How do YOU handle running out of daily calories?

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Replies

  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Not to be rude, but behaviour changes are a big part of it. If you're at your calorie limit, stop eating.
  • MyM0wM0w
    MyM0wM0w Posts: 2,008 Member
    I prelog my meals for 3 or 4 days in advance so I don't usually go over.

    If I do have an instance like that, where I get blind sided by something I'll throw in an extra bit of exercise to work it off and/or remove the rest of my snacks for that day to make up for it.

    I'll still eat my 2 other regular meals though.

    No sense in beating yourself up over it, life happens and healthy living isn't a 'diet' it's a lifestyle. It has to be flexible to work.
  • cococa
    cococa Posts: 122 Member
    Like many above, I try and eat light for the rest of the day but accept that I will go over. I remind myself that it's just one day and re-commit to staying under the rest of the week. I also review what I ate that day, take a look at what put me over, and make a plan for how to replace that item in my diet moving forward.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    As long as the day hasn't taken you over maintenance just write it off. Skipping your evening meal will just make you more likely to overeat tomorrow.
  • kellya009
    kellya009 Posts: 54 Member
    I used to be pretty uptight about keeping my calories on track for the DAY.

    But then I started thinking more in terms of the WEEK.

    Some days I'm way under due to lots of exercise. I try and have my weekly average be what I focus on now.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    Let it go and make healthy choices the rest of the day. In the end I always end up averaging it out at the end of the week by +/- 100 calories. That's what matters, the average at the end of your week!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I would try to squeeze more exercise in, but if I can't, I try to even out the calories with the rest of the week. For example if I ate 300 calories over today, I would eat 100 less for the next 3 days. It happens :)

    ^^^ This is what I do too. Shave just a bit off my cals for the next few days to even out what I can't burn.
  • I would find an exercise that you don't absolutely hate. I go over all the time, but afterward I will hop on the bike, lift weights, or go for a jog. I always know that I can eat whatever I want so long as I work it off.
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    First off, the more you exercise, the more you start to like it. Eventually, you will feel like you NEED it.

    To answer your question, I wouldn't "give up" on the day just because you lost control at lunch. Personally, I'd exercise, eat a lighter dinner and try to keep my deficit. However, if exercise is definitely out of the question, I'd at the minimum eat a salad and try to to go over your TDEE. At the very least it makes today a wash.

    The fact is, though, you are in the situation you are in (not just today's, but in fact, needing to lose weight in general) because you have bad habits - not preaching to you, you know/admit this. If you don't change your bad habits, you aren't going to change yourself long term. Whatever goal you set for yourself is fine with me, but if your goal is to lose weight and be healthy, you can't continue to just accept and live with the bad habits.

    Exercise is not your enemy - the human body functions better the more you use it! Just start slow and keep challenging yourself to continue.
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    Work out enough that I never do....or if I'm over by a couple hundred, don't worry about it. Not a big deal unless you go crazy over.
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    If I go over I just make healthy choices the rest of the day. Worst thing you can do is starve yourself though. One bad day won't destroy your efforts.
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
    Eat dinner as usual, forget about it, and move on. Everyone "slips up" sometimes and as long as it's not a daily event, it won't hurt your bottom line that much. Feel good about your progress made so far (37 lbs is a great start!) and tomorrow is a new day. Adding in a bit of exercise won't hurt either!:happy:
    exactly!
  • sarahx_17
    sarahx_17 Posts: 8 Member
    i have a slim-a-soup, half a cucumber and a cup of frozen berries for dinner. better to have something light rather than nothing as you might end up binging. and drink a load of water - put yourself back in the healthy eating mindset :)
  • AliciaStinger
    AliciaStinger Posts: 402 Member
    Lately I've been bad and I just accept being over. In the past, I would I try to have a bigger calorie defacit over the next couple of days after. If you eat 1500 calories one day, and average come out to a 300 calorie defacit over the next few days, it still averages out to 1200 calories a day.
  • CChandler81
    CChandler81 Posts: 100 Member
    I agree with everyone else...forget about it and move on. I usually have at least one "over" day a week and it hasn't halted my progress. One of the most important things I've learned is to forgive myself for slip-ups, purposeful or not.
  • jzrharv
    jzrharv Posts: 126 Member
    As James Bond would say: Die(t) Another Day.

    There's always tomorrow. Just get back on the plan and soldier on, it will continue to work.

    One day out of seven, no big deal. Six days out of seven, we've got a problem...
  • JustMagpie
    JustMagpie Posts: 31 Member
    I can give you what my trainer says, She says then your done! no more cals then what you are alloted. Even if it is breakfast.

    What I would say is suck it up for today, and continue as you should. Log how you feel how you did, why it happened and learn and move on.

    Events such as this always will come up, thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays.

    Live, and learn and move on!
  • DaBossLady24
    DaBossLady24 Posts: 556 Member
    Eat a healthy dinner even if you go over your allotted calories, schedule a workout of some sort (even if it's just walking, sit ups, push ups, jogging in place, SOMETHING), and just learn from your mistakes.

    No one is perfect.
    Just remember that and move forward. Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:
  • Lisah8969
    Lisah8969 Posts: 1,247 Member
    First off, the more you exercise, the more you start to like it. Eventually, you will feel like you NEED it.

    Couldn't agree with this more! I am taking today off, but honestly feel like I am forcing myself to do it. I work out 6 - 7 days a week and while I know that my body does need rest, I still want to go home and jump on the bike for 45 minutes before dinner. I never thought this sort of thing would happen to me.
  • cobracars
    cobracars Posts: 949 Member
    I usually whine about it and then look for someone else to blame.
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    Do some exercise to "earn" some more, or go over and make up for it by knocking 100 cal off a couple of other days of the week.
  • KIMBAILEYWILLIAMSON
    KIMBAILEYWILLIAMSON Posts: 258 Member
    I would try to squeeze more exercise in, but if I can't, I try to even out the calories with the rest of the week. For example if I ate 300 calories over today, I would eat 100 less for the next 3 days. It happens :)


    This was a good question and I like the answer above ^^
  • needles85365
    needles85365 Posts: 491 Member
    I go to bed. You know where our weakness is so once in a while it won't hurt. Have a light dinner and start over tomorrow.
  • wolfehound22
    wolfehound22 Posts: 859 Member
    Eat, and do a better job tomorrow. Starving yourself is not a healthier option. Better to go over by a couple hundred then not eat for 12+ hours. One day is not going to mess up your progress.
  • SPBROOKS68
    SPBROOKS68 Posts: 561 Member
    EXERCISE
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If I have time I'll exercise to "earn" more caloires. Otherwise I just go over and try to even it out over the next several days. Or not. Sometimes I just have a high calorie day and go on with my life. As long as it's not often it's no big deal.
  • I usually whine about it and then look for someone else to blame.

    hahaha yep. ^^^

    No seriously, I just do egg white and veggies for dinner and realize that you ARE changing your habits, before you never would have paid attention to those pesky peanuts calories.
  • cbeutler
    cbeutler Posts: 667 Member
    Oatmeal, salad, exercise
  • theteamarie
    theteamarie Posts: 17 Member
    I would suggest eating anyways (maybe something light like a salas with protein if you're worried about too many calories) and exercising a bit if you find it necessary (or maybe just going on a walk?). And of course stay super hydrated, that always helps me. I drink water even when it's the last thing i want and it makes a big difference in my intake.
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    Every morning, I plan my meals ahead, so I seldom run out of calories. I spend my days at home, so it's pretty easy. I'm sure if you work or have a family, it would be difficult to know ahead exactly what you are going to eat. There is a lot of good advice here. It's amazing what people can do if challenged!