Had a bad day - how bad are fail days?

Speakaboo · February 2014

I've recently committed to religiously tracking my food, and wow, is it ever enlightening. I can see why I wasn't losing weight in the past. Even though I was eating healthy food, I was eating WAY too much of it with minimal exercise.

Today I had a bad day. I went to a catered conference, and ate very sensibly compared to how I'd normally eat when free food is spread out in front of me.

But I logged it all when I got home and WOW WOW WOW. Even after exercising, I'm still 1000 calories over what I'm allowed to eat for the day. And again, I ate small portions (though we did have snacks provided for our networking break that were uh...poor choices. Cookies, brownies, and chocolate bark? Really? No healthy options?)

How bad is a cheat day? And how do you deal with unusual situations? Obviously this isn't a normal thing for me. I go to conferences maybe once or twice a year. But what about holiday dinners? Special occasions? I'm going to a baby shower this weekend and I know there will be food spread out everywhere. I think the hard part is just breaking the habit. I went to the conference today and mindlessly grabbed a coffee (first time this year - gave it up because of IBS) and a plate of breakfast including dreaded bacon (recently realized just how many freaking calories are in bacon - ouch!!) I didn't even think about it until halfway through the first speaker!

SezxyStef · February 2014

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I don't do "cheat days"...makes it sound like I did something wrong by eating food. Esp chocolate which cannot be bad.

As for being over for me it's a weekly thing and you can fix that easy enough...either 200 calories less for the next 5 days or exercise a bit more...or just let it ride and accept you might not lose as much this week...I like option 3.

As for your choices bacon is not bad..lots of protien and fat which is needed for proper nutrtion.

But I have to say this..if you ate "small" portions...and you are over by 1k...I think your idea of a small portion might be a bit off. Unless you ate a lot of small portions.

For me unusal situations such as holidays etc to be frank I don't make special adjustments like not eating all day...can't do it...I have to eat my normal way but what I have found is I really can't eat as much now...I am fuller on less but that could be the amount of protien I eat as well...

TL;DR don't worry about it tomorrow is a new day.

wrenegade64 · February 2014

Bad days/fail days are only as bad as you make them. If they are frequent (more than a couple times a week), they can be devestating. Those days, in this humble guys opinion, are a fact of life. We are not perfect people and we certainly don't live in a perfect world, so dadgumit, WE CAN'T EXPECT PERFECTION! HOWEVER, we can be prepared for when those days come. Is it safe to say that this catered event was planned? Assuming it was, then plan ahead. Attempt to learn a little about what is going to be catered. Make the most educated choices you can when you make your plate. Maybe offset the extra calories during the catered event with more strict eating the rest of the day and maybe some extra exercise. If opportunity presents itself, bring a few things of your own to eat along with the other stuff OR fill yourself up with better stuff BEFORE the event so you will be more full and will eat less of what they serve.

These days will happen. Count on them. Has every road that you have driven on had fresh smooth asphault on it? Didn't think so. Its gonna be alright. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! :happy:

Anonycatgirl · February 2014

I've had a couple of days like since I started just after Christmas (Important safety tip: never skip lunch, then sit right next to the cheese board during cocktails. Just saying!) and it's all balanced out in the long run. Don't beat yourself up, just eat less and/or exercise more for the rest of the week.

ebayaddict0127 · February 2014

I've had two or three cheat days the past two months and have not once had a gain on my weigh-in day.

Speakaboo · February 2014

But I have to say this..if you ate "small" portions...and you are over by 1k...I think your idea of a small portion might be a bit off. Unless you ate a lot of small portions.

Yes, lots of small portions! But it was butter chicken and basmati rice which is my absolute favorite and probably a terrible option! It was all they provided. And was buffet! It took everything not to go back for seconds, haha. I did pat myself on the back for that. And then rewarded myself with a brownie during our networking break. Facepalm.

I didn't even consider just cutting back for the rest of the week! I've actually been under my calorie allowance for the rest of the days this week, so if I just continue with "normal" days for the rest of the week, it'll all work out. Or not! The only reason I worry at all about it is because I've not lost a single pound this year despite trying. Though admittedly, I only started tracking food four days ago. And have been finding it insanely helpful for managing what I'm eating. I went through most of January and February thinking that giving up all fast food/soda/junk food was enough. I was eating completely healthy, but it's a bit self-defeating when I'm eating heaps of healthy food and going way over my calorie limit and then doing zero exercise! Yeah, I'm smart. =P

hilaria81 · February 2014

I had a really rough day on Feb. 4, went over my calories by 1600 (that date sticks out like a sore thumb in all the reports/graphs!). My weight did go up by 0.2 that week, but I just got right back into the routine and lost something like 3 pounds the next week. Haven't felt like having another day like that since! Just treat it as a valuable learning opportunity and keep moving forward.

Graelwyn75 · February 2014

Bad days/fail days are only as bad as you make them. If they are frequent (more than a couple times a week), they can be devestating. Those days, in this humble guys opinion, are a fact of life. We are not perfect people and we certainly don't live in a perfect world, so dadgumit, WE CAN'T EXPECT PERFECTION! HOWEVER, we can be prepared for when those days come. Is it safe to say that this catered event was planned? Assuming it was, then plan ahead. Attempt to learn a little about what is going to be catered. Make the most educated choices you can when you make your plate. Maybe offset the extra calories during the catered event with more strict eating the rest of the day and maybe some extra exercise. If opportunity presents itself, bring a few things of your own to eat along with the other stuff OR fill yourself up with better stuff BEFORE the event so you will be more full and will eat less of what they serve.

These days will happen. Count on them. Has every road that you have driven on had fresh smooth asphault on it? Didn't think so. Its gonna be alright. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! :happy:

I must say, I really love your posts. You seem such a sensible and warm hearted guy.

Blue801 · February 2014

Sounds like you did pretty well by taking small portions. Life happens. I find it useful to view the week more as a whole rather than just individual days. That was going out one day and going over gets balanced with the other days I am under my calorie goal. I don't feel at all guilty going over or under when the week as a whole balances out.
:drinker:

ndj1979 · February 2014

I say log it, own it, and move on to the next day ..

As far as "cheat days" go, I have never been a fan of them. If I want to have something - pizza, cookies, ice cream, etc - then I make room in my diary and have it. I have found that it helps to log the higher calorie item first and then work you day in backwards. So if i am making lasagna..I log that in first, and then fill in my day from there so that I can be in maintenance and/or deficit, and hit my macro targets…

Also there really are no "bad" foods…there is just food that you use for energy ….some are more calorie dense than others...

ezloshead · February 2014

Sounds like you did pretty well by taking small portions. Life happens. I find it useful to view the week more as a whole rather than just individual days. That was going out one day and going over gets balanced with the other days I am under my calorie goal. I don't feel at all guilty going over or under when the week as a whole balances out.
:drinker:

I do the same. Most days I'm under my calorie goal and one day a week i let myself go 500 over. I'm still below 2000 calories that day and i feel good that my splurges aren't in excess. Also I love your profile pic.And banner.

Had a bad day - how bad are fail days?

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