How to be consistent with mfp

Barnseyboy

Mfp is such a great app, it's really helpful when I'm using it, I especially like how it tracks calories + nutrition however, I never seem to be able to utilise it for more than a week or so, but keep picking it back up when feeling motivated, how do people stay consistent & are people recording every detail?

jbugiel

I log in every day, track my meals when I eat, like a habit, and I log in if only for a few mins at night to reply to folks posts, etc. Keeps me really motivated, which I am very happy about. I really want to succeed this time.

summertime_girl

I have it set to my home page on my browser. I've hit over 1000 days in a row now.

hilousna08

Force yourself! Like everything else in life,a habit will be born! I try to post through out the day,but that is not always possible for me,so I be sure and do it before bed!

Jeanne130LBS

MFP has become such an important part of my day that I wouldn't miss logging anymore than I wouldn't brush my teeth. I do get in a rut sometimes and eat the same things too many days in a row. I sit down to watch TV in the evening and log in every single thing I eat and it really helps me keep it real. I do go over my calories some days and under somedays. I find it fun to do. I have lost 10 lbs in 10 weeks. Doesn't sound like a lot but I feel great. :drinker:

lemurcat12

I used to have that problem when I logged at Livestrong. I'd do it for a couple weeks and stop for long periods of time. I think the differences are that I'm more focused on losing now--I never weighed myself to monitor progress before, plus the logging is super easy here once you get the hang of it, plus--perhaps most important--the community. I know my friends are on my page, and that reminds me to check in, I know there are interesting threads to read. So long as I check in, I log.

amy8400

One of my MFP friends said the secret for her was pre-logging and I've heard others have had real success doing that, too. So now I've made logging the first thing I do each day on the computer and that seems to help give me a road map for the rest of the day. Also helps keep me accountable as I see how my nutrition is going throughout the day. Sometimes I have to do some alterations when my dinner choices change (like they did tonight) but it's easy to do.

Ken2Pam

I open mine up in a separate tab in my web browser, then set my browser to open a specific set of pages when it opens. That way it is in front of me all the time my browser is open, that makes it easy to update and easy to remember.

navymikejones

I use it to plan my meals out in advance. This helps me stay within my numbers as well as shop. I stay active on the site for myself but it helps to have positive people pushing you. Add me if you need motivation!

psmd

I log breakfast on my way to work, lunch right before I eat it, and dinner right before too. I'm boring and eat a lot of the same things each day but that way I just use the quick tool function and copy yesterday's meals to today and adjust the quantity if I need to.

I think logging takes me a total of 5 minutes each day. It's worth it, try committing yourself to one month to start and see how it goes.

yuuen

I have it set to my home page on my browser. I've hit over 1000 days in a row now.

Perfect idea.

skiextrm

I recently started pre-logging my next day's food the night before, mainly to make sure I pack the snacks I want so I don't get caught hungry during work on the road. I also asked for access to MFP on my work computer (as part of my Wellness routine). So it is pretty much close by and pops up on my favorites bar. It has become a habit and a sort of game for me. 53 day streak. I love doing it!

SherryTeach

I also pre-log first thing in the morning while my coffee is brewing. I already own all the food I'm planning to eat, so it's a simple thing to enter it as I am making breakfast, packing my lunch, and looking to see what I want for dinner. At the end of the day, I look again before posting and change anything. I'm at over 665 now and I don't see any reason to stop logging just because I'm now in maintenance.

amy_kee

You stay consistent because you first plan, make it a priority in life, have a desire to stick with it---which no one can give you, and always keep trying and learning more and more to make better decisions in this process. You've got WANT to be consistent, enough where you are willing to do what it takes. We can't give you that desire or determination. That needs to be a part of you in your life. When you figure that out, you can accomplish so many things in life. Look to yourself, not others for things you need to do. You are your own best person. You are with yourself all day and night long, and you can't escape, good choices or bad choices---they are YOUR choices. Learn to depend on yourself---not spending time looking for others to do it for you.

dlbredesen

You just have to want it bad enough to do what it takes to get there. You can do it!!

73Laine

300lbs
You stay consistent because you first plan, make it a priority in life, have a desire to stick with it---which no one can give you, and always keep trying and learning more and more to make better decisions in this process. You've got WANT to be consistent, enough where you are willing to do what it takes. We can't give you that desire or determination. That needs to be a part of you in your life. When you figure that out, you can accomplish so many things in life. Look to yourself, not others for things you need to do. You are your own best person. You are with yourself all day and night long, and you can't escape, good choices or bad choices---they are YOUR choices. Learn to depend on yourself---not spending time looking for others to do it for you.
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wow this is a mouthful right here! i love it! very true!

Barnseyboy

Really helpful posts, thank you, Maybe I too am about to start a 1000 day run!

jackielou867

After a year my question is how could I not. I remake and log most of tomorrows food. Keeps me nicely on track.

blackcloud13

I'm not 100% sure what brings me back each day! I reckon my friends list is a big factor, though. I'm always keen to see how they are doing, and many are really encouraging and fun!

Plus it helps to be around so many people that have achieved their goals and can advise, or people on the same road as you. Once you start seeing results, the question then becomes "why stop what's working so well"

But mostly its the crazy friends!

jcraig10

I agree with pre-logging...then I am less prone to changing my meal plan for the day. You can also set an alarm on your phone to remind you to log. I like the idea of what someone else said - to set it as your homepage on your browser. I think then you would feel guilty if you just skipped right over it! Good luck.

ransaka

.... I have lost 10 lbs in 10 weeks. Doesn't sound like a lot but I feel great. :drinker:

Actually, I'd argue that sounds like an ideal amount of weight loss for the period of time in question, rock on dude.

bumble573

I use the Android app on my phone and log everything, even down to medications I take, then I can see where I am. I also use it for pre planning meals. Only been going for just over a month, but I have the logging bug!

daveyb989

Log your calories for a day without a plan etc and gasp at what you thought was a normal healthy diet. That shocked my wife into starting a month ago and its going well for her 8lb los so far. I decided to start one day a few weeks ago and it's going well lost over 10lbs in 6 weeks - trying to lose 1lb a week but not getting stressed if it doesn't happen every week. Exercise is working for me - swimming to be precise - find something that burns cals and go for it

minizebu

You need to develop it as a habit.

How do we form new habits? The best way is to glom a new habit onto another habit that you already have.

I have a habit of waking every morning and using the bathroom first thing. (Do you?)

I put my scale in the bathroom near the toilet. So, I weigh myself every day right after using the bathroom. (Boom! New habit attached to old habit.)

I signed up for MFP and after I weigh myself every morning I record my weight on MFP. (Boom! New habit attached to old habit.)

Hmmm. Now, I am logging on to MFP every day. You know what else I do every day? Eat! Now I record what I eat for breakfast after waking up, peeing and weighing myself. (Boom! New habit attached to old habit.) (And I carry on from there, logging whatever else I eat. Eat = log it on MFP.)

You see how this works?

If you want to make MFP a habit, then you will have to be very conscious about logging in on a daily basis and actually using it to log your food and other measurements (if you so desire). No one else is going to form this habit for you. You've just got to do it, as Nike would put it.

(It helps to add pals so that you can chat, commiserate, brag, complain, etc. about your trials, tribulations, and successes.)

Jodibear58

I have it set to my home page on my browser. I've hit over 1000 days in a row now.

So thats how people do it!! Smart!

BeccaB1981

I have logged on for 927 days so far. I haven't logged food on all those days and there have been tons of times that I have fallen off track but I still remember to log on everyday and know in my mind that I have not given up! Sometimes I feel that if I were to miss a day I might just quit altogether lol. As far as actually logging food goes, I find prelogging to be the most effective. I try to plan out the whole day and then make changes if needed. When I dont pre-log (like the last few days :embarassed: ) I eat bad and then dont end up logging any of it

For me it's still a struggle after over 2 1/2 years. Seeing results make it easier but when I feel like I am not losing even when I am trying so hard it gets frustrating but I make sure to keep logging on and keep trying no matter what.

sheskimtastic

I've had to set an alarm on my phone. My worst days are when I'm out of town and it just slips my mind. I've found that because I meal plan, I just log everything ahead of time and then change if needed.

jmartis21

I have it set to my home page on my browser. I've hit over 1000 days in a row now.

This!! Such a great idea!! I've just added it as a bookmark and have placed it on the bookmark bar here at work.

FatNFightingIt

One of my MFP friends said the secret for her was pre-logging and I've heard others have had real success doing that, too. So now I've made logging the first thing I do each day on the computer and that seems to help give me a road map for the rest of the day. Also helps keep me accountable as I see how my nutrition is going throughout the day. Sometimes I have to do some alterations when my dinner choices change (like they did tonight) but it's easy to do.

This is exactly what I do. Planning is half the battle. If I can plug in my meals right away in the morning, I can see where I am at and have room to adjust as needed. Without that knowledge, I would not be able to stay within my calorie/fat/carb/sodium goals.

haleymiller0707

Great idea adding it to your homepage.

frickhead

On your app you can set reminders to go off if you haven't logged your meals at a certain time! You should try that so you'll feel encouraged to log in and log your meals/exercise.