help!

eclecticpixxie
eclecticpixxie Posts: 56 Member
edited November 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay so I started counting cals this week. And all three days I've gone over my estimated amount allowed. Am I doing this wrong? I eat, tally and enter in to the data base. Tonight I went 22 calories over. Should I be counting before I eat or after?

Replies

  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    22 calories over is not something to worry about.
    You can log before you eat, if you prefer. It's certainly easier to make adjustments before you've eaten the food than after.
    I do a mix of both pre-logging and logging after I eat.
  • novamagma
    novamagma Posts: 37 Member
    Whether you want to log before or after you eat is up to you. Some people like logging an entire day before so they already know what they're going to eat and when. I personally prefer logging after.

    Why would you think you're doing it wrong? What is your calorie goal for the day? If your goal is too low and you find yourself consistently hungry you might consider raising the goal a bit to keep it sustainable. How are you logging, are you weighing your food or just guesstimating what you log in your diary?
    Within 22 calories of your goal is basically nothing, if you're only over 22 cals I wouldn't worry about it at all. Especially because it's hard to be 100% accurate with MFP unless you're weighing and preparing all your food beforehand.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    How many pounds do you want to lose and what is your weekly weight loss goal set to?
  • pushingoars
    pushingoars Posts: 12 Member
    Also, if you are still worried about being a bit over, even though you shouldn't, you could go for a walk or other form of light cardio to burn a few extra calories and make up the difference.
  • Fitnessmom82
    Fitnessmom82 Posts: 376 Member
    WhereIsPJSoles wrote: »
    I consider anything within 100 calories on either side of my goal to be a success of a day. Still well under maintenance.

    This!! When I started logging I would freak out if i went over, even a little bit. Then I started looking at it like the above poster and I calmed down!!
  • eclecticpixxie
    eclecticpixxie Posts: 56 Member
    novamagma wrote: »
    Whether you want to log before or after you eat is up to you. Some people like logging an entire day before so they already know what they're going to eat and when. I personally prefer logging after.

    Why would you think you're doing it wrong? What is your calorie goal for the day? If your goal is too low and you find yourself consistently hungry you might consider raising the goal a bit to keep it sustainable. How are you logging, are you weighing your food or just guesstimating what you log in your diary?
    Within 22 calories of your goal is basically nothing, if you're only over 22 cals I wouldn't worry about it at all. Especially because it's hard to be 100% accurate with MFP unless you're weighing and preparing all your food beforehand.

    My calorie goal is 1540
  • eclecticpixxie
    eclecticpixxie Posts: 56 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    How many pounds do you want to lose and what is your weekly weight loss goal set to?

    1 il a week goal is to lose 60 pounds
  • tayusuki
    tayusuki Posts: 194 Member
    Don't even stress 20 calories over!!! The average deficit is about 500 calories a day. 20 over is nothing! I also say this because it'll allow you to have treats or a meal where you otherwise wouldn't. It helps you not deprive yourself if you're not THAT strict with yourself. Worrying like that is what led me to severely undereat for a while. It's a slippery slope!

    If you're worried about going too over in general, try prelogging! It takes a lot of the guesswork in eating away. If plans change (you're out and about), it's easy to change the log. But it's a nifty guide if you do it!
  • eclecticpixxie
    eclecticpixxie Posts: 56 Member
    tayusuki wrote: »
    Don't even stress 20 calories over!!! The average deficit is about 500 calories a day. 20 over is nothing! I also say this because it'll allow you to have treats or a meal where you otherwise wouldn't. It helps you not deprive yourself if you're not THAT strict with yourself. Worrying like that is what led me to severely undereat for a while. It's a slippery slope!

    If you're worried about going too over in general, try prelogging! It takes a lot of the guesswork in eating away. If plans change (you're out and about), it's easy to change the log. But it's a nifty guide if you do it!

    Thanks a lot Tayusuki. I had no idea that people went over. When you watch those tv reality weight loss shows it seems like everyone is very anal about their plan. I'm relieved to know that I don't have to be! Thanks!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    eclecticpixxie wrote: »
    tayusuki wrote: »
    Don't even stress 20 calories over!!! The average deficit is about 500 calories a day. 20 over is nothing! I also say this because it'll allow you to have treats or a meal where you otherwise wouldn't. It helps you not deprive yourself if you're not THAT strict with yourself. Worrying like that is what led me to severely undereat for a while. It's a slippery slope!

    If you're worried about going too over in general, try prelogging! It takes a lot of the guesswork in eating away. If plans change (you're out and about), it's easy to change the log. But it's a nifty guide if you do it!

    Thanks a lot Tayusuki. I had no idea that people went over. When you watch those tv reality weight loss shows it seems like everyone is very anal about their plan. I'm relieved to know that I don't have to be! Thanks!

    and how many of those people keep the weight off?
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    eclecticpixxie wrote: »
    tayusuki wrote: »
    Don't even stress 20 calories over!!! The average deficit is about 500 calories a day. 20 over is nothing! I also say this because it'll allow you to have treats or a meal where you otherwise wouldn't. It helps you not deprive yourself if you're not THAT strict with yourself. Worrying like that is what led me to severely undereat for a while. It's a slippery slope!

    If you're worried about going too over in general, try prelogging! It takes a lot of the guesswork in eating away. If plans change (you're out and about), it's easy to change the log. But it's a nifty guide if you do it!

    Thanks a lot Tayusuki. I had no idea that people went over. When you watch those tv reality weight loss shows it seems like everyone is very anal about their plan. I'm relieved to know that I don't have to be! Thanks!

    First, those are for entertainment and not educational purposes only :)

    Think about this. A 500 calorie deficit per day is a 3500 calorie deficit per week for 1 lb of loss, as an estimate.

    So 22 calories is 22/3500 of a lb, or 0.00628571428 of a lb according to my desk calculator.

    And you are not tracking that accurately in the first place (no one is). Every piece of data you put in MFP has a margin of error. Hell, food packages can be off by 20% and still satisfy the FDA. And your activity calories are nothing but an estimate as well.

    All that means is that you keep at it for a bit (6-8 weeks) and see how the weight loss is going according to your calories deficit estimate and make any adjustments then.

    TL:DR TV shows are crap and 22 calories is insignificant.
  • spzjlb
    spzjlb Posts: 599 Member
    To answer one of the OP's question, I try to log before I eat, just to be accountable and have the opportunity to change my behaviour to stay within range. Sometimes I will take a smaller portion if it looks like I am going to be over my calorie allowance or plan a workout to help compensate (but it is much harder to work off calories than to ingest them). That's my personal preference.
  • eclecticpixxie
    eclecticpixxie Posts: 56 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    eclecticpixxie wrote: »
    tayusuki wrote: »
    Don't even stress 20 calories over!!! The average deficit is about 500 calories a day. 20 over is nothing! I also say this because it'll allow you to have treats or a meal where you otherwise wouldn't. It helps you not deprive yourself if you're not THAT strict with yourself. Worrying like that is what led me to severely undereat for a while. It's a slippery slope!

    If you're worried about going too over in general, try prelogging! It takes a lot of the guesswork in eating away. If plans change (you're out and about), it's easy to change the log. But it's a nifty guide if you do it!

    Thanks a lot Tayusuki. I had no idea that people went over. When you watch those tv reality weight loss shows it seems like everyone is very anal about their plan. I'm relieved to know that I don't have to be! Thanks!

    and how many of those people keep the weight off?

    You know I don't really know. I've never thought to go find out. Maybe I should!
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