What you learned by tracking?

WhoWasGivenToFly

Although I was eating healthy food I realized when I started logging that I was eating WAY too much of it.

It was scary to find out just how many calories were in the serving sizes I was eating.

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chickwithpencil

I realized I wasn't eating enough for my activity level. Opposite problem, I guess.

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livetoride2112

I learned to make better choices. I knew the beer I like was bad, but not how bad. I still drink it, but in more moderation. Hummus was a surprise for me. I used to eat a whole container in one sitting. The first time I did that, I got sticker shock.

zdyb23456

I learned I was eating way too much... large portions, easily 2 or 3 portions and I usually back went for seconds!

That my favorite burrito at Chipotle is 900 calories!
That my favorite combo meal at Chick-fil-a is 1200 calories!

That calories add up fast if you are mindlessly munching, which I did just about every evening in front of the TV. I think back and wonder how I am not 500 pounds...

littl3xlion

I was amazed that the portions of food I was eating would be 2x more than what I should be consuming. When I first dropped my calories I was so sad to see how much smaller the portions were, but then within weeks I realized that I could get full from a smaller portion of food as long as I had water.

I remember sometimes eating fast food twice a day for lunch and dinner, and just one combo meal at a fast food joint could easily fulfill my calorie intake for the day. ><

TheCrawlingChaos

I was really shocked about how many calories I was consuming. Some days I'd be under eating by a great deal and others I'd be overeating by a great deal. Salad has way less calories than I though, and crap food has way more than I thought.

Cortneyrenee04

Uh, PEANUTS! I thought I was making a healthy choice by having them as a snack. One day I decided to weigh out a 1oz portion and I was soooo sad to see how little it was. I was easily eating 4oz before that.

Ishii19

So I always thought eating healthier meant include tons more fruits and veggies - fiber means you stay full, right, and crave less junk... Well partially true but I really learned I was eating less than half how much protein I should be! And I'm not even a vegetarian or anything I eat meat for dinner most days. Once I found ways to meet my protein goal staying under my calorie goal has gotten soooo much easier - yay!

Kalikel

Stuff I learned:

1. I eat a lot more some days than I do others. It's often tied to my activity level, but not always.

2. Carbs make me want more carbs. A bowl of pasta will kickoff an all-day craving cycle.

3. I don't get nearly enough fiber. Surprised me. Working on it.

4. Kraft Mac n Cheese is loaded with badness for me.

5. Sodium becomes a problem very quickly when eating processed foods.

6. I don't get enough protein...which wasn't a shock, but even trying, I don't get enough.

Shirotora88

Ya at first I was shocked, eating almost or over 4000 calories a day but that said I was 330lbs, eating full extra large Pizzas and a whole bunch of unhealthy foods.

Now I have a hard time meeting the 1000 calories mark

formerfatboy1

I learned that is very important to monitor what you put in your mouth if you are trying to take your physique to the next level. Before this I was eating everything in sight and not worried about what other people thought of my weight. I was comfortable in my size 48 inch pants LOL, Not really but I didn't care! Now its a whole different story. Meal prepping for the week is a must along with daily weight training and cardio. I can not go a day without exercise its like my body needs it and the nutritious food is a plus. I can say I would consume 5000 calories a day easy! smh! Thank the man upstairs for giving me the determination and discipline.

DevilsFan1

I learned that it's hard to eat 2500 calories a day when you're eating unprocessed foods. When you eat clean, whole foods it's very difficult to overeat.

xtinalee17

Like most people have said, definitely shocked by the mindless way I ate- so many calories or huge portions. Since tracking I have also learned to slow down while eating as this helps me digest and not keep stuffing my face.

nicolemtracy

I learned staying on calories can be pretty easy, but that doesn't make you healthy. For me I can eat 3 cookies and drink a soda and stay on calories, but I'm not getting my macros and I reeeeeally need to work on that.
I've also noticed that tracking totally works. For me, the more I track, the more I lose.