Good or bad idea?

rdkstar

I'm living a healthier lifestyle now. Still need to lose some weight like maybe 15pounds. I also started to lift heavy. My issue is that I am tired of tracking everything i eat. I know breakfast and lunch is good cuz I tend to eat the same meals. So dinner is my main toss up meal.

Am I ok to just wing it? If i end up eating to few calories, I will lose fat. If I start eating too much, it could/will help with muscle. I do try to choose meals with more protein. Is my thinking flawed?

Thanks everyone.

Ps. I'm not talking about crazy dinners any more like entire pizzas. But sensible choices.

Hornsby

I would think that only you could know if you are okay to wing it. Not sure how anyone else could make that determination for you.

TR0berts

My issue is that I am tired of tracking everything i eat.

So don't track for a month. If you can look back at your diary and get a good handle at what you need to eat at dinner, you'll probably be OK. If, after a month, you haven't moved toward your goal, then you'll probably have to reassess things, which would likely mean tracking again. And who knows? Maybe a month or so of not tracking might ease your mind, so that tracking in the future isn't so bothersome.

AlongCame_Molly

I think id you have a solid idea on portion sizes and are able to stick with them and remember everything you eat, it might not be a bad idea. But if you are prone to mindless eating, like "woah, who ate this whole bag of chips" eating, it might be a better idea to stick to logging.

davert123

For me I would need to keep logging all the time. Also if it has helped you before why change it ?

diannethegeek

I would think that only you could know if you are okay to wing it. Not sure how anyone else could make that determination for you.

I agree. Some people do very well with intuitive eating. Others don't. Try it and find out. If you don't like the results you can switch back to tracking.

ShibaEars

Counting calories isn't for everyone. If you eat a lot of the same foods and know the approx daily calorie intake, then you don't have to log it all. It's good to log at least every once in a while to make sure you're on track and not way over or under.

This is your journey, find what works for you

AllanMisner

I completely understand that whatever you're going to stick to has to be sustainable. Give it a try and monitor your numbers (not just weight) and see how it is going. If that works, great! If not, then go back to logging.

I've read that just taking pictures of you meals is effective in monitoring what you eat. Consider doing that instead of logging.

cwolfman13

I can easily wing it while maintaining...I don't know if I could actually do it when actively trying to lose weight. I've pretty much maintained for the past 6 or 7 months with only logging occasionally to spot check myself.

tonynguyen75

If i end up eating to few calories, I will lose fat. If I start eating too much, it could/will help with muscle.

It doesn't work that way. Your body can't hop around from burning fat to building muscle just because your daily calories jump from day to day. It's a slower process than that.

fivethreeone

Try it for a month, and weigh yourself at the end of the month.

If you've gained, you'll know it was a bad idea.

Broderick50

MFP is just another tool we use. In real life when you don't need a tool anymore you stop using it so do the same thing. If you find out you need it just go back and start doing it again.

wilmnoca

If i end up eating to few calories, I will lose fat. If I start eating too much, it could/will help with muscle.

It doesn't work that way. Your body can't hop around from burning fat to building muscle just because your daily calories jump from day to day. It's a slower process than that.

Exactly.

odusgolp

.... nevermind.

ninerbuff

Heck, you winged it before you got here. Sounds legit to wing it.............................if you want to be where you started.


A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

_Waffle_

So dinner is my main toss up meal.

Am I ok to just wing it?

Yep. Wings are a great idea for dinner. Don't ask how many calories through. Of course if you're not logging dinner then the calories won't hurt at all.

GuybrushThreepw00d

Wing it.
Just monitor your weight closely.

IPAkiller

So dinner is my main toss up meal.

Am I ok to just wing it?

Yep. Wings are a great idea for dinner. Don't ask how many calories through. Of course if you're not logging dinner then the calories won't hurt at all.