Taking a day off

If I were to do this, I'd probably log everything the following day, regardless of whether I was trying to achieve my calorie goal or not. I wouldn't beat myself up with it, I'd just want it there for reference so if I saw differences in my results later, I have a more complete set of data to extrapolate from.

Then again, I'm a major geek. LOL

I have two cheat days a week.
The one day is allowed 2200 calories, the second is usually unlogged and probably averages 2500-3000 calories.

I have days (and occasionally weekends) where I go over on calories, don't work out, etc. Since January I still have not had a week that I have gained. Life happens, and you have to enjoy it!

Just remember that it's all about lifestyle. It isn't about one day...it isn't about isolated incidents of over-indulgence. Ask yourself this...does one day of eating right and nutritiously make you a healthy, fit, and lean person? No...it's a lifestyle that does that. So, one day of indulgence doesn't make you fat and unfit and unhealthy either...it takes living an unhealthy, glutenous lifestyle to do that.

Also, you'll probably do far better than you think. As I approached maintenance I did a lot of practicing with intuitive eating and portion control due to the fact that I had no intention of being a slave to logging everyday when I got to maintenance. It's only been two months, but I'm maintaining just fine with only logging very occasionally just for a spot check.

Take a day off if you are sure the day after you will get back to logging again.
To be honest, I've not logged now for almost 4 weeks and I haven't gained at all, if anything I've lost another 1-2lbs. I had also been logging since January and felt nervous about taking a day off, then I realised that I had learnt so much valuable information from MFP on portion control, good and bad foods, etc. that I didn't need to log to maintain.
If you still have 14lbs to go then I say take a day off and get back to it.

I totally understand you, it panics me to not log things. I feel so guilty indulging ><

I take a day off every few months, I normally try to plan it for a holiday but sometimes it's just a normal day off. It has not hurt my loss. However, you should expect a gain on the scale the first few days. It is water weight and the weight of eating more than usual still sitting in your digestive tract. Expect it and don't allow it get you upset. It will be gone in just a couple days.

Just remember that it's all about lifestyle. It isn't about one day...it isn't about isolated incidents of over-indulgence. Ask yourself this...does one day of eating right and nutritiously make you a healthy, fit, and lean person? No...it's a lifestyle that does that. So, one day of indulgence doesn't make you fat and unfit and unhealthy either...it takes living an unhealthy, glutenous lifestyle to do that.

Also, you'll probably do far better than you think. As I approached maintenance I did a lot of practicing with intuitive eating and portion control due to the fact that I had no intention of being a slave to logging everyday when I got to maintenance. It's only been two months, but I'm maintaining just fine with only logging very occasionally just for a spot check.

Yes to this

Well this is timely - I had today off!

I've been logging consistently since mid-march, and whilst I've gone a bit over on a few days, I've pretty much stuck to my calorie goal.

Today, however, my mum + nan invited themselves over for Sunday dinner. So I made a full-on Sunday roast - slow roasted shoulder of pork, with crackling, mashed potato with butter + cream, roast potatoes, big pile of veg - everything, including the bottles of wine. Initially I planned on logging it all and trying to count the calories, but decided instead to allow myself to enjoy cooking the meal, and more importantly enjoy eating the meal and the social occasion.

Then when my brother came to pick up my mum + nan, he bought left over cake from his work - full of cream and chocolate and sugary goodness, so by that point it was definitely a day off. As a rough estimate, I'd say I've eaten/drank 3000-3500 calories today - my usual daily goal is 1500 (plus exercise cals).

And you know what? I really don't feel guilty about it. I'm not going to starve myself all week, or do tons of cardio to "atone" for my eating today. I'll log an approximate calorie count for today, and continue tomorrow in much the same way as I would have done if I'd come in under goal today.

There's a saying - one swallow doesn't make a summer. In much the same way, one day off logging doesn't make a person instantly fat again.

Go to the wedding, eat the tasty food, enjoy celebrating with the happy couple and most importantly enjoy yourself. MFP will be here the day after for you to continue your journey :-)

I log everyday now just because I don't want the counter to go back to "0." :laugh:

just curious here, if you just track your water for the day, will it still go back to ZERO?

I don't think it's a big deal not to log a day now and then, but I always account for it. If you are in this for the long run, you will not be perfect every day, and that's how life works. For Easter at my relatives house, I didn't bother logging everything I ate because how the heck do I know how many calories are in the sweet potatoes my aunt made, or the lasagna my sister made, dips, etc. I just did a quick add of 1500 calories for the meal (I pigged out) and worked it into my overall plan for the week.

I have days off, I still log it though, mainly so if im tempted again that week i can remind myself to try and be good

If it makes you feel better you could write a couple things down just for your own curiosity to see how much over you go. You might find after being mindful of portions that even your "splurge" day is reasonable. When I go out to eat I find that I eat half a portion get a box and ask for my sauces on the side. My "splurges" have gotten a lot less impressive then they were before I was being mindful.

Personally, I log every day, even those days that will be oh so calorie filled. Its a habit for me-the app on my phone makes it easy for me. I try not to freak if I have one terrible day every so often.

But I say enjoy your day off and have fun!