do you really log everything?

kmb2522

Do you really log everything like everything thing you put in your mouth and what you do? I walk all the time I live on a pretty big campus but I usually don't log the 5 to 10 minute walks that I do multiple times a day on campus. I also work as a swim instructor and I'm in a pool swimming around with kids all I don't log that because I don't know how too. Should I be logging these things or is it okay not too? Do you also log everything you eat sometimes I have a few bites of something and I feel silly logging it. What do you guys do?

pizzafruit

I log everything. Every bite, meal, and snack. I also log any walking or any other form of movement. Take the credit - you deserve it.

stormieweather

I don't log exercise unless it's purposeful and sweat-inducing. I log everything I eat.

Heather75

Yes.

Tzavush

I log everything I eat (you can see the 0.000234c .....servings in my diary) I don't always log activity unless its really "exercise"

grasp

I do not log diet coke...

parvati

I log every bite of food, but i only log my workouts... I consider everything else my daily routine.

kleavitt1992

i dont log it unless i am going out to excercise like if go and walk aimlessly for an hour id log that but walking around campus no...... atleast i dont for my college and i know i walk atleast 4miles during the day around campus but i dont log it thats just me walking

McKayMachina

I log it all. I didn't log a shot of tequila once and it's haunted me ever since. :laugh:

If I take two or three bites of someone else's dish, I estimate calories and do a quick add.

FoodiePatootie

I log everything - because it keeps you mindful. Today I took a 90-minute cooking class, I logged it in exercise. It's there! I also log everything that I ate, even if it was a taste of something...say, 1/4 of a homemade pork sausage, one homemade ravioli, olive oil, because it's important to know that it all adds up. The one day I didn't log everything, I went back and realized that I had gone over my calories unintentionally...so then I went ahead and did more exercise to counterbalance it (which I also logged). See the pattern? The logging is more about the education and awareness it brings. It counts for every walk you take (count the minutes), swimming time (count the minutes), it all adds up.

Then if there is a day you really want to eat a bit more, you know how many more calories you need to burn to stay on track. All those little things add up, whether it's a bite of something or a walk across a parking lot or campus.

I've lost 40 pounds since January logging everything, every day!

Keep up the good work and good luck.

Cortx

i log in my actual workout. I do not log in the other times i walked or cleaned ect.

I count how many calories it is that i ate and i log in the calories.

miriamtorason

I log everything. I've listed myself as "moderately active" as a SAHM to a 2.5yo boy, so anything I do that's outside that realm (I don't count chasing after him, or cleaning up after him or following him 'round the yard or anything) like walking to the store or purposefully exercising gets put into the diary. If you've listed yourself as sedentary, ABSOLUTELY log those walks. If you've listed yourself taking those walks into account, then don't. ^_^

acknan

Food wise I log just about everything but not gum or crystal light (too many varieties to search through and only log 10 cals).

Exercise wise I log anything significant, actual planned exercise, high intensity cleaning, etc, but don't log walking around a store or getting to my car when I park further away.

I figure that these things generally even each other out.

If you put your activity level as moderately active, it should cover you in your BMR.

Good Luck!!!!

Atlantique

Do you really log everything like everything thing you put in your mouth and what you do? I walk all the time I live on a pretty big campus but I usually don't log the 5 to 10 minute walks that I do multiple times a day on campus. I also work as a swim instructor and I'm in a pool swimming around with kids all I don't log that because I don't know how too. Should I be logging these things or is it okay not too? Do you also log everything you eat sometimes I have a few bites of something and I feel silly logging it. What do you guys do?

I log everything that has calories, yes.

When you signed up for MFP, you had to choose an "Activity Level", which is meant to represent your normal, M-F workday activity. Any activity above and beyond that should be logged. So you'd have to decide whether to put yourself at sedentary and then log everything, or lighty active and then log above that.

CSM01

I log as much as I can. I try to log things vaguely if I can't find the exact thing, but I try to be as accurate as I can. Maybe I forget a few things, but I do what I can.

twistygirl

Nope I don't log all my food, I do log all my exercise but not the everyday stuff like walking around walmart or walking at my job.

Edestiny7

I log EVERYTHING I consume and any actual exercise I do, and have been successful doing so.

TNGirlyGirl

I log every bite of food, but i only log my workouts... I consider everything else my daily routine.

Exactly...me too

kmb2522

i put moderately active because I walk everywhere but in class I sit a lot so I figured that would be a balance. I guess I just don't know how to long a bite of this or feel silly logging a 3 minute walk

ChristineM1953

I log everything I eat and all my exercise. If you walk to and from classes, and your work is fairly active, that should be considered part of your daily activity and should be built into your calorie allowance based on your day. I have a sedentary job, anf spend most of my day at a desk.

Tangerine302

I don't log regular daily activities as you put that in at the beginning as to how active you are. I just log exercise tapes, etc.

araragona

The imporant part about logging everything is that it keeps you on target so that you not only don't overeat, but so that you don't undereat. If you indereat, your body goes into starvation mode, which will cause your metabolism to slow down. You may lose weight if you undereat, but as soon as you start eating normally again, you will gain weight because you have lowered your metabolism. By logging all of your walking, it will add calories that you need to eat to keep you in that prime spot of calories that causes your body to lose weight at a healthy rate that does not lower your metabolism.

hush7hush

I log all my food.
But it really depends on what you have your activity level set as, for whether or not you should log the walking/swimming.
I would suggest setting your level to lightly active, and NOT logging it.

runlorirun

I count cleaning, I do home daycare though so there is a lot of picking up/cleaning. However I don't count more than 10 mins. I will count cooking if I had to chop a lot of prep work.

I counted the 3 potato chips I ate the other day...lol

gameovergt

I estimated decently

exsacken

Unfortunately I don't, which is probably why I am not losing weight. I nibble a lot and I don't count it...I am sure all of that adds up!

michelleisgettinfit

I log everything I put in my mouth... but only log exercise... when I have put on workout clothes & my HRM and worked up a sweat.

knelson422

I have to confess... I don't log every single bite I take. There, I said it, wow, whew, I feel much better (j/k). I do log most food, but how do I log "crust from 100% whole wheat bread of a pb and j sandwich that my 4 year old left on his plate"? I am nursing right now, and so I do get about 400 extra calories beyond exercising, so I just chalk it up to that. Once I stop in a few months I will have to be more specific. I don't know how to log a bite of this and a bite of that. there are times when I just do a "quick add calories" and guestimate how much was in what I just ate. I have stopped logging cleaning as exercise, just cause then it makes me feel like I deserve a treat or something. Good luck.

milaxx

I log everything. A quick 5 min walk, probably not, but and afternoon at the mall walking around yes. I log it as walking at like 2.0 or 2.5 pace. use a bit of discernment. I find it helps encourage me to see where I can fit exercise in, like taking stairs instead of the elevator, that sort of thing.

bcpie

If you don't log the walking and whatnot, just change your activity level to moderately active or whatever you think fits.(If it's not there already) It's important in making sure you're not eating too little.

fpueblo

I only log my exercises. Any other activity I do that is on a regular basis I don't log. I log every bite I take. I do my husband's log but I don't log his diet tea cuz its 0 cal. If I drink a diet tea I log it though because I try to keep track of my sodium he doesn't.