Seriously considering at stopping the logging.

Spiderkeys

Just to think, logging food and keeping records is really only for beginners, I mean I really needed the information when I started 10 months ago, but these days, I just estimate what I eat, know what foods to avoid or eat less off, And I only now log everything at the end of the day and never find myself going seriously over my limit.

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

silencioesoro

For me, the logging keeps me accountable, even if I eyeball just about everything now. Like you said, it's easier now once you know how to eat properly, workout, and so forth.

I know when I stop logging, I don't really pay as much attention to what I eat/do.

jofjltncb6

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

How would logging your food slow down your metabolism??? Or lead to an unplanned weight loss??? Assuming, of course, that you're eating to an appropriate daily surplus of calories.

hearthwood

I am almost at goal weight and plan to keep logging in the rest of my life. Food and calories have a habit of doing sneaky stealth attacks on humans, and I have no intention of letting that happen again.

PikaKnight

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

How would logging your food slow down your metabolism??? Or lead to an unplanned weight loss??? Assuming, of course, that you're eating to an appropriate daily surplus of calories.

^This. I don't see how logging would cause any of what you say it would cause since you would be changing your goals on MFP and meeting them just like if you were maintaining or losing.

Cerakoala

I agree with everyone here. I personally need accountability I will always count and write down what I eat if I don't know that is where the trouble will start

Spiderkeys

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

How would logging your food slow down your metabolism??? Or lead to an unplanned weight loss??? Assuming, of course, that you're eating to an appropriate daily surplus of calories.

Letting your body tell you when it's time to eat, and not your diary.

Anyway my eating habits have changed completely, I eat completely different foods these days, im happy with it, it's just common sense how to control your eating habitswhen you do when you been already been logging for over 200 days like me.

4ALongerLife

For me, the logging keeps me accountable, even if I eyeball just about everything now. Like you said, it's easier now once you know how to eat properly, workout, and so forth.

I know when I stop logging, I don't really pay as much attention to what I eat/do.

TOTALLY agree! And to me, when I don't log, I start kidding myself. That those few almonds don't add up. That a bite here didn't add in too much. That skipping that workout was only once this week.

The #1 tool in successful long term weight loss? Logging. Social support is #2. MFP gives you both. Why stay away from this site/app? I'm in this for the long haul and so far, 2 years down, mfp has been a part of that for me. I'm not straying from what seems to work.

I wish I was skinny. Wish I could eat like a thin person. Well for me, this is normal now... and I am thin. It's just a tool to help me self monitor and get back on track hopefully more quickly if/when I fall off the wagon.

So although it is too each his own, I hope you will consider what I've said and rethink your decision.

CamilleJackie350

deer diary

Alienboy15

Helps me reach the goals I'm looking for as far as nutrition goes.

ninerbuff

If you have 0 weight to lose and feel your eating is fine, then by all means quit logging. That means you got it figured out.

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

mfp2014mfp

Try it for 2 months see how you go, it's the only way to tell, why 2 months? I dont know just seemed about right to get a good gague if its right for you.

kirili3

Even if you choose to stop logging your calories, keep some kind of accountability check like weighing in and measurements. Because the "and then I gained it all back... and then some" has happened to so many people and I'd hesitate to assume that anybody is really immune to the possibility.

shardan123

I need to log as sometimes when I try to 'guesstimate' I go too low and other times the foods or exercise I think are ok have not left me with enough calories left for the meal I had planned.

joepage612

I think of it like financial accountability. I constantly have to check my bank account. Record everything. Decide priorities. I have do it with money and I have to do it with food or I lose track. It's just a fact of life for me im fine with that. Its not traumatizing at all.

forkofpower

What do you think logging is? Logging doesn't mean you have to eat at a deficit. It just means you're recording how many calories you consume. You can gain weight while logging, you can maintain weight while logging, you can lose weight while logging.

I like logging to keep myself from going overboard with the treats. I also like tracking how much fiber/protein/sodium/etc. I'm getting. I'll definitely keep logging on MFP even when I lose these last five pounds and start maintaining.

Tillyecl1

Given that I've logged my food in one way or another (I started with a notebook and only moved to MFP about 5 months ago) for the last 5 years I wouldn't really consider myself a beginner. But I have been successful, losing my original ~35kg and keeping them off for ~5 years and now losing the last few kilos to make me a decent race weight.

I have been successful by sticking with the tool that helped me in the first place (logging my food). I think that people abandoning the tools that helped them lose the weight is what leads to yoyo dieting, but that's just my opinion.

JesterMFP

I think if you can maintain without logging, then find; don't log. You're probably a lot better off not logging if you don't need to do it. Some people need to continue, others don't.

I don't see how on earth logging your food intake could slow down your metabolism though. The whole point of logging in maintenance is to make sure you getting the right amount of food your body needs - not too much and not too little.

sijomial

With your posting history I'm surprised and glad that you think you can maintain without logging. Good for you and hope it works out - logging in maintenance doesn't seem to have helped with your relationship with food so sensible to give it a go. Maintaining without logging is the ultimate prize in many ways.

Nothing to do with metabolism though, neither food logging or "letting your body tell you when it's time to eat" are going to change your metabolism.

My body tells me it's time to eat the whole time I'm awake! At some stage I will try not logging but my history suggests that what feels like intuitive eating to me leads to slow weight gain.

Supertact

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

How would logging your food slow down your metabolism??? Or lead to an unplanned weight loss??? Assuming, of course, that you're eating to an appropriate daily surplus of calories.

Because it's like science man!

Liftng4Lis

I don't see how being accountable, (which logging does for me), could even warrant the statement " It could slow down your metabolism".
If you don't want to log, stop.

Velum_cado

Then don't log. I only logged for a very short time, towards the middle of my weight loss. For me, when I really thought about it, it was obvious where I was going wrong with my diet. I logged for a while, just for funsies, but it wasn't that necessary. The fact that I'm aware of what I'm eating, but not logging makes the whole thing feel more like a healthy lifestyle change and not a condition that I'm monitoring short-term. Do what works best for you! Maybe try not logging for a month and see what happens.

mitchiejo

I log to track my macros more than calorie count now that I'm at maintenance.

SezxyStef

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

How would logging your food slow down your metabolism??? Or lead to an unplanned weight loss??? Assuming, of course, that you're eating to an appropriate daily surplus of calories.

Letting your body tell you when it's time to eat, and not your diary.

Anyway my eating habits have changed completely, I eat completely different foods these days, im happy with it, it's just common sense how to control your eating habitswhen you do when you been already been logging for over 200 days like me.

I have logged for over 365 days and at maitenance as well....I will continue logging.

Eating differently does not guarantee maitenance...your issue is you haven't found maitenance yet

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1325070-still-losing-on-2-500-calories-a-day

You aren't really sure of how much you are eating even with logging

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1317660-overestimating-am-i-the-only-one

And you are following a number to maintain even tho you know it's not maitenance

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1305972-how-long-do-you-think-you-can-keep-up-with-your-maintaince
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1302653-never-feeling-satisfied
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1293835-i-need-to-gain-but-i-m-scared
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1300153-struggling-with-eating-the-right-amount-of-food

To be very frank with you logging for you is not a good thing....2200 calories to maintain for a medium active man? common sense says no absolutely not when a 41 year old woman can maintain on that...but you logged 2200 even knowing you were over estimating and continued to lose weight when you shouldn't be...

IMHO you shouldn't be logging it is hampering your ability to enjoy life...you are always cold, hungry and are still losing weight even though you are in your mid range for "healthy" weight.

Logging itself is fine when you do it correctly...which means accurately using a kitchen scale, not over estimating and guessing.

NewTnme

Just to think, logging food and keeping records is really only for beginners, I mean I really needed the information when I started 10 months ago, but these days, I just estimate what I eat, know what foods to avoid or eat less off, And I only now log everything at the end of the day and never find myself going seriously over my limit.

I think constant logging in the long-term just slows down your metabolism, keeps you feeling cold and miserable, and even unplanned weight loss.

I think if this works for you then great! Enjoy your new found freedom...
For me it is so hard. Every time I give up logging I fall off the track. I guess it is a sham to have to log but it is what works for me.
It helps me to be held accountable for my actions. Some days I really hate logging...
Great Luck!

_Terrapin_

I think its great you can do this; also amazed at your ability to select foods which way the exact same every day, all the time. Best of luck OP, you have a great grocer providing you with nutritious fruits weighing the exact same each time.

Chevy_Quest

This is a different take...

If you have a lifestyle where you work at the same place every day, don't have to travel, have control over your food at home, then I really feel that someone can get totally "in tune" and stop logging.

But, for many of us with schedules that change daily, travel, etc. etc. etc. - Logging sometimes is the only thing that keeps me honest.

_Terrapin_

Agreed. Logging is what keeps me honest also; and I need consistency which is sorely lacking. Day to day is different so my intake is not the same set of foods each day.

Annesoucy1957

I have log my food for a long time even before this last attempt at losing weight. It allowed me to know what were my downfall and the most important portion size.

Since a month I am not logging my food but use the tool to check food that Im not sure about or to confirm if I am not off in my estimation about calories.

Keep track in my mind but if I see that my weight stall or there is a small increase I will go back to see where I went wrong.

Main reason for me is to remove from my mind that I am on a diet and accept the fact that this is the way I must eat from now on and that there is no gojng back. Tracking keeps me way to focus on the word diet.

msboujhie

I concur.

WW_Jude_V2

I'm "thisclose" to my final goal. I got here by logging when I started my journey back in 2008. It was via pen and paper then, so I find MFP to be a painless way to continue. No little book to lose and no panicking when I can't find a pen.

With 6 years of this under my (MUCH smaller) belt, I can guarantee that if I stop, I'm going to get lazy and not pay attention. I know me....that's just the kinda gal I am! :bigsmile:

I've decided that I'm worth the extra little tiny bit of effort it takes to continue tracking. I'm addicted to spreadsheets and numbers and trends and tracking feeds that nicely.

And, for me, having the ability to go back and see what I've done in the past actually helps me meal plan! "Oh yeah! I forgot I ate that - - it was good....I'll make that again!" :drinker: