Do you see yourself doing this forever???

infamousmk

It's hard to say. I'm a fan of the specified forum as a means of support... and fitness is a big part of my life now, so I don't see why I would stop using MFP for all of my health needs. But, who knows ... I may get to maintenance and find another way to stay on track. Hopefully I've built enough friendships here to stay by that point, though.

LH2011

Logging my food is just part of the "Lifestyle Change" that I made. It drives me crazy if I can't / won't / don't log my food for even an afternoon or evening due to a special occasion. I have lost all the weight I want to & am currently on Maintenance. If I ever quit logging my food, I will be back to Square 1.

Interesting most people seem to see MFP as a long term lifestyle change. I totally agree with this post and am glad to see I'm not the only one like this I happy to be addicted to MFP and no my junk food anymore ha ha!!! Thanks guys

SMarie10

As long as MFP is free and easy, I'll continue to use it.

seniorfaye

Yes, I can see myself staying on MFP for a long time . I have to be accountable to something or someone. I have reached my goal, just went on maintenance this week. But I know if I don't keep logging I will gain it back. I've never kept it off but I think I will this time. And of course I couldn't leave my friends that I've made in the last 7 months. They are part of the reason I'm still here. Their support and cheerleading me on is how I got to this point... I think my family gets a kick out of me logging when we're out and I've just ate. I keep hoping it will encourage some of them. I can't say enough good things about MFP for the work they do to keep this site going. What a blessing they are to sooo many people!!!

yoghurtand

I don't think so. I use MFP only to keep track day-to-day while I'm actively trying to lose weight. Otherwise, I'm well able to calculate and keep track of the calories in things by myself. I wouldn't like to be logging calories every day for the rest of ever. Hopefully one day I'll never count another calorie again. If I ever 'fall off the wagon' so to speak while maintaining, I'll come back, like I have every other time.

deb54

I sincerely believe that I will be here as long as MFP IS AROUND ... I would never have lost this weight without the support of all my friends ... Keeping a food and exercise diary is an essential part of this weight loss journey !!! I had always read that keeping a journal and counting calories is THE WAY to lose it and keep the weight off ... Now I know it's a Proven fact ... I am the proof !!! Best of luck with your weight loss journey ... Stick to what works...MFP !!!

shoppie

I have found myself nodding along to so many of the replies to this! I have also lost weight before only to gain it back. I think I gt lay, slowly but surely. I also think not logging gradually leads to me lying to myself about how much I am actually eating. I am only just starting to seriously think about maintenance, and for me being on here will definitely be part of maintaining for the forseeable reasons because I am absolutely committed to NOT gaining the weight back this time.

For me, I always log ven days I choose to cheat, because I find actually putting the numbers in really makes me think about just how hard I have to work in exercise, or undereat on subsequent days just for one 'cheat' - its almost never worth it!!

BeeElMarvin

I could be wrong (probably am...), but my hope is that, over time, the exercise and proper eating will become ingrained into my life and I will take them on as habits and it will just come naturally to me.

smallerthighs

I definitely see myself logging into mfp, and tracking my daily habits..for as long as mfp is up and running. This site has been absolutely amazing..and the people on here are so supportive. I wish I had know about this site years ago...but like the saying goes...when you are ready to change....truly ready.....only then will you give it your all. I guess before, I just wasn't ready enough........but now, more than ever..I am doijg this..and feeling positive and motivated.

alise_lmx

I've been wondering about this lately too. I feel like I have been getting really good about making better choices for my meals, and I definitley have a routine now. But right now, I'm afraid that if I stop logging I will gain it back, which I'm pretty sure would happen because even now if I have a day that I don't log, I always eat more than the days that I do log.

But I can't exactly imagine myself doing this the rest of my life, in fact it kind of depresses me to think that. Then on the other hand, I am starting to realize that to be healthy, counting calories will probably need to be a part of my life, whether it's on this site or some other way.

For now, I'm taking it one day at a time, and I do plan on being here for at least a year, and then take it from there.

LaSutopia

As long as MFP is free and easy, I'll continue to use it.

Yes! I agree! With so many things that are good out there, once they take off people start wanting to charge. I am so happy there are things like this to help people that are free. I enjoy doing it and I believe I can lose the weight if I stick to it and once I get it off I NEVER want to put it back on so I will have to stay here and maintain or else slip into the world or not really knowing what Im eating again (which is how I got here to begin with) So PLEASE KEEP IT FREE AND EASY so we can all get healthy and stay healthy!

alise_lmx

Since I regained 80+ lbs by NOT tracking and not being mindful of my eating, I won't make the same mistake twice. I have MFP on my phone, so I will always/very often use the MFP phone app (or whatever is available) for logging my intake. Just like many recovered alcoholics make AA a part of their recovery for life, I need to do the same sort of thing for this food business that is obviously something I can not manage fully on my own.

Now I may not be on the website as often once I reach goal. Right now I am using it as the support systemI don't have in real life, and to keep me busy as well as mindful of the goal at hand.

I totally agree with what you are saying about AA. I absolutely believe that some of the foods I used to eat were addicting to me. And addiction is for life, even if you are sober for years. It may seem silly to think of food as an addiction, but the only times I've had success with losing weight were if I thought of it that way.

PoeRaven

I've been maintaining for 10 months! I don't log every day but I do still log.
I see myself doing this until the website decides to start charging $$ to be a member.
:drinker:

sunshinethompson

Even when I find myself struggling to hold on, I think of my friends on here. I figure if I can spend time on face book then I can log on to MFP an check on my friend's progress and log in my journal as well. I actually find myself logging into MFP more so than my face book now. I have something in common with everyone person on MFP. I would definitely continue long after I've made my weight loss goal. If not, I would fall into the same bad eating habits and everything else that drew me here in the first place.

Nanadena

As long as MFP is free and easy, I'll continue to use it.

I will because it has become part of my everyday life. Kind of like making the bed, putting on my make up, combing my hair........ Knowing it is part of my life guides my exercise and eating habits. Plus, my friends are here:flowerforyou:

katep2492

ACCOUNTABILITY, That is why I'm here and will be here forever. The people I have met here are the most supportive people ever. They don't try to compete with you they are just genuinely happy for you and want you to do good! That is the problem I had with weight watchers it gave me the accountability but the people weren't very nice. I would be like "I lost a pound" and they would be like "o really? I Lost 5" I love this site and all the people I have met on here so until they shut it down I will be logging in and trying to encourage others!

meerkat70

I know from experience that I need to a) exercise, b) keep an eye on what I eat and c) weigh myself to keep my weight down. Given how hard I work to shift the weight, I have no intention of blimping up again once it's all finally gone. So I will continue these habits, as they are healthy *for me*, either here, or some other place.

So yes, I guess I see myself always monitoring in some form or other, because I have lifelong body issues that I dont believe will go away simply because I lose weight.

stevenleagle

I've got a long way to go before my goal. But I think it is going to be important that even if I reach my goal, I will need to keep logging to ensure that I do not slip into bad habits and ensure that I can maintain my weight for a significant period of time. I notice that some of my inspirational friends (who have reached their goal) are doing this. Time will tell.