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Transitioning from MyFitnessPal

TraceyLynn089

I am a long time user of MyFitness Pal. I started a few years ago and successfully lost 75 pounds with the help of the app. I have been able to keep the weight off for over a year now. Since starting my weight loss journey I have become a runner and have taken an interest in nutrition. Over the past couple years I have read article after article about eating right, eating healthy, how many calories I should eat as a runner, what are the best snacks...etc etc etc. Needless to say, I know how to eat healthy at this point. I know what a healthy portion is. I know that I can indulge as long as I balance it out. Balance and moderation is key. This all being said. Why cant I seem to transition from using MyFitnessPal!? I know that counting every single calorie is not necessary and to a point not even healthy. Yes, it is extremely helpful when you are actively trying to lose weight and as a learning tool to see how many calories are in portions of foods, but I am past this point. It has almost become an unhealthy control in my life. I tried transitioning from inputting every single thing into the app and I felt out of control and even in doing so, after using for so long I know about how many calories are in everything so I found myself just adding them all up in my mind as I went anyway. Has anyone else gone through this mental transition and have any tips?

Replies

Liftng4Lis

I did this the first time I went on a diet break. It took me three days to "stop calculating in my head". If you can't force yourself to walk away from it, (start with a week, when you just eat without thinking about "how many calories" are in something), then you might need to talk to someone.

racingislife97

The easiest way to convince yourself that you don't need tech items is to go on a vacation without them. Spend a week or two without internet access, you'll be surprised how quickly the craving for it goes away, jsut like the cravings for soda, or doughnuts did a few years ago.

TraceyLynn089

Thank you for the suggestions! I gave it a shot for a week and it did feel good to not log every single bite into the app. However, an equal part of me felt out of control and I felt like I would start gaining the weight back. I think I just need to give myself more time to adjust.

Sophsmother

I can't tell you how many people have told me that MFP is a gateway to an eating disorder.

When I read on here how people knock every other way of eating as unsustainable for life, I cringe because they clearly think that weighing and measuring every solid and liquid that enters their body is something they should do for life. That's an eating disorder in the making and such unhealthy thinking.

MFP is a tool, just like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig ... Like them, it's not sustainable for life and shouldn't be thought of that way. but you don't need it anymore and everybody's goal on MFP should be to not need it.

Transition slowly and trust that you have learned to intuitively eat well. If you get off track, you can start counting again. It's scary to give up something that served you well, but not doing it may lead to something unhealthy.

Awesome job!

bwogilvie

There are many responses to this question. I'll just mention a couple. One is the "intuitive eating" approach (Google it). Another is John Walker's take, in The Hacker's Diet: if your appetite is "broken" (in the sense that it doesn't correspond to what you need to maintain your weight), then you might need to control it externally for the rest of your life.

I like Walker's take because he does emphasize that you can learn what reasonable portions are, with some attention. And because he notes that, as long as you weigh yourself daily and calculate the exponentially smoothed moving average, you'll be able to tell when you're gaining weight and deal with it before you gain much.

almondbutterbay

Sophsmother wrote: »

I can't tell you how many people have told me that MFP is a gateway to an eating disorder.

When I read on here how people knock every other way of eating as unsustainable for life, I cringe because they clearly think that weighing and measuring every solid and liquid that enters their body is something they should do for life. That's an eating disorder in the making and such unhealthy thinking.

Truest thing I've read on here for a while. I've been on and off of here for three years and can't quit without feeling out of control so I just figured I won't quit *shrugs* I don't even know anymore.

brcossette

There's an obvious counterpoint to this. Being accountable and honest about what you eat each day helps keep you on track. For some people watching their weight is a matter of life or death. For me i choose to error on the side of caution so i dont get obese again by logging in each day.

acogg

I have been maintaining a 35 pound loss for two years. One year to lose it, two to maintain so about three years here on MFP. I love my friends, I love the environment on MFP. I have also questioned myself many, many times about why I still check in. No one really knows me, I could check out and never log again. Yet I check my update list almost everyday. Then I remember why I came here. I read a "Success Story" about a woman who lost over two hundred pounds and I literally wept with joy at her life change. It's the people that keep me coming back. Older/more experienced people can help new MFP people be successful, with encouragement, advice or just being a friend. MFP can be intimidating at first.

Christine_72

I've never even thought about leaving here, ever!

This may be taken out of our hands anyway once they introduce the premium pay mfp version.
I've got a horrible feeling the forums as we know them are going to either disappear or go downhill

jeannettemancini

I personally don't see what's wrong with using it for maintenance once you are done. Logging your food is not an eating disorder. If you're eating at maintenance and you need to track that, you're doing something healthy. (and yeah, being obsessive is bad, as it is with anything)

ahoy_m8

What if you break from logging and, if it should come to pass that you find yourself over your maintenance range, you use MFP as a tool to get back in range? And then break again when you've accomplished that? I go long spells without logging. Eventually my weight will creep up (mysteriously never seems to creep down of its own accord, or if it does it doesn't trigger an intervention). Logging helps me get back on track.

What is true for me is that even when I don't log, there is an element of mindfulness. Where do you draw the line between mindfulness and calculating in your head? Probably different for everyone, but honestly, the online tools are so good, tracking is less effort than the mental gymnastics of estimating. Logging isn't an onerous task for me. So it's an easy habit to return to when I need it.

girlviernes

Sophsmother wrote: »

I can't tell you how many people have told me that MFP is a gateway to an eating disorder.

When I read on here how people knock every other way of eating as unsustainable for life, I cringe because they clearly think that weighing and measuring every solid and liquid that enters their body is something they should do for life. That's an eating disorder in the making and such unhealthy thinking.

MFP is a tool, just like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig ... Like them, it's not sustainable for life and shouldn't be thought of that way. but you don't need it anymore and everybody's goal on MFP should be to not need it.

Transition slowly and trust that you have learned to intuitively eat well. If you get off track, you can start counting again. It's scary to give up something that served you well, but not doing it may lead to something unhealthy.

Awesome job!

Although I think calorie counting can become problemac, I disagree that the goal should be to stop using it. Given how common it is to regain lost weight, if logging works why not stick with it. It also helps you pay attention to and meet nutrition goald. Certainly, we all need to have some flexibility and if you can't even take a day off that isn't a good sign.

Sued0nim

I don't see any reason to stop logging

Maybe you should work on your feelings about that instead

uvi5

christinev297 wrote: »

I've never even thought about leaving here, ever!

This may be taken out of our hands anyway once they introduce the premium pay mfp version.
I've got a horrible feeling the forums as we know them are going to either disappear or go downhill

That would suck

Sued0nim

christinev297 wrote: »

I've never even thought about leaving here, ever!

This may be taken out of our hands anyway once they introduce the premium pay mfp version.
I've got a horrible feeling the forums as we know them are going to either disappear or go downhill

These are not great forums ...it is easy to set up a forum using free software ...don't worry about it ...no succesful business plan would stop free entry via fora

paperpudding

Sophsmother wrote: »

I can't tell you how many people have told me that MFP is a gateway to an eating disorder.

When I read on here how people knock every other way of eating as unsustainable for life, I cringe because they clearly think that weighing and measuring every solid and liquid that enters their body is something they should do for life. That's an eating disorder in the making and such unhealthy thinking.

MFP is a tool, just like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig ... Like them, it's not sustainable for life and shouldn't be thought of that way. but you don't need it anymore and everybody's goal on MFP should be to not need it.
!

I disagree with this.

If people want to wean themselves from MFP or MFP is becoming obsessive or problematic for them - fine, do so.

But nothing wrong with logging long term in maitenance if that works for you either.

I have been logging in maitenance for 18 months now and I don't intend to stop in the foreseeable future.
If I go on holiday I sometimes don't log for a week and I don't meticulously account for Every single calorie at anytime but I do log estimates and approximate amounts ( like a small banana without weighing it) and weigh high calorie things like cheese.
I certainly don't think I am on the gateway to an eating disorder.

I believe weight watchers has a maitenance program too. People don't have to view WW as something they have to wean themselves off either. If they don't want to.

sweetd6

Yes, Weight Watchers has a maintenance plan that is free as long as the WW member checks in every month (with a free weigh in) and stays within 2 lbs. of their goal. Many Lifetime members still track their food, whether it is on paper or with the WW e-tools (a WW tracking app) which is also free for Lifetime members. I wouldn't call maintenance tracking of any kind an "eating disorder". An eating disorder involves unhealthy things inflicted on the body, whether it's trying to weigh too little, throwing up to lose/maintain weight, or uncontrolled binge eating. If people feel scared about their eating possibly getting out of control if they don't track, I don't see any harm in continuing to track.

callsitlikeiseeit

Everyone has to do what works best for them.

That said, I'm a LONG way from maintenance, so I don't know what I'll do. I guess when I get there, I'll figure out what works for ME.

grandma107

If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Blessings.

vivmom2014

Recipezaar used to be a great, free site with fun forums - that's all gone now that Scripps bought it. No more forums, period - and a boring new name food.com - but as far as MFP goes, I have a love/hate with it. It's great for accountability but it haunts me if I jump off for vacation or because I'm fed up (pardon the pun) with it. I need to work on my all-or-nothing issues. I understand what you're saying, OP. Don't have any suggestions, but I understand what you're saying.

SallyinIL

This might not be a popular opinion but I need to keep track of my food in the same way that I need to keep track of my money. MFP for my food is just like having a budget plan my money. Because life changes so very much from day to day, saying I don't need to keep tabs on my money or my food is just looking for trouble.

Just my $0.02.

booksandchocolate12

I have a ways to go before I hit my goal, so of course now I'm logging everything. But honestly? I've seen what happens when I STOP logging things. I quickly forget what a portion size looks like and end up overeating.

For some people--myself included--logging what we eat is something we'll have to do forever. And I don't see anything wrong with that.

Vixenmd1

brcossette wrote: »

There's an obvious counterpoint to this. Being accountable and honest about what you eat each day helps keep you on track. For some people watching their weight is a matter of life or death. For me i choose to error on the side of caution so i dont get obese again by logging in each day.

This .. I maintained for multi years after dropping 75 lbs. I regained some of the weight when I decided that I didnt need to track anymore or weigh myself. For me this will not be done when I get back to goal. This is now like my budget. I track what I spend and I track what I eat. I started MFP at 207.8 and am down 13 lbs in a month.

The reasons just got even more stark for me. My dad who ran marathons till 50, never smoked, near drank, and still walked 3-4 miles a time 4 times a week (with his dogs) BUT was morbidly obese died suddenly(heart attack or stroke) two weeks ago yesterday. All the doctors including my brother and sister in law who are both doctors plus her father a heart doctor agree it was complications from his obesity. He was type 2 with hyper tenstion. We are all crushed.

And I now know this is life long if I want a long life. Everyone is different but tracking and weighing myself is a needed tool.

SallyinIL

booksandchocolate12 wrote: »

But honestly? I've seen what happens when I STOP logging things. I quickly forget what a portion size looks like and end up overeating.

Yes, indeed. "Creeping Quantities" is what got me back to needing to take off pounds again.

booksandchocolate12

Vixen, I am very sorry for your loss!

Both of my parents died young of heart attacks. Neither was overweight, much less obese. So I feel like the deck is stacked against me to begin with. No need to add obesity to the mix and make my odds even worse.

Vixenmd1

booksandchocolate12 wrote: »

Vixen, I am very sorry for your loss!

Thank you it has been the roughest two weeks of my whole families life.

SideSteel

With all due respect I think the advice to "keep logging" is horrible and it's neglecting your feelings about this.

There are people who do not do well with long term tracking/logging. Sounds to me like you're one of them and based on that I'd get yourself away from logging.

You can do it cold turkey if that's your thing. I have limited experience with clients doing this but it tends to work best for people who have firmly established eating habits. So for example, people who have a consistent eating frequency, good appetite regulation, and basically consistent day to day eating habits and good self awareness.

Another method you can take would be to gradually remove logging. This works better for some people because it allows you to ease yourself into it. If you go this route I'd start by logging a few days AFTER you eat rather than before. So for example log your food at the end of the day rather than before so that you're potentially less calorie focused during the day and you're not necessarily looking at your numbers and letting that dictate your food choices. A gradual approach would also allow you to troubleshoot a bit more along the way. A gradual approach also allows you some time to build self awareness about your food habits if you've not done so already.

If you're maintaining successfully for a week or two this way, I'd remove a day or two of logging, preferably during the week (log weekends still). Give it another week or two, see how you're doing and how you feel. Over a month or two you'll peel away the logging habits and eventually full stop.

In either case I'd really recommend that you continue to weigh yourself provided that weighing yourself doesn't cause issues. Keep track of a 7 day average of bodyweight and compare week to week averages. Allow yourself a range of acceptable weight so that you're not immediately resuming logging after a 1lb gain. I think a good 5lb window is appropriate for most people.

If you find that you can't maintain weight without logging, do not conclude that this means you have to log. This means that you haven't established the necessary habits to maintain weight without logging but it does not mean that you can't acquire those habits.

Finally I'll add that some people do need a set of rules in their diet to regulate energy intake. This is a trade off to not logging and it works really well for some people. But whether you need these depends on your CURRENT set of eating habits and how well you maintain those without logging.

higgins8283801

I've been maintaining for 4 months and have slowly transitioned from not weighing. I still test myself to make sure I'm being close to right, and I'm usually within a gram or two of being correct on a serving. I will only weigh something if I've never had it before, but here lately I am getting a good hang of estimating a serving.

cwolfman13

I have successfully maintained for 2 years without logging save for a brief time going into my bulk and a brief time going into another cut just to make sure I knew what that intake was to look like.

For me, I always viewed this as a training tool...kind of like training wheels on a bike...my goal was always to be able to simply ride without help...so in that RE, making the transition wasn't too terribly difficult, though it felt odd not to log for awhile. After a couple of months though, I really forgot all about it.

That is not to say I'm not mindful...I eat very healthfully and I'm consciously aware of how many calories are in what. I prepare most of my meals from scratch, whole ingredients and eat primarily whole foods in general. Eating out is only an occasional thing as I have found it difficult to maintain while eating out regularly.

I still weigh myself a few time weekly to make sure I'm on track and I workout religiously.

lynndot1

If you still want to keep track of your food but don't want to obsess, maybe add your food at the end of the day? When I'm not on a cut I don't log during the day, I just put in everything I eat (as close as I can) at the end of the day, before I settle in for a late night treat. That way I have an idea of what I ate and, if it turns out I ate more than I thought, know to be a little better the next day.