is it OK to go over sometimes?

kaseyAnne425
kaseyAnne425 Posts: 230
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been extremely paramour about going over my calories, one small thing will put me over.. I'm under on my vitamin c almost everyday but when I add a small 8 or 4 oz glass of orange juice, I go over my calories, as with some other foods. Ive also almost always gone over my protein, but never my fat. I know I should be meeting my goals, but is this horrible?? I haven't quite figured out how to balance it yet, HELP! please refer to my food diary if need be

Replies

  • kaseyAnne425
    kaseyAnne425 Posts: 230
    I meant paranoid! !
  • moonsforeyes
    moonsforeyes Posts: 228
    Absolutely. You'll make yourself crazy worrying about going over. I go over on sugar, protein, and carbs almost daily and I have consistently lost. I also go over calories depending on the day. When I work out, I eat more than my original daily allowance of calories or I'd be the grumpiest person ever. (don't refer to my profile for evidence of this ha, this is a new account. I have lost 15 pounds! Just eating healthy, working out and not worrying so much about numbers.)
  • kaseyAnne425
    kaseyAnne425 Posts: 230
    So I'm not harming myself by not meeting my fat goal or finer goal?? That's good to know!! Thank you!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Yes. It's ok. You're still way under what it takes to maintain your weight.

    Plus, your calorie goal is just that... a goal, not a limit. Try to get as close as possible and if you go over, that's fine. It's not like The Price Is Right where you don't win if you go over by a penny.

    Besides, your calorie goal might be too low to begin with, since with about 30 pounds to go, you shouldn't be aiming to lose more than one pound a week. Many days, you're not even eating 1200 calories, which is the lowest any woman should go.
  • BIGJIMMYU
    BIGJIMMYU Posts: 1,221 Member
    Relax! The numbers are just a goal and not a set in stone "have to" limit. Don't forget, stressing yourself is the worst thing! Stay focused on eating right and exercise. Do not be a "scale slave" and you will find that the more you vary your diet the numbers eventually even out anyway. Don't worry about going over on fat once in a while either. Remember there are good fats and bad fats so this is just a goal guide that evens out too! Stay the course!
  • lmelangley
    lmelangley Posts: 1,039 Member
    Repeat after me: this is a journey to become healthier, NOT a punishment! And, it's a journey- not a race.

    Seriously though, instead of looking at one day, think of the big picture. If you're usually under or on the money and you average your intake over a week or two, you'll probably find it all evens out. And, I can tell you from experience that if you have a plateau that lasts at least 3-4 weeks (it really needs to be that long to be a real plateau), having one day where you significantly increase your calories can jump start your metabolism and get you losing again.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    Yes. It's ok. You're still way under what it takes to maintain your weight.

    Plus, your calorie goal is just that... a goal, not a limit. Try to get as close as possible and if you go over, that's fine. It's not like The Price Is Right where you don't win if you go over by a penny.

    Besides, your calorie goal might be too low to begin with, since with about 30 pounds to go, you shouldn't be aiming to lose more than one pound a week. Many days, you're not even eating 1200 calories, which is the lowest any woman should go.

    I agree.

    1200 is the BARE MINIMUM and you usually don't reach it.

    Please consider re-evaluating your goals. With the amount you are trying to lose you should NOT be set at "lose 2 pounds per week". Try changing it to 1 lb and eat that PLUS your exercise calories.

    I eat 1500-1800 daily...


    Edit to add: I just saw where you're from! I used to live down there...spent many an afternoon at Emerald Square with friends! :)
    but that was like 15 years ago ;)
  • secoke
    secoke Posts: 69 Member
    I agree, 1200 is a very low goal. It may be a good idea to add some more fruits and veggies to your diet. The fiber and water content will help keep you full and vegetables especially are low in calories. Plus, you are probably missing out on a lot more than just vitamin C.
  • happyandfitgirl
    happyandfitgirl Posts: 5
    Of course it's fine ! You should even be eating more since 1, 200 is under your BMR. Unless you eat 3,500 calories + the calories you need to maintain, you're not going to gain any weight. :)
  • NicoleSchimmel
    NicoleSchimmel Posts: 162 Member
    I looked at your dairy, and I saw that your daily calorie goal is 1200. Is it that low because of your height/weight? My goal is 1,220 but I exercise every other day, if not every day and try to eat back most (not all) the calories.

    In your case, I think it's good to eat OVER your goal. When you eat under your goal, you are putting yourself in 'starvation mode. It's okay to eat under 1200 calories every once in a while,but it shouldn't be a regular thing. Starvation mode occurs after a period time of eating under 1200 calories.

    Because it looks like you are consistently eating under your goal, maybe it would be beneficial to increase your daily calorie goal, so that when you don't get to your goal, you're not under 1200.

    Do you exercise, and if so, do you log it? That will help you get more calories, if you want to eat them back so you are not at 1200.

    I might have this all wrong, as I don't know why you are at 1200 calories/day, but I just don't want your body to go in starvation mode.
  • kaseyAnne425
    kaseyAnne425 Posts: 230
    I am 5"4' and weigh 189. Id like to lose the 2 pounds per week. Sometimes I'm over my calories goal, sometimes I'm under, it depends.. I know girls who weigh 145 and eat 1200!
  • kaseyAnne425
    kaseyAnne425 Posts: 230
    Also, 2 pounds a week is what's recommended for me at WW as well when I went, with a starting weight of 193
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    Also, 2 pounds a week is what's recommended for me at WW as well when I went, with a starting weight of 193

    The closer we are to our goal weight, the less we should try to lose each week in order to maintain as much muscle mass as possible during the weight loss and to keep your metabolism burning well. I think this is a good guideline:
    * if you have 75+ pounds to lose, aim for 2#/week
    * 50-75#, aim for 1.5#/week
    * 25-50#, aim for 1#/week
    * less than 25#, aim for 0.5#/week
    Then adjust as you move down through the different weight categories.

    I'm finding great success with eating my BMR+exercise calories. So I'm eating a lot more than you are and I'm a 54 year old post-menopausal woman, at a time in my life when it should be harder to lose. You can find your BMR under the Tools section.
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