TAKE A DAY OFF FROM CALORIE COUNTING??
kimberley1975mfp
Posts: 36 Member
Hi all. Here’s the deal. I’ve logged in every single morsel of food I’ve eaten into my fitness pal for the last 583 days. With a goal of 83lbs to loose. I’ve lost all but 13lbs and I’m going to achieve it. But my question is, has anyone ever been successful by taking one day a week off from calorie counting. I’m getting calorie counting burn out 😜 and would love to have a day a week where I don’t count every single item I eat. I guess like a cheat day of sorts but just a day to relax and yes maybe have a treat or to have a bit extra above my target range. Does anyone do this and does it derail you for the week? Thanks
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Replies
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Your body counts it, even if you don't.
It really depends upon you and how you handle it. You may have no problems and you may want to eat everything in sight. You may have problems the first few times you try but then learn how to have reasonable untracked days. You may need to track to maintain and you may be able to move away from calorie counting completely. Experiment. If you have a bad day, learn from it and plan to try something different next time.
Personally, I have one unlimited meal per week. I can have anything and as much of it as I wish. A whole day wouldn't work for me because I'd consume too many calories for my week to balance out.14 -
Absolutely! First of all, logging everything continuously for 583 days is dang impressive. Very few people here can say that they've actually done that. Taking a day off a week will certainly not derail your progress, especially since you seem to be going in with the right attitude (not using it as an excuse to eat everything in sight). Just use the knowledge you have already built from logging to make relatively smart choices during that time, and you will be fine.8
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Cheat meal, cheat days, cheat week, cheat year, etc. It's probably the most frequent topic on MFP besides keto. No one can decide for you, only you know how it will affect you and if it will derail you or not. Hope it works well for you though!6
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Fatty_Nuff wrote: »Cheat meal, cheat days, cheat week, cheat year, etc. It's probably the most frequent topic on MFP besides keto. No one can decide for you, only you know how it will affect you and if it will derail you or not. Hope it works well for you though!
How is not counting calories one day a week cheating? Many people do this for every single meal.
My opinion is to try it and see how it goes because that is the only way you will ever know whether it works for you. There is nothing wrong with doing this as you still reach the goals you are after, even if reaching those goals takes a little bit longer because your deficit over the week isn't quite as large. It is far, far better to slow down than not reach your goals at all.19 -
I think in the long run it's good for us psychologically to take a break from logging. I hear you; I get tired sometimes of logging every single morsel. Occasionally I take a daylong break or even a weekend break but am mindful of what I'm putting in my mouth. (not always accurate, but mindful). I think this helps me to stay on track the rest of the time.9
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Absolutely! First of all, logging everything continuously for 583 days is dang impressive. Very few people here can say that they've actually done that. Taking a day off a week will certainly not derail your progress, especially since you seem to be going in with the right attitude (not using it as an excuse to eat everything in sight). Just use the knowledge you have already built from logging to make relatively smart choices during that time, and you will be fine.
Yes I started on my journey in April 2017 and I have never missed a day logging. It amazes me when I see it on my feed the number of days in a row. I’m not sure I could stop logging now even if I wanted to. I log even if I’m over my calories for the day. It holds me accountable but I just wonder at this point if it will be a journey I do for a lifetime by logging everything or if I can get to a point where I feel confident enough to not log a day and still be ok. Food is an addiction for me and I wonder if not logging would be like an alcoholic not drinking for 583 days and then saying ok I’ll have a drink and hope it doesn’t cause me to start drinking again. I do still enjoy a meal out or holiday treats etc. But if I didn’t log a day would I say well I’m not counting today so stuff my face 😂. I guess worse case scenario is I still log what I eat but accept that a day a week maybe I get to enjoy something extra without feeling guilty and hope it doesn’t ruin my weekly deficit 😊
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I recently took a week off from logging. I didn't "cheat" but I didn't measure or record anything. It didn't affect my weight loss in any way. It was a refreshing break.9
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kimberley1975mfp wrote: »Absolutely! First of all, logging everything continuously for 583 days is dang impressive. Very few people here can say that they've actually done that. Taking a day off a week will certainly not derail your progress, especially since you seem to be going in with the right attitude (not using it as an excuse to eat everything in sight). Just use the knowledge you have already built from logging to make relatively smart choices during that time, and you will be fine.
Yes I started on my journey in April 2017 and I have never missed a day logging. It amazes me when I see it on my feed the number of days in a row. I’m not sure I could stop logging now even if I wanted to. I log even if I’m over my calories for the day. It holds me accountable but I just wonder at this point if it will be a journey I do for a lifetime by logging everything or if I can get to a point where I feel confident enough to not log a day and still be ok. Food is an addiction for me and I wonder if not logging would be like an alcoholic not drinking for 583 days and then saying ok I’ll have a drink and hope it doesn’t cause me to start drinking again. I do still enjoy a meal out or holiday treats etc. But if I didn’t log a day would I say well I’m not counting today so stuff my face 😂. I guess worse case scenario is I still log what I eat but accept that a day a week maybe I get to enjoy something extra without feeling guilty and hope it doesn’t ruin my weekly deficit 😊
In this case, only you know you best. If you feel like it would be a trigger for you to fall off the wagon, then I would maybe be hesitant. It certainly can be done. But if you feel like for you personally, it might be a temptation, then I would definitely consider that in your decision.3 -
i have whole weeks and months where i dont. lost 130 pounds. still losing. i may do a rough mental count, and keep it around maintenance, but im not a slave to the numbers.1
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Kind of.
When I go over my calories, I still try to log them. I just don’t stress about it. Exceptions are holidays and parties and what not. Like I mean who the hell knows how many calories was in my Thanksgiving dinner. So, yea, no. I just note, Thanksgiving. 🤷♀️
I admit though I do eyeball stuff too when I’m being lazy. And I eat out a lot, so that gets eyeballed too. But I estimate what I can and make sure the scale keeps moving in the right direction.
It’s all good. You’ve got to live and enjoy life too.5 -
One day of overeating in isolation is not going to affect your long term weight loss.
One day per week of overeating absolutely could affect your weight loss. When you’re close to your goal, as you are, one day of overeating could easily wipe out your deficit for the entire week. If you don’t log, you don’t know whether you’re still in a deficit or not.
If you want to eat more on some days than others, you can go by your weekly calorie goal, save up some calories for a bigger meal, and still lose weight at the expected pace as long as you’re within your weekly calorie goal.7 -
One day of overeating in isolation is not going to affect your long term weight loss.
One day per week of overeating absolutely could affect your weight loss. When you’re close to your goal, as you are, one day of overeating could easily wipe out your deficit for the entire week. If you don’t log, you don’t know whether you’re still in a deficit or not.
If you want to eat more on some days than others, you can go by your weekly calorie goal, save up some calories for a bigger meal, and still lose weight at the expected pace as long as you’re within your weekly calorie goal.
This. Absolutely this.
I’m at 2600 and change days of logging everything so I get the fatigue.
I would consider looking at a weekly goal to have days where you can be a bit free-er while still keeping to your weight loss goals. Sadly-just not logging isn’t likely to do that. You’re probably at a pretty small deficit right now, and a “loose” day with a treat or two will easily cover that. Saving a few calories most days to allow for one where you can indulge is a better option.
On the overall fatigue with logging and the process-I highly recommend taking a couple of weeks and eating at maintenance. It will feel like a lot of food. It will be refreshing. It will restore your hormones and your energy levels and all kinds of things in a big long thread about “regress and diet breaks”. I do this pretty regularly and find that I can come back after that with a renewed focus and less overall fatigue about the whole weight loss/logging process. It sounds like you need a mental break. This could help while also helping you practice for when you get to maintenance.
Congrats on your success so far and good luck whichever way you go.
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How did not counting calories work for you before you started counting calories almost 600 days ago?12
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pierinifitness wrote: »How did not counting calories work for you before you started counting calories almost 600 days ago?
Well I was super fat obviously and therefore that’s my concern about not counting4 -
So what's your maintenance game plan?kimberley1975mfp wrote: »pierinifitness wrote: »How did not counting calories work for you before you started counting calories almost 600 days ago?
Well I was super fat obviously and therefore that’s my concern about not counting
The end of the weight loss phase isn't the end. If you go back to your old habits, you'll end up back in your old body.
Some keep logging strictly, some keep logging but more loosely, and some can find an eating method/pattern that has a structure of some sort but without logging.
As you are edging up on your goal, experiment with things like days off to see how they work for you.3 -
One day a week would almost certainly see me wiping out my calorie deficit pretty much every week. I do tend to plan days here and there that I don't log, but every week wouldn't work for me.1
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Have you considered just having a practice run at maintaining for a couple of weeks and then switching back to the deficit for the remaining pounds?2
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You could try it and see? but you'd still need to be mindful of how much you're eating.
Personally I hardly ever log my food now but I still mentally total up my calories in/out (I'm in maintenance nearly 6yrs)1 -
I have one day a week where I eat anything I want, sometimes I log and sometimes I don't.
Do what YOU want to do because it's your journey 👍🏻4 -
Take a day off from logging? I, apparently, couldn't even take one food item off of logging even tho I specifically told myself (in my head) I wouldn't log it.
It wouldn't hurt to take a shot and see how you fare.0 -
I feel like after logging for a substantial amount of time, it should start to become an intuitive thing. That's why taking a 'break' is good because it will allow you to see if you can at least maintain without logging anything. This is supposed to be a lifelong journey so being able to eat intuitively should be the end result. Personally I hardly log anymore and I only come on here when I've eaten something out of the ordinary and need help calculating. MfP is basically like a crutch which I have gradually stopped leaning on 😀6
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Think of calories like money: some can spend within their budget without much thought and others need tight budgets in order to avoid overspending.I feel like after logging for a substantial amount of time, it should start to become an intuitive thing. That's why taking a 'break' is good because it will allow you to see if you can at least maintain without logging anything. This is supposed to be a lifelong journey so being able to eat intuitively should be the end result. Personally I hardly log anymore and I only come on here when I've eaten something out of the ordinary and need help calculating. MfP is basically like a crutch which I have gradually stopped leaning on 😀
Lifelong logging isn't a failure. It's a tool that's available if needed or wanted. If someone needs a crutch, they need a crutch. I'd rather spend 10 minutes per day tracking my intake than intuit my way back up to morbid obesity.
Maintenance is a personal journey and there's no one right way (or better way) over another.10 -
Do you just calorie count or low carb or something else?callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »i have whole weeks and months where i dont. lost 130 pounds. still losing. i may do a rough mental count, and keep it around maintenance, but im not a slave to the numbers.
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First of all congrats on your loss, that is amazing!
My advice is that if you have been logging for 500+ days, I’m sure you know what you can eat and stay in your goal. If your anything like me you know that meticulously logging everything every day can be EXHAUSTING. At times I felt like this app was taking over my life! Ask yourself, am I going to log every single day for the rest of my life? My guess is the answer is no.
Of course you can have days off!! Listen to your body. It sounds like you well and truly have the knowledge on how to lose weight by now. Don’t waste you time logging if you don’t need to or want to.
I logged every day at one point and got sick of doing it so stopped and just ate what felt normal/right and guess what... I didn’t go crazy and gain 100lbs!! I only log once in a while now to see if I am still on track and I am. I mostly just use app now for community/encouragement and tips. You can do it yourself!1
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