3 Years+ Maintainers-do you track calories Yes/No?

ReaderGirl3
ReaderGirl3 Posts: 868 Member
edited April 2016 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
A thread in the general weight loss area has piqued my curiosity about weight management adherence and tracking/not tracking calories. I'm wondering how many here, who have been in maintenance for 3 years or more, still track their calories on a regular basis vs those who are able to maintain without tracking?

Replies

  • pmart611
    pmart611 Posts: 17 Member
    Yes - it's a must for me. I'm at 3 1/2 years now maintaining an 80 lb loss and I know if I stop tracking, I will slip backwards. It's worth the time to plan and track.
  • RWClary
    RWClary Posts: 192 Member
    No, my eating is intuitive now, but that was after tracking every day for 3 years.
    We learn by doing, and now, I just look at food - any food...and know the calories and macro balance.
    Same with exercise burn.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Three years next week...I haven't tracked anything in three years...no issues.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    edited April 2016
    I still track everything. EVERYTHING. It's easy and takes very little time at this point, I'm a numbers and data person being an engineer, and with the amount of activity I do and focus on fitness improvements, it helps me stay focused on fueling properly and keeping an eye on my nutrition. Also, even on those days where I'm not concerned about nutrition and just eating for the pure joy of it (e.g. Christmas), it's fun to see how much I can pack away ;) I top out at around 6000 calories before I'm uncomfortably full.

    edit: I know some folks see logging as training wheels to learn how to eat. Some do well at it. Some have issues and start to creep up unless they log, even if it's just sporadically to keep them in check. Personally, I probably could quit logging at this point and be okay, but I like having the data and it doesn't take much effort.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm even experimenting with a small cut right now without logging...so far, so good...I thought I might have to log for a month or two, but I'm dropping weight nicely.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    I do, because I find my weight drops without it. Sometimes I take breaks of about a month when I find it tedious, but I generally like knowing what my intake is as it means I'm fuelling myself appropriately for the amount of exercise I try to do.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I've only stopped tracking recently, although I have done that on and off for more than a year...
    It's working nicely for me but I still mentally total what I've eaten, I think that's a good habit.

    I think it's up to the individual what suits them - I always say, each to their own :smile:

  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    I track about half the year, usually after Christmas holidays for some reason! It's usually only a pound or three I want to lose, but I can't tolerate carrying any weight anymore. I love tracking, it's very relaxing, no worries, I know I'm getting my macros and I don't have to panic.
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I'm even experimenting with a small cut right now without logging...so far, so good...I thought I might have to log for a month or two, but I'm dropping weight nicely.

    Well done. You've become instinctive. (Like a wolf!)
  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Yes, I track 95% of the time. I dont track on holidays/vacations or if I feel like I need some time off (which never lasts long cause I always miss logging lol)
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Bookmarking thread for October 2017 :D
  • ReaderGirl3
    ReaderGirl3 Posts: 868 Member
    kdiamond wrote: »
    I still track 80% of the time and have been in maintenance for 12 years.

    12 years is amazing! That's fantastic, great job!
  • ReaderGirl3
    ReaderGirl3 Posts: 868 Member
    edited April 2016
    So it looks like so far there's 6 yes's and 3 no's, and then 1 who does a mix, depending on the time of year (springfield). Keep em' coming!
  • myfitnesspale3
    myfitnesspale3 Posts: 276 Member
    No more logging food after getting to target range. But that was after logging everything for six months. Now logging weight everyday keeps me on track, and if out of range then I make qualitative adjustments to diet, rather than recording quantities - it's much less effort.
  • rainbow198
    rainbow198 Posts: 2,245 Member
    I have been maintaining an 80 pound loss for 3 years next month.

    I'm very mindful of what I eat, I plan my meals out in advance and I write down what I eat in my food journal everyday, but I do not count calories hardcore or log.
  • ronaldmac
    ronaldmac Posts: 17 Member
    RWClary wrote: »
    No, my eating is intuitive now, but that was after tracking every day for 3 years.
    We learn by doing, and now, I just look at food - any food...and know the calories and macro balance.
    Same with exercise burn.
    Springfield1970 wrote: »
    I track about half the year, usually after Christmas holidays for some reason! It's usually only a pound or three I want to lose, but I can't tolerate carrying any weight anymore. I love tracking, it's very relaxing, no worries, I know I'm getting my macros and I don't have to panic.
    Springfield1970 wrote: »
    I track about half the year, usually after Christmas holidays for some reason! It's usually only a pound or three I want to lose, but I can't tolerate carrying any weight anymore. I love tracking, it's very relaxing, no worries, I know I'm getting my macros and I don't have to panic.
    myfitnesspale3 wrote: »
    No more logging food after getting to target range. But that was after logging everything for six months. Now logging weight everyday keeps me on track, and if out of range then I make qualitative adjustments to diet, rather than recording quantities - it's much less effort.

  • ronaldmac
    ronaldmac Posts: 17 Member
    Been in maintenance mode for almost 5 years and I still track every day. Keeps me aware
  • JeanCricket
    JeanCricket Posts: 176 Member
    Coming up on 2 years in maintenance and track every day. Intend to continue indefinitely. Keeps me aware and honest ;)
  • jane837
    jane837 Posts: 68 Member
    I've been tracking for 5 years, and have maintained a loss of 80 lbs for 3 years. I track about 85% of the time, which seems to be a good balance for me.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I track everything and have every meal for four years. I enjoy it. But I very rarely modify my eating because of it because I have learned to 'naturally' eat at maintenance.
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    5 years maintenance here.

    I track, otherwise I gain. Every time.
  • reverendshoebox
    reverendshoebox Posts: 2 Member
    edited April 2016
    I initially lost 120 pounds, and I've maintained most of that loss for nearly 5 years. For the most part, tracking seems to have properly trained my brain to eat decently and I've kept up with the exercise, so I usually don't have to count my calories. But every now and then if I get off track (pun not intended) and I find I need to track again for a while to get back under control. That's where I am right now...I'm actually celebrating my 5 year anniversary 20 pounds up from where I should be, but tracking's not a hard habit to slide back into. Congrats to all of you.
  • ARGriffy
    ARGriffy Posts: 1,002 Member
    RWClary wrote: »
    No, my eating is intuitive now, but that was after tracking every day for 3 years.
    We learn by doing, and now, I just look at food - any food...and know the calories and macro balance.
    Same with exercise burn.

    This!
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Maintaining over 6 years. Rarely count calories or weigh myself.

    I used to log a couple of times a year to maintain portion sizes, weight, and re establish a TDEE for changing workouts.

    This year I have found I am no longer needing to do that. If I up my exercises I just boost my calories accordingly without having to do a 6 week TDEE extrapolation.

    In general I maintain easily without tracking.
    An 18 day all you can eat and drink cruise vacation and I have a 2.6lbs gain- I only came back Monday so I am still shedding the water weigh

    Cheers, h.
  • lohlgren
    lohlgren Posts: 34 Member
    Around 12 years maintaining after a 70 lb loss. I log whenever I gain 4 or more lbs., usually a few months a year. Looking through my logs I have gained as much as 9 lbs but always brought it back down. I know what I can eat, but love calorie dense food, so i do fluctuate! Not bad for 12 years. Log, log, log.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    edited April 2016
    I've been maintaining for 5 years and no weight gained back. I haven't been calorie counting in a while now. Sometimes I do find that I'm dropping weight again so instead of tracking I simply eat a little more on the days that I know I'm more active.
  • xX_PhoenixRising_Xx
    xX_PhoenixRising_Xx Posts: 623 Member
    Ask me in a year. But at the 2 year point I've been maintaining a 150+ lb weight loss okay while tracking a few days, or sometimes just part of a few days per fortnight. I seem to naturally fluctuate up and down 10 lbs or so without doing much at all, my measurements don't change. I have gone months without tracking as well and not gained. But then I spent 2.5 years closely tracking every morsel in order to lose so much. If I don't know what a portion size looks like by now, there'd be no hope for me I reckon!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited April 2016
    14.5 years maintaining +-5 here.
    I don't count calories regularly. But I didn't losing either.

    If I had counted while losing, I would have had it as a goal to wean off.

    I do weigh daily and always have. I find that more helpful.

    And right now I'm keeping an eye on carbs while going through menopause.

    If the scale goes up a few with menopause, I'll count for a bit.
    If I add new foods to my routine, I'll check those.
    If I go to a chain restaurant, I use MFP to help me select my meal...

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