Do you expect to count calories the rest of your life?

FitCurves444

Not really. In fact, I often stop counting and only return when I need to lose a few pounds. I am counting now.....

diana5066

I find that I gain as soon as i stop keeping track.. It is the only way for me to lose or maintain

257_Lag

I hope to stop counting when I get to goal and then set a number that if I ever see again I will start counting again. It's a tool that I will use when I need to in my hopes.

cwolfman13

I think so, but maybe by the time I get to target I won't need to?
I've lost weight and then put it back on before, I really don't want to do that again so maybe weighing, measuring and counting for ever is the better option.

weighing and measuring for sure...but like I said earlier...after awhile you should have a pretty good idea of what your typical day's food looks like. I logged for a month or so into maintenance just to make sure I knew what that looked like calorie wise and to make adjustments here and there...but really, it's all about applying proper nutrition and getting your fitness on...maintenance usually takes care of itself when you're doing that...your body's natural desire is to maintain weight. You have to consistently over or under eat to override your body's ability to maintain.

ChristineS_51

If you think counting calories every single day is the "lifestyle" that everyone speaks of, you are most certainly missing the boat. You should be using this time to learn how to eat...learn portion control...learn what your calories look like and how much of whatever you need to fuel your body. You should be focused on proper nutrition and fitness...that is the "lifestyle"...fitness and proper nutrition should be your life time endeavors.

I've been maintaining for 7 months and do not count...I apply the things I learned while I was losing to my day to day life...I continue maintain a diet rich in nutrient dense foods...lots of veg, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats...and as importantly, I continue to rock my fitness.

Maintenance is actually really easy...your body naturally wants to maintain weight...the biggest mistake people make is simply going back to old habits...and they so closely associate their fitness with weight loss that they fail to set independent fitness goals...and they just stop working out once they've crossed some arbitrary finish line and reached some arbitrary scale weight.

Take this time to learn...and then apply your knowledge in maintenance...and for the love of god, get your fitness on...it is as much or even more important in maintenance than it is for losing.

I expect to be calorie counting for ever, haven't quite got to my goal yet, as I have slipped back into some bad habits :grumble: ... but above is such great advice! Thank you!! :flowerforyou:

NikkiSixGuns

Yes. Just like I'll always keep track of the money that I'm spending so I don't blow my monetary budget.

Been maintaining for just shy of 3 years, and have tracked calories the whole time.

RllyGudTweetr

I don't see the problem with continuing to do something that works. Could you clarify?

heykatieben

Not the rest of my life, but at least years. Long enough to understand what a sustainable diet is like, and until those portions are a really strong habit.

heykatieben

^^ And long enough to change my set point. Each time I lose weight and reach my goal, I stop tracking, and gain most of it back, but the gaining back seems a little slower each time, like my set point is lowering and I'm developing healthier exercise habits at least (not sure about diet habits. ) So maybe eventually I won't need MFP, but it will be a while.

darrensurrey

I'm guessing it's easiest to NOT COUNT when you're just maintaining weight. I don't have to count to stay the same weight....it just comes naturally (before I started lifting and cutting)

Pretty much.

I think I would get enough protein if I ate 3 palm sized portions of protein plus a palm of carbs and enough salad to put make me think I've had enough salad for each meal plus breakfast (porridge plus honey). So I just have to add some more carbs if I'm bulking. And knock off the carbs if I'm cutting.

darrensurrey

I don't see the problem with continuing to do something that works. Could you clarify?

Because last night!

Yanicka1

Been using MFP for 3 years, not everyday now but I do not see myself stopping

With a TDEE of only 1750, it is too easy to eat just a few 100 calories too much everyday

tindy5799

Not the rest of my life, but at least years. Long enough to understand what a sustainable diet is like, and until those portions are a really strong habit.

This is about where I stand. I will count after getting to maintenance but I really wanna transition into putting on TONS of muscle so I'll need to track calories in order to eat an excess. Once my LMB is way higher, I may be able to maintain with more ease.

GadgetGuy2

Yes. But I guesstimate my portion sizes.

I hit my target weight (high school graduation weight), and celebrated. Six months later, I was creeping up again.

I do "listen" to my body, now that I have trained it to accept a calorie consumption closer to TDEE. In other words, I now just kinda "know" when I've eaten enough (a meal, or even for the day). Thus, it was easy to get back to target, and pretty much maintain.

Currently, my target is set 5 pounds less than my high school graduation weight. This is because I obviously don't have as much muscle as when I was young because I still have a small muffin top which I didn't have when I was young. My goal is to lose both the muffin top and the loose midriff skin over the next 3-5 years.

Amadbro

Considering I want to be fit for the rest of my life, yes

_db_

I hope not. I expect to eventually establish healthy eating _habits_. I do have 43 years of eating habits to unlearn, so I do not expect this to happen overnight. Maybe in a few months I'll have enough positive eating experience that I can stop weighing my food and counting calories.

p4ulmiller

I have two options:
1. Count calories
2. Be fat.

^^ I LOVE THIS!!

DopeItUp

Most likely. Or at least loosely monitor my intake and overall weight/condition.

EyeOTS

In at least some form, yes. Maybe not every day.

PriceK01

Probably.

CharRicho

If you think counting calories every single day is the "lifestyle" that everyone speaks of, you are most certainly missing the boat. You should be using this time to learn how to eat...learn portion control...learn what your calories look like and how much of whatever you need to fuel your body. You should be focused on proper nutrition and fitness...that is the "lifestyle"...fitness and proper nutrition should be your life time endeavors.

I've been maintaining for 7 months and do not count...I apply the things I learned while I was losing to my day to day life...I continue maintain a diet rich in nutrient dense foods...lots of veg, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats...and as importantly, I continue to rock my fitness.

Maintenance is actually really easy...your body naturally wants to maintain weight...the biggest mistake people make is simply going back to old habits...and they so closely associate their fitness with weight loss that they fail to set independent fitness goals...and they just stop working out once they've crossed some arbitrary finish line and reached some arbitrary scale weight.

Take this time to learn...and then apply your knowledge in maintenance...and for the love of god, get your fitness on...it is as much or even more important in maintenance than it is for losing.

This!

So no, no I don't. I've completely changed the way I eat, the way I see food, the foods I include in my diet, how much I eat etc. and I intend to keep that all up when I'm maintaining, and keep up with my fitness. But I don't intend to count everything because I won't need to. (because of all the lifestyle changes)

MyM0wM0w

Do you expect to count calories the rest of your life?

Yes.

NikkiSixGuns

Interesting question, but I think it might be better to ask successful maintainers whether or not they still log every day.

JustMeee333

If you think counting calories every single day is the "lifestyle" that everyone speaks of, you are most certainly missing the boat. You should be using this time to learn how to eat...learn portion control...learn what your calories look like and how much of whatever you need to fuel your body. You should be focused on proper nutrition and fitness...that is the "lifestyle"...fitness and proper nutrition should be your life time endeavors.

I've been maintaining for 7 months and do not count...I apply the things I learned while I was losing to my day to day life...I continue maintain a diet rich in nutrient dense foods...lots of veg, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats...and as importantly, I continue to rock my fitness.

Maintenance is actually really easy...your body naturally wants to maintain weight...the biggest mistake people make is simply going back to old habits...and they so closely associate their fitness with weight loss that they fail to set independent fitness goals...and they just stop working out once they've crossed some arbitrary finish line and reached some arbitrary scale weight.

Take this time to learn...and then apply your knowledge in maintenance...and for the love of god, get your fitness on...it is as much or even more important in maintenance than it is for losing.

QFT! (Yeeeeaaahhhh, I just learnt lastnight what this means!!)
I'm not going to be meticulously counting every individual calorie, but I know that I will be aware of exactly how many calories I need, how many are in the foods I'm eating, I've no doubt that somedays I'll go over (life happens), but at least I am aware now of how many I'd need to "burn off". I know I will always be more aware of Calories.

LiftAllThePizzas

I don't really have issues knowing what I'm going to eat and even fitting in some "bad" stuff into my diet as long as I get a majority of healthy food in and not feel guilty if I know how many calories and macros I'm eating. I always weigh my food when I can and everyone looks at me weird. It's kind of a hassle too.

Since relying on my natural hunger/full cues doesn't lead me to eating the amount that keeps me at a healthy weight, I consider it a form of basic hygiene or taking care of one's body, same as brushing/flossing my teeth, showering, washing and wearing clothes, tying shoes, using a potty, wearing glasses, etc.

But then I don't actually find it annoying since the amount of time I spend weighing/logging is a tiny fraction of what I spend on food preparation anyway.

retirehappy

My plan is to continue logging. To be aware of what I am eating, no mindless eating any more. Heck I even take pics of meals now so I don't forget what I consumed. It brings me a hightened awareness, that seem to be working for me.

I had lost 30+ lbs several times, but I get a disconnect thing happening and with the logging, I don't feel that disconnection. I am losing but some days I am over my cals. others, days when I am just not as hungry I go under a good deal.

I am more concerned about my macros these days 40c/30p/30f, the closer I get to hitting those, the better I feel and the easier it is to feel in control of all my eating.

RunBrew

If you think counting calories every single day is the "lifestyle" that everyone speaks of, you are most certainly missing the boat. You should be using this time to learn how to eat...learn portion control...learn what your calories look like and how much of whatever you need to fuel your body. You should be focused on proper nutrition and fitness...that is the "lifestyle"...fitness and proper nutrition should be your life time endeavors.

I've been maintaining for 7 months and do not count...I apply the things I learned while I was losing to my day to day life...I continue maintain a diet rich in nutrient dense foods...lots of veg, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats...and as importantly, I continue to rock my fitness.

Maintenance is actually really easy...your body naturally wants to maintain weight...the biggest mistake people make is simply going back to old habits...and they so closely associate their fitness with weight loss that they fail to set independent fitness goals...and they just stop working out once they've crossed some arbitrary finish line and reached some arbitrary scale weight.

Take this time to learn...and then apply your knowledge in maintenance...and for the love of god, get your fitness on...it is as much or even more important in maintenance than it is for losing.

This is more or less my plan. Once I get a good handle on eye-balling and estimating my food, I'll quit weighing except to occasionally check to see if I'm right. Once I think I can do it right 95% of the time, I'll quit measuring at all....
If I can go for a few months just estimating and logging and still maintain, I'll quit logging.

I imagine it'll be 9 months to a year before I ditch MFP.

I_Will_End_You

No. I only made it like, 3-4 weeks counting calories. I lost most of my weight not counting. I guess I'm just really good at moderation and knowing when I've had enough!

MysteriousMerlin

Yes, because I'm fighting an addiction and an obsession.

bobbinalong

pretty much and i"m okay with that...