Can one day of bad eating cause weight gain ?

melodyjosie
melodyjosie Posts: 68 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've lost 20kg, and I'm maintaining my weight from now on and I still eat healthy, Yesterday however I had half a pizza and a lot of chocolate and things because of Easter and I am paranoid it would of took a dramatic turn for my weight. I am so paranoid! I heard 'one day' of bad eating won't ruin things but is that true? Please somebody help?

Thanks
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Replies

  • mumtoonegirl
    mumtoonegirl Posts: 586 Member
    it might have a short term impact on the scale because of the salt will make you retain water. They say it is healthy to have a splurge day once in a while to maintain.
  • rachpetersen
    rachpetersen Posts: 265 Member
    no it won't.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    No. Depending on how much sodium was taken in you may see a weight gain due to weight retention but given a few days for that to work through your system it will be a wash. I would suggest staying off the scale for 3 or 4 days and allow for the water weight to go off...
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    One day isn't going to do any long term damage, particularly if you have been strict with sticking to your calories & macros other than that. Just don't let it go on to 2 days, 3 days, etc.
  • JenS2586
    JenS2586 Posts: 85
    I have a bad day I tend to go up 4-5lbs, but its usually water weight and if I go back to normal routine and diet it wil go back down within 2-3days tops.
  • Colbyandsage
    Colbyandsage Posts: 751 Member
    No, it won't unless you let it. Seriously, if you use the "well, I already messed up so I might as well eat everything in sight" excuse and repeat it over and over then yes it will cause weight gain. But no, one or 2 days will not ruin your progress.
  • DeMarraDontStop
    DeMarraDontStop Posts: 342 Member
    I have a bad day I tend to go up 4-5lbs, but its usually water weight and if I go back to normal routine and diet it wil go back down within 2-3days tops.

    ^This^
  • koko12
    koko12 Posts: 81 Member
    water weight, thats it. so drink up! drink water that is
  • jturne1
    jturne1 Posts: 12
    Nope, as colbyandsage and others stated, get back to your weight loss macros and the weight fluctuation will disappear within a few days.

    Don't turn one excessive day into a string of binges and you will be just fine.

    Congrats on the weightloss so far! Keep up the hard work.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    To gain a pound of fat you'd have to eat 3500 calories above maintenance. Most likely you'll see some water weight gain and then in a few days you'll be back to your normal weight. One day of bad eating won't make you fat, just like one day of eating healthy won't make you skinny.
  • Tomhoffman84
    Tomhoffman84 Posts: 99
    I got back from two back to back business trips over the course of 8 days last week, ate and drank too much on the second one, got home and was up 4lbs on the scale, three days later I was down 5 from my last weigh in, so just give it time.

    I still weigh daily even after bad days, its kind of like my sick little punishment for having a bad day....
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  • gabijadc
    gabijadc Posts: 90 Member
    I had three cakes + cheese cake + creme brulee + chocolate candy on Easter. My breakfast/lunch must have been about 2000 kcal, and lasted about 3 hours.
    Twice or three times ever year on Easter and Christmas Eve I pig out like there is no tomorrow and I don't even feel sorry, ha!
    You're gonna be fine :)
  • mattschwartz01
    mattschwartz01 Posts: 566 Member
    I'm no doc but it's water retention. Since, I'm on the imperial system 3500 calories is roughly 1 pound of fat but this is, at best, an inexact science. So say the scale shows 5 pounds ... that is 17,500 calories on top of your BMR or a really tremendous amount of food. The scale is only one yard stick. You could also measure your waist and see that nothing changed.
  • Biindi
    Biindi Posts: 10
    Some really good information and perspectives here. One day is one day - try not to go too crazy on these challenging foodie days, and pull it back in the next day. It's consistency...all those individual decisions each day that will help you achieve your goals over the long term. Don't beat yourself up over one day. Good luck - now get back on track!
  • WifeofPJ
    WifeofPJ Posts: 312
    Assuming you don't have any underline issues like insulin resistance it will not cause you weight gain for the week. I have an insulin resistance (PCOS) and if I have a really bad day it will possibly cause me to gain weight for the week.
  • Dragon67
    Dragon67 Posts: 123 Member
    bump
  • dfonte
    dfonte Posts: 263 Member
    I do it now and then - and I did yesterday. You do need to enjoy yourself every now and then.

    A couple days of ****ty eating won't ruin your....keywords here....healthy lifestyle. Eating excess amounts of chocolate, drinking 30 beers and going crazy on 20 McDoubles, doing shots of tequilla - it happens to everyone.
  • mochablend
    mochablend Posts: 16 Member
    Dfonte, your binge diet is scaring me!
  • missebet
    missebet Posts: 7 Member
    No it will not derail your downward momentum. We all need to indulge ourselves once in a while. I think of those days as a reward for doing as well as I have.
  • 240Z
    240Z Posts: 5 Member
    It's not just the sodium. Replenishment of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles from a calorie excess has a big water requirement to store it. The good news is, a body replenished with glycogen can really have a great workout the next day.
    As the glycogen is depleted, the water is released as well.
  • JessicaN1979
    JessicaN1979 Posts: 142 Member
    It takes 3500 calories to gain 1 pound or a deficit of 3500 calories to lose 1 pound.
  • michelleesther
    michelleesther Posts: 72 Member
    Salty foods are usually the culprit for my overnight weight gains.
  • blackcloud13
    blackcloud13 Posts: 654 Member
    One day (as long as it says one day :-) ) can't really derail any of the good work you have done. Effects of one day should be gone in less than a week, tops
  • dfonte
    dfonte Posts: 263 Member
    Dfonte, your binge diet is scaring me!

    I don't really binge, I just eat whatever I want every now and then.

    Keep in mind I'm active. For example, yesterday I was over my goal by 2300 calories. My goal is set at maintenance for not being active at all and I don't log exercise. I went to the gym 2 times yesterday, and again this morning so that 2300 is deceiving if you just look at my diary. I can't eat **** like that all the time anyways because it hurts my performance which I value.
  • shabs84
    shabs84 Posts: 3
    Like others said, drink lots of water to help flush out your system. One day of bad eating won't ruin your progress just like one day of good eating won't get you in shape. :) It's okay to indulge sometimes! Don't feel bad about it. Just get back to your healthy lifestyle and keep moving forward!
  • Bane81
    Bane81 Posts: 40 Member
    Having a cheat meal or cheat day once in a while isn't that bad. Yes if you check the scale immediately the next day you might notice an increase, but weight shifts as much as up to 5 lbs throughout the day. I usually just do 1 cheat meal a week on the day of my weigh in. This gives me a full week to get my weight back in order.
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    Salty foods are usually the culprit for my overnight weight gains.

    keyword "weight".... not fat... so it dont mean a ting....

    I know you didnt mean fat... i just wanna reiterate whats been said multiple times above
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member
    No it will not derail your downward momentum. We all need to indulge ourselves once in a while. I think of those days as a reward for doing as well as I have.

    This is dangerous/risky behavior to reward yourself with food. It's like a big problem to have if you are trying to move away from being an emotional eater.

    If you are restricting yourself to the point that point, you will most likely fall back into bad habits once you stop the restrictions since you are using it during the weight loss phase. Best approach is moderation eat whatever just in small and reasonable amounts.
  • crawfishag
    crawfishag Posts: 19 Member
    I personally plan to go over to the dark side from time to time. I will through a get together, get a keg of beer, smoke briskets and ribs and not give a damn. When I get the house clean afterwards I get my diet clean as well and I'm back on track. It works for me and I don't worry about it. I haven't found one day or even one weekend makes that much of a difference.

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