Recording when you go over cal goals

teaspoon43

I record EVERYTHING I eat - if I'm too embarrassed to log it, I'm too embarrassed to eat it. I hold myself accountable and so do my MFP friends - and I return the favor. Not realizing what I was putting into my body is what got me here and I refuse to go back. It also helps me see why I did and didn't lose weight

trialstyle

I record everything. If you don't there's a good chance your not taking this seriously, and your more likely to fail. The good part is your here asking, and we are here for support!
Keep it up and Keep your eyes on the prize!

janetlynn31

I always record everything - sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised that it's not as bad as I thought. One day isn't going to ruin everything - you have to look at the big picture.

significance

I record everything too. Two reasons:
1) It gives me an accurate record, so I can see "well, I was over that day, but on average last week, I had a deficit of 500 cal/day, so I should still be losing nearly 0.5kg/week." Or "I'm not losing weight when I've been working so hard? Well look at what that day did to my weekly average - that explains it!"

2) Usually, I find that the day isn't as bad as I think, which is good motivation. On Saturday, I was feeling very down in the dumps and gave myself a day off my diet. I had bacon and eggs for breakfast, lamb kofta and rice paper rolls for lunch, hot chocolate and cake for afternoon tea. I added it all up at the end of the day... and found it wasn't half as bad as I thought. By having a light dinner (and counting my exercise calories), I was able to stay within maintenance calories for the day, even though I didn't hit my weight loss calorie goal. It meant I wasn't demotivated: I hadn't hit my goal, but because I logged every bite, I hadn't lost my discipline.

slkehl

Yes. Lying about it isn't going to change how much I ate. Might as well know so I can try to make up for it later!

DaniH826

I do the math in my head (roughly) and it's not getting eaten unless I'm okay with it. I log mostly everything on MFP but I darn well log absolutely everything in my head cause I have to live with the consequences of those decisions. My MFP goal has some wiggle room anyway and so I don't sweat the small stuff (give or take a couple hundred kcals). I'm mostly compliant with my MFP logging but I'm also trying to not let it become a crutch because I really don't want to log every single bite I eat for the rest of my life. MFP is a tool for me to learn about roughly the calories I need to be shooting for, portion control, general caloric content of food, getting a grip on macros and making healthier choices and connecting with people that share the same goals. I'm hoping to eventually cut the umbilical cord and fly on my own but we'll see how that pans out. I mean I've logged half bags of chips I've devoured, so ... yea. I've no issues being honest with myself and facing the ugly. :laugh:

dena789

I record everything, good and bad days, if I dont record the bad days I am only lying to myself:bigsmile:

^^^ This! I usually do record EVERYTHING. The moment I don't, is the moment I will start returning to my previous ways... And I DO NOT want to go there again.

Right!! It would become a slippery slope right back to where I was if I didn't record it all!

EdTheGinge

I do, even if I've closed my diary for that day and then snack I'll add to it and recalculate again. I've had days where I've clocked up like 3500cals lol

vpsorrels

I try to be honest about every BLT (bite, lick, taste); sometimes I find it challenging especially when I eat a meal out and cannot find it on the foods list. I have to try to guesstimate at it.

mrsgeneric

If it goes im my mouth it goes in my log!!!
I agree ure only lying to yourself if you dont log it

lives21

I log everything. It's like a slap in the face to do better. That I gave myself lol

mmctaw

I add everything...even if its not so good. It's better to know what you need to maybe make up the next few days than to lie to yourself. Besides, it's better to know so you can target your problems instead of denying they exist.

JessicaRobin67

I record everything...right down to a cough drop.

kuntry_navy

Its way better to just log everything, that will keep you in check the day you're logging. I just spent the weekend in Vegas and was 5000 calories over pretty much every day. I probably won't look back at those days ever, because the goal should always be now and the future.

Susie_Q12

I record honestly, no matter what. I'm not here to impress (or lie to) anyone, including myself. IMHO, being truthful to/with yourself is the first step to success.

WillowWindow

I'm pretty new at this, only a few weeks in, so I'm in learning mode. I'm logging everything so I can learn how I eat and why I slip up. I got a bit overconfident after a few good weeks and bought salted peanuts -- mistake! So after two days of eating over calories, I threw the rest out to the ducks. I learned not to bring stuff into the house that's hard/impossible to resist eating in small amounts, and if I do it's better off feeding the wildlife.

I enjoyed everyone's responses; thanks for sharing your experiences. It helps.

mrspinky85

I try to record everything but if my calories are off its probably because either I made something homemade and can't figure out the calories or I got to busy and forgot to finish my journal. I know that I need to be more consistant and stop with all the fast food quick fixes. But hey if I was perfect would I need myfitnesspal. Nope. Congrats on being honest but for those who are afraid to be honest its ok. No one here can judge you because we all have a reason we need to track our food. I know I won't be judging over here...lol

Sofitin2013

I record everything. I tried burying my head in the sand about my diet nd my weight and I ballooned up over two years. I need to be honest with myself to be successful

Bootjockey

I do.

Your body knows what you eat, whether you write it down or not. So why lie? Why intentionally mis-lead yourself into believing you're doing a good job, when you aren't, and increasing your own frustration level?

After losing almost 250 pounds, I have to think my approach works. Certainly for me.

My diary is open (I think it is anyway), you're welcome to look...

-BootJockey

ellenvmelon

I do, 90% of the time. Other times I just plain forget. But after seeing that the scale was going the wrong way (though I am getting stronger every week) I'm now recording EVERYTHING and clicking that treats = less food later if I've run out of calories!

jenns1964

I record everything. I need to be accountable. I don[t beat myself up over it...unless I go over on sodium!

TimFranklin423

I try to record everything...and I'm usually pretty good about it. Lately i've switched to Intermittent fasting and only have a 4 hour window to eat. So lately i'm so hungry that I just devour everything my wife sits down in front of me and I forget to ask "oh btw, what was that?" On days when I cook, though, it's always something from the Everyday Paleo book, and if I can't find the recipe already added in the MFP database, I just make one with all the ingredients from the cookbook and use that, so it's much more accurate.

There were plenty of days when I would go over my calories though, but honestly, I don't care lol. No one from my friend list has ever said anything negative to me about my diet so I don't even feel like it's a big deal. I knew if I went over what the consequences would be..and I just worked out a little bit harder the next day or go out for a walk/swim that night to even things out.


I think so many people here get so caught up in thinking things have to be 100% perfect all the time. Like if you're not following some silly formula that you're going to **** up and gain 10lbs over night. This is a journey and something that you will have to listen to your body on. Give it good foods, give it plenty of water, give it exercise. If your food is clean, then it's not going to hurt you to eat over what some damn calculator online told you to keep your calories under.

TimFranklin423

I do.

Your body knows what you eat, whether you write it down or not. So why lie? Why intentionally mis-lead yourself into believing you're doing a good job, when you aren't, and increasing your own frustration level?

After losing almost 250 pounds, I have to think my approach works. Certainly for me.

My diary is open (I think it is anyway), you're welcome to look...

-BootJockey

This ^

cwolfman13

I do....I like to know how much I've gone over...often I'm still in a calorie deficit, just a smaller one...sometimes I'm at maintenance. I'm very rarely at a surplus these days. I find it difficult to do with the kinds of foods I eat.

Besides, why lie to yourself...that's just weird.

run_way

I used to just not log on the days when I ate terribly, because I knew I was being bad so I figured didn't need to log it.

I log even the bad days now, though - it helps me see the overage of calories, and if you think about it being distributed throughout your week, that one day can cancel out all that hard work and good that you did for the whole week. It gives me better perspective on it.

NewTnme

I record everything because even though some days I go over the others I dont and for the week, I usually come out under my weekly goal.:happy: And I dont feel like crap for going over the 1 or 2 days.

MrsBozz1

I record EVERYTHING!! I am really serious about this! If I only record the good I am not being honest with myself. Ignoring the overage doesn't make it go away. I don't tend to have over days because like I said I am really serious about this but if I do I record it. This holds me accountable Good luck to all! :flowerforyou:

selina884

I am really wondering how many people record literally everything you eat even when you have a BAD eating day. I record literally eat bite sometimes it's 2500 cals but I'm being honest. How many others make sure they do this or do you just quit and start again the next day???

I commend you for your honesty.

I am the same, I log it all...

earvizu92

It is what it is......... and I record it all!

emafairycake1986

I Always record everything i eat so i know even whhen i snack on crap at least we are all aware of what erve put in out bodies x