Trouble with not journaling

dawn777t

I have done okay on my weight loss. My average is that I loose one pound every ten days. The biggest obstacle I have is not charting my food. A friend I have on MFP did a "no cheat November" my goal was to enter everything no matter what. As December has been going on it has gotten worse and worse. I have this thing where I eat junk and think if I don't enter it, it doesn't count.

My husband reminded me that MFP was not magic and could not count calories if I don't enter them.

So he suggested that I have a "no cheat November" in January. He even came up with a spiffy name called "Just do it January". What I really need is accountability and support knowing that I am not the only one doing it. Any help would be appreciated.

judyde

One of my very wise friends told me, "Even if you don't log everything you eat, your body does." So, yes, keep logging even if you are "cheating". It will help you to see patterns in your behavior. Your diary isn't open, so I can't tell how much or little you are eating. Maybe you are being too restrictive? Choose a calorie goal that is a deficit but is sustainable. If you like junk food, work it into your diet so you don't feel deprived.

I also write notes in the "Food Notes" section about why I went over, how I was feeling, etc. Helps me vent about a bad day and see where I can change.

Good luck. It doesn't look like you have a lot to lose. Best to set your calorie deficit for only a 1/2 pound loss a week and lose it slowly.

SonicDeathMonkey80

Instead of months where you commit to logging, just do it everyday and crystallize the routine. Having months/weeks/days where you log and where you don't creates inconsistency and rationalizes your cheating.

I log sriracha sauce, Truvia packets, coffee, and other things that are <10cals/serving because I know how easily my train can fall off the tracks

jimmmer

If you don't log everything, you might as well log nothing.

tlacox1

Instead of months where you commit to logging, just do it everyday and crystallize the routine. Having months/weeks/days where you log and where you don't creates inconsistency and rationalizes your cheating.

I log sriracha sauce, Truvia packets, coffee, and other things that are <10cals/serving because I know how easily my train can fall off the tracks

I do that too! Even though things like Truvia and tea have zero calories, I still log them so that I can keep my brain trained to pay attention to everything. I realize this is probably something I won't be doing twenty years from now but I do it so that I do, in fact, pay attention to EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth versus just the big stuff. If I eat one mini cookie from a bag of snack size Famous Amos cookies, I log it. That stuff will add up if your not paying attention. That's just how I am.

dawn777t

Thanks! I am not sure how I got this mentality of "if I don't log it won't count". And you are right, even if I don't log it on the computer my body will log it eventually.
I made my diary public so you can see it.
That is a good idea to log stuff that is less than 10 calories just to get in the habit of logging everything. Christmas really sucks.

rezn8

I've logged on MFP for over 500 days straight and logging every little thing you eat is really the only way to be truthful to yourself and accurate.
If you would like more accountability, join me in January on team destinationfit4life as I continue my journey. I will help you with both tips and motivation. If I get a good number of people in the group we'll have more motivation and accountability. Don't let this years resolution get put on the shelf after a week or two.