Has anybody continued to track every single thing they eat even after reaching their goal weight?

I’ve seen amazing progress by tracking, 8.2 pounds down in a month, but I wonder how sustainable it’d be to do this forever. Has anyone had success tracking for years?

Answers

  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,612 Member
    Some people prefer transitioning away from tracking, then restarting when they notice the weight creeping up again.

    Personally, if I don't track, it's almost guaranteed I gain the weight back. So I've continued to track for over a decade since reaching the weight I wanted to drop down to be. After 15+ years of practice tracking, I can record a full day's worth of food in under 60 seconds, so it's not a big issue for me.

    Do I weigh everything these days? No, I do use an eyeball test (it LOOKS like about 8oz of chicken). But I still faithfully record in MFP.
  • SafariGalNYC
    SafariGalNYC Posts: 1,459 Member
    Yeah i still track… interesting for me to see macronutrients etc..
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,186 Member
    @jessifieldsierra
    I have been in maintenance for almost 15 years, while keeping my wt. in check with few fluctuations (not counting the odd readings in the doctors' office-scales).
    I wt. and log "most" of my food intake "most" of the time, but I also estimate amount and portions while skipping logging restaurant meals altogether. I don't log while on vacation either. The present food database in MFP is corrupted and the values are not accurate, and we are no longer able to update or correct wrong entries in the database. I take all the logins with a grain of salt, so I am careful and discipline with my cooking and food/portion choices.
    I don't like measuring, weighting, and login everything that I prepare or go inside my mouth. I find it time consuming and not quite normal, so I need to keep a balance and my sanity. If I were to cook only for myself (I don’t like cooking) I would not be in MFP, but since my cooking is for two peoples and I prefer variety I am still around.
    Once in a while I skip logging all together for several days, and as long I exercise my weight stays within a normal range of 2 lbs. (+/-). I also count on my clothes more than the scale.
    I am using MFP to keep a better track of the macros rather than the calories. I am a very petite and short old woman, and what is normal (minimum of 1200 calories/day) for a regular female, is too much for me without exercise.
    If you can have control on your eating habits, skipping tracking could work. If not, then you will have to log for eternity.


  • cupcakesandproteinshakes
    cupcakesandproteinshakes Posts: 1,133 Member
    I’ve been in maintenance for 10 years or so. I have periods of tracking but only loosely and I don’t weigh food. I do keep an eye on protein. It doesn’t seem to make much difference if I track or not. My weight stays within a five pound range.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    I lost 80 pounds in 2007-08. I still log food and I'm still at my goal weight.

    I've taken some breaks from logging but like they said above, after doing it for so long I can log a meal in 30 seconds or so. It's just a part of my health maintenance like brushing and flossing. :)

    When I don't log it doesn't take long until I start gaining so it's worth it to me.

  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,742 Member
    I have been maintaining my weight for many years, after losing about 55 lbs. I don't measure or weigh my food, but I do log what I eat. It keeps me honest. I am less likely to eat a donut or an extra cookie when I know that it will show up on my log. I have a long history of yoyo dieting and I really don't want to go back to that, ever. It also means that I make sure to eat enough to fuel my running, especially when training.
  • jessifieldsierra
    jessifieldsierra Posts: 2 Member
    Thank you all for your thoughtful replies! Amazing to hear that many have stayed at their goal weight for years by logging
  • xbowhunter
    xbowhunter Posts: 1,236 Member
    I no longer track. I hit my goal weight about a month ago.

    Tracking did enable me to lose the weight and understand the calories I was eating but for the most part I eat the same foods all day and very my dinners to keep things interesting.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,428 Member
    edited November 17
    I’ve continued to log for three years or so since reaching goal weight.

    It helps me make sure I’m reaching my protein goals, which are high because I’m very active.

    It helps me monitor what’s going in my mouth, because I am an excellent rationalizer.

    And when I travel for long periods, to unusual places, or both, I still log as best I can, even if I have to guess what the ingredients are.

    I’ve gotten so good at it I can estimate to the pound how much I’ll gain by the time I return home.

    And when I return home, having continued the habit of logging means I can more easily return to my good habits and get back to where I want to be.

    It doesn’t take long to log these days. As @xbowhunter says, I eat similar stuff most the time, but vary dinner, so it’s easy.

    My big gripe, in play yet again since I was traveling and eating many new foods and products, is that if I don’t log a food for 10-15 days, it drops off my list, and it’s a time-consuming PITA to re-find them again.