Do you ever go over your daily calorie limit?

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Replies

  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    If your daily calories are calculated by mfp, and you do not have it set over tdee then feel free to go over. That limit is not meant to be the number of you gaining weight.

    Mfp set me to 1200 to lose a lb a week
    I set it to 1650 to lose a lb a week with success without exercise
    Im exercising now and maintain at usually above 2000.
    Im maintaining at 5'7 and 120 lbs.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    Went over every day last week. Lost 1.5kg :-)
  • bemott
    bemott Posts: 180
    Yes, about everyday since I've been on this (since Jan), dropped 45 lbs. I want my body to get used to the most amount of food it can take in and still lose weight.
  • oldsalty1
    oldsalty1 Posts: 70
    Most days I am right on the calorie count or a little over...this week I have been under 4 days with hard muscle confusion cardio and high burn Zumba. Not sure at all I am eating enough...haven't lost any in weight in 2 weeks. Hence adding in the new cardio...

    You guys tell me...55 female 200 lbs .. up and down constantly at work...1 hour every other day at least of Zumba or cardio...
    How much should I eat to loose 2 lbs a week? Been at this for 3 weeks on this plan. Previously I had lost 40 lbs.(8 months ago) still want to loose 40 more..but something has got to give...getting discouraged with no weight loss..
  • Impy84
    Impy84 Posts: 430
    Happens to me. I just brush it off and try to do better the next day and "make it up" in the gym (i know there's no real make up but it makes me feel better)

    Life goes on you'll have days where you go over.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Of course. Think of it this way, how many times do you go under by 50-80 calories? It's just a goal to stay around not a strict limit.

    That said, I don't like being over, I don't like the red numbers, but I just try to think I'm under every other day, it averages out. I also take a weekly average.
  • shivaslives
    shivaslives Posts: 279 Member
    Since MFP automatically calculates a calorie deficit, the calorie amount per day is a goal, not a limit. If you are within 100 or so calories on either side of the goal you will lose weight. You just don't want to be too much over or under on a regular basis.

    I've suggested to MFP that they should change their auto-postings to state "John Doe was within 100 kcal of his calorie goal today" rather than simply state that we are under. I think the current way sends the wrong message.

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  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    I think it's important to keep in mind that going over by, say, 100 calories a day will not magically make you gain weight - it will only make you lose weight slower. You're still going where you want to be going, and unless you're crunching hard for a big upcoming event, it doesn't really matter how slow you go as long as you don't stop. When I'm over, I just shrug it off and remind myself that the number that popped up for 5 weeks from now is still lower than my current number. No sweat, I got time. :drinker:
  • leahartmann
    leahartmann Posts: 415
    Yeah, don´t sweat it! It´s a marathon for life, not a sprint for a short while. You´ll do fine. As some says, they have a day off a week. An advice I personly will keep in mind. Don´t worry about it!
  • AlphamaleBAMF
    AlphamaleBAMF Posts: 373 Member
    Every so often I have a day where I drink and eat take out and don't go to gym. On those days I end up over by 1000's of calories sometimes but they're pretty rare.
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    yes. do I let it bother me? no.
  • Darlel
    Darlel Posts: 11 Member
    yes, probably once a week in fact. But review your meals and check to understand exactly why you went over. (stress eating, miscalculation, party situation ect) Like others have said, don't fret over it, move on.
  • omanitshann
    omanitshann Posts: 179
    So far I only have once, and the only reason I did was because I went out with friends, and they picked an unhealthy place to eat dinner at so I didn't really have a choice. But it didn't really bother me since I ate healthy the entire day til that point.
  • AWME
    AWME Posts: 12
    Yes, and I don't think it matters. I estimate that over by 250 is still within the losing range. And I allow myself to "bank" calories if I go under one day, and use them within the week if I go over, don't exercise one day, etc.
  • xarge
    xarge Posts: 484 Member
    I'm nearly always over it by 300-400 if not more. That's the reason I keep the daily goal low, so the higher red numbers I see, the better I control myself. Just need some carb control.
  • RedWeb
    RedWeb Posts: 108 Member
    No. But it's a personal choice. Have been using MFP since the end of March and I haven't once gone over the goal. I've never been a snacker or a particularly big eater so I don't find it that hard to stay under the calorie goal each day. Do what works for you. What other people do doesn't really matter.
  • fordies
    fordies Posts: 14
    I go over about once a week but it's only a little over and for the other 6 days of the week I more than make up for it. I have had some decent results since using it and me going over once every few days hasn't had any major effect on my weight loss.
  • johicks
    johicks Posts: 1,991 Member
    It's not just about calories, as all calories are not created equal.

    If you're eating cheeseburgers & fries all day, then yes it totally matters. If you're doing your best to eat greens, fruits, veggies, and making smart chocies then no.

    A little extra every 4 days or so is actually good; give the body a little extra so it will stay in fat burning mode and not go into starvation mode.
  • Minkyboodle86
    Minkyboodle86 Posts: 27 Member
    I've read it actually helps with weight loss to have splurge days, boosting metabolism and keeping the body from going into starvation mode.
  • RedWeb
    RedWeb Posts: 108 Member
    I've read it actually helps with weight loss to have splurge days, boosting metabolism and keeping the body from going into starvation mode.

    You will not go into starvation mode by sticking to the calorie goal. Starvation mode is the biggest load of nonsense on these forums. If you have fat to burn a calorific deficit will burn it unless there is some sort of medical condition preventing this from happening.
  • Danger2OneSelf
    Danger2OneSelf Posts: 883 Member
    Yes, Usually when I go out to a club or BBQ. Most of the time when alcohol is involved, so is overeating. That plus the calories from the alcohol itself usually does me over. Yesterday we celebrated Fathers Day, and I had a lobster and tenderloin dinner (who doesn't dip lobster in butter?) so it added up quickly. I was over my maintenance calorie limit by more than 600 Cals. I always make up for it though the next two days by cutting out enough fats and carbs.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I've only been using this site for about a week now, but I go over by a little bit probably more often than not, but I also think it estimates my daily calorie limit as lower than it should be. Also on days when do cardio exercise, I seem to go pretty significantly under my limit since I burn a lot of calories, and so on my average I'm still under my limit.

    Anyway, yeah, I wouldn't fret about being above your limit for a day. Remember, if you set your goal to lose a pound per week, your daily calorie limit is 500 below your maintenance level, so if you eat 100 calories more than your limit, you're still 400 calories below maintaining your weight.

    This. I have a 1000 calorie deficit so even if I eat over 800 what MFP gives me, I know I'm still eating under maintenence.
  • Danger2OneSelf
    Danger2OneSelf Posts: 883 Member
    I've only been using this site for about a week now, but I go over by a little bit probably more often than not, but I also think it estimates my daily calorie limit as lower than it should be. Also on days when do cardio exercise, I seem to go pretty significantly under my limit since I burn a lot of calories, and so on my average I'm still under my limit.

    Anyway, yeah, I wouldn't fret about being above your limit for a day. Remember, if you set your goal to lose a pound per week, your daily calorie limit is 500 below your maintenance level, so if you eat 100 calories more than your limit, you're still 400 calories below maintaining your weight.

    This. I have a 1000 calorie deficit so even if I eat over 800 what MFP gives me, I know I'm still eating under maintenence.

    Is that safe to be eating so much less than your maintenance? I've found that eating so little usually just kicks you in the *kitten* in the long run, because of rebound hunger/binges....
  • shirleyhud
    shirleyhud Posts: 11 Member
    I dont know what happened to my calorie counter, i used to be at 1700 and now im at 1200, but I usually am over every day but still around the original 1700

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