When to stop counting calories?

laura2706

I was the same as you (OP), and I ended up with an eating disorder out of it (not a full blown one like anorexia thankfully, managed to pull myself back before things got that bad), so I knew at some point I had to stop using it. (I'm not saying this will happen to you though! )

About a year ago I started to resist logging food, I mean I was adding things up mentally but not adding them to mfp. After a while I stopped logging mentally as much too. It helped me to take up some exercise while I was doing this, I did swimming then moved to cycling after the chlorine was taking a nasty toll on my hair lol. I found I focused less on my food intake as I felt it would be more balanced with the exercise (don't know if it actually was, but mentally it helped). I had just upped my food intake dramatically and was doing my best to keep it there too, hopefully if you've found a point your happy with it won't feel as necessary for you

I didn't put on weight as I'd kind of expected. I stayed the same fast forward a year, I've been eating without logging calories for a whole year now, and haven't gained weight. I fully believe that as long as you eat a mainly healthy, balanced diet you will be fine. Most people I know eat roughly the same amount for each meal each day (eg. they have the same number of slices of toast for breakfast, similar sized lunches everyday, similar dinners), so your body does just maintain. Its scary at first, but its totally worth it!

Just a point I want to make though, I often look at nutritional information (calories) to help make decisions if I'm buying a sandwich or something, but I don't tend to add all my calories up, I might roughly for one meal but generally not throughout the day. But I don't always, and I don't have to which is an empowering feeling. I don't think there is anything wrong with not stopping counting, but if you want to I'd say just take the plunge, the mental reality is scarier then the physical one

goron59

I stop counting when I reach my daily limit (sorry, target). Mostly this coincides with me stopping eating

brayman1701

I think when the time comes for me I'd rather spend the 10 - 15mins a day logging my food for the rest of my life than spending the whole day hating the fact I'm overweight.

beautifulwarrior18

I've already accepted the fact that I'm going to use MFP to count calories and macros the rest of my life. Without it, I know I'll NEVER be able to eyeball calories well enough to maintain, or take in optimal macronutrient intake and calorie intake. I find MFP not only extremely effective, but very very easy to use. Entering food takes only a couple minutes a day, and it's not a big deal to me, but everybody is different.

^^
What he said. Clearly not counting calories didn't work for you before, so why go back to old habits.

suejenfb

If you do t want to count calories every day you should use MFP to figure out calories for a few days using foods that you know you can eat on a regular basis. Make these foods a habit you can do a couple of variations and write it down. You know if you eat the food from the list you'll be staying within your calories.

FindingAmy77

I've already accepted the fact that I'm going to use MFP to count calories and macros the rest of my life. Without it, I know I'll NEVER be able to eyeball calories well enough to maintain, or take in optimal macronutrient intake and calorie intake. I find MFP not only extremely effective, but very very easy to use. Entering food takes only a couple minutes a day, and it's not a big deal to me, but everybody is different.

Yeah, MFP is so easy to use I'll probably try and use it long long after I'm at goal.

me too.. its when I stopped counting calories and making goals and just being accountable for what I do and eat is when my weight has creeped back on in the past. not this time. so the answer to your question as to when to stop>>> NEVER

WendyTerry420

Are others just not paying any attention while they weigh and log their food? Am I the only one? I guess the answer to OP is either:

1) Never, because I can't be bothered to pay attention to my own food diary
2) Once you've learned how to portion food and eat for nutrients.

Anyway....8 months of maintenance now and still going strong. :drinker: :smokin:

MelissaPhippsFeagins

I reached my GW in January and I have found that I have to count my calories to make myself eat enough to maintain. I gave up half & half for Lent and have lost .25lb/week and then I got a stomach bug and lost 3.5 lbs under my goal. I'm not stressing about either of those things as Easter will be here and my cream will be back in my coffee. If I keep losing after that, I'll worry and add even more calories to my daily goal.

I've yo-yo dieted since I was 7 years old (seriously, I weighed almost 100 pounds and my pediatrician put me on a diet). If I don't count my calories, I will gain the weight back. That doesn't mean I'll never eat a piece of candy or fruit without logging it, but it does mean that I'll log most of my food for the rest of my life. I'm 45 and I was told last year that my knee would have be replaced before I was 50 if I didn't lose and keep it off. I'll keep logging and counting and having reasonable "cheat days" for the rest of my life because it's cheaper than surgery and easier than recovering from surgery. End of story.

jecky74

I'm not at maintenance yet and I see myself counting on maintenance. However, how about using the scale or your measurements as your guide? Weigh yourself every week or measure yourself every month. Set yourself a range you want to stay within and if you begin approaching either end of that range, you know what to do to adjust.

I agree with this. You don't have to count everyday forever if it's not what you want but regular "check-ins" will keep you in the range you want to be. If you start to creep up, or down, then track your calories to get back in range.

WendyTerry420

I'm not at maintenance yet and I see myself counting on maintenance. However, how about using the scale or your measurements as your guide? Weigh yourself every week or measure yourself every month. Set yourself a range you want to stay within and if you begin approaching either end of that range, you know what to do to adjust.

I agree with this. You don't have to count everyday forever if it's not what you want but regular "check-ins" will keep you in the range you want to be. If you start to creep up, or down, then track your calories to get back in range.

^^ This is exactly how I've been maintaining. It seems so defeatist/weak/negative to believe you can't learn something. :ohwell:

Annie_01

I don't count calories. I just count grams of carbohydrates. why would you count calories? their kind of irrelevant.

You're counting...be it carbs or calories. Each carb gram has a calorie amount associated with it.

How do you assume that counting carbs is any different than counting calories...protein grams...fat grams???

kwantlen2051

I've already accepted the fact that I'm going to use MFP to count calories and macros the rest of my life. Without it, I know I'll NEVER be able to eyeball calories well enough to maintain, or take in optimal macronutrient intake and calorie intake. I find MFP not only extremely effective, but very very easy to use. Entering food takes only a couple minutes a day, and it's not a big deal to me, but everybody is different.

Yes, this! This is totally a lifestyle change for me. I tried all kinds of diets or supplements before. I relied on them to lose the weight. Always gained the lbs back after stopping the program. With MFP, I leaned accountability. You have to be mindful of what goes into your body, other wise you won't lose the weight.

eileen0515

When I was fat, I didn't count or log calories. When I am slender, I am counting and logging. Duh!

kiecee

Need someone who is willing to help me out? I'm new to all this, jus want someone to look over my stuff and give me the do's and don't cus I'm feeling lost, need someone who knows what there talking about, thanks

50racinggirl

I've already accepted the fact that I'm going to use MFP to count calories and macros the rest of my life. Without it, I know I'll NEVER be able to eyeball calories well enough to maintain, or take in optimal macronutrient intake and calorie intake. I find MFP not only extremely effective, but very very easy to use. Entering food takes only a couple minutes a day, and it's not a big deal to me, but everybody is different.

+1
+1 (I lost 80 pounds by counting calories, stopped, gained it back; Lost 64 pounds, stopped; gained and now am counting again. I know I am going to have to be mindful of this FOREVER!)

I actually like it.

Kelly_Runs_NC

I've already accepted the fact that I'm going to use MFP to count calories and macros the rest of my life. Without it, I know I'll NEVER be able to eyeball calories well enough to maintain, or take in optimal macronutrient intake and calorie intake. I find MFP not only extremely effective, but very very easy to use. Entering food takes only a couple minutes a day, and it's not a big deal to me, but everybody is different.

+1

I actually like it.

+2

tech_kitten

My "always normal weight" friends do a yo-yo of about 5 lbs. A couple of pounds above and below their goal weight where they weigh once a week, and adjust the next week's exercise/food based on whether they need to lose/gain/maintain.

ToogieTuesday

I agree with the other posts.

Now you have a basic idea of how many calories things have. Now you have guidelines of what foods work for you and which ones don't. Now you're able to indulge IN MODERATION with the foods you love but know are high in bad calories (processed foods, baked goods, etc). It's nice that you're at a point that you can indulge and still lose but keep in mind that it's because of all the hard work you've done (metabolism is burning high due to that). If you want that metabolism to stay burning high you do have to keep practicing what you've learned and continue to excursive, eat well, etc. Or else if you're slack, eventually the bad habits will pile up before you know it and null all the progress of making your system work as efficiently as you've trained it to work.

Good luck to you

esaucier17

I'll probably count forever. If not on here then I'll track somehow. I don't plan on gaining again and it will hapen if I don't hold myself accountable.

I agree 100%

nxd10

Given how you spent your last weekend, you don't sound like a good calorie for giving up counting YET. But you may be in the future. Maybe you should relax a little.

If you really want to quit, wean yourself off it. Count every 2 days, then every 3. But do it religiously. See how the scale looks.

freedom456

I have had so much fun with myfitnesspal. It's easy, take a few minutes a day and it keeps me on top of what I now put in my body.
I recently came back from a road trip and ate super healthy 90% of the time. The 10% was filled with too much sodium, too much cholesterol, too much trans fat, and they were the healthy choices on the menus where I ate out!!!!
I need this program to help me monitor the good and the bad that I put into my body.
The exercise component allows me to challenge myself.
I love it and it works for me.

Laura3BB

I counted and logged religiously while loosing (4 months) then starting maintenance (2 months).
Now I've been maintaining more than a month not logging any more; and I'm perfectly stable (weighing myself once a week).

Ulwaz

The truth is its your decision if you count or not, it works for some people and not for others, stop if you like just be mindful

RedArizona5

Even if I don't use MFP I count calories naturally in my head as I've been using it for so long.. is that a good thing?

THIS---^ Exactly. I mean if you can RECOUNT your daily foods when you were losing weight---that is what you need to eat all the time without any extra activity to maintain weight. Makes sense if you think about it. If you like adventure with your food like I do. Then calorie counting is a MUST. And if your not like us(who know how much calories are per serving for basically everything in the store) then you must use MFP:happy: .
I can't stress enough the importance of learning your nutritional facts! Once you do you have more power than you realize. I can adjust and re-adjust to my liking to what I want to eat for any one given day for me just because I have counted calories for so long.
Maintenance CAN be achieved when you learn you TDEE. It is what the number of calories you need RIGHT NOW without working out. Mine is near 2,000 but even to maintain I would like to stick to 1,500. I am a little below that to lose weight. But having a regular time for activity I don't think i will ever worry about weight but just adjust it to my needs. And everyday is different. Some days you had enough sleep so you won't be s hungry-go for low. Other days you feel ravenous like I have been then increase activity and watch your portions if there will be an occasional treat...

joan23_us

Alright, so for the past two days I have eaten whatever junk food has come my way. I work in a cafe so that means frappucino's, scones, panini's, cookies, brownies, definitely not low cal stuff. However I'm actually under my goal weight and realized I need to gain back a few pounds. I know this is not the healthiest way to do it, it's just what happened this past weekend. I let myself be free with food for the first time in the past year since losing all the weight.

But now, as I've finished this binge and feel fulfilled in a sense, I realize I don't want to keep counting.

I want to live.

The problem is, I don't know if I really know how. I know how to gain weight, obviously. I know how to lose weight. But maintaining is a foreign concept to me. Even as I've tried to maintain using this website, it doesn't really work. Because I keep having that mindset when I look at the number I feel like it needs to be lower. I realize that's not a happy mindset and I want to change that. My basic question is, how did the people who lost all the weight successfully maintain after?

I gotta believe there's enough will out there to be able to do it without counting for the rest of your life. Because while this is an extremely effective tool, I don't want to see myself relying on it forever.

find the 'RIGHT BALANCE" for your preferred lifestyle.... for me it means, logging 5 days a week mon-fri and "letting loose" on the weekend to enjoy family, life, etc. it has worked for me, its like a mini-win each week and prepares me again for the following weeks' rigid macro tracking.... now this may not be for you... for some they "eyeball portion" when they are confident enough to estimate portion sizes etc. after sometime.... the key here is not having any sort of 'ACCOUNTABILITY' and waking up one morning & realized you are back to where you started.... it doesnt happen overnight so Im sure having some sort of "accountability" will still keep your weight in check so long that you FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE for you to still be fit & healthy and enjoy a little bit of indulgence here and there..... goodluck!

nikkihk

You track your mileage... why not your food? It's all good for ya. =D

KingofWisdom

I've only lost about ten pounds so far, but it's because I threw exercise into the mix. I haven't been counting my calories. For me, the problem has been that I like to sit on my butt all day. But I've actually come to enjoy exercise as of late. If I absolutely need to count calories to keep myself in check, I will. But I think I'll be fine just weighing myself every few weeks and increasing my exercise as I see fit if I'm ten or more pounds above my ideal weight (when I reach maintenance, of course). I do keep calories in mind, though.

JenniCali1000

Everyone is different. Some can manage their intake and never count one calorie while also never gaining a pound. Others (like me) need to count cals most of the time in order to stay at maintenance level. I just love food waaaaay too much!

nedtoloseme

As someone said before, I will probably track at maintenance. As someone also said if I was doing good in the first place I would not have needed to go to mfp. But to each his/her own. No reason to put anyone down whatever their choice. Whatever works for you do it. Mfp has been a lifesaver for me me.

dcoleman01

Yep, me to