Upset with myself.. messed up a whole month
mbear1003
Posts: 1 Member
I am so frustrated tonight and I just need to say it someplace.
I have been back "on the wagon" for about a month. Unfortunately I am a long-time MFP user, I've managed to lose and regain the same weight many times over. This last time I gained during my pregnancy, which is understandable, but when my son got diagnosed with kidney disease things got out of control. I gained almost 40 pounds in the last year and now weigh more than I did at the end of my pregnancy.
On top of that, I've been exercising and diligently sticking to my diet goals for the last few weeks, or so I thought. I was frustrated that the scale hadn't budged because I know that I haven't been sneaking extra calories and I weigh all my food so I know I'm accurate. I've done this before and know how to lose weight.. I just don't know how to keep it off.
ONLY.. I was eating a packet of my 150 calorie trail mix (which I eat daily) when I realized that the serving size on the "individual" sized portion packet was not 1. In fact, each packet contains 2.5 servings, and since it is nuts/dried fruit that makes for a huge difference! I was inadvertently eating 375 calories every day and only counting 150. I feel really dumb about it because I should have realized it was too big of a packet of a high calorie food to be only 150 calories.
I have been back "on the wagon" for about a month. Unfortunately I am a long-time MFP user, I've managed to lose and regain the same weight many times over. This last time I gained during my pregnancy, which is understandable, but when my son got diagnosed with kidney disease things got out of control. I gained almost 40 pounds in the last year and now weigh more than I did at the end of my pregnancy.
On top of that, I've been exercising and diligently sticking to my diet goals for the last few weeks, or so I thought. I was frustrated that the scale hadn't budged because I know that I haven't been sneaking extra calories and I weigh all my food so I know I'm accurate. I've done this before and know how to lose weight.. I just don't know how to keep it off.
ONLY.. I was eating a packet of my 150 calorie trail mix (which I eat daily) when I realized that the serving size on the "individual" sized portion packet was not 1. In fact, each packet contains 2.5 servings, and since it is nuts/dried fruit that makes for a huge difference! I was inadvertently eating 375 calories every day and only counting 150. I feel really dumb about it because I should have realized it was too big of a packet of a high calorie food to be only 150 calories.
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Replies
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For the past week I've been using the wrong entry for the chicken breast I've been eating. When I figured that out last night I felt oddly sad because I felt like my careful weighing and logging was totally undone by a sneaky, deceiving "USDA" entry in the database. I totally feel your pain.
Started fresh today and resolved to cross-check database entries more carefully from now on. Life happens, it's how we adapt that matters.
Eta: scale hasn't budged, so you haven't gained, either... That's a good thing!6 -
I hear & appreciate your frustration. But, as the wisest sign in the universe - one you see everywhere - says: "You are here". You can't change history. But - unlike many - you know how to improve the situation. Let the past go. All you can do is move forward from where you are today. Best wishes!9
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This is why I'm of the opinion that the bathroom scale is the only scale that really matters.1
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TimothyFish wrote: »This is why I'm of the opinion that the bathroom scale is the only scale that really matters.
And how precisely does that help in any way in terms of a person not reading a label carefully enough. Frankly, starting out, unless you are someone like me who retains a lot of water when they overeat, the bathroom scale might not show significant change until 3 weeks in. This is especially true for women who have hormonal effects on weight that have nothing to do with fat weight.
To the OP, not knowing what your weight loss goal is, if you are only eating one of these a day, then you are off by 225 calories a day. That would half a one pound per week loss to half a pound, and that would easily be masked by water weight from various factors. In other words, you did not waste the month, you logged, that is important. You weighted your portions (albeit possibly not the mix you are talking about, but even that sort of prepackage thing should be weighed since pre-packaged stuff often has far more in them than the listed size). You have taken the steps toward doing this regularly. This is a big win in my opinion.7 -
Don't worry! Just move on it's not about falling off, it's about picking yourself up, accepting the loss and continuing. Good job on your progress thus far 2
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Whoops!!
But guess what... you didn't fail!
Your determination didn't waiver and you were committed enough to count and track calories close enough to know to double check the numbers, that is something to be very excited and proud of in my eyes!
It shows that you have what it takes to do this, and reminds all of the rest of us to double check too
Tomorrow is a new day, and in the meantime laugh at this pretty funny mistake.4 -
Pfft. I've been blowing it much bigger for far longer, and only noticed a week ago. The "Kimchi Brussels sprouts" from the steam table at Whole Foods are exceptionally tasty, but I was committing a grotesque calorie counting error by logging them as http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/update_nutrition_facts/52424406 (and 2.5 servings!) rather than the far more likely http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/update_nutrition_facts/385287195 Not only does the correct entry have way more calories in a serving, but measuring by volume -- especially something like Brussels sprouts -- is a major fail. As a result, the true weight of what I'd been eating nearly every weekday was closer to 4 servings than 2.5. I was over 700 calories off. And I'd been doing this for at least 6 months.
Yeah, I've been losing anyway, probably because I've been exercising the whole time too, but my calorie deficit has been nowhere near as big as I thought it was.
So what did I do? I corrected the logging error, began taking about 1/4 the amount I'd been accustomed to, and carried on. Now I should start to lose again, after having been stalled for 3 weeks. The stall is probably due to a combination of my extra, overlooked calorie consumption plus the fact that I'm already in a healthy weight range. Just trying to lose what's left of the jiggle around my middle at this point.5 -
I can only have trail mix in my house if they are 25g packets. 250g pkts can be demolished in a day
It's ok you will be more careful from now on, don't worry
Wish you all the best2 -
150 cals extra day is not going to derail weight loss, unless it puts you over maintenance. and even then, it would take quite some time for that to show on the scale, i think.
you are/were eating far more than you realized.
*kitten* happens.
If you can lose weight, you can maintain weight. I maintained for the last half of 2016 without exercise or weighing my food. Not everyone can do that, I get that, and for those, it takes the same dedication to lose to maintain. weigh everything. every time.
this time, lose the weight, and then be as dedicated to maintaining as you were to losing.
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Thank goodness you caught it! This could have gone on alot longer. Just fix things now and chalk it up to experience.0
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callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »150 cals extra day is not going to derail weight loss, unless it puts you over maintenance. and even then, it would take quite some time for that to show on the scale, i think.
She was off by 225 calories a day just on the trail mix. For someone with a 250 calorie a day deficit that absolutely will derail weight loss. Another 25 calories on something else and you're maintaining. Another 50, a very slow gain. We don't know her deficit but 225 calories on something you eat every day is a huge deal.4 -
For the past week I've been using the wrong entry for the chicken breast I've been eating. When I figured that out last night I felt oddly sad because I felt like my careful weighing and logging was totally undone by a sneaky, deceiving "USDA" entry in the database. I totally feel your pain. Started fresh today and resolved to cross-check database entries more carefully from now on. Life happens, it's how we adapt that matters.
Eta: scale hasn't budged, so you haven't gained, either... That's a good thing!
This may help: When I find the food I am looking for I copy and paste it to mfp's food search, check to make sure it has the right calories and then enter it to my diary. https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search1 -
wow glad you caught it is amazing how often this can happen it is so easy to do.0
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For the past week I've been using the wrong entry for the chicken breast I've been eating. When I figured that out last night I felt oddly sad because I felt like my careful weighing and logging was totally undone by a sneaky, deceiving "USDA" entry in the database. I totally feel your pain. Started fresh today and resolved to cross-check database entries more carefully from now on. Life happens, it's how we adapt that matters.
Eta: scale hasn't budged, so you haven't gained, either... That's a good thing!
Any entry that includes the word "USDA" is a user created entry. I go to the actual USDA database to get the syntax and then plug that into MFP to find the corresponding system entry. https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search0 -
I am so frustrated tonight and I just need to say it someplace.
I have been back "on the wagon" for about a month. Unfortunately I am a long-time MFP user, I've managed to lose and regain the same weight many times over. This last time I gained during my pregnancy, which is understandable, but when my son got diagnosed with kidney disease things got out of control. I gained almost 40 pounds in the last year and now weigh more than I did at the end of my pregnancy.
On top of that, I've been exercising and diligently sticking to my diet goals for the last few weeks, or so I thought. I was frustrated that the scale hadn't budged because I know that I haven't been sneaking extra calories and I weigh all my food so I know I'm accurate. I've done this before and know how to lose weight.. I just don't know how to keep it off.
ONLY.. I was eating a packet of my 150 calorie trail mix (which I eat daily) when I realized that the serving size on the "individual" sized portion packet was not 1. In fact, each packet contains 2.5 servings, and since it is nuts/dried fruit that makes for a huge difference! I was inadvertently eating 375 calories every day and only counting 150. I feel really dumb about it because I should have realized it was too big of a packet of a high calorie food to be only 150 calories.
I feel ya on the trail mix! I bought a 12 pack once and that was enough. Too dangerous, lol. I could easily eat a whole bag. Trying to split it in half didn't work well for me.0 -
You maintain weight THE SAME WAY you lose weight, by managing your calories. The ONLY difference is that on maintenance you can eat A LITTLE MORE than while eating at a deficit. It took me 2.5 years to lose 148 lbs. I thought about maintenance every day, trying to figure out why I had failed to maintain before and what I was going to do different this time. I've set a 5 lb range to maintain, weigh daily, and if I reach the top of the range, I cut out a few desserts or otherwise ear at a deficit until I reach mid-point again. This is why it's said that this is as lifestyle, not a diet.
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I've screwed up my calories like that before. For months I was eating these frozen enchiladas thinking the package was a mere 240 calories. Then I took a second look at the box, and....yeah. I was eating two servings and 480 calories. It happens....0
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I understand, I've done it myself with chex mix..figured hmm healthier than a candy bar \, doesn't trigger my sweet tooth, and I can eat a cup for 120 cal so why not have 2 because it fills me up, hmm serving size was 1/2 cup hardly worth eating. Not having those again. So we all do it, good you noticed.0
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kshama2001 wrote: »I am so frustrated tonight and I just need to say it someplace.
I have been back "on the wagon" for about a month. Unfortunately I am a long-time MFP user, I've managed to lose and regain the same weight many times over. This last time I gained during my pregnancy, which is understandable, but when my son got diagnosed with kidney disease things got out of control. I gained almost 40 pounds in the last year and now weigh more than I did at the end of my pregnancy.
On top of that, I've been exercising and diligently sticking to my diet goals for the last few weeks, or so I thought. I was frustrated that the scale hadn't budged because I know that I haven't been sneaking extra calories and I weigh all my food so I know I'm accurate. I've done this before and know how to lose weight.. I just don't know how to keep it off.
ONLY.. I was eating a packet of my 150 calorie trail mix (which I eat daily) when I realized that the serving size on the "individual" sized portion packet was not 1. In fact, each packet contains 2.5 servings, and since it is nuts/dried fruit that makes for a huge difference! I was inadvertently eating 375 calories every day and only counting 150. I feel really dumb about it because I should have realized it was too big of a packet of a high calorie food to be only 150 calories.
I feel ya on the trail mix! I bought a 12 pack once and that was enough. Too dangerous, lol. I could easily eat a whole bag. Trying to split it in half didn't work well for me.
So much this. There's this "paleo granola" I tried. Enjoyed it, but it's 170 calories per serving and a bag is 10 servings and although I knew that I still ate about half the bag the first time I had it. No self control with that stuff.0 -
The solution to your issue is to use zipper bags to portion the exact grams of trail mix you want to consume.1
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I've done it, too. Give yourself a break, OP. You have had A LOT going on that is much bigger than a bag of trail mix a day. Give yourself credit for what you have come through. I hope your son is doing ok.0
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I would say good catch and thanks for reminding us to watch our serving number on packages .. yea it's caught me too ..
Good luck0
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