Pre-logging food and eating your calories
Autumnfilly2005
Posts: 232 Member
When I'm planning my food for the day, I like to log it on my phone. After it gets logged, I put it into my lunch bag, and whenever I get hungry, I reach into the bag for something to eat. Since I already logged the food in, I think of it as "free" food. Once everything is logged, I look at how many calories I have and if I need to add something to get all my calories in. If I do, I usually buy a salad or sandwich at work. My calorie goal is 2200. I usually aim to be between 2000-2200, and I don't eat my exercise calories back. On average I tend to burn 200-300 calories most days, with one or two days in the 500 range, and at least one day of rest per week.
I've been having fairly steady weight loss with this, however one thing I notice is that I don't always finish all the food in my lunch bag. At the end of the day I often have maybe a yogurt or two, or some fruit left over, sometimes half or more of my protein shake left over. Sometimes I feel a little hungry when I still have food left over, but not enough to make me want to eat anything. Usually I'm not hungry by the end at all.
Because I've already prelogged the food, I know I'm eating less calories than I'm reporting. I don't go back and edit out what I haven't eaten for the day. How important is it that I eat everything in order to reach my calorie goal? I'm a big girl to begin with (230lbs) so I'm in no danger of wasting away, but I'm also aware that not eating enough is what leads to binging and yoyo dieting. I don't feel like I'm denying myself food when there's still things left in my lunch bag. I don't make it my goal to have things left over, it just happens that way. I work the evening shift in a job that has a lot of walking around, so by the time I get off at 10PM, I'm tired and just want to go home. That's when I pick up my lunch bag from the office fridge and realize there's still food in there.
Does anyone else prelog their food for the day? Once it's prelogged, do you make sure you eat all of it? If you don't eat all of it do you go back and edit your diary? How important it is to make sure you eat all of your calories for the day?
I've been having fairly steady weight loss with this, however one thing I notice is that I don't always finish all the food in my lunch bag. At the end of the day I often have maybe a yogurt or two, or some fruit left over, sometimes half or more of my protein shake left over. Sometimes I feel a little hungry when I still have food left over, but not enough to make me want to eat anything. Usually I'm not hungry by the end at all.
Because I've already prelogged the food, I know I'm eating less calories than I'm reporting. I don't go back and edit out what I haven't eaten for the day. How important is it that I eat everything in order to reach my calorie goal? I'm a big girl to begin with (230lbs) so I'm in no danger of wasting away, but I'm also aware that not eating enough is what leads to binging and yoyo dieting. I don't feel like I'm denying myself food when there's still things left in my lunch bag. I don't make it my goal to have things left over, it just happens that way. I work the evening shift in a job that has a lot of walking around, so by the time I get off at 10PM, I'm tired and just want to go home. That's when I pick up my lunch bag from the office fridge and realize there's still food in there.
Does anyone else prelog their food for the day? Once it's prelogged, do you make sure you eat all of it? If you don't eat all of it do you go back and edit your diary? How important it is to make sure you eat all of your calories for the day?
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First, this is a great idea. I may give it a try when I return from my trip because planning my food is my biggest obstacle.
Second, if you're not hungry, then don't force yourself to eat. Our bodies aren't calculators; they don't know that they're supposed to eat X number of calories today according to MFP. If you're seeing steady weight loss from your current method, and you don't feel deprived or without energy to do what you need to do, then I say stick with what's working.0 -
Today I forced myself to eat all my calories, and I feel so bloated right now. My stomach hurts, I have abdominal cramps, and it feels like a 10lbs weight is in my stomach. Even though I'm accurately logging everything, I'm wondering if the MFP calorie goal is actually too high for me. I mean, I didn't get to be 230lbs by under eating, but since I've started accurately tracking everything, I'm almost always under my goal (and not even finishing all the stuff I said I ate). Maybe because I've changed my eating patterns as well, and I'm loading up on more protein and fresh produce? Getting more bulk into my diet, so to speak?0
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I started at 258 lbs. My calorie goal is 1700. This is based on my weight, a few measurements, and my activity level. I asked another MFP'er, who has experience with it to calculate my TDEE (total daily energy expendature). She had my calorie goal back to me the next day. Her user name is RunningForIcecream if you want to message her. She is one of the people listed as a volunteer to help folks with this.
I will say, by hitting the calorie goal she set for me, I am loosing that pound a week like clock work.0
