Extra Calories At The End Of The Day -- What To Do?
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Buy ice creams on sticks so they are pre portioned out
It's not the portioning...it's the fact that they are there. I'll end up eating 3. It's literally the biggest issue affecting my weight. In fact I'd say my goal has been less about the calories and more about just learning to exercise self control.
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abetterluke wrote: »shrinkingletters wrote: »Make your meals bigger.
The thing is...most of the time I feel like my meals are already too big. I generally eat a good sized dinner but its also usually healthy (less than 400 calories) and lunch is just leftovers so its the same.
I don't eat breakfast. I guess I could start.
Seems like you've taught yourself just to snack. Cook proper meals, i'd say 4 meals of 400 cal. You may not like it to begin with but you will once you get use to it.0 -
JamesSmedley wrote: »abetterluke wrote: »shrinkingletters wrote: »Make your meals bigger.
The thing is...most of the time I feel like my meals are already too big. I generally eat a good sized dinner but its also usually healthy (less than 400 calories) and lunch is just leftovers so its the same.
I don't eat breakfast. I guess I could start.
Seems like you've taught yourself just to snack. Cook proper meals, i'd say 4 meals of 400 cal. You may not like it to begin with but you will once you get use to it.
I don't have time to eat 4 meals in a day...Breakfast is difficult but possible. I get a lunch break during the day and I obviously can eat dinner but I don't get home until 6-7 anyway so unless I want to eat the 4th meal at midnight I don't see that working.
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OP: What do you want? People have given you suggestions and you just keep giving excuses about why their suggestions won't work.
Eat your calories or don't. I don't care. You might not be hungry now, but eventually eating so little will catch up with you and you will feel hungrier. So eat more then. Or eat more calorie dense foods. Just stop making excuses or don't post the question.
Also, eat breakfast.0 -
OP: What do you want? People have given you suggestions and you just keep giving excuses about why their suggestions won't work.
Eat your calories or don't. I don't care. You might not be hungry now, but eventually eating so little will catch up with you and you will feel hungrier. So eat more then. Or eat more calorie dense foods. Just stop making excuses or don't post the question.
If you don't care that's fine -- stay out of the thread. I haven't given excuses to everything. I've already stated that I could start eating breakfast. Yes late night snacking has been a problem for me in the past so no I'm not real keen on jumping back on that bandwagon. If you have a problem with me not jumping on every suggestion made that's fine. The majority of my posts in my own thread haven't even been about the suggestions they've been about people turning it into a thread about using a damn scale.
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abetterluke wrote: »OP: What do you want? People have given you suggestions and you just keep giving excuses about why their suggestions won't work.
Eat your calories or don't. I don't care. You might not be hungry now, but eventually eating so little will catch up with you and you will feel hungrier. So eat more then. Or eat more calorie dense foods. Just stop making excuses or don't post the question.
If you don't care that's fine -- stay out of the thread. I haven't given excuses to everything. I've already stated that I could start eating breakfast. Yes late night snacking has been a problem for me in the past so no I'm not real keen on jumping back on that bandwagon. If you have a problem with me not jumping on every suggestion made that's fine. The majority of my posts in my own thread haven't even been about the suggestions they've been about people turning it into a thread about using a damn scale.
Actually, using a scale is a fantastic suggestion. Without it, you are most likely actually eating more than you think and therefore you don't have as many calories left at the end of the day.
And you have been making excuses. I think you just want a gold star for having left over calories.
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You're right. ALL THE SUGGESTIONS WIN! DESSERT HERE I COME!
Happy now? Apparently weight loss is a one size fits all solution.0 -
OP: What do you want? People have given you suggestions and you just keep giving excuses about why their suggestions won't work.
Eat your calories or don't. I don't care. You might not be hungry now, but eventually eating so little will catch up with you and you will feel hungrier. So eat more then. Or eat more calorie dense foods. Just stop making excuses or don't post the question.
Also, eat breakfast.
This is actually what I was thinking, but I wasn't bothering to say it.
I just see nothing but excuses.0 -
abetterluke wrote: »I'm not really certain how this turned into a conversation about weighing. I don't expect that it will make much of a difference seeing as I have not had a problem losing weight thus far. It's not like I'm asking "why am I not losing weight despite eating xxx calories"
I am asking what to do with extra calories. I usually estimate what I ate and then log a little more than the estimate to build in a buffer. Is this the most accurate way? No. Will I start weighing as I get closer to my goals? Probably.
It still has nothing to do with my original question.
I don't weigh either. I agree that you don't seem to be having a problem with any of that. As for extra calories at the end of the day...I think that you just decide if you want to eat more or not. If you are not hungry, then don't eat, but if you are then have a snack within your calorie range. I agree with whoever said that you may be under for a few days then be hungrier on other days as well. Just use MFP as a guide to keep you in range and listen to how your body reacts especially after you start exercising.0 -
abetterluke wrote: »You're right. ALL THE SUGGESTIONS WIN! DESSERT HERE I COME!
Happy now? Apparently weight loss is a one size fits all solution.
I understand your frustration. Here's my advice: Like I already said, I don't think it is a good idea to eat, especially late at night, just because a website tells you to. Especially if you had problems with that in the past. I had a real problem with nighttime snacking, which turned into binging if there was anything sweet in the house. Now that I stopped, I will never risk going back.
So don't eat unless you are hungry. See what happens over the course of 4 or 5 weeks. If you are consistently under the target calories but not losing weight, then you can probably safely assume that either you are underestimating how much you eat, or mfp overestimated your daily energy expenditure. That is an estimate based on averages, and I am certain it is not exactly accurate for most people...it certainly isn't for me. Either is possible.
At that point, regardless of whether the measurement error is yours or the website's, the recommended solution is the same: eat a little less. You don't need a scale unless you want one. I have never owned a scale and lost 100 pounds. For the majority of that, I didn't even count calories, so there are many ways to do this. It is NOT one solution for everyone.
If you need to eat less, you can figure that out without a scale, and most likely without logging if that is your preference. Just eat a little less of everything, or at least the high calorie items. Or...if you want to try it the mfp way...buy the scale and weigh your crackers. Either way will work.
If, on the other hand, you are losing at the predicted rate, then everything is fine. If you are losing at a rate you feel is too fast, the solution is to eat a little more.
The point is, if you eat below some target...which is based on a bunch of averages and assumptions anyway...for a few days or even more, it's not a big deal.
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abetterluke wrote: »DevilsFan1 wrote: »This one entry also seems to dispute your assertion that what you eat is mostly meat and veggies. It looks like mostly carbs to me.
Well for one that day was Mother's Day and my mom wanted Chinese food. So yeah I'm not going to apologize for that.
Lol...You have a stalker . This is why I don't like having my diary open.0 -
OP...just save you calories. Don't worry about eating them back. Save them for a night you feel like to drink a bottle of wine...or two ....and eat some cheese and crackers. That will do it
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barbecuesauce wrote: »abetterluke wrote: »I'm not really certain how this turned into a conversation about weighing. I don't expect that it will make much of a difference seeing as I have not had a problem losing weight thus far. It's not like I'm asking "why am I not losing weight despite eating xxx calories"
I am asking what to do with extra calories. I usually estimate what I ate and then log a little more than the estimate to build in a buffer. Is this the most accurate way? No. Will I start weighing as I get closer to my goals? Probably.
It still has nothing to do with my original question.
Because you're probably not really that far under your calories, if you're even under at all.
IS he losing as he should? If he is I guess his calorie intake must be accurate? No?
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I've been losing consistently for the past several months and I almost always eat a big evening snack (between 300-500 calories). Honestly, I have 4 young kids and I love sitting down by myself and eating a big snack and it's the only time of day I can do it! Hasn't affected my weight loss so far!0
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abetterluke, thank you very much for starting this thread! It's been very interesting and educational as I was wondering similar things.
I'm sorry you feel attacked. Please know you have my sympathy, and my best wishes for your future weight loss.0 -
Thank you all for your responses0
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abetterluke wrote: »Yes late night snacking has been a problem for me in the past so no I'm not real keen on jumping back on that bandwagon.
Hi Luke,
I've already said that I regularly have leftover calories due to logging exercise and don't worry about it.
However, I wanted to address the snacking at night issue. If I don't have a snack, I end up waking up hungry at 3 AM and then can't get back to sleep until I eat. Previously, my snacks were too high calorie or not very healthy. Now, I'm eating oatmeal with fruit.
I made this yesterday Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal. It makes five servings - I was getting tired of making it every night. I don't like the texture of oatmeal unless I cook the hell out of it, so this was perfect. I cooked it on the stovetop rather than dragging out the crockpot.
For me, it's a little desserty because it's higher in carbs than what I normally eat these days, but certainly not binge-worthy.
Good luck!
KK
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kshama2001 wrote: »abetterluke wrote: »Yes late night snacking has been a problem for me in the past so no I'm not real keen on jumping back on that bandwagon.
Hi Luke,
I've already said that I regularly have leftover calories due to logging exercise and don't worry about it.
However, I wanted to address the snacking at night issue. If I don't have a snack, I end up waking up hungry at 3 AM and then can't get back to sleep until I eat. Previously, my snacks were too high calorie or not very healthy. Now, I'm eating oatmeal with fruit.
I made this yesterday Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal. It makes five servings - I was getting tired of making it every night. I don't like the texture of oatmeal unless I cook the hell out of it, so this was perfect. I cooked it on the stovetop rather than dragging out the crockpot.
For me, it's a little desserty because it's higher in carbs than what I normally eat these days, but certainly not binge-worthy.
Good luck!
KK
I love the oatmeal idea. I might give that a shot. Thank you!0 -
karintalley wrote: »barbecuesauce wrote: »abetterluke wrote: »I'm not really certain how this turned into a conversation about weighing. I don't expect that it will make much of a difference seeing as I have not had a problem losing weight thus far. It's not like I'm asking "why am I not losing weight despite eating xxx calories"
I am asking what to do with extra calories. I usually estimate what I ate and then log a little more than the estimate to build in a buffer. Is this the most accurate way? No. Will I start weighing as I get closer to my goals? Probably.
It still has nothing to do with my original question.
Because you're probably not really that far under your calories, if you're even under at all.
IS he losing as he should? If he is I guess his calorie intake must be accurate? No?
Come on now. I questioned whether he is indeed 400-600 calories under every day. Have you ever tried to run 400-600 calories under your deficit for more than a couple of days? You begin to feel it.
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Yea I have and depending what I eat I feel either great or hungry.0
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Wrong post. Crap.0
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If you simply want to boost your calories buy snacks like pre-portioned nuts, granola bars, natural juices/smoothies and just add a couple snacks throughout the day?
cashes/peanuts/almond packs at around 300 calories each
mini packaged smoothies at 160 calories each
clif bars at 250 calories each
Buying foods that you enjoy but that aren't binge-trigger foods for you could be a good idea.
Another alternative is to keep track of weekly calorie averages and eat accordingly. For example you've eaten around 1300 the past few days so you consciously choose a high calorie option.
Also sometimes I like to save my calories and 'splurge' on a pint of ice cream lol. Good luck!0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »karintalley wrote: »barbecuesauce wrote: »abetterluke wrote: »I'm not really certain how this turned into a conversation about weighing. I don't expect that it will make much of a difference seeing as I have not had a problem losing weight thus far. It's not like I'm asking "why am I not losing weight despite eating xxx calories"
I am asking what to do with extra calories. I usually estimate what I ate and then log a little more than the estimate to build in a buffer. Is this the most accurate way? No. Will I start weighing as I get closer to my goals? Probably.
It still has nothing to do with my original question.
Because you're probably not really that far under your calories, if you're even under at all.
IS he losing as he should? If he is I guess his calorie intake must be accurate? No?
Come on now. I questioned whether he is indeed 400-600 calories under every day. Have you ever tried to run 400-600 calories under your deficit for more than a couple of days? You begin to feel it.
Nope, I know I would never try that. I would be hangry! It happens occasionally, but only if I get a lot of exercise.
I am usually about 200 calories under daily, because I don't eat back all my exercise calories. But I think the exercise calories are pretty accurate for me, as I am losing a bit faster than I was aiming for.0 -
OP, looking at your diary I'm not sure how you can say you know how to eat healthy and how to not eat unhealthy food when your days are lacking in proper nutriton. How exact does someone eat .5 chicken breast? .5 of a 6 oz breath or is it .5 of a 12 breast? Or how you eat .25 breast? you're just guessing. How do you eat .13 cups of sunflower seeds. Or .2 oz of a pickle? How about .5 oz of Chinese food pork?
The only days you made it into somewhat of a decent range were the days you ate Mcdonald's or pizza.
You're like eating more than you think.
Actually a lot of those are measurements. If I input on my phone I can put 1/8 cup of sunflower seeds. On the website it converts it to a decimal. And we've already determined I estimate.0 -
Have you tried prelogging your day? That has helped me make sure I didn't end up with 900 calories, or 15 left for dinner. It is really easy to edit or delete if things change but it's nice to have an idea and a plan.0
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abetterluke wrote: »OP, looking at your diary I'm not sure how you can say you know how to eat healthy and how to not eat unhealthy food when your days are lacking in proper nutriton. How exact does someone eat .5 chicken breast? .5 of a 6 oz breath or is it .5 of a 12 breast? Or how you eat .25 breast? you're just guessing. How do you eat .13 cups of sunflower seeds. Or .2 oz of a pickle? How about .5 oz of Chinese food pork?
The only days you made it into somewhat of a decent range were the days you ate Mcdonald's or pizza.
You're like eating more than you think.
Actually a lot of those are measurements. If I input on my phone I can put 1/8 cup of sunflower seeds. On the website it converts it to a decimal. And we've already determined I estimate.
I don't think this person meant that there is an issue of decimals vs. fractions. If you log 1/2 of a chicken breast - how big was the chicken breast? If it's a 6oz breast, you're eating 3 oz of chicken. If the breast is 3 oz, you're eating 1.5 oz. Get it? Half of a chicken breast says nothing if you don't know the weight of the entire thing. Hence a scale might be useful.
Also, no one was telling you that you're having trouble losing weight and therefore need a scale. I think the issue that most people were pointing out is that you are probably eating more than you think. Obviously you are still eating at a deficit though since you are losing.
OP, I'm still not sure what your original question was...0 -
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You also have a number of days where all you've logged is coffee, sugar and milk. If you eat food then you'll have an easier time hitting your calorie goal, assuming that's your aim.0
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