Huge dinner you can't avoid. Should you skip lunch?

Freidon

College student, here. My birthday's in a couple of days, but I had a huge exam coming up and wasn't able to go home over the weekend. My parents were sweet and decided to come here and take me out to eat. I can't get them to tell me what restaurant they're planning to go to, and my Mom apparently bought a Tiramisu cake.

This is insanely sweet, but it's going to wreck my calories and protein intake for the day. I have a feeling she ordered the cake from Olive Garden, which is roughly 500 calories per serving. She bought this cake specifically for me, as I loved it a couple of years ago, and I have the feeling it was rather expensive. So there's no way around eating a slice. Also, since I don't know where they're taking me out to eat, I have no way to plan what I eat in advance. As a result, I decided to forego my usual breakfast and lunch and just eat a small muffin and some coffee. (200 calories). It's 3 o'clock, and I'm absolutely starving. This got me thinking.

Should this type of thing ever happen again, what do you think is better? Skipping eating to save the calories for later, or eating small throughout the day to keep your metabolism up, and just deal with the surplus calories later?

a_claire

By starving yourself all day, you are setting yourself up to gorge at dinner. One calorie dense meal won't make you fat, the same as how one very healthy meal won't make you thin. You should eat how you normally would, and then at dinner make a healthy dinner choice. Get a salad, or some grilled protein or something. Make it clear to your parents that you are working towards a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and enjoy the damn cake. It's your birthday.

Emtabo01

I have a bit of a binge eating problem that I'm coming to terms with. Trying to figure out triggers. One I have positively identified, is your situation exactly. Knowing I'm going to have a big calorie night, so I don't eat in the morning or afternoon, get home from work and eat 1000+calories of junk, an hour before going out to eat (smart, right?) One of my "goals" is to make myself eat normally on days even when I know I'm going out to eat. It's better to be over by a few hundred calories, than have it trigger a week long binge that has me gaining 5 pounds. One night of indulgence won't ruin your progress, days of binging will. Now if your not prone to binges, I guess nevermind.

CristinaL1983

I practice intermittent fasting. In that type of situation, I just fast until dinner (which I do a couple times a week anyway). I think it all depends on what you want to do. If you have one outrageously high calorie dinner, it isn't going to hurt you (though it could prevent you from losing weight that week, you aren't going to gain or anything). As long as the rest of your week is good, enjoy it and move on.

Freidon

By starving yourself all day, you are setting yourself up to gorge at dinner. One calorie dense meal won't make you fat, the same as how one very healthy meal won't make you thin. You should eat how you normally would, and then at dinner make a healthy dinner choice. Get a salad, or some grilled protein or something. Make it clear to your parents that you are working towards a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and enjoy the damn cake. It's your birthday.

They pitch a fit if I get a salad when I go out, and I know I'll hear the "but it's your birthday!" excuse. Considering they're paying for the meal, I'd feel bad about insisting on it. I usually get around this by checking out the menu's nutritional information beforehand, and getting something that's healthy that doesn't sound like "rabbit food".

Thank you for the grilled chicken suggestion! It's what I usually go for. And yeah....as much as I'll regret it later, I'm looking forward to that cake. If I remember correctly, it's to die for. XD

sunnyside1213

Eat the cake. Move on.

dym123

You have 3 choices: 1. Eat lunch and an afternoon snack, that way you won't be as hungry at dinner; 2. Do a massive workout so you have the extra calories or 3. (my favorite) ENJOY YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!! It comes around once a year, one day won't completely throw you off course.

BTW: Happy Birthday.

_SABOTEUR_

There is no problem with saving your calories for the end of the day or a certain meal. If you feel this means you'll miss out on some nutrients have a multivitamin and make up for it the next day.

bobf279

Had my birthday last week and had a meal out and several pieces of cake throughout the week, my end of week weigh in showed no weight loss but I didn't gain either. Its only once a year enjoy it.

jackiecamarena

By starving yourself all day, you are setting yourself up to gorge at dinner. One calorie dense meal won't make you fat, the same as how one very healthy meal won't make you thin. You should eat how you normally would, and then at dinner make a healthy dinner choice. Get a salad, or some grilled protein or something. Make it clear to your parents that you are working towards a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and enjoy the damn cake. It's your birthday.

Lots of this.
You don't have to undo your day because someone wants to take you out to eat. Just make good choices and save enough calories for your cake!

vcancel

Put down the computer and go eat something. Have some fruit or a small salad or a bowl of granola cereal and skim milk. I agree that you are setting yourself up to overeat at dinner.

Do not let others compromise your goals and desires. Eat what you want and do not feel guilty.

I lived my entire life listening to the "food police". No one puts the food in your mouth (or not) except you.

I commend you on wanting to make your parents/family happy but you come first. Taste the cake if you want to. Don't taste the cake if you don't want to.

You are in control...

Freidon

Oh, and thanks everyone for the birthday wishes!

SomeoneSomeplace

Jeez hun it's your birthday and it's one day. You can skip lunch if you want but one high surplus day isn't going to make you gain anymore then one really low day wold make you lose. Sure in either case you might fluctuate a few pounds of food/water weight but none of that would be real weight gain. Just enjoy yourself and don't worry about it.

This is a lifestyle change. Meaning you will have days like this birthdays, holidays, parties...you can't possibly be perfect every day. Just eat what you want today and go back to normal tomorrow maybe throw in an extra 30 minutes at the gym but you are really worrying over nothing. Don't over think this so much!

But skipping lunch won't kill you I've done it before myself to save room for a larger dinner but I promise you don't NEED to do that. And happy birthday

neandermagnon

By starving yourself all day, you are setting yourself up to gorge at dinner. One calorie dense meal won't make you fat, the same as how one very healthy meal won't make you thin. You should eat how you normally would, and then at dinner make a healthy dinner choice. Get a salad, or some grilled protein or something. Make it clear to your parents that you are working towards a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and enjoy the damn cake. It's your birthday.

^^^ this

I've even eaten small healthy meals before going to parties etc, simply because if I'm hungry, I'll eat more. I'd rather go to the party feeling only a little bit hungry, so I can enjoy the food there without going OTT

and it's true, one meal high in calories won't make you get fat, it's what you eat day in day out that does that. Special occasions are special occasions, enjoy them. then go right back to healthy eating.

annepage

By starving yourself all day, you are setting yourself up to gorge at dinner. One calorie dense meal won't make you fat, the same as how one very healthy meal won't make you thin. You should eat how you normally would, and then at dinner make a healthy dinner choice. Get a salad, or some grilled protein or something. Make it clear to your parents that you are working towards a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and enjoy the damn cake. It's your birthday.

Agreed.

DonnaLeeCattes

Enjoy your self, it's only one day, tomorrow you will get back on track. We all need to have something extra every now and then.
In the future I would say:
It's best for you not to skip any meals. even if you make your first two smaller then you normally do. Have fun tonight!

jbbrannon

Eat the cake! It's your birthday!

dangerousdumpling

On days like that I eat light but include protein. For breakfast I might have an egg while omelet with veggies and for lunch I would have a bunch of veggies and some chicken. I get a good workout in and enjoy the meal knowing that days like this will happen and I actually want to be able to enjoy them. Have fun and enjoy your evening with your parents.

taso42

Should this type of thing ever happen again, what do you think is better? Skipping eating to save the calories for later, or eating small throughout the day to keep your metabolism up, and just deal with the surplus calories later?

Whichever feels more comfortable. Eating small throughout the day won't do anything to keep your metabolism up. If you fast during the day, you will be more likely to stay within your calories. But if your anything like me, that would be impossible.. I'd be too hungry and miserable.

Go with common sense.. perhaps eat a bit lighter throughout the day so the nice big dinner won't put you too far over. And even if it does, that's just one day. It won't make or break you.

iggyboo93

Don't skip lunch - you'll be ravenous by dinner and make bad food choices. I have to eat before grocery shopping otherwise I buy things like Steak'ums, macadamia nut butter and Ben&Jerry's chunky monkey ice cream.

Enjoy the OG salad (it's so wonderful), agree with you to look up the nutritional info beforehand and stick to that good choice, eat the cake, enjoy your birthday with your family and start back up with the weight loss program the next day.

PS - congrats on your terrific weight loss!

manderson27

Had this issue today. Ate my usual healthy breakfast, went to the gym burned around 400 cals then had my special lunch and just snacked the rest of the day. You can check my diary to see the damage lol. Was still over my cals by around 400 but I will eat at a larger deficit tomorrow to compensate.

Like everyone else has said going over on cals occasionally won't be too detrimental just don't let it become a habit.

Good luck. :drinker:

peacemongernc

I have learned that for me, I manage splurge type foods and meals MUCH better if I eat a small, high protein snack just before I leave to go to the splurge. If I am overly hungry when I get there, I eat too fast, don't enjoy it as much, and eat more than I normally would have. Also, what happens ONE day isn't what matters to a lifetime of wise food choices. You could eat 25 calories less a day (not enough that you would even miss them) for a few weeks, or walk a mile a day for a week, or all sorts of other things, and the whole meal would be a wash!

Also, it has been my experience that if I have a cheat meal 2 to 4 times a month that I actually lose more. I suspect it is partly psychological, and I usually eat much less (because I'm much less hungry) the next day or the day after that. When I average the calories out over 14 days, generally I come out the same WITH the cheat meal/day as if I try to keep the calories down every day.

rduhlir

Relax and have a good evening. One meal will not ruin the world. My husband and I have dinner out once a month or so and I relax and have whatever I want (within reason of course). If you want that spaghetti and meatball dish, then get it. Ask for a to go box right away and put half of it in the box. Order the side salad with the dressing on the side...and have a slice of cake. It is your birthday after all! Do you plan on avoiding cake for the rest of your life? Even if you go over on the calories, who cares! It is one day. One day isn't the reason why you are losing weight now...and one day will not ruin your progress. Relax, have a good time, and then pick right back up where you left off tomorrow.

Iron_Feline

By starving yourself all day, you are setting yourself up to gorge at dinner. One calorie dense meal won't make you fat, the same as how one very healthy meal won't make you thin. You should eat how you normally would, and then at dinner make a healthy dinner choice. Get a salad, or some grilled protein or something. Make it clear to your parents that you are working towards a healthy lifestyle. Oh, and enjoy the damn cake. It's your birthday.

This. It's your birthday enjoy it, order what you want - it's one day a year. It won't kill you or undo all your good work. Have a snack now so you aren't starving and just enjoy the evening :flowerforyou:

cwolfman13

It's one day of many...a special occasion, not a routine. Birthdays happen...holidays happen...random BBQ down the street happens...just enjoy and don't worry about. Special occasions don't make you fat...routinely eating like it's Thanksgiving makes you fat.

maddymama

It's your birthday! Enjoy it! Enjoy the dinner with your parents.....

This program is about finding a way to live your life, which will have lots of events to learn about planning for. If you were me, I'd eat a healthy snack (i.e. hummus and veggies), and enjoy your dinner, and especially the dessert.

On my birthday or holidays, I try to get a bit more of a workout in to help compensate for the extra calories. I'll run an extra mile, for example. I have also found that as time goes on, I treat myself to smaller servings.... a smaller slice of cake, fewer goodies from the buffet line at a party, etc.

trudijoy

go on te website for the restaurant and see if they have an online menu. you will make smarter choices if it's not in the moment. I did this for my birthday and ended up having a gorgeous meal for no more than if i'd eaten at home, plus a lot of prosecco thrown in

pwnderosa

I just ate at maintenance calories the whole week of my birthday! Hahaha!! Try to have a good workout that day or tomorrow so you can feel good about that and enjoy the cake & the birthday! Tiramisu....YUMMMMMM!!! Totally worth the calories on a special occasion!

LavenderBouquet

I would just eat normally in the days leading up to and afterwards. I had the same issue a few weeks ago for my birthday, and I just took the day off from worrying about how healthy my meals were and ate whatever I pleased! I had been steadily losing about a lb/week before that, and I showed the same loss that week even despite the large surplus two days in a row (leftover cake ). I recommend not worrying about it all, enjoying what you like on your birthday, no skipping meals required :flowerforyou:

Faye_Anderson

1. It's your birthday (happy birthday!)
2. It's once a year
3. You're extremely unlikely to go 3500 calories over TDEE

Go and enjoy yourself :flowerforyou:

AngieM76

Its once a year. Enjoy it!