We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Back to strict logging or nah?
bjdw_1977
Posts: 442 Member
I've been able to maintain near enough 75kg for the last couple of months without logging, but now I want to get down to 72 for a cycle event at the end of January. I wonder if I need to start back in with the full on calorie counting or if I'll get there just by pumping up the burn? The training program I'm starting will pump it up a bit anyway.
0
Replies
-
More exercise always makes me more hungry, so I'd want to count calories as well, but it's entirely up to you....?8
-
The answer is in your statement. The fact your wondering. You know the noting down adds focus. No need to go 'full on' just be in touch with the consummation.1
-
That's about .6 pounds a week, so about a 300 calorie daily deficit. If I wanted to hit that consistently, I would track.6
-
If you are willing to spin your wheels for a while, try it the exercise route without counting and see. Years ago I was stuck at 125 for ages and decided to do a tri and dropped to 120. On the other hand, I've recently gone back to logging (although I am taking a Thanksgiving break until tomorrow) because I am back to bouncing between 125 and 130 and don't think I can get lower this time without counting.3
-
Exercise creates a false sense of calorie entitlement. Think of this same process for budgeting money for those who overspend. The "exercise calories" are like supplementing the budget with scratch off lottery cards. It just trains you to think the calorie plan is just flexible. Any level of exercise above normal daily in order to increase food intake is a fools errand.21
-
wilson10102018 wrote: »Exercise creates a false sense of calorie entitlement. Think of this same process for budgeting money for those who overspend. The "exercise calories" are like supplementing the budget with scratch off lottery cards. It just trains you to think the calorie plan is just flexible. Any level of exercise above normal daily in order to increase food intake is a fools errand.
So when I run 10 miles i shouldn't eat back exercise calories...? :huh: :noway:9 -
You shouldn't run 10 miles in the first place. It leads to injury and excessive joint wear.29
-
wilson10102018 wrote: »Exercise creates a false sense of calorie entitlement. Think of this same process for budgeting money for those who overspend. The "exercise calories" are like supplementing the budget with scratch off lottery cards. It just trains you to think the calorie plan is just flexible. Any level of exercise above normal daily in order to increase food intake is a fools errand.
I lost over 70 pounds while eating every delicious calorie earned by exercise.
This site's calculator works differently than nearly every other calculator. Please read the explanation here of how it works: How does Myfitnesspal calculate my goals?5 -
^^It uses the Mifflin St Joer calculation. (Not TDEE minus a fixed percentage.)1
-
Either way is fine.
Monitoring your weight and adjusting your caloric consumption without tracking calories works rather well for many people including myself.
If your training will be increasing(estimated 3k calories per week), I would continue the same path.
3kg in that time period is reasonable just with increased activity and monitoring body weight while maintaining the same eating habits.3 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »You shouldn't run 10 miles in the first place. It leads to injury and excessive joint wear.
Distance doesn't lead to injury, load management does.
If the body is adapted to running ten miles with adequate recovery the injury risk would be extremely low.
9 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »You shouldn't run 10 miles in the first place. It leads to injury and excessive joint wear.
:laugh:9 -
If I wanted to make consistant weight change progress in a shorter amount of time I'd try to be as accurate as possible with logging to help me get there. If I had 6 months or longer to make adjustments I might not.0
-
Humans are not constructed to run on paved surfaces and maybe nowhere. A casual runner (noncompetitive) suffers on average 2 injuries per year requiring medical attention or lost work. That is about an 5 injuries per 1000 hours. The range is 2.5 to 12.5 in the literature. There are sheet metal shops that have 200,000 injury free hours. Meaning that running is about 1000 times more dangerous than working in a sheet metal shop. If it saves your life from cardiac surgery recovery, good for you. To lose weight, its a stupid move.21
-
Haha! Every now and then someone should say it. today, its me.8
-
wilson10102018 wrote: »Humans are not constructed to run on paved surfaces and maybe nowhere. A casual runner (noncompetitive) suffers on average 2 injuries per year requiring medical attention or lost work. That is about an 5 injuries per 1000 hours. The range is 2.5 to 12.5 in the literature. There are sheet metal shops that have 200,000 injury free hours. Meaning that running is about 1000 times more dangerous than working in a sheet metal shop. If it saves your life from cardiac surgery recovery, good for you. To lose weight, its a stupid move.
Humans are not constructed to run...
Just wow. I actually have no words.14 -
Well, to clarify, humans may be effective runners, but not safely and not without substantial damage. So, if there is a therapeutic object, run like the wind. If not, save your knees and feet for the 5 trips to the toilet as a senior. And, to clarify further, i have lost two friends to fatal accidents. One running and one bicycling. And, most of my contemporaries have had or need knee or hip replacements. Some have been running a long time. If you drill into the statistics, the worst record for injuries (really high numbers) are from the obese. Hence the caution about using running for weight loss. I suppose if you are as fit as an athlete with a BMI of 16 and a good place to run (traffic, nice asphalt, etc., probably ok.15
-
wilson10102018 wrote: »Well, to clarify, humans may be effective runners, but not safely and not without substantial damage. So, if there is a therapeutic object, run like the wind. If not, save your knees and feet for the 5 trips to the toilet as a senior. And, to clarify further, i have lost two friends to fatal accidents. One running and one bicycling. And, most of my contemporaries have had or need knee or hip replacements. Some have been running a long time. If you drill into the statistics, the worst record for injuries (really high numbers) are from the obese. Hence the caution about using running for weight loss. I suppose if you are as fit as an athlete with a BMI of 16 and a good place to run (traffic, nice asphalt, etc., probably ok.
A sheet metal shop: four walls, doors, steel toed shoes, hard hats, controlled human entry, no animals, very predictable happenings during a shift, ongoing training, multiple checks daily on safety of persons, equipment, etc.
Outdoor running: unable to control variables such as weather, ground stability, garbage, rocks, branches in pathway, stray/uncontrolled animals, vehicles, and humans.
Very odd comparison. I would argue however that many people do run too far too fast and that does contribute to injury. Inserting “do not run” into this conversation seems odd though as OP sounds nothing like a beginner and was not asking about the training they were doing at all.
8 -
Recent studies have found a LOWER incidence of arthritis in regular runners. In people without previous injuries, running does not cause joint damage. Plenty of old runners need hip and knee replacements, but not as many as the old non-runners who need them.
I did have an injury this year which sidelined me from running. It was caused by lifting weights. But since I saw a sports doctor about how to get back to running I suspect it went into your statistics for running related injuries.9 -
This thread is full of the wooiest woo that ever woo’d.
OP, in answer to your original question, calorie counting is the best way to help ensure weight loss. You might lose weight just by increasing exercise, but that doesn’t guarantee a calorie deficit, especially if the increased training makes you hungrier. You aren’t guaranteed to lose 3kg if you log either, but it’ll help you control whether you have a deficit and how big of one you have.7 -
youngmomtaz wrote: »Inserting “do not run” into this conversation seems odd though as OP sounds nothing like a beginner and was not asking about the training they were doing at all.
I ran a half marathon last weekend so now I'm hanging up my running shoes for a little while and training for 150km bike race at the end of January.
Lots of trucks around here so hopefully I don't become Ben Jam instead of Benjamin.
Christmas is gonna be hard. I usually let loose with the food and beers at that time of the year and rein in the gains on the kayak in January (southern hemisphere, summer time here(nearly)).8 -
Ben_Likes_Beer wrote: »youngmomtaz wrote: »Inserting “do not run” into this conversation seems odd though as OP sounds nothing like a beginner and was not asking about the training they were doing at all.
I ran a half marathon last weekend so now I'm hanging up my running shoes for a little while and training for 150km bike race at the end of January.
Lots of trucks around here so hopefully I don't become Ben Jam instead of Benjamin.
Christmas is gonna be hard. I usually let loose with the food and beers at that time of the year and rein in the gains on the kayak in January (southern hemisphere, summer time here(nearly)).
You ran a half marathon and you're still alive... it's a miracle if you believe the kitten posted in this thread!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
16 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »You shouldn't run 10 miles in the first place. It leads to injury and excessive joint wear.
It's fun.7 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »Humans are not constructed to run on paved surfaces and maybe nowhere. A casual runner (noncompetitive) suffers on average 2 injuries per year requiring medical attention or lost work. That is about an 5 injuries per 1000 hours. The range is 2.5 to 12.5 in the literature. There are sheet metal shops that have 200,000 injury free hours. Meaning that running is about 1000 times more dangerous than working in a sheet metal shop. If it saves your life from cardiac surgery recovery, good for you. To lose weight, its a stupid move.
"The literature" - please provide a link.5 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »Humans are not constructed to run on paved surfaces and maybe nowhere. A casual runner (noncompetitive) suffers on average 2 injuries per year requiring medical attention or lost work. That is about an 5 injuries per 1000 hours. The range is 2.5 to 12.5 in the literature. There are sheet metal shops that have 200,000 injury free hours. Meaning that running is about 1000 times more dangerous than working in a sheet metal shop. If it saves your life from cardiac surgery recovery, good for you. To lose weight, its a stupid move.
As I mentioned "load management" is key to reduce injury risk, not the injuries that stem from a traumatic event such a sheet metal worker might endure.
People in sheet metal shops are under strict load management and guidelines for safety purposes.
Casual runners might not practice load management. That doesn't mean all running is dangerous and causes injuries or bone damage.
We can't pick and chose statics and ignore others.
That like me stating the fact that I ran every day in the year 2016. The distance was no less than 5 miles and no more than 19 miles. I also cycled at least 100 miles a month. I weight trained four days a week.
Played my 8th season as catcher in a competitive baseball league. I was 6'3, averaged 220lbs, at age 48. I also suffer from a progressive joint disease. The only injury I had was a tweaked hamstring a week before a small 5k race which didn't stop me from winning my age class or playing baseball.
My programming had adequate load management.
We can't assume all 48 year old male athletes will have one acute injury with this activity, but with correct load management we can surely reduce the injury risk.
What's next? Should we not drive a car because there is 5 million accidents compared to only 20 in flying.
Certainly there are drivers that manage safety better than others. Managing the load/stress can reduce injury risk. Such as wearing a seat belt can reduce death in a car accident, not prevent it 100%.5 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »Well, to clarify, humans may be effective runners, but not safely and not without substantial damage. So, if there is a therapeutic object, run like the wind. If not, save your knees and feet for the 5 trips to the toilet as a senior. And, to clarify further, i have lost two friends to fatal accidents. One running and one bicycling. And, most of my contemporaries have had or need knee or hip replacements. Some have been running a long time. If you drill into the statistics, the worst record for injuries (really high numbers) are from the obese. Hence the caution about using running for weight loss. I suppose if you are as fit as an athlete with a BMI of 16 and a good place to run (traffic, nice asphalt, etc., probably ok.
How does one die from running? If by "fatal accident" you mean hit by a car or fell down a mountain, those things can happen while walking. Are humans not meant to walk as well, because people die while walking? Seems like a rather strange conclusion to draw from what I'm guessing is an extreme example.5 -
Ben_Likes_Beer wrote: »I've been able to maintain near enough 75kg for the last couple of months without logging, but now I want to get down to 72 for a cycle event at the end of January. I wonder if I need to start back in with the full on calorie counting or if I'll get there just by pumping up the burn? The training program I'm starting will pump it up a bit anyway.
You could also slightly reduce what you are eating. If you want to take the guess work out of it, then log. If you are okay with winging it, then try that. Personally, I find comfort in knowing what to expect, so logging would be my choice. You could also log for a couple days to a week or two to get into the rhythm of it.3 -
Near the beginning of WW1 all British soldiers were issued with steel helmets. The War Office was shocked to discover the number of reported head injuries increase drastically. panicking they began to issue a recall of the helmets. Then they realized that the number of DEATHS had decreased by the same amount. Those soldiers had survived with head injuries rather than dying.
Statistics are all about context and interpretation.7 -
CarvedTones wrote: »wilson10102018 wrote: »Humans are not constructed to run on paved surfaces and maybe nowhere. A casual runner (noncompetitive) suffers on average 2 injuries per year requiring medical attention or lost work. That is about an 5 injuries per 1000 hours. The range is 2.5 to 12.5 in the literature. There are sheet metal shops that have 200,000 injury free hours. Meaning that running is about 1000 times more dangerous than working in a sheet metal shop. If it saves your life from cardiac surgery recovery, good for you. To lose weight, its a stupid move.
"The literature" - please provide a link.
Abstract found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14393991 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »wilson10102018 wrote: »Humans are not constructed to run on paved surfaces and maybe nowhere. A casual runner (noncompetitive) suffers on average 2 injuries per year requiring medical attention or lost work. That is about an 5 injuries per 1000 hours. The range is 2.5 to 12.5 in the literature. There are sheet metal shops that have 200,000 injury free hours. Meaning that running is about 1000 times more dangerous than working in a sheet metal shop. If it saves your life from cardiac surgery recovery, good for you. To lose weight, its a stupid move.
"The literature" - please provide a link.
Abstract found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1439399
Interesting; I searched around to refute it and found the stats are pretty consistent; roughly 20% to 70% sustain some kind of injury, with the variance primarily based on what was defined as an injury in the various studies.
You would think I would heartily agree with you from personal experience. I had to stop because of joint problems, but they are genetic and were exacerbated, not an injury. I really miss running because of the convenience and solitude. I am around a lot of runners and my experience seems pretty rare - having to stop. Most are minor annoyances. I have to get my shoulder scoped soon (other one doe a few years ago). Should I stop lifting weights? Stop paddling? Walk as my only exercise and just sit around doing nothing the rest of the time? It's a dangerous thing, going out your door...2
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.5K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 444 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4.1K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.3K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.8K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions