I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE THAT HATES THE RED NUMBERS
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
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It's like it's telling me I failed.
You did.0 -
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.0 -
It's like it's telling me I failed.
You did.
Thanks for that!0 -
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!0 -
That's rather reddist.
I solve the problem by not logging food. Ta Da.
You're welcome. :flowerforyou:
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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:0
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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.0 -
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.0
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I go exercise more until they're gone, or admit I effed up and learn from it.0
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Paint over it in black. There.0
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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.0 -
it makes you work harder, red is so dam final.its like blood and death.0
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It's like it's telling me I failed.
You did.
So encouraging!0 -
We all cringe when we see the red numbers. That's the whole scare tactic but don't dispair0
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I go exercise more until they're gone, or admit I effed up and learn from it.
LIKE!0 -
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:0 -
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.0
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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.0 -
Red means stop. Its a good thing.0
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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!0 -
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.0 -
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.0 -
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!0 -
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.0 -
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.0 -
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!0
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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.0 -
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!0 -
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.0 -
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.
*sigh* OP, good job on logging smaller portions than you actually ate!! CONGRATS. :flowerforyou:0
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