672 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    So encouraging!

    *eye roll* Well, they did. You have no one to blame but yourself if you're going over your numbers. Plan better next time but don't beat yourself up over it, it happens. Don't make it a regular occurrence. Plan ahead. Log before you eat. Exercise to earn more cals so you're not over.

    ETA: I think you know you're cheating yourself when you log incorrectly. You're only sabotaging your own weight loss.
    This is why people think others are mean. She KNOWS she is over and she KNOWS its cheating herself. That was never a question! She is simply looking for support!
  • foodfathought
    foodfathought Posts: 21 Member
    I plan in advance to avoid the red. If I hit red on calories or anything other than protein, I try to do better the next day.

    Logging honestly is half the battle for most.
  • squirrelzzrule22
    squirrelzzrule22 Posts: 640 Member
    If its a little over in red calories, go for a walk or hop around your bedroom or youtube a workout dvd for fifteen minutes. If you mean the red numbers like in nutrients....then I have to say you're being a bit OCD about the appearance of red numbers! There is zero reason to freak out about eating extra kale and being over in your vitamin A % or something haha. You're doing great, keep up the good work and don't stress about minor overages or you will drive yourself nuts!
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    So encouraging!

    *eye roll* Well, they did. You have no one to blame but yourself if you're going over your numbers. Plan better next time but don't beat yourself up over it, it happens. Don't make it a regular occurrence. Plan ahead. Log before you eat. Exercise to earn more cals so you're not over.

    ETA: I think you know you're cheating yourself when you log incorrectly. You're only sabotaging your own weight loss.

    No, she didn't fail.
    She made a mistake. (a small one at that.)

    You only fail when you stop trying.
  • Catlady87
    Catlady87 Posts: 302 Member
    I hate the red numbers, but only when it apples to my calories. I'm not too fussed about my macros.
    The other day I was like 4 calories over, so I ran up and down the stairs for a minute just to burn them off. I knew it wouldn't make a massive difference to my weight loss, it just pissed me off.
    Another thing that really bugs me is why is zero red? If I'm smack on my calories or macros why is that in red? Surely that's a good thing!
  • KeriW626
    KeriW626 Posts: 430
    The only red numbers I care about are the Calories... I most always go over on sugar, I like sweet stuff, so eatting things like apples even will turn that red. The sodium rarely turns red ( like sweets) I hope the protien turns red. Because I do not believe you get enough, and mfp allows lower than where you should be.

    and to be honest, I would rather be red on calories, over by a few (less than 50), than be green and under by hundreds on calories....

    Hate the red, be honest about what you eat/log, and learn.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    It's like it's telling me I failed.

    You did.

    So encouraging!

    *eye roll* Well, they did. You have no one to blame but yourself if you're going over your numbers. Plan better next time but don't beat yourself up over it, it happens. Don't make it a regular occurrence. Plan ahead. Log before you eat. Exercise to earn more cals so you're not over.

    ETA: I think you know you're cheating yourself when you log incorrectly. You're only sabotaging your own weight loss.
    This is why people think others are mean. She KNOWS she is over and she KNOWS its cheating herself. That was never a question! She is simply looking for support!

    *sigh* OP, good job on logging smaller portions than you actually ate!! CONGRATS. :flowerforyou:

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