eating healthy but going over calorie goal.. is this okay?

BamaGurl47
BamaGurl47 Posts: 45
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
i switched out my poor eating habits for good eating habits. but i am always hungry in between meals so i snack on healthy foods like celery with pimento cheese, apples, carrots almonds cottage cheese and pears. Problem is i notice im goin going over my 1200 calorie goal easily.. Even though i snack on apples and celery i still notice afterwords im still hungry so i snack again on something else healthy.. So if these are good foods to eat does that mean its okay if i go over the calorie count if you eat healthy or not .. Just wondering if i willl still lloose weight. Thanks for the input ..
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Replies

  • CindiBryce
    CindiBryce Posts: 438
    How MUCH over are you eating daily? You will only lose weight at a deficit, no matter what foods you stuff in your mouth.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    I'm all for snacking on vegetables and fruit but sometimes you need something with a little fat or protein to satisfy you. If you switch out one piece of fruit with a hard boiled egg or handful of nuts, you might find that it sustains you a bit more.

    Also, you can go over and still lose, it just depends on how much you go over and how active you are.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    A) clean calories and unclean calories are the same for weight loss

    B) why are you eating 1200 cals when you're 200lbs according to your sig?

    C) you will still lose weight not because you're going "over" with healthy calories but because you are still in a caloric deficit
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    I'd say up your calories to 1500, you'll still lose weight, and will give you some more "room" to not be so hungry. Works for me! :)

    Oh and KUDOS to you for eating cleaner - it will make all the difference. Calories matter yes, but the QUALITY of those calories IS very important - though many will try to tell you otherwise.
  • deathstarclock
    deathstarclock Posts: 512 Member
    Also, you can go over and still lose, it just depends on how much you go over and how active you are.

    That's a misleading way of putting it. In terms of the weekly balance, yes, one day going over won't hurt. A response like that will confuse the masses into over-eating unless clarified.
  • andrea198721
    andrea198721 Posts: 173 Member
    Depends on how much you exercise.... But I would try to add some things liked boiled eggs or a spoon of peanut butter... I love to snack ...but lately I've been finding things that kind of keep me from doing it as much. Good luck!
  • Mommawarrior
    Mommawarrior Posts: 897 Member
    You are hungry because you aren't eating enough. 1200 calories is nothing. You need to up your calories and drink a lot of water. And you need protein....
  • muffintopminx
    muffintopminx Posts: 541 Member
    a calorie is a calorie.

    if you eat more than you burn, you will not lose, no matter how "healthy" you think that calorie may be.
  • CindiBryce
    CindiBryce Posts: 438
    Depends on how much you exercise.... But I would try to add some things liked boiled eggs or a spoon of peanut butter... I love to snack ...but lately I've been finding things that kind of keep me from doing it as much. Good luck!
    It depends on how much she consumes AND how much she burns. Again, as long as she is at a deficit she will lose weight. And also, I advise planning meals in advance to prevent overeating.
  • mysticdaisy78
    mysticdaisy78 Posts: 24 Member
    A tasty snack that is very satisfying is Beef Jerky.....1 oz is approx calories. 1oz may not seem like alot, but that stuff is very filling. I have to force myself to finish it =)
  • AnnaPixie
    AnnaPixie Posts: 7,439 Member
    I can't really work out why everyone seems to be on 1200 cals lately?? This is not a magic number, its just the minimum anyone should eat to gain a healthy balance of foods and nutrition. You can usually eat more than that. Have you put your details in the MPF calculator for them to calculate a safe weight loss and deficit for you? Are you then eating back your exercise calories??

    There is a proven method used on this site that is listed in the forums. You shouldnt feel hungry if you stick to that.

    Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • kbwdad
    kbwdad Posts: 50 Member
    Calories are calories good or bad. It's calories in / calories out. Up your calories some if you need to. Do look at what you are doing when you feel hungry. Our bodies have a way saying were hungry say while watching TV just because that what it has gotten use to. If this is the case then try changing your routine to take your mind off of it.
  • jb2323player
    jb2323player Posts: 15
    great job!
  • CindiBryce
    CindiBryce Posts: 438
    great job!
    Huh?
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I'd say up your calories to 1500, you'll still lose weight, and will give you some more "room" to not be so hungry. Works for me! :)

    Oh and KUDOS to you for eating cleaner - it will make all the difference. Calories matter yes, but the QUALITY of those calories IS very important - though many will try to tell you otherwise.

    are you saying 2 diets of identical macros and cals, that one that was "clean" would lose more weight vs one made up of "unclean" foods?
  • shydaisi
    shydaisi Posts: 788 Member
    Change your goal to 1 pound loss per week...
  • Johnny_Castle
    Johnny_Castle Posts: 159
    No it is not okay to go over calories..the whole point of this website is for you to be able to easily log your calories. Before this website I was eating very clean but I never watched my portions or calories and I never lost weight even with lots of exercise. At the end of the day the first law of thermodynamics does not exclude humans. Calories in must be less than calories out for you to lose weight.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    A) clean calories and unclean calories are the same for weight loss

    B) why are you eating 1200 cals when you're 200lbs according to your sig?

    C) you will still lose weight not because you're going "over" with healthy calories but because you are still in a caloric deficit

    agree with this.

    I'd hazard a guess that you would still lose weight eating 2000 calories :smile:
  • brknllama
    brknllama Posts: 113 Member
    okay a calorie is not a calorie
    there are good calories like from lean protein, fruits,veggies nuts ect....
    then there are empty calories like from fats oils, ect...

    Its not as important how much you eat, its more important what you eat, there are foods that actually help you lose weight by actually speeding up your metabolism and curbing your hunger
  • brknllama
    brknllama Posts: 113 Member
    I'd say up your calories to 1500, you'll still lose weight, and will give you some more "room" to not be so hungry. Works for me! :)

    Oh and KUDOS to you for eating cleaner - it will make all the difference. Calories matter yes, but the QUALITY of those calories IS very important - though many will try to tell you otherwise.

    are you saying 2 diets of identical macros and cals, that one that was "clean" would lose more weight vs one made up of "unclean" foods?

    yes that is what she is saying not all calories are created equal
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    okay a calorie is not a calorie
    there are good calories like from lean protein, fruits,veggies nuts ect....
    then there are empty calories like from fats oils, ect...

    Its not as important how much you eat, its more important what you eat, there are foods that actually help you lose weight by actually speeding up your metabolism and curbing your hunger

    please stop...

    yeah all oils have zero benefits, and please what are these magical metabolism boosting foods that would actually have any significant effect on weight loss?
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I'd say up your calories to 1500, you'll still lose weight, and will give you some more "room" to not be so hungry. Works for me! :)

    Oh and KUDOS to you for eating cleaner - it will make all the difference. Calories matter yes, but the QUALITY of those calories IS very important - though many will try to tell you otherwise.

    are you saying 2 diets of identical macros and cals, that one that was "clean" would lose more weight vs one made up of "unclean" foods?

    yes that is what she is saying not all calories are created equal

    please substantiate your claim then
  • BamaGurl47
    BamaGurl47 Posts: 45
    i appreciate everyones comments .. it has been helpful..I have been over my calorie intake by 100 calories last few days .. I guess its best i up my calorie intake to 1500 instead so i dont find it a struggle and not feel so guilty ... I think the idea of eating protiens like 1oz of beef jerky is a good idea I will definatly add that to my diet ..
  • agthorn
    agthorn Posts: 1,844 Member
    If you take in more calories than you expend, then no it doesn't matter if they're 'clean' foods or twinkies - you will not lose weight.

    However, since you are ~200lbs and only have a goal of 1200, I'm guessing you told MFP that you wanted to lose two pounds a week and therefore already have a 1000 calorie deficit per day below what it would take to maintain your weight. So if you are "over" goal by 100 calories, you still have a 900 calorie deficit per day and will still lose weight.

    I would change your goal to 1-1.5lbs per week and then meet it.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    If you take in more calories than you expend, then no it doesn't matter if they're 'clean' foods or twinkies - you will not lose weight.

    However, since you are ~200lbs and only have a goal of 1200, I'm guessing you told MFP that you wanted to lose two pounds a week and therefore already have a 1000 calorie deficit per day below what it would take to maintain your weight. So if you are "over" goal by 100 calories, you still have a 900 calorie deficit per day and will still lose weight.

    I would change your goal to 1-1.5lbs per week and then meet it.

    minimum!

    I would think TDEE or maintenance cals would be close to 3000 than 2200.
  • agthorn
    agthorn Posts: 1,844 Member
    If you take in more calories than you expend, then no it doesn't matter if they're 'clean' foods or twinkies - you will not lose weight.

    However, since you are ~200lbs and only have a goal of 1200, I'm guessing you told MFP that you wanted to lose two pounds a week and therefore already have a 1000 calorie deficit per day below what it would take to maintain your weight. So if you are "over" goal by 100 calories, you still have a 900 calorie deficit per day and will still lose weight.

    I would change your goal to 1-1.5lbs per week and then meet it.

    minimum!

    I would think TDEE or maintenance cals would be close to 3000 than 2200.

    I dunno, I used the BMR calculator on this site and unless she's super tall, a 202 lb 44 year old woman comes up with a BMR of about 1600 (another site calculated it at 1640) - so if she's sedentary or lightly active that comes out right around 2000-2200 for maintenance. If she's been yo-yo dieting for a long time she may have slowed her metabolism a tad.

    Either way, setting a smaller goal and increasing calories is a good idea.
  • moxleymama6
    moxleymama6 Posts: 532 Member
    Workout more to "earn" your snacks!
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    You will be a fat person with a very healthy diet. You will feel better and probably be healthier, but you won't lose weight.
  • fatty2fabby
    fatty2fabby Posts: 415 Member
    are you sure you're hungry and not just thirsty?
  • subela
    subela Posts: 76
    I upped my calories for the same reason to 1450. Instead of losing 1lb of week, I'm losing on average 1.25/wk. Listen to your body, you are doing this for the long haul, so better to eat more and be satisfied and eat good nutritious foods. I think 1200 calories is hard to managed, especially when you are new to this as it is most likely more than half of what you were eating before. I also eat most of my exercise calories.
    I have always been one of those "health food nuts" and ate a very healthy diet, but became more sedentary with age and ate more than my body required, yes, and gained weight. MFP keeps me accountable.
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