Is MFP Forever?

Nikki582

Do you have any 'goals' with MFP?
I was talking to my husband who told me I can't count and worry about calories forever (fair point) so it got me thinking..

When will you or did you stop using MFP and counting cals? I was thinking when I reach halfway to stop pre-planning and/or counting as I go for the weekends... then once I reach my initial goal weight to do the same on the weekdays (at least counting at the end of the day to ensure I"m on track - rather than knowing what's left etc)

How about you? How do you feel on this?

3GKnight

I don't plan on using the calorie counter beyond reaching my goal weight, but it's a good supportive community so I'm sure I'll hang around a little.

mudya

Once I reach my goal, I will stop logging, but still stick around! Love the forums!

nikisab120

I think keeping a food journal is just a part of a healthy lifestyle, whether you are at your goal weight or not. It will help with maintaining your weight. So whether or not you decide to continue using MFP, you should definately keep a daily log of the foods you eat to keep yourself on track.

pholbert

I plan on still working the site. I don't want to yoyo anymore.

PoochPottery

I think as you go through the weight loss process you begin to learn just how much food and exercise you need to lose and or maintain your weight. So using this tool will not be necessary at that point. Especially once you reach your goal. My plan is to do maintenance for at least a month just to get familiar with what I need to do. Then I will taper off. I do like the community so that is always something to turn to.

katyejean

I'll probably wean myself from logging towards the end. To insure I can do it alone if something were to happen. But I love the community around here!

CoraGregoryCPA

umm... I never thought about this.. I hope to reach my goal weight by counting and tracking calories.. so if I want to stay there, then I should continue MFP. Or calculate in my mind where I'm at for the day. However, for me, calculating my calories in my head has never worked before.

I guess it's like Facebook,,, unfortunately that will never go away.. and I hope MFP won't either.

3GKnight

I don't plan on using the calorie counter beyond reaching my goal weight, but it's a good supportive community so I'm sure I'll hang around a little.

I should qualify this in that I assume I'll have a much better feel for calorie costs and be able to keep track in my head.

Megan2Project

I believe it is always something I'll have to be mindful of. While I may not use it as frequently as I do now, I believe I will check in periodically for the foreseeable future. Maybe go off if I'm ok and if I gain a few pounds then get back on track. We'll see how it goes!

cloveraz

Most likely, I will keep logging my food intake and exercises forever. It kinda has become like a drug. It makes me responsible for myself and only myself. I kinda need that control.

TheFitHooker

Today I posted a blog post and in the blog post I challenged my readers to post "I train because..." and they answer the question. This is something I'd considered training my mind, to know what is good for me, to know when enough is enough, to say no, to be able to weigh it all in my head. I'm sure I'll count calories even when I'm at my goal. Just because I'm training myself to look at nutrition facts already. Even if I don't write them down I will count them in my head. It's pretty much in my head to do so.

LuckyLeprechaun

I've already proven to myself that I can stop logging and just maintain a weight. I did it for a year. Then I decided to begin losing again and I came back to MFP. When I decide to enter maintenance, I'll keep using MFP because I love my friends, but I likely will lay off logging for awhile.

Saezimmerman

I agree that logging everything you eat forever seems a little unreasonable, but a food diary has value beyond just weight loss. There will be times after we're all at our goal weight that we will want to log for a week or two at a time.
For instance, my mom has high blood pressure; as a way to support her in her low sodium diet, I logged my sodium intake for a week. My mother-in-law, who is at the low end of normal on a BMI chart, logged her diet for two weeks to chart her average calcium intake.
Instead of viewing logging as a means to an end, we should shoot for viewing logging as a reasonable way to get the information we need to meet any health challenge (weight, micro-nutrients, even headache trends).

thefishers4

I tried to do this and found that I just can't do it without MFP. MFP is my life and I will always be on here. I love how MFP has changed my life for the better.

Tiggerrick

I reached my goal a while back, but am still around. Knowing me, I will eventually stop logging in, but not yet. However, the lessons learned as to HOW MUCH to eat, or how many calories something has, will stay with me long after.

Lala521

When I joined MFP a few weeks ago, my goal is to lose 20 lbs. I may go ahead and go for 5 more lbs. But when I reach my goal, I will still log my meals and keep track of the calories. Some days Im sure I will go way over since I will be eating some cake or pie along the way and even a chili dog here and there. But I plan to stay within my calories most days. But once you reach your goal, I see no reason to stay within the limited calories everyday. But this will help us all to never gain the weight back if we keep track of what we are eating. I will weigh in weekly also. That way if I gain a lb,, it will be easy to get that lb off in just a few days.

Lala521

When I joined MFP a few weeks ago, my goal is to lose 20 lbs. I may go ahead and go for 5 more lbs. But when I reach my goal, I will still log my meals and keep track of the calories. Some days Im sure I will go way over since I will be eating some cake or pie along the way and even a chili dog here and there. But I plan to stay within my calories most days. But once you reach your goal, I see no reason to stay within the limited calories everyday. But this will help us all to never gain the weight back if we keep track of what we are eating. I will weigh in weekly also. That way if I gain a lb,, it will be easy to get that lb off in just a few days.

MercenaryNoetic26

Wow, I hadn't thought of that! I can see myself on it forever. I've tried having food journals you write in and couldn't do it. Why, not? Peeps go on facebook every day. Why not plug your food every day? Plus I like the MFP crowd too much. Maybe, just maybe I'll stay on it FOREVA!!!!!!!!!!!

heresmyinsidevoice

Even for someone like myself who's within their weight range, I think MFP is such a useful tool for keeping my motivation up to keep myself moving so I am less prone to depression. I find that I can never stop learning or improving on my own health and well being. Even if a person were to reach their goal weight, if it were myself I would need to continue with logging my progress to maintain my weight and my health, otherwise for myself I know without the discipline of logging in every day, I would definitely slide through the cracks in a depressive, sedentary lump.

rlwzgd

After I reach my goal weight, I'm planning on using MFP to keep track of nutrition - not just calories - since it has sodium, calcuium, vits, etc. Of course, I'll probably be more lax about the calories.

mea9

I think I'll have to budget my money forever, no matter where I am financially, so that I can be secure and independent. I have to know how much there is and where it’s going in order to set, have, and meet, my goals - however high they may be.

Food (aka calories) is the same thing. It’s a resource and I’ll always have to keep track of the quality and quantity. I don’t think about this as just losing weight. It’s about quality control.

SusanneWhittington

I hope that I will stay after I reached my goal to maintain and not yoyo.

PetitePerfection

I don't think I'll be able to *not* count once I reach my goal weight. I already know the calories in basically everything. I add it up compulsively.

KokomoJoe

I think keeping a food journal is just a part of a healthy lifestyle, whether you are at your goal weight or not. It will help with maintaining your weight. So whether or not you decide to continue using MFP, you should definately keep a daily log of the foods you eat to keep yourself on track.

^^^^^^^^
THIS

stevwil41

I look at MFP as a tool that I'm using to support a healthier lifestyle. For me, part of a healthier lifestyle involves me being aware of what I eat so even if it's not MFP I will always keep some sort of food journal.

amybell68

this is so much a part of my life now! I don't even want to think of not posting or logging!!

Jade_Butterfly

Just because you reach your goal does not mean that you have to leave. . I plan to contiunue and motivate others long after I achieve my personal goals.:bigsmile:

JediMaster_intraining

I think I love MFP enough to commit to it forever. Why not? It has free tools for me to keep track of calories, exercise, BMI, and BMR. Not to mention friends who have been seeing your weight loss journey, interesting people who have the same healthy goals (for the most part) and funny posts.

bry_all01

I've always been at my goal weight and still use the logging so I can make sure I am taking in enough protein. Plus, its helpful when I change between bulking and leaning out.

I'd assume if one wasn't using MFP anymore, they wouldn't be here to respond...

HonkyTonks

I am a yo yo dieter and have gained and lost weight numerous times over the years. I find that if I am not keeping myself accountable that all the little snacks here and there add up and I end up having more calories than I should. I'd like to be able to just eat normal/healthy without worrying about calories but that's a long way off. Even if I reached my goal weight I think I'd count calories for a while longer.