Day after cheat day question

youngandaspiringxo
youngandaspiringxo Posts: 74 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So yesterday I cheated a bit on my diet. It was my sons birthday so indulged in some cake and ice cream. Today should I maybe eat less than my goal of 1200 calories because of most likely going over yesterday? Or should I still be eating the 1200?

Replies

  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Just eat your normal plan today. This is for the long haul, not penance.
  • Quinn_Baker
    Quinn_Baker Posts: 292 Member
    Think of it more as a "treat" and not a "cheat on your diet". The mindset really helps. Diets are temporary; this should be a lifestyle, not a diet.

    To answer your question, eat your normal goal.
  • youngandaspiringxo
    youngandaspiringxo Posts: 74 Member
    quinndeborde wrote: »
    Think of it more as a "treat" and not a "cheat on your diet". The mindset really helps. Diets are temporary; this should be a lifestyle, not a diet.

    To answer your question, eat your normal goal.

    Well yea just sounded silly saying "I cheated on my lifestyle change" lol. But that is a good way of looking at it. Thanks! I can't help but feel guilty and think that just 1 piece of cake will set me back. But I suppose that's not very realistic.
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    All that matters in weight loss/gain/maintenance is your long term pattern of behavior.

    Go back to eating according to plan. One day of off behavior is not going to make a difference, but many days of the same behavior will.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited April 2016
    Eat normal. The worst you probably did was lessen your deficit a tiny bit. Not a big deal.

    I ate over maintenance by 517 calories yesterday, but I still had enough of a deficit for 0.6 lbs per week loss (which is actually perfect considering where I'm at weight wise). Oh and I was 0.1 lb lighter today then yesterday.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,672 Member
    youngandaspiringxo wrote: »
    quinndeborde wrote: »
    Think of it more as a "treat" and not a "cheat on your diet". The mindset really helps. Diets are temporary; this should be a lifestyle, not a diet.

    To answer your question, eat your normal goal.

    Well yea just sounded silly saying "I cheated on my lifestyle change" lol. But that is a good way of looking at it. Thanks! I can't help but feel guilty and think that just 1 piece of cake will set me back. But I suppose that's not very realistic.

    One piece of cake will set you back . . . maybe a quarter of a day, in terms of progress toward your long-term goal? Meh. And what life message does your son get if you don't eat any of his birthday cake? Just stay on your healthy track the majority of the time, and you'll be fine.

    I've tried to think that I'm working to develop healthy eating patterns for life, not just do something temporary to lose weight . . . and there's no way I'm going through my whole life never eating cake at anyone's birthday.

    And guilt is pointless. On the day of my birthday party last November, I ate about 1500 calories over goal, which is at least 1000 calories over maintenance. (It was delicious.)

    Not the first or only time I've done that, or more. I've still managed to lose 65 pounds since April 2015, and am now at goal weight . . . just by consistently being on track the majority of my days, with only rare or occasional exceptions.

    The majority of our days determine the majority of our progress.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    edited April 2016
    What was your plan for the day? Did you plan to eat cake and ice cream for the birthday? How much did you eat? I would encourage you to have a plan next time and know how it will affect your calories for the week. It's not necessary to stress out over birthdays and such, feeling guilty doesn't accomplish anything, and there is no food of which one piece will destroy your otherwise good efforts. Sometimes we just need a little "reality check" about what's happening, and that's why you posted. We have to learn not to create problems where there are none, such as eating one piece of something.

    I have a few treats each week and try to keep small portions most of the time. Quite frankly, I just can't eat huge portions of anything anymore and don't enjoy doing so.
    67388953.png
  • youngandaspiringxo
    youngandaspiringxo Posts: 74 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    What was your plan for the day? Did you plan to eat cake and ice cream for the birthday? How much did you eat? I would encourage you to have a plan next time and know how it will affect your calories for the week. It's not necessary to stress out over birthdays and such, feeling guilty doesn't accomplish anything, and there is no food of which one piece will destroy your otherwise good efforts. Sometimes we just need a little "reality check" about what's happening, and that's why you posted. We have to learn not to create problems where there are none, such as eating one piece of something.

    I have a few treats each week and try to keep small portions most of the time. Quite frankly, I just can't eat huge portions of anything anymore and don't enjoy doing so.
    67388953.png

    Yea I planned to eat a small piece of cake so I tried to eat less earlier in the day. But my stepmom made the cake so I have no idea the calorie content. It tastes sugary and delicious so I'm positive it put me over lol. I just had one slice and a small scoop of ice cream. Nothing too crazy I suppose.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    youngandaspiringxo wrote: »
    lorrpb wrote: »
    What was your plan for the day? Did you plan to eat cake and ice cream for the birthday? How much did you eat? I would encourage you to have a plan next time and know how it will affect your calories for the week. It's not necessary to stress out over birthdays and such, feeling guilty doesn't accomplish anything, and there is no food of which one piece will destroy your otherwise good efforts. Sometimes we just need a little "reality check" about what's happening, and that's why you posted. We have to learn not to create problems where there are none, such as eating one piece of something.

    I have a few treats each week and try to keep small portions most of the time. Quite frankly, I just can't eat huge portions of anything anymore and don't enjoy doing so.
    67388953.png

    Yea I planned to eat a small piece of cake so I tried to eat less earlier in the day. But my stepmom made the cake so I have no idea the calorie content. It tastes sugary and delicious so I'm positive it put me over lol. I just had one slice and a small scoop of ice cream. Nothing too crazy I suppose.

    Even if you were over, you have to remember that your calorie target is not maintenance...not even friggin' close. I'll never get why people do all of this hand wringing over going over a little when they have 500 and 1000 calorie deficits to begin with.

    Beyond that, you have to look at the bigger picture and get out of the day to day minutia. Your health and fitness, etc aren't predicated on a birthday or holiday or other special occasion here and there...these things are predicated on how you're livin' overall. It's your kiddos birthday...you shouldn't be feeling guilty about cake...you should be celebrating.
  • Fernando618G
    Fernando618G Posts: 380 Member
    youngandaspiringxo wrote: »
    So yesterday I cheated a bit on my diet. It was my sons birthday so indulged in some cake and ice cream. Today should I maybe eat less than my goal of 1200 calories because of most likely going over yesterday? Or should I still be eating the 1200?

    Your fine just carry on, sometimes we get overwhelmed when we indulge a little bit. As-long as it wasn't the whole damn cake your fine :)
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