Do you accept that you'll have to log for the rest of your life(or atleast the foreseeable future)?
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No, I don't think it's necessary to log forever, but it's necessary (for me, at least!) to do something. I've tried various methods and generally prefer non-logging methods of calorie control. I think this is just a personal preference. I find MFP has become more and more cumbersome, particularly if you don't tend to eat the same things from day to day.
Would you be more specific about non-logging methods of calorie control? I’ve been maintaining for seven months, and I would really like to try to get away from weighing and measuring every little thing.2 -
Caveat: still losing
Here are 9 reasons I want to keep logging in maintenance.
1. My maintenance calories will only be around 1500 including exercise, so it will be hard to stick to that without logging.
2. I have never successfully maintained in the past, although, except for after being injured in a car accident, I never "gained it all back".
3. I've gone full in on turning MFP into my recipe book.
It's nice knowing where to find a favorite recipe. And it helps me get ideas when planning meals without looking in multiple books and notebooks.
4. I had no clue that I was not hitting protein needs and it's really helpful for me to get feedback on that every day.
5. Both my thirst and hunger signals have never functioned properly. This has been true my whole life, even though my weight was low/normal until well after puberty. Logging is a great tool for knowing that I am eating regularly and at a good but not excessive level. I should probably be using it to track liquid too! That's a project for the future.
6. I have GERD and food intolerances/ possible allergies. Having a record of my food is super useful to pinpoint problems.
7. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (although I am not sure the diagnosis was correct) and T2D runs in the family, so I am at greater risk. Logging habits will be a good skill to have in place if dealing with that down the line.
8. I find it reduces anxiety for me, the same way tracking money in my budget does.
9. I always thought I "couldn't" have desserts/treats and keep my weight normal. Logging has shown me that I can have small treats many days. So liberating!14 -
No, I don't think it's necessary to log forever, but it's necessary (for me, at least!) to do something. I've tried various methods and generally prefer non-logging methods of calorie control. I think this is just a personal preference. I find MFP has become more and more cumbersome, particularly if you don't tend to eat the same things from day to day.
Would you be more specific about non-logging methods of calorie control? I’ve been maintaining for seven months, and I would really like to try to get away from weighing and measuring every little thing.
I could go on forever, as I've been maintaining for a good few years now and have tried all sorts! I've found keeping to meal times can be helpful, along with portion control. I've done three meals a day, two meals a day, one meal a day, and sometimes no meals (intermittent fasting) - all work, as long as I'm aware that if I'm having more meals they have to be smaller. Restricting eating to mainly meal times does seem to help me, as I'm always tempted to snack, and even healthy snacks can add up.
I have tried other methods (e.g. changing what I eat, rather than the timing and size - low carb, for instance), but I think restricting eating times and portion size is probably the easiest to live with, and seems to work (I do try to eat mainly healthy food with plenty of veg). I also weigh every day, even though I know everybody tells you not to!, but for me it's a reminder that I have to keep control of my weight, and I can track trends and see when I need to curb my eating more. As I said, I do need to do something if I'm not logging - I can't just "eat healthily" and expect not to gain. Funnily enough, I've just started logging again, as I like to do every now and then - like the scales, it's just a reminder to myself of how much I'm eating.
I think there is a focus on logging calories on MFP, because people whom logging suits are bound to be over-represented amongst MFP members! But there are other ways, if logging doesn't suit .
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I went on the low carb -Keto diet Jan 2017 lost 40 lbs. Logging is just part of my life now. I have a tenancy to over eat. I have started to look at how im doing with my nutrients over the past week as apposed to just one day now. Im so glad they have that in there. I feel a little less obsessed but I log daily.2
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I'm logging again right now, but I've gone long periods without logging, and I probably will stop logging again next year sometime. I mostly just have to watch my carbs to maintain. I don't mean Keto, and I'm not even sure you could say low carb, but so long as I eat lots of fruit and vegetables, get my protein in, keep treats to a minimum, keep exercising and step on the scales daily still, I don't need to log. I know when I've overdone it, technically I shouldn't need the scales, but I'm a bit too good at pretending/ignoring...the scales keep me honest. Visiting this forum even though I'm not logging helps too.3
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I haven't come to this conclusion YET. I absolutely HATE tracking and resisted it (AGAIN) until recently ....1
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I've learned that I need to log, for life. When I stop logging my mindset changes and weight creeps back. And then I let it and say, I'm ok at this age at this weight. And then my clothes don't fit and finally I say, why did I let myself go? I know what I need to do, just do it. So I'm going to commit to being a lifetime logger!3
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I really don't mind logging every day, and synching with my Fitbit. I reached my goal weight almost 4 years ago, and never gain more than a 3-4 pounds (total lost is 28lbs). I think walking a lot and currently not drinking alcohol for October means I can eat around 2300 calories a day.1
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I think I will keep on tracking for as long as I can because during my weight loss phase each time I stopped for a few days my eating got out of hand, I think tracking helps me set things straight for that day, to see what I am eating actually keeps me on track and now I am in maintanence phase which is much longer term then my weight loss phase, playing around with different foods will be critical as I don't think eating the same menu for the rest of my life is viable, this would lead me to eat different foods due to craving something different at any given time and if left unchecked might lead to weight gains. For the most part I do enjoy working out the different combinations of Foods that reach targets ect... macros and fibre. So I tend to see tracking as more of an investment towards my health rather then a chore, a few minutes a day we'll spent.4
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Daily logging is a small price to pay for maintenance. After working SO HARD to lose weight, you're worth the time invested to log your food and keep off the weight. I choose to stay thin by daily logging.5
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I don't mind to be honest. I've been doing it for such a long time that it's just natural to me now.3
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There are many ways to monitor weight, including weigh-ins or just the way our clothes fit or the way we look.
But I love numbers and like the record, especially since I'm trying to boost my veg and fruit intake and have to limit certain foods for allergy/intolerance reasons. Also allergies mean I do better with more variety and the log makes it easy to see how that goal is doing. Helpful to monitor weekly averages for protein and fiber also. So it's not really just about calories.
I actually set my budget long ago at my proper weight, so didn't even have to even bother readjusting as the weight came down. If I meet my budget on the average over a week's time (up and down doesn't matter, my schedule is irregular), then no need to find the scale in the clutter either.
A food scale set in grams is handy for me because I often just want a small amount of something (grapes or berries, sliced or sectioned frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, junky kid cereal, popcorn, chips,
carrots, sliced cucumber, etc.) and weighing is the quickest way to estimate how much. I use it to repackage things into my usual portions also. So my entries are usually in grams.
I keep track of other things in my log (LoseIt for me, I use MFP for reading and exercise records), including symptoms that may or may not be diet related, supplements and medications.
I even have a custom food called Counting Noses with four entries for the two cats: In and Out for each. Time indicated as serving size. This after too many times coming downstairs to a panicked meowing at the door when I thought a cat was inside but she wasn't:
"Where were you?!? I could have frozen to death!!!" (at 50 degrees F with a cozy carport for shelter)
"I could have been eaten by predators!" (in a yard with catproofed fencing)1 -
I'm not that far into my life style change, but I've already accepted the fact that I may be logging my food for the rest of my life. If I'm so lucky as to be able to recognize portions without weighing...maybe not. For now it does not take that much time or is not a huge inconvenience. In fact, I think this allows me to make better choices.1
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I will likely log for the long haul and I'm totally ok with that. When I stop logging, my weight creeps slowly up every time. 10 lbs in a year doesn't seem so bad. Less than a lb per month is hard to notice as it's happening, but then it turns into 30 lbs in 3 years... and so on, and I look back and wonder why I didn't prevent it from happening.
I'd rather be proactive than reactive, and I actually rather enjoy logging, so I plan on doing it in some fashion for a very very long time.
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helps keep my head in the game
Logging, Forums, Interest in health topics, Fitbit, Weight-tracking, Dog walks, not giving in to "oh come on, you don't need to head out in this weather" are all an part of an ecosystem of interlocking tools and mindset that help keep me, a formerly morbidly obese person, in the normal weight range.
Are any of them separately and independently necessary for me to continue to have success?
Probably not.
However if all of them ever go out the window, I wonder what that will be a reflection off: would it be that they are no longer needed to continue to have success, or would it be something similar to what happened when, years back, I stopped getting on the scale once the needle moved past the maximum value?15 -
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HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »Who disagreed with me?! 😂😂😂😂 does someone not believe that I lost 115 lbs or that I’ve been maintaining?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Disagree is an anonymous attempt at malicious criticism without basis if they can't "own it." In my opinion, "Disagree" shouldn't even be an option on this forum. It isn't helpful to anyone.5 -
I have been away from Tracking on WW for a couple weeks. Lost 1.2 this week so I’m OK BUT if I go up I know Tracking is essential to maintain at/below GW.0
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HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »Who disagreed with me?! 😂😂😂😂 does someone not believe that I lost 115 lbs or that I’ve been maintaining?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I suspect, but do not know, that you either:
--have a disagree stalker or
--the person disagree-ing didn't think that MFP was a wonderful tool, or
--they didn't think that you should be grateful for MFP's existence, or
--both of the reasons immediately preceding or
--all of the first three reasons listed starting from the top!!!
w8goal4life wrote: »In my opinion, "Disagree" shouldn't even be an option on this forum.
I disagree! We CAN agree to disagree: echo chambers occasionally get to be boring! Plus, there is little point in piling on and repeating the same thing when a simple disagree will offer the same input.
However I will agree that single disagrees in a sea of agrees would call for some explanation as it is clear that too many other people are not grasping the point being made.
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HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »Who disagreed with me?! 😂😂😂😂 does someone not believe that I lost 115 lbs or that I’ve been maintaining?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I suspect, but do not know, that you either:
--have a disagree stalker or
--the person disagree-ing didn't think that MFP was a wonderful tool, or
--they didn't think that you should be grateful for MFP's existence, or
--both of the reasons immediately preceding or
--all of the first three reasons listed starting from the top!!!w8goal4life wrote: »In my opinion, "Disagree" shouldn't even be an option on this forum.
I disagree! We CAN agree to disagree: echo chambers occasionally get to be boring! Plus, there is little point in piling on and repeating the same thing when a simple disagree will offer the same input.
However I will agree that single disagrees in a sea of agrees would call for some explanation as it is clear that too many other people are not grasping the point being made.
And, it's a little kinder than "woo," I think...2 -
HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »Who disagreed with me?! 😂😂😂😂 does someone not believe that I lost 115 lbs or that I’ve been maintaining?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
They probably disagreed with your opinion of MFP or something like that, rather than your information.
I once had somebody disagree ( if I remember rightly it was actually pav) with my one sentence post ' I do not like cucumber'
I'm sure he meant he disagreed with my opinion of cucumber rather than disagreeing that I don't like it.
I'm sure he wasn't saying paperpudding actually does like it, despite her saying otherwise.
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A few years ago I was very successful here. Then got bored and stress got in the way and I left. Now I’m back having gained it all back plus more and immediately remembering how freaking fast, and well this shiz works for me. YES. YES. YES. I am 100% okay with tracking until the end of time. Because when I thought I didn’t need it...I became a version of myself I don’t feel proud of. It’s a very small price to pay to feel this good.14
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I'm planning on it (logging for the rest of my life). It fits in well with the gym thing, which I've done for 35 years. Most of that time I've maintained whatever weight/definition I wanted with simple tweaks, things I've picked up over the years. Last fall when those tweaks weren't as effective, I went full bro-tein diet, with macros dialed in by a trainer at the gym, tracking everything with MFP, etc. I'm 365+ days in a row, and like others have said, I actually enjoy tracking it. I'm close to my goal, but still cutting. Looking forward to maintaining using MFP to ensure that I stay where I wanna be. I will likely continue to track daily.5
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HA! Hufflepuffgrl love your name! .... or they were on their phone and hit the wrong button.... I like to think that there aren't a bunch of people who follow others on here just to argue with them about opinions. Buttttt... this is the internet.
I am now noticing that I tend to eat mostly the same meals during the week and on year 3 of maintaining I know I "could" probably skip logging during the week, but I also know that being a petite just being 100-200 off either way day to day and week over week would add up and so I take the few seconds to log.7 -
I plan to log. I feel like it's worth the minimal effort to do it. Rather, it's just not worth the risk to let it lapse and be part of the statistic of people who gain it all back.3
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HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »Who disagreed with me?! 😂😂😂😂 does someone not believe that I lost 115 lbs or that I’ve been maintaining?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I suspect, but do not know, that you either:
--have a disagree stalker or
--the person disagree-ing didn't think that MFP was a wonderful tool, or
--they didn't think that you should be grateful for MFP's existence, or
--both of the reasons immediately preceding or
--all of the first three reasons listed starting from the top!!!w8goal4life wrote: »In my opinion, "Disagree" shouldn't even be an option on this forum.
I disagree! We CAN agree to disagree: echo chambers occasionally get to be boring! Plus, there is little point in piling on and repeating the same thing when a simple disagree will offer the same input.
However I will agree that single disagrees in a sea of agrees would call for some explanation as it is clear that too many other people are not grasping the point being made.
Love the insights!! 😆😆😆😆 Well spoken!!
Its ok, I have my own personal WOO crew as well! 6 -
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I've been thinking about this because I've wondered if I could stop and still be successful and honestly I don't think I can. It's always been count calories to lose weight, slack off and regain 7, 15, 30 pounds. I accept that I'll have days where I won't or cant log, maybe even longer. But if I don't want to regain what I'm holding onto now I HAVE to log enough so my portions and snacking won't creep up like they always do without accountability of logging. It's so easy to think that "one bowl" was the same as it was a year ago except wait, you got a bigger bowl so it's 3 cups of soup not 2! Or your breakfast of one slice of toast has now grown to two because "it won't hurt".
I guess from here I just need to learn how to make long term logging successfully simplistic and ride it out for a very long time, It sure beats having to lose the weight again and again.
I have Learned what I should and shouldnt eat, and what portion sizes to choose. When I stick to that I can maintain, but when I get lazy, or lose motivation I put weight back on.1
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