Log For Life?!

CatWhispererrrr

I'd like to start by saying that MFP has been a major tool in my weight loss journey. I started two years ago, and for the first year I dropped 25 pounds by simply eating less and moving more. I plateaued for a while, and when I discovered MFP I dropped an additional 20 pounds in about 4 months. It helped me greatly, BUT I became OBSESSED with logging, and EVERYTHING I put into my body, to the point where eating was barely enjoyable, and I can safely say i drove my boyfriend bonkers. In June, I stopped logging. Since then I have used what I have learned using MFP (portion sizes, calorie counts ect.) and used it to make better choices without Logging. I have managed to maintain my weight for two months now, but I am feeling that I am starting to make bad choices again. I am going to start logging again, but I just don't want to become obsessive about food and calories and logging.

Does anyone have any advice about being able to maintain eating well, while not having to log for life?! Is it customary for MFP users to log forever????

rowlandsw

I'm going to assume that even if not with MFP i'll be logging for life if no other reason than to keep myself aware of my habits in case i slip back into the bad ones. Love your avatar by the way.

MichelleLaree13

Lots of people say just writing what you eat down, even if you aren't counting calories, keeps you more accountable because you feel bad if you ate 2 cheesburgers, a jumbo fry and a extra large milk shake.

jenilla1

Sorry, I'm not much help. I've been logging for over three years now. It's a simple habit for me, like brushing my teeth, and it doesn't stress me out at all. I enjoy cooking and eating all kinds of food, and logging hasn't prevented me from enjoying life at all. I honestly would have no problem logging for life, since it's so easy for me - almost like a game rather than a chore. For someone like you, who IS stressed by logging, maybe you should just trying intermittent logging. Do your best to maintain on your own, and when you feel yourself slipping, come back and log again until you've got it under control again. Maybe that could work for you? :flowerforyou:

mom2aeris

I genuinely hope that I can log for life, or at least until I am so senile that it doesn't matter anymore. I *want* to keep up my good habits of tracking what I eat, and I want to make sure that I can continue to be healthy and aware of what I am putting into my body. I know if I stopped tracking, I would revert to bad habits quite quickly.

CA_Underdog

Whenever I've stopped logging, I've maintained for awhile, but then slowly began regaining. The folks I've known who kept it off super long-term either continued to log or attacked more ambitious fitness goals.

> I became OBSESSED with logging, and EVERYTHING I put into my body, to the point where eating was barely enjoyable

Logging everything is the point, but if you say you were OBSESSED and eating was barely enjoyable, could you perhaps switch to a routine where you simply spend 15 minutes logging before bed as you probably already spend a few minutes each day picking up clothes or doing the dishes?

Could you talk to a counselor why you stopped enjoying eating?

There are other logging tools and systems--weight watchers, portion systems--but if you tend to obsess about food in one system I suspect you would do so in another sooner or later. Talking to a counselor about why you were stressing about the foods rather than simply logging them may help you get past this.

jenakely

I intend to log for life. I have a long way to go before I reach my goals but I try not to be obsessive. I don't always make the best decisions but I make a lot less wrong ones and I always think twice about what I am eating. I am making better decisions everyday because I am holding myself accountable for everything I eat. I think when we stop logging, overtime we begin to stop thinking about the calories we are taking in and nutrition in general. Congrats on your success! I hope I get there sooner than later

love8383

I only count calories, i don't log them here i write them down, I think if it means i will never go back to being in the 300's i can do it the rest of my life, but i don't think i would have to..at this point i know pretty much the amount of calories in everything i eat.

pkw58

Sorry, I'm not much help. I've been logging for over three years now. It's a simple habit for me, like brushing my teeth, and it doesn't stress me out at all. I enjoy cooking and eating all kinds of food, and logging hasn't prevented me from enjoying life at all. I honestly would have no problem logging for life, since it's so easy for me - almost like a game rather than a chore. For someone like you, who IS stressed by logging, maybe you should just trying intermittent logging. Do your best to maintain on your own, and when you feel yourself slipping, come back and log again until you've got it under control again. Maybe that could work for you? :flowerforyou:

I couldn't have said it better.

Serah87

Sorry, I'm not much help. I've been logging for over three years now. It's a simple habit for me, like brushing my teeth, and it doesn't stress me out at all. I enjoy cooking and eating all kinds of food, and logging hasn't prevented me from enjoying life at all. I honestly would have no problem logging for life, since it's so easy for me - almost like a game rather than a chore. For someone like you, who IS stressed by logging, maybe you should just trying intermittent logging. Do your best to maintain on your own, and when you feel yourself slipping, come back and log again until you've got it under control again. Maybe that could work for you? :flowerforyou:

SherryTeach

Sorry, I'm not much help. I've been logging for over three years now. It's a simple habit for me, like brushing my teeth, and it doesn't stress me out at all. I enjoy cooking and eating all kinds of food, and logging hasn't prevented me from enjoying life at all. I honestly would have no problem logging for life, since it's so easy for me - almost like a game rather than a chore. For someone like you, who IS stressed by logging, maybe you should just trying intermittent logging. Do your best to maintain on your own, and when you feel yourself slipping, come back and log again until you've got it under control again. Maybe that could work for you? :flowerforyou:

Excellent answer. I've been logging for over two years now. Mostly, I pre-log the whole day in the morning while the coffee is brewing. After all, I mostly know what I'm going to eat as I already bought it and cooked it. If I change my mind, I make adjustments before I go to bed and post. I've enjoy my food, don't obsess over it or the numbers. Logging is like brushing my teeth now and for me, part of keeping myself at my goal weight.

CatWhispererrrr

Wow - Overwhelming response! Thanks everyone!! Don't get me wrong, I have loved using MFP, but I just found that I was starting to see food as calories, rather than being able to just enjoy what I was eating. I have found since I stopped logging, that I gradually stopped thinking purely Calories, but then, turned into not caring enough! Where is the balance?!?!

I admire everyone who finds themselves being able to log daily without finding it tedious at times!!

meltedsno

I spent the first 58 years of my life eating whatever I wanted without logging anything. I have spent the last year of my life logging most everything I eat.

In the last year, I have lost the 100+ pounds that I gained in the first 58. To log or not to log: no brainer... I am a lifer. There are certain things I no longer "log", but keep track of the calories in my head. I tend to eat the same basic foods everyday so it's just a matter of switching one food out for another.... I always make sure I leave myself a little leeway for any discrepancies throughout a given day.

424a57

I shifted to maintenance about 3 months ago, and I fully intend to continue logging both my food and my weight for the rest of my life. I have proved to myself that I cannot trust myself to say "enough is enough" -- my body just says "more, more, more".

I weigh everyday and use math to trend the raw data. With this knowledge I *know* that I have gained about 1 pound per month for the past two months. That works out to only 150 extra calories per day, but it is enough to notice on a weight chart. So this month I am cutting back and I *will* lose those 2 pounds without undue stress.

paperpudding

"Forever" and "For life" are long times.

I'm not sure whether I will be doing this for life - but am going to do it for the foreseeable future - because it is working for me and I don't find it tedious or difficult.

having said that, I have found it best to wean myself onto what I call Long Term Relaxed Logging - by that, I mean, yes I still log every day but I don't weigh everything exactly, eg. I call every mandarine a small or medium mandarine, I eyeball portions of low calorie vegetables, I don't weigh condiments, I guestimate when I eat out etc

This, to me, is the fine balance between still logging and therefore still being accountable (and successfully maintaining my weight) - but not becoming obsessive or dragged down by it.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I log still because it doesn't bother me. But if I were going to go without logging I'd go about it in a couple of ways. I'd either a.) set some rules for myself. Like only one dessert item allowed per day. Or must get in 5+ servings of vegetables. Or whatever you think will help you keep calories in check. Or b.) I'd eat intuitively but keep weighing in weekly, and if the scale starts to climb go back to logging for awhile.

alereck

I've gone without logging before and it has not affected my weight or the way I look only my confidence that I am doing ok. I think it sounds like you are the same, you have said that you are making bad choices but you have not said that it has affected you negatively as far as weight or bady mass.

I am trying to build some muscle but once I achieve that then I want to stop logging. I think that keeping track of my weight and how my body looks is more important. If I start to see changes on the scale or the mirror then I will probably go back to logging.

Don't stress out too much, if you gain a little then just go back to logging and lose the few pounds you have gained. As long as you don't lose track of how you look (take pictures monthly at least) then I think you should be fine. I find that I can eat more crap while maintaining because I naturally eat lower calories than maintenance anyway, so when I endulge I'm barely going over.

Good luck!

spoiledpuppies

I lost 50 pounds about 10 years ago without logging before or after (managed to keep most of it off, and came to MFP and lost more while logging extremely diligently). So it's possible to stop logging--or never log in the first place--but I was just thinking this morning how logging actually makes my life easier anymore. I don't really have to think about anything with MFP doing the calculations/math for me. So I see myself keeping at it indefinitely.

amy8400

For me, logging = accountability. I've been logging for almost a year now and I can't see myself leaving this behind once I hit maintenance. I think logging every single day won't be such a necessity but I'll definitely stay the course. Logging kind of is like brushing your teeth once it becomes part of your routine

jequirity

I hate logging with a fiery passion but every time I stop logging I end up gaining weight because it is just way to easy to lose track of what you are eating.

So even though I hate logging I've come to peace with the fact that if I want to maintain my weight I gotta log.

YMMV but that is how its ended up turning out for me.

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seltzermint555

Lots of people say just writing what you eat down, even if you aren't counting calories, keeps you more accountable because you feel bad if you ate 2 cheesburgers, a jumbo fry and a extra large milk shake.

Eh I dunno...maybe using the paper type of food journal does work for some people and that's great. For me it didn't. I wrote down everything I ate in a paper journal for about 5-6 months prior to joining MFP, and it mostly just helped me justify my diet as being healthy/moderate. For example, a breakfast of cereal, piece of fruit, sandwich for lunch, and tacos for dinner with an iced coffee...that could easily be a 1400 calorie day or a 2700 calorie day depending on your choices (cheesy panini from a restaurant vs homemade sandwich, iced coffee with sweetener & splash of milk vs iced blended mocha, etc). I felt like I was just "proving" how well I ate, especially when there would be at least 3-4 different vegetables in each day's entry. During that time I think I lost 3 lb, and I had 100 lb to lose. I didn't really grasp the concept of calories though because my mind was clouded with people saying fruits & veggies are "free foods" on WW and stuff like that...I needed the black and white numbers in front of me to really get it.

Unfortunately OP I don't have any helpful advice though. Like some others have said, I log every day but don't give it too much power over my thoughts and it's become as natural to me as brushing my teeth or showering...just part of what I do. Honestly after being 307 lb at one point and 175 when I weighed in this morning, I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to stay healthier and leaner, and if that means logging with MFP or future sites, apps, etc...I'll do it.

CA_Underdog

So, you've heard it again--like brushing your teeth. Where does your process and mine differ?

I can safely say i drove my boyfriend bonkers

I suspect this bit is key--when I go out to eat, it's transparent to my company that just before bed I'm going to brush my teeth, floss, and log what I ate. What exactly drove your boyfriend crazy? When, just before bed you said, "Give me 20 minutes to check my e-mail and log my day and I'll be right up?"

countscalories

Logging food on MFP requires less physical exertion than lifting a fork.

CatWhispererrrr

I can safely say i drove my boyfriend bonkers

I suspect this bit is key--when I go out to eat, it's transparent to my company that just before bed I'm going to brush my teeth, floss, and log what I ate. What exactly drove your boyfriend crazy? When, just before bed you said, "Give me 20 minutes to check my e-mail and log my day and I'll be right up?"
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Less about the logging and more about the problem I had enjoying the foods we would normally enjoy together without me having to mention how many calories it is, and how many stairs I will have to climb the next day to work off an indulgence. You can't very well enjoy a night out with bread and wine and steak when one person wont shut up about calories! Just sayin, it can be a buzzkill!

Since I have stopped logging, I have not gained... yet. But I feel like it may creep up soon. So I think I will have to log again until I can be accountable! Thanks everyone, these tips and advice are very helpful!

elisa123gal

You're are doing great if you made it two months without logging and maintained.

I've seen peole on here logging t the end of the day. That way you can see what you did and be mindful the next day..but not obesseed with planning and logging all day.

doctorregenerated

It seems that people who have never had a challenge with weight never have to log. It may be because food is just not that interesting to them or they just naturally don't overeat. My husband is like that. He will eat a meal that is absolutely delicious but not finish it because he is full. Then he will forget to eat the next meal. If someone gives him ice cream or cake he will eat the whole thing without blinking. But he will never gain weight because most of his existence is not spent eating or thinking about snacks, food, or tasty things.
He'll never have to log.
Me, however....if there is a great meal, I will eat the entire thing past the point of pain. If there are leftovers, I will eat them because I hate waste. If I am stressed, I will turn to food. This is my default behavior. I can change it like a habit, but that requires constant vigilance. My default behavior - the place where I am most comfortable is always going to be eating too much. Even after the weight is lost, there is always that monster waiting in the darkness for me to open the cage door.
I will always have to log.

beckyjeanleemaddox

If MFP still exists, and I can still type, I'm a lifer. I enjoy it and it helps me to be accountable to myself. I don't stress out about it though but I guess I'm obsessed b/c I don't want to go back to weighing 227 lbs.

logg1e

I'm thinking of having a "thermostat level". Weigh-in once a day and if I'm over X weight then I log that day with a calorie deficit. If I'm under, I don't worry about it.

Alternatively, something that worked for me in the past was to "be on the diet" Sunday until Friday evening and then "off the diet" Friday evening until Saturday night. That worked for ages.

cuckoo_jenibeth

The vast majority of the time, I prelog my entire day at once. Some days, like today, will be unknown until we arrive at event, but most are not. I log the day as I enjoy my morning coffee!

aligatorwww

Most weight loss plans start with advising to use a journal to be more aware of how much you are eating. Also, I know if I'm not logging, I'm not being very good!