Does everyone log their food?

venom74799

I log it in beforehand in order to make sure I am not getting something ridiculous. Once I have a hang on whats good vs whats bad and get within 20 pounds of my goal then I can let off the gas pedal a bit.

mrandolph69

I log everything. I find it to be educational in that it shows me exactly what I need to work on. For example, it never occurred to me that frozen chicken is loaded with sodium. After scanning the barcode on some chicken in order to log it I saw how much sodium there was. I then researched it and found out that most chicken is injected with a brine solution. I now buy chicken that is not treated loaded with sodium. That was a direct result of logging food. Of course, I do the same thing by paying more attention to food labels now but I still think I would not be as successful without logging my food.

bachooka

i couldn't have lost any with out logging...i cheat otherwise.

getting a scale has helped me with portions (especially peanut butter...32 g is NOT a lot!)

Agreed! I cheat like crazy... even now I do somewhat because I don't have a food scale... My momma is getting me one for my birthday tho, and then I have no excuse!

msblueyes5

Why would MFP members not log their food? Why be on MFP if you didn't use the power of logging food... I'm missing something.

I logged at first, now I don't. I just like to give some motivation now and then and read the forums to learn new things about nutrition. Works for me!

raevynn

I lost 80 lbs 14 years ago by just writing down everything I ate (and drinking water, and exercise..)

I slowly put it all back on over the years by NOT paying much attention (I had some other issues that were taking precedence).

I'm logging it all, and relearning what a portion size should be.

therobinator

I used to log relogiously, now I don't. Reasons are listed on my profile. So far, I haven't really gained anything back, and that's all I was hoping for until I start exercising again.

rml_16

Anyone out there that does NOT log food, just try to make better food decisions AND exercise?
If so, are you losing with this method? I find that if I work out hard I automatically make better food choices.
But I start to 'obsess' if I log....of course I want to do what is going to work for me so that I lose. I have about 60 lbs to lose!
Any suggestions??

My supervisor lost about 40 pounds that way. I can't do it, personally.

sfergie

Yeah, I know this website is for logging but I also notice that alot of people don't and they are just here for the support so that's why I asked the question. Thanks for all your responses!

lolainlondon

I logged absolutely everything to begin with. Now I'm a bit more relaxed about it. I think you begin to get to the point where you have a rough internal clock that tells you how much you can have. I've had days where I hadn't logged it at the time, thought I'd be a bit over, and then when I did go back and log everything (including portion size) found it to be just under my limit.

joakool

I log everything. When I eat at work (no internet access), I write everything down and log it at home. Logging helps me from cheating. I really think about how what I am about to eat will affect my calorie limit for the day. I also log to become more educated on portions and calorie content. Sometimes I am FLOORED at how many calories that "little" bowl of soup has, or that homemade casserole.

ZombieKillaPrincess

i log everything. it makes me hold myself accountable, otherwise the temptation to cheat is always there. plus there is no shame in going over calories occasionally. last sunday we celebrated 2 birthdays and i visited my grandma that loves to cook/bake... i went over by 800+ calories and it wasn't pleasant to see but I still like knowing where i'm at.

27strange

I log everything, I have found its too easy to lose track and over binge (on the weekends or whenever) if I don't log what I am consuming. I need the crutch of logging my food. If you can make good choices and eat clean without it that is great for you!!

missyyclaire

I even pre-logged my dinner last night because of what we were going to eat. I wanted to see ahead of time what the numbers would be if I ate that whole steak and splurged on 4 glasses of wine and ate a good bit of homemade hummus and cornbread crackers. I'm glad I did. Even with all that (The ribeye was 16 oz!), I was still under my calories for the day. A bit over on Protein, but still I knew I could eat that meal with my visiting friend and not have to worry about going waaaay off my eating. The nice thing is, once I'd eaten part of the steak, I was satisfied. Instead of shoveling the rest of it down, I ziploc-ed the leftovers and will have them another time. Saved some calories.

It was really nice to know ahead of time that I could go ahead and enjoy the meal and not be blowing my plan. Another reason I love the Food and Exercise Logs

svetlana_vs

I log mine religiously and missed only 1 or 2 days within 3 months almost, only during days when my dinners included "meze" type of food in restaurants and it was practically impossible to log all.

Uk_Yogini

I log everything. I'm also getting to the point where I'm pretty good at eyeballing portion sizes and know what foods work together well ect.

nsblue

I have been logging everything since april and continue to do so. I keeps me accountable to me and also helps teach me about calories/ portions etc. I usually plan my days meals ahead to stay on track and within my calories...but I had a few days away in Toronto... and wasn't sure what I would eat. From that experience I found I CAN choose wisely without logging and that what I have learned here I can use for life. Will I still keep logging? yup... just a good habit for me to keep.

SabrinaJL

This is the first time I've ever logged what I've eaten and the first time I've lost a significant amount of weight. When I started this, I realized a big part of the problem was that I really had NO idea what portion sizes actually were. What I thought was a reasonable portion size was more like 2.5 servings. I will continue to log until (and maybe even after) I reach my goal.

My mom lost 50 lbs and she never tracked anything. Just ate better and worked out. So do whatever works.

leilani♥

If it goes through my digestive system I log it. Unless I eat 1 chip or 1 fry then I don't log that.

I do this because what if my weight goes up one week. I can look back at the food I ate the previous week and see if that's the culprit for weight gain. When I first started I only lost 1 lb a week. So I looked back at my diary, made some adjustments and now lose 1.5-2 lbs a week. It's a great tool and anyone would be a fool to not take advantage of it

Kambriasgranny

I lopg everything everyday....I need to see what I am putting in my body everyday. I think we fool ourselves by thinking "I don't really eat that much"...HA!! I am amazed how much I was eating just trough snacking throughout the day. I don't sit down and eat many full meals, but I do snack and it adds up VERY fast! I want to see what I have eaten and how I can improve.

keola64

You increase the chance of cheating your self out of your goal,its not hard to log everything if you are serious & committed ,if you are to lazy to log your food you will not be able to review the types of calories eaten,if you stay under your calories but all of your calories consists of high fats ,sugar,crabs,& not enough good nutrients the you will be in healthy and probably have a very hard time losing weight,as u learn more of health & nutrition and what you should be eating( logging entries helps with this ) then you will be more qualified to just wing it and not worry so much about your entries,till the you need to stick to the rules of a diet plan! & exercise,or don't do it till you are 100% committed!! Not to be offensive its just the truth,take it from some 1 who has done it.

channa007

Absolutely! Calories in calories out. Why have to guess if you're on track?

infamousmk

If I don't log, I work out and then think, "oh, I can have whatever I want to eat because I totally worked out." It just doesn't work for me. I have to see the numbers.

kevin3344

I log and I don't really have anything to lose...I want to set an example and encourage my sister-in-law. Btw she is doing great.

Also, I would rather know that not know what I'm eating, if you know what I mean. It only takes a few minutes a day to put it in MFP.

Not any more time than Facebook

Panda_Jack

I usually log Taso42's food. I find he makes better choices throughout the day than I do and I feel less guilty eating pizza if I log it as something healthy that he has in his diary.

NewVonnie

Yes

RocketsGirl75

I usually log Taso42's food. I find he makes better choices throughout the day than I do and I feel less guilty eating pizza if I log it as something healthy that he has in his diary.

And now the truth comes out....

:grumble:

Contrarian

I just come here for the free cocaine and hookers.

rodneyderrick

If I thought too hard about eating something, but don't eat it, I still log it for the evil thought. If you're pudgy or obese or whatever you want to call it, you have an eating disorder. You have a problem with how you relate to food, whether you believe it or not. Using a calorie counting tool like MFP is one way an individual can get a handle on life and food. The majority of people, on this site, who are slim log religiously; and the ones that are fit, but don't log, already have an idea of how it all works, so they can go without logging.

slainger

yes, everyday since Feb 17th, when I joined MFP. I weigh and measure everything - except maybe lettuce & tomatoes, though I still log them! Its made a huge difference in my life. I figure even when I hit my goal weight I will continue logging so I don't undo all my success! 65 pounds in less than 7 months makes me a believer in logging!

bcattoes

I lost most of my weight before I'd ever heard of this site. I just exercised and ate right. That's still pretty much what I do because I don't ever log anything before I eat it. Sometimes I go over what this site says I should eat, sometimes under, but I'm usually pretty close. I've been eating right and exercising so long now that I know what my body needs.