Anyone else stress over going over?

Losing weight is not math, although it may sometimes seem like it on mfp when you're constantly counting how many calories you've eaten at lunch and how many you've burned during exercise. Sometimes, you overeat. And even if that red and bolded font under your food diary when you exceed your calorie goal is depressing, you gotta get over it and try to be better tomorrow.

A few weeks ago I overate at a restaurant (I couldn't even log on the calories, I felt so guilty) and I felt like all my work had been ruined, so I let go of my diet for two weeks. I gained 2 lbs. But it wasn't from the dinner, it was from the following two weeks.

I read this on tumblr and it's so true: saying "I ruined my diet with this meal, I might as well go all the way and eat anything from now on" is like saying "oh, I dropped my phone, I might as well smash it until it breaks."

One meal is nothing. There are 28 meals in a week.

something that's really important in being successful with this is allowing yourself occasional meals like this. mind you, they should be occasional, but as others have said, it's all about getting right back on track and not allowing the overeating to take over again. sometimes in life you DO go out, you do celebrate, and you do eat a lot more. you need to be able to still live. try not to beat yourself up over it, and just get right back on track!

I'm one of those people who doesn't log my cheat days. I've found it to be the only way I can mentally give myself permission to eat what I want. So far it hasn't hurt my progress at all

Still eat breakfast and lunch but try to eat less calories for those two meals than usual and workout today. Since pizza is very caloric, try to have 2 slices of pizza max with a big salad with little or no dressing.

I don't stress about it. I like a nice meal and I'm not going to ruin it by worrying about calories. I don't gain weight from having an occasional day of eating a large number of calories. Even last week, I had several days of eating quite a bit more than my goal number of calories - one day I ate 3000 calories - and I found (rather to my surprise) that I didn't gain weight from it. I assume eating healthily and in moderation most days will make one's weight even out to reflect those days. Also, if I eat way over my calories one day, I am generally not so hungry the next day, so I eat less, and it evens out.

Tim Ferriss, in 'The Four-Hour Body', actually recommends having one day a week of eating whatever you like, to keep your metabolism on its toes and stop it slowing down. This makes sense to me.

Thanks for the replies. I have already done some research as to what foods they have that is going to give me the best "cost, benefit". But I am going to do something I have never done before at an all you can eat joint....start with a salad.

I have gotten to where when I take the kids to cici's (all you can eat pizza joint for my non USA friends ) I can just eat a BIG salad... and I am fine with one or two plates

when we go to golden coral or the chinese buffet I have a harder time... so I don't go to them as often... and when we go I tend to eat a lot of salad... and I insist we sit on the side AWAY from the deserts and don't even walk that way!

but to answer your original question... I tend to think of calories on a weekly goal... and I like to do 5 days at 1800 then 2 at 2100... works for me (especially when I can exercise)

IMO your wife/friends should show a little consideration and choose a place where you, at least, have a fighting chance of eating healthy.

I went over today, not by loads but its fine, will be good the next couple of weeks!

IDK if it's socially acceptable, but I tend to plan ahead...Eat very little throughout the day. Slice of toast, half an apple; 1/2 c tuna or chicken salad (or stuff a tomato or half a pepper with it as the filler); nibble on grapes throughout the day as a snack & chow down at dinner (or whenever the planned outing is). Usually these outings (for me anyhow) are in the evening around dinner, by then because I hardly ate throughout the day, my eyes truly end up larger than my belly so I don't end up splurging as I feared I would.

Try to balance it out a bit by getting your exercise on before you go out to dinner! : )

I just don't worry about it, as long as it's not an everyday occurrence. An occasional meal that puts you in the red isn't the end of the world. Losing weight isn't a race, you have to keep eating the same way once you reach your goal weight. Relax and enjoy the scenery on your way there. Special meals and occasions are part of life, you can't expect to be "perfect" for every meal for the rest of your life!

dont stress. At the end of the week you will realize it didn't really count as much. Just work harder on the next few days following the big eat days.

Just don't eat as much at the buffets/ or pizza places.

Unlike some others, I recommend recording everything... be honest with yourself, even if you allow yourself to go over sometimes.

You allow yourself to be under some days too, don't you?

It's about balance and habits you can keep up life-long. If you view this as short-term, it will be. Short-term "dieting" mentality and the feeling of deprivation lead to binges and yo-yo dieting.

So, as you've already done, figure out ways to make it "fit". The salad first is a good idea, but be careful about the dressing and high-calorie ingredients. Some of them can be worse than the pizza. Check out which toppings are better for your plan. In general you can load pizza up with vegetables -- peppers, broccoli, even olives (which have fat, but it's a healthier fat). Along with your salad, drink... water is probably best, but diet soda or unsweetened (or lightly sweetened by you, not the restaurant) tea.

Focus on the company. Isn't that why you're going out with them? Talk and listen, eat slowly.

If you can, eat lower calorie choices in the earlier part of the day, or maybe lower fat (?) depending on your goals, try to leave room. planning for the special meal. One way to do that, especially when you know what you'll be likely to eat, is to pre-log it. That helps you know where to leave the room as you eat your other meals. You may not estimate it quite right, and you can adjust or fix it afterwards... that's part of what you're learning here, right?

Too much stress raises hormones that are bad for you and for weight loss. So keep in mind that one meal will not undo your whole week (unless you're talking about a multi-hour binge).

Enjoy your meal and the variation in what you're eating and the company. Have a good day!

If you have ever watched biggest loser even bob harper will say they let their contestants have atleast 1 cheat day a week because sometimes your body gets so use to eating the healthy stuff that you body just needs the extra calories.

The way I see it. If I am trying to make a lifestyle change its going to take me a lifetime to make these changes for the rest of my life.

Just look at the big picture. How many times did you use to eat out a week, compared to how many times you are now?

I think you need cheat days more for mental approval then anything.