not tracking calories with the app and just 'winging it' - anyone had success with this?

hamlet1222

I'm finding it tricky keeping track of everything I eat, but after doing it solidly for a week have a much better feel for the calories and macros in the stuff I eat.

Do people find they can keep on track without logging what they eat? Or does calorie creep inevitably happen?

starwhisperer6

for about three days

Need2Exerc1se

I stopped logging after about 3 weeks. It seemed like such a chore to me. I've been steadily losing for over a year. Very slowly, but that is by choice. I could eat less without logging and lose faster, but I think slow and steady works better for me.

tryin2die2self

You have to burn more than you consume (Calories In Calorie Out, CICO) to lose weight. How you reach this point is up to you. Maybe you are paleo, keto, High Fiber Low Fat, et al... it does not matter. If you are "playing" with a diet, then the calories are going to consume you. The great thing about logging is not only accountability but learning the "cost" of food (calories and/or macros). If you log on the back end for example you find out that pineapples and grapes are great but really high in sugar/calories. Might want to have less of them next time (or something else). You find out a lean beef loin has a lot less protein and calories than you thought, so you want to eat a bit more. You plan on the front end you know exactly where you stand and what you need to do, daily, to reach your goals.

If all you do it "loosely track" your diet and never really learn, then how is anything going to change?

ManiacalLaugh

Calorie creep happens - but I'm not content with the idea of logging every day for the rest of my life, so I work in intervals of logging and not logging, just to keep my perspective in order. (Usually, I go back to regular recording when I notice the scale stalling.)

I lost my first 50 lbs or so without logging, so I know I can do it if I can manage to keep my head in the game.

hamlet1222

ManiacalLaugh wrote: »

Calorie creep happens - but I'm not content with the idea of logging every day for the rest of my life, so I work in intervals of logging and not logging, just to keep my perspective in order. (Usually, I go back to regular recording when I notice the scale stalling.)

I lost my first 50 lbs or so without logging, so I know I can do it if I can manage to keep my head in the game.

intervals of logging - interesting idea. I too lost my first 9 kilos quite easily just by not snacking and not drinking calories, but now I'm stuck at around 21% bf (at the top of the BMI 'healthy' zone). I've read Mike Matthews book and watched his podcasts, and it seems if you want to get to 7% bf like him, you really need to be super precise in tracking your calories and macros.

ASKyle

If you have a lot to lose, you will lose weight using this method. When you get down to the last 5-10 pounds, you'll want to log accurately, as your deficit will be smaller, so less room for error.

elephant2mouse

When I don't log, I gain. Different things work for different people.

glassyo

There is no way I can trust myself not to over indulge if I don't have a calorie goal in mind so no winging it for me.

azelizabeth

I need to log... sometimes I find I have more calories left than I had anticipated... other times I realize I am DONE, the kitchen needs to be closed.

rockmama72

I'm very good at maintaining without logging but not so good at losing.

ald783

I track pretty religiously out of habit and because over the years I've grown to prefer it, but I don't think it's a necessity. Some days I don't get a chance to actually log my food until the end of the day or the following day and I could probably estimate where I'm at even without keeping a running tally. I've also lost weight in the past without logging and I know it's more about making good choices rather than micro-analyzing what I'm eating. But, logging is a helpful tool.

quiltlovinlisa

I "winged it" to a 35 pound gain after losing 40 pounds two year ago.

So no more winging it for me.

GaleHawkins

@hamlet1222 I track my carbs mentally because I have to eat <50 grams daily to stay in nutritional ketosis and I was doing that before I found MFP. I do check my acetone output levels once or twice daily with a $15 breath analyzer off Ebay that I learned about from MFP by way of Google and that was how I found MFP. I expect one would have DWI tickets if using it to check alcohol levels.

I measure my CICO results using the digital set of scales by weight once each evening before I get in bed then twice each morning.

One needs some method of measuring to be a long term success from what I read. Find one that works for you. Winging it may result in being too fat to fly.

Need2Exerc1se

quiltlovinlisa wrote: »

I "winged it" to a 35 pound gain after losing 40 pounds two year ago.

So no more winging it for me.

Why/how would this happen? What I mean is, why did you gain 35 lbs? Seems like when you saw that you were gaining you would go back to logging before gaining almost all the weight you lost back, if indeed logging were the only thing that was needed to stop it. Even if you weren't weighing, you had to know you were gaining weight. 35 lbs is not unnoticable.

glassyo

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

quiltlovinlisa wrote: »

I "winged it" to a 35 pound gain after losing 40 pounds two year ago.

So no more winging it for me.

Why/how would this happen? What I mean is, why did you gain 35 lbs? Seems like when you saw that you were gaining you would go back to logging before gaining almost all the weight you lost back, if indeed logging were the only thing that was needed to stop it. Even if you weren't weighing, you had to know you were gaining weight. 35 lbs is not unnoticable.

The same thing happened to me but I had moved from logging Weight Watchers points to logging calories when I hit a plateau. It really does creep back on....half a pound here....a pound there.

I made it to a 30 lb weight gain until I bought a fitbit and then a bodybug to help figure out my tdee. The fitbit helped.

Need2Exerc1se

glassyo wrote: »

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

quiltlovinlisa wrote: »

I "winged it" to a 35 pound gain after losing 40 pounds two year ago.

So no more winging it for me.

Why/how would this happen? What I mean is, why did you gain 35 lbs? Seems like when you saw that you were gaining you would go back to logging before gaining almost all the weight you lost back, if indeed logging were the only thing that was needed to stop it. Even if you weren't weighing, you had to know you were gaining weight. 35 lbs is not unnoticable.

The same thing happened to me but I had moved from logging Weight Watchers points to logging calories when I hit a plateau. It really does creep back on....half a pound here....a pound there.

I made it to a 30 lb weight gain until I bought a fitbit and then a bodybug to help figure out my tdee. The fitbit helped.

Oh, I don't doubt that people regain. I was just wondering why someone would wait until they'd regained so much before doing something about it. It seems more an issue of not trying to lose, than with logging. Like not logging is a sign that you are not trying.

quiltlovinlisa

I don't have a scale, and I wasn't weighing myself. I saw ten pounds up and most of my clothes fit still, so I put a few pants away. I noticed my favorite jeans were snug and put those away. Life got crazy (my teenager has a huge crisis last year and was considering suicide) I couldn't even consider logging, I felt like each day was a chore as I worried and tried to figure out how to help her.

That was eight months of not putting my health first after I had already put away my favorite jeans. By the time summer rolled around, I took a breath and put my health in the fore front and renewed my efforts in myself.

I'm not making excuses. *I* alone am responsible for *my* weight gain. I was probably halfway to what I gained when all the family stuff happened. The question was about winging it, and I answered. Obviously, I need to prioritize my health no matter what. In the heat of what was going on, I didn't have the energy to start. I shouldn't have stopped. Hindsight and all.

KANGOOJUMPS

Wing it chick here.

AnvilHead

hamlet1222 wrote: »

...intervals of logging - interesting idea. I too lost my first 9 kilos quite easily just by not snacking and not drinking calories, but now I'm stuck at around 21% bf (at the top of the BMI 'healthy' zone). I've read Mike Matthews book and watched his podcasts, and it seems if you want to get to 7% bf like him, you really need to be super precise in tracking your calories and macros.

Don't confuse BMI with BF% - they're two entirely different (and unrelated) things. Getting to 7% BF will require obsessive, almost maniacal dedication and attention to detail - you're talking near-contest shape for a bodybuilder. It's very difficult to get there and even more difficult to sustain for extended periods (read the paragraph about 6% - 7% BF here). Getting that low goes beyond just calories and macros - things like water manipulation, sodium/carb loading/depleting, etc. come into play to get that ripped.

As to logging, I'm fairly loose about mine - I stay as accurate as possible about *what* I'm eating (not usually using "quick add calories" or generic entries), but I eyeball portions/servings. If I'm not losing, I just lower calories a little bit and re-assess until I'm where I want to be.

middlehaitch

I lost 6 years ago by logging. That gave me a very good knowledge of food macros and micros as well as portion sizes suitable for me.
However, the eyes play tricks, so a couple of times a year I log for a couple of weeks- just to reaffirm portion sizes.

I also log for about a month at the beginning of autumn just to work out my TDEE for my winter exercise schedule. If I don't have a good idea of my protein, I wash out. If I am not eating enough to feed a new routine, I lose weight really fast, and I can't afford to do that.

If you don't want to log long term doing so for a couple of months will give you a good idea of your basic foods nutritional value, and appropriate portion sizes.

Cheers, h.

eskimohugger

I do better when Im not logging it in! I mostly use MFP now as a reference to how many macros I am eating really

armylife

The best answer is the one you keep seeing: Do what works for you. If you can lose, gain, or maintain without logging, do that. If you can't, log. If you are close and want to spot check, do it intermittently.

MakePeasNotWar

I find if I'm not logging, I do better with a few "rules" to indirectly keep my calories down, like starting meals with salad or broth, and not snacking between meals. Logging works better if I want to be more spontaneous and flexible with my eating.

rankinsect

If I was capable of eating correct portions while winging it, I never would have been morbidly obese in the first place!

hamlet1222

Hi AnvilHead, what do you reckon is the lowest body fat % you can get down to without too much obsessive dedication? I'm looking for an initial target to aim for, and am prepared to log my intake for some days (and just wing it on others).

Need2Exerc1se

quiltlovinlisa wrote: »

I don't have a scale, and I wasn't weighing myself. I saw ten pounds up and most of my clothes fit still, so I put a few pants away. I noticed my favorite jeans were snug and put those away. Life got crazy (my teenager has a huge crisis last year and was considering suicide) I couldn't even consider logging, I felt like each day was a chore as I worried and tried to figure out how to help her.

That was eight months of not putting my health first after I had already put away my favorite jeans. By the time summer rolled around, I took a breath and put my health in the fore front and renewed my efforts in myself.

I'm not making excuses. *I* alone am responsible for *my* weight gain. I was probably halfway to what I gained when all the family stuff happened. The question was about winging it, and I answered. Obviously, I need to prioritize my health no matter what. In the heat of what was going on, I didn't have the energy to start. I shouldn't have stopped. Hindsight and all.

Sorry that happened. Having raised teenagers myself I feel for you. I was not suggesting you were making excuses But I think this response more or less shows what I mean. You didn't gain weight because you stopped logging, you gained weight because you stopped trying not to gain weight. Logging is a tool you are using, but it's not the reason you are losing again. You are. (hope that makes sense)

CasperNaegle

Honestly no.. even though I am good a my serving size logging is really the only way I can track where I am at. It would be a nightmare for me to just wing it.

CasperNaegle

hamlet1222 wrote: »

ManiacalLaugh wrote: »

Calorie creep happens - but I'm not content with the idea of logging every day for the rest of my life, so I work in intervals of logging and not logging, just to keep my perspective in order. (Usually, I go back to regular recording when I notice the scale stalling.)

I lost my first 50 lbs or so without logging, so I know I can do it if I can manage to keep my head in the game.

intervals of logging - interesting idea. I too lost my first 9 kilos quite easily just by not snacking and not drinking calories, but now I'm stuck at around 21% bf (at the top of the BMI 'healthy' zone). I've read Mike Matthews book and watched his podcasts, and it seems if you want to get to 7% bf like him, you really need to be super precise in tracking your calories and macros.

I too follow Mike's programs.. works really great for me. I'm sure you are talking about body fat and not BMI, but getting to 7% is extremely hard and gets you really close to essential body fat levels. Be sure and recheck his stuff on that. I'm about 19% right now and would love to get to 15 or a little below, but that is super hard.

Here is Mike article on BF you may have read it but here it is anyway.
http://www.muscleforlife.com/how-to-measure-body-fat-percentage/

hamlet1222

yeah, I wasn't mixing up BMI and BF, my BMI is just below 25, and BF 21%. I don't think 7% BF looks that great anyway - once veins start appearing everywhere. I'm hoping to get to 15% without needing to be too obsessive.

sheermomentum

Hmmm...wanting to get from 21% to 15% body fat may change the game a bit. I suppose it helps if you have a fairly large deficit "window" in which you can burn fat, since you can have a greater margin of error and still be in deficit. Not sure how that applies to someone in your position. But if you're good at keeping track in your head, and especially if you tend to eat alot of the same foods over and over, sure, why not?