For nearly 6 weeks I have been counting calories and working out like a gem and have lost 11 lbs. For whatever reason today, I had a major weakness and decided to have a sampling of every kind of bag of chips in the pantry (uhh, like 3 diff kinds!), animal crackers, m&m's & some marshmallows. Granted I didn't have a lot of everything, but now what? Should I just guesstimate what I think I ate?

After that mess, I had a fabulous dinner of......steamed zucchini!!

Does this ever happen to anyone else? I feel much better, look better and am motivated to get the rest of the weight off......but I guess I just had a moment and wanted something tasty & bad for me today?

You can count it and estimate, or not. But the biggest thing is to recognize it happened... own it. See if you know WHY you did it (so you don't do it again)... and then forgive yourself and move on!

This happens to me (many people I think) from time to time. It's frequently a part of the process. I have tried to figure out when it will happen and minimize the damage.

But get back on track as soon as possible!

Good luck!!!

It's okay.
It's good that you didn't just overlook it as a "snack" and are taking responsibility for it. Though it's not suggested that you do it frequently (eat unhealthfully and then eat a close-to-nothing dinner to make up for it), it's okay.
Like yesterday. I had a bad day. I wanted something bad and delicious. I had a small snack of a lunch and went down to this GREAT little hole in the wall resturant and had myself some fish & chips. It might not sound as amazing to everyone else as it was for me, but the salty "chips" and the sweet fish and tarter sauce was AMAZING. And I enjoyed EVERY BITE OF IT. And since I don't do it often, it's fine.

As the others, said, what's most important is getting back on track as of right now! Whether or not to log what you ate today depends on how you use your diet diary. If you like the monthly charts, etc. then you probably want that info.

I just use my diary (palm pilot, actually) as a daily tool. But sometimes when I go off course I try to estimate what I ate just so I can see the number and really understand the impact that kind of snack attack can have on my goals. Not to feel guilty or to punish myself, mind you, but as a reminder of easy it is to go waaaaay over in just a few minutes of mindless eating!

Can I just make a small suggestion?

Why not get rid of that stuff? I mean why on earth is it hanging around your house? Why make losing weight and sticking to a healthy plan harder?

And sure, I think it's pretty safe to say it's happened to most of us here. Best thing to do is just move on. Get right back to the good eating ASAP. Oh - you've done that already. Good for you!

When I am at cocktail parties (jeez, listen to me...this doesn't happen often! ) and I have a bite or two, literally a "taste" of things, I count each "taste" as 100 calories.

So, unless I know for certain the amount, preparation and calorie content of what I am eating, I overestimate, just to be safe.

Keeps me honest!

I just read an article that said there are an average of 25 calories in a "bite" if you are mindlessly eating...that shocked me...Sure makes me know why I gained so much weight cleaning plates of children!!!

I agree with getting rid of it. Children do not need those kinds of snacks if thats why your keeping them. In fact it may lead to them becoming overweight. Try to have some healthy alternatives instead.

I did that yesterday also. I worked out for 2 hours and ten minutes, ate well, everything going great and then the little chocolate demon hit and I ate 4 of those boxed chocolate things. 300 calories! They were the gross creamy centered ones to boot! Ah well, it does happen every now and then but I'm not going to beat myself up for it. Could have been worse

If you aren't the one who controls what food is in your house, then it can be helpful to make a distinction between foods that are "yours" and "not yours." Then, leave the foods that are "not yours" alone. Think of it as stealing someone else's property. It may help you not to give in to "mindless urges" like that.

I live with someone who has never had to lose weight--one of those naturally normal sized people--and I can't very well throw away the foods she wants to eat. So... I have "my" foods, and her foods are off limits.

Jay

The important thing is that you realized what you did and went right back on plan.

You can try to estimate, like 3Beans says, sometimes seeing it written down is a wake up call (and mental slap). Those M&M's add up VERY quickly.

I try not to bring food that is too tempting for me into the house. But I'm not the only one who lives here. I usually keep that food where I can't see it. Sometimes out of sight out of mind works for me.

I'd say do your best to estimate, remember enjoying the treat and get back on track. Me, I'm trying to eat the way I will for the rest of my life, which includes some treats. Last night, I had a big 213 calorie slice of brownie and, today, I had a soda (my first in three days!). I don't think I'd stick with this if I were too strict. I'm not even really strict with my calorie counting, usually using estimates when I can't readily find exact calorie counts. I do a lot of scratch cooking, so just looking at one package isn't so easy for me! And, adding up the calories in 34 ingredients is enough to make me give up! Sometimes, I calculate my recipes, but, if I don't feel like it, I find something close on the Internet and use it. I've lost 11 pounds this month so far, so it works for me! I'm on track to meet my goal in 1/2 the time I'd planned!

Thanks everyone - I appreciate the feedback. It is easier said than done to just get rid of the food as I am not the only one who lives & eats here, but the one with the weight problem! I do like Jay's idea of designating a special area for MY food though! Off to rearrange now!

I have the luxury of living alone so I don't keep anything in the house that could tempt me. But for over week a now I've been craving a cookie. So I went for a walk, did my produce and meat shopping for the next few days and stopped at the bakery and bought....wait for it.....1 white chocolate macadamia nut cookie. Perfectly undercooked so it was really chewy. That one cookie just made my weekend, and by sticking to one I will stay below my calorie target for the day.

I do the same thing. I'll crave a no bake cookie and wait and wait until I can get to this little party store in town that sells the most wonderful cookies. I buy one or two and am good for a few more weeks. If I made the cookies I would eat the entire batch in 48 hours.