Can you maintain your weight by not tracking food

mrbyte

Depends on your goal. If you are just trying to lose pounds and are pretty well versed to what kind of foods do what then you don't need to log. If you are going for a certain amount of body fat like 8%, and have macros budgets, then logging is going to get you there faster than winging it.

kitka82

Yes it's totally possible. I maintained for a couple of years by eating roughly the same amount and types of foods and getting the same amount of exercise each week. No tracking. As soon as I changed my eating (i.e. had treats and alcohol more often, or during the holidays) or exercise habits, my weight changed.

My husband loses weight quickly without tracking by simply eating less, cutting bread and eating more veggies.

kitka82

I have! I have taken several breaks from logging, and it works for me because I am a creature of habit and eat a lot of the same foods and adjust based on exercise/activity level. I have successfully maintained for months without logging, but I use a few cues to know when I need to log again:
1. Weight creeps up by 2 pounds...log to regain focus and lose the extra two pounds before it becomes 5. :noway:
2. I notice my habits changing...extra dessert, afternoon snacks, bigger lunches, etc. and start logging to refocus.
3. I add new foods to my diet. I log to see if I need to make other adjustments to fit into my calorie "budget."
4. I amp up my workout program and want to track.
5. I miss my friends and want to log in more often.

This.

DesireeLovesOrganic

I carry an extra 5 pounds when I don't log. LOL It doesn't go higher than that though thankfully. I'm back again because I want those 5 gone. LOL

krw1989

Hey! I entered maintenance mode about three months ago. I continued logging my food for two months to see if I could sustain this weight. I did, so I decided to slowly back away from logging this past month. I have continued to stay around the same weight (130-132lbs.). Am I perfect? No, but I have found that continuing my exercise regime and healthy eating habits is what has helped me. I didn't start up eating pancakes and syrup for breakfast again or hamburgers for dinner.

I believe that is the key. Take what you learned what's worked for you while logging and continue to apply it in your lifestyle. That's the ultimate goal, right? You've entered a new lifestyle, not a diet. Good luck!

theycallyoumister

I am. I counted for about 6 months in maintenance mode then let it go. I track exercise and reassess with the mirror and how my clothes fit it frees up the rigour (and stress) with which you intensely monitor each calorie. Just have to be not pigging out on poor choices too often.

kurtistime

I do not log my food anymore and haven't gained in weight. I think the reason is that I logged food for so long I have a better understanding of what I'm putting in my body calorie wise. And also I do not try and cheat myself by snacking just hit my calorie mark for the day.

The main reason is exercise of course and I'm sure we can all agree with that.

Anniebotnen

I have! I have taken several breaks from logging, and it works for me because I am a creature of habit and eat a lot of the same foods and adjust based on exercise/activity level. I have successfully maintained for months without logging, but I use a few cues to know when I need to log again:
1. Weight creeps up by 2 pounds...log to regain focus and lose the extra two pounds before it becomes 5. :noway:
2. I notice my habits changing...extra dessert, afternoon snacks, bigger lunches, etc. and start logging to refocus.
3. I add new foods to my diet. I log to see if I need to make other adjustments to fit into my calorie "budget."
4. I amp up my workout program and want to track.
5. I miss my friends and want to log in more often.

This sounds like a really good strategy! I will adopt this when I get to my goal weight.

Twix856

To each it own. I can't! I have to see everything in writing so I know what I need to do differently the next day.

keefmac

I think everyone knows deep down when they've eaten too much, just when logging it's all down on paper to shame you later on!.

Maybe 3 meals a day with no "snacks" makes it easier to maintain without writing it all down?.

I've lost 5 kilos in a month and a half by eating sensibly and cutting out snacks all together, I knew I was eating too much before and decided to do something about it.

Never logged food intake in my life and maintained my weight to within 1kg for years just by eating healthily and not massive amounts of it.

Everyone's different though!.

Go_Mizzou99

I can't do it very well. When I quit logging I creep up about 5 pounds...log again until back down. Repeat.

CmeATtheGym

I need to track to lose. If I am not eating well, no amount of exercise will shift the weight.

Strivingforhealth12

No. I can't.

goldfinger88

Exercise really doesn't have much to do with your weight. It's about building and keeping muscle. It does burn a few calories but not nearly as many as many folks think.

As for tracking, I didn't track while losing and now that I'm maintaining I'm sure not tracking. We should know how and how much to eat, what to eat, when to eat, without tracking it. People have since the beginning of time. Unless you want to be tracking in your seventies, eighties and until death, it's not a good habit. We need to learn to eat for our fuel, for the size we are or want to be and just not be pigs and not eat junk and processed food.

Some folks will say yes, track forever. Well, I'm 70 and I don't want to spend the rest of my life writing down every bite I take. There's this whole thing called life that's a whole lot more important.

sdauback

I can now...once my thyroid was regulated. I rarely track my intake now but I have a clean, healthy diet. No boxed, packaged or otherwise heavily-processed foods. Fish, lean meats, fresh and frozen veggies...very few starches such as potatoes, rice, bread, etc. No soda and only very occasional treats (ie ice cream, etc) I exercise 4-5x per week and don't use that as an excuse to over-eat later.

But everyone is different. Figure out what works for you and go with it.

laserturkey

I can't. If someone else finds they can, that's awesome for them. It's just not realistic for me.

MaryJane_8810002

How can you loose weight?

meeka472

I tried and gained back some of my weight. I found for me, I need to hold myself accountable by logging both exercise and food.

donald149

Only if, and as others have posted, food is thought of as fuel and not your friend.

cwolfman13

I don't log, I used to and will never go back. You should be able to have enough self control to eat freely without having to write down every little thing you eat every single day, that just unnatural. I know a lot of people on here log and that's fine I just don't see how you guys manage to do this or why it's needed 24/7. Really sorry if I offended any trackers by this

Remember that in 20years when you've had a couple kids and a few life experiences. At 19 life is good.

I'm almost 40 and I don't track and maintain just fine.

I'm actually a little bit surprised that so many people think the act of logging is the actual "lifestyle"...missing the boat IMHO. It's a great way to get on track and learn how to eat right but it's basically like training wheels...someday you should be able to take them off and just ride your bike.

Sabine_Stroehm

I don't log, I used to and will never go back. You should be able to have enough self control to eat freely without having to write down every little thing you eat every single day, that just unnatural. I know a lot of people on here log and that's fine I just don't see how you guys manage to do this or why it's needed 24/7. Really sorry if I offended any trackers by this

Remember that in 20years when you've had a couple kids and a few life experiences. At 19 life is good.

I'm almost 40 and I don't track and maintain just fine.

I'm actually a little bit surprised that so many people think the act of logging is the actual "lifestyle"...missing the boat IMHO. It's a great way to get on track and learn how to eat right but it's basically like training wheels...someday you should be able to take them off and just ride your bike.

I'll chime in. I'm almost 50 (and menopausal). I rarely track. I didn't track to lose. And most of the time I don't track now. I've been maintaining for 12 or 13 years. I do check in from time to time, to make sure I haven't lost sight of anything. And yes, I agree: logging isn't the "lifestyle" I am aiming for. Logging is great for learning, but it's not part of my long term plans.

ukaryote

Certainly you do not have to track every bit of food. I maintained my weight very well an ate anything I wanted during my 20's. Now, not so much. When I get down to a maintenance weight, I will have developed habits and a regular exercise and food schedule that should keep it steady without tracking. Occasional mid-course corrections are necessary as my metabolism and muscle mass change. ( that 4-letter word "age".)

geek23ka

NOPE

mike_ny

Whether you actually track everything or just do it in your mind (even unconsciously), you're still able to put limits on your intake, so whatever works for you is fine. Being a bit off on rough estimates is OK, but being a lot off can add up quickly. The majority here seems to find that counting works much better than not, but you have to find your own path.

However, if you mean eating and drinking as much of whatever you want with no regard whatsoever for nutrition or caloric content, then you're bound to fail.

To me, the whole point of logging food intake is to learn how to estimate more accurately for when you can't and to prepare you to be able to just estimate approximate meals or whole days and not have to log the rest of your life. So, I really believe you should weigh and measure everything for the first month or so to learn portion sizes. I've gotten pretty good at cutting a 1 oz. piece of cheese or estimating weight and volumes of foods I'm quite familiar with.

SideSteel

I don't log, I used to and will never go back. You should be able to have enough self control to eat freely without having to write down every little thing you eat every single day, that just unnatural. I know a lot of people on here log and that's fine I just don't see how you guys manage to do this or why it's needed 24/7. Really sorry if I offended any trackers by this

Remember that in 20years when you've had a couple kids and a few life experiences. At 19 life is good.

I'm almost 40 and I don't track and maintain just fine.

I'm actually a little bit surprised that so many people think the act of logging is the actual "lifestyle"...missing the boat IMHO. It's a great way to get on track and learn how to eat right but it's basically like training wheels...someday you should be able to take them off and just ride your bike.

I agree with this.

I haven't checked this thread in a while so there's a possibility that I'm reposting something I said earlier in the thread, but I think a major consideration is whether or not the act of tracking has a negative impact on the quality of life of the user and if so, how much of an impact and what's the trade-off?

I can see tracking being preferred and perhaps even enjoyable for certain people without causing any issues and in this example they can probably track long term and be perfectly fine with it.

But I don't think that's the norm, and if tracking does cause problems then it shouldn't be the long-term strategy or goal.

F00LofaT00K

I think it depends on the person. You don't lose, gain, or maintain weight because you LOG a certain number of calories, you lose, gain, or maintain weight because you EAT a certain number of calories. I think some people can eat that number comfortably after logging for a while and I think others aren't able to do that successfully. I'm not sure if I will be able to just eyeball things and maintain once I reach my goal. I hope I can, but I'm thinking I may be dependent on MFP for assistance.

bobbie1965

I know what your trying to say.. if you keep moving & eating the same healthy way you will not blow back up...it getting lazy & choosing the wrong foods that will have us gain back... but tracking your food does give it to you straight when you wright down everything you put in your mouth! it keeps you more aware ;-) lol

bobbie1965

I think you can as long as you haven't change you eating habits & choices, work out...but if you feel that change I say get back to basic...I did even restarted my ticker...starting over fresh...even I have stay down for almost a year now im fighting bad cravings & about 4lbs ;-) so im tring to look at it as a new begaining ;-)
good luck!!

RKD63

Yes I never used to log my food. I just ate healthily and exercised, I was active with young children and healthy all round. Now I need to see WHY I am putting on weight (if being Hypothyroid with poor medication is NOT supposed to put weight on ), so I chose to log and it is interesting. Although my point hasn't been proved yet.

RKD63

I don't log, I used to and will never go back. You should be able to have enough self control to eat freely without having to write down every little thing you eat every single day, that just unnatural. I know a lot of people on here log and that's fine I just don't see how you guys manage to do this or why it's needed 24/7. Really sorry if I offended any trackers by this

Remember that in 20years when you've had a couple kids and a few life experiences. At 19 life is good.

I'm almost 40 and I don't track and maintain just fine.

I'm actually a little bit surprised that so many people think the act of logging is the actual "lifestyle"...missing the boat IMHO. It's a great way to get on track and learn how to eat right but it's basically like training wheels...someday you should be able to take them off and just ride your bike.

I couldn't agree more and very well put!