Its kindo hard to log in everything? :(

Hi all,
I started on this site yesterday...but could not keep up logging all day my calorie intake...

It all looks kindo time consuming? Is it just me?? Or does it get easier with practice and familiarity to this site??
«1

Replies

  • k8lyn_235
    k8lyn_235 Posts: 507 Member
    definitely gets easier once you get used to it! give it a couple weeks.. it's like second nature to me now!
  • nancycola
    nancycola Posts: 98 Member
    Same here. It gets easier over time. Try to log as you eat. If you find it hard to keep up it might help modify the habit of grazing if you do that. This might be a good thing.

    Give it time. List every bite on your log!!!
  • I was worried about the 'time' factor as well.... but it does get easier... I have only been on this site for about a week. For me - the first couple days were tough, but it helps that I was able to download the smartphone app. I am using the site to get a better idea of how many calories in certain things, and just to have some awareness of 'how much' I am eating throughout the day, and to work on portion control.

    Good luck!
  • slickannie
    slickannie Posts: 8 Member
    It may seem hard in the beginning, but you can do it. Sometimes I have to wait til later in the day but I still log in what I ate earlier. It may take you a little while to get used to it, but really try, it works.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    Hi all,
    I started on this site yesterday...but could not keep up logging all day my calorie intake...

    It all looks kindo time consuming? Is it just me?? Or does it get easier with practice and familiarity to this site??

    Do you also have a smartphone or a tablet? If so, did you know that you can download a free app for it and log there? These also have barcode scanners that make logging very quick. The website and the apps sync.

    It does get easier as you go along, because as you log, foods are added to your "Favorites" and "Recent" lists. You can also copy a meal from one day to another, or create "Meals" for foods you frequently eat together.
  • LadyIvysMom
    LadyIvysMom Posts: 391 Member
    It totally gets easier. I know the first week was confusing and took some getting used to. But I've been at it for over a month now and I've lost 14 lbs! It's a great motivator to eat less and exercise more. It also really makes you pay attention to the nutritional content of the food you are eating. I make much healthier choices now and have even discovered some new foods that I really enjoy AND taken up running as a hobby. This site is totally worth it!
  • FelicityEliza36
    FelicityEliza36 Posts: 252 Member
    There is also a phone app that you can use to easily scan bar codes and track that way.

    Save your MEALS and RECIPES for easy logging as well :)

    Most things you really want in life take time though - it's a great commitment and will pay off in the long run <3
  • Scoochie1
    Scoochie1 Posts: 121 Member
    Something else that you can do is plan ahead and log your food in advance at a time that suits.
    That can help you stick to your goals, particularly if you don't want to have to log in *again* just to add in those couple of unplanned biscuits you had :laugh:
  • LivingInPuglia
    LivingInPuglia Posts: 122 Member
    I agree with the other ..... it gets easier everyday. Once you've logged a few days you can copy previous meals, select from most used foods, most recent foods etc. Plus once you've added your own meals, recipes etc .... it all helps.

    Persevere, it's worth it. And it really makes you think about what you are eating and how many calories you are burning (even on holiday ....... wondering what my weigh in is going to be when I get home at the weekend after a week away!!!!)
  • KilikiMom
    KilikiMom Posts: 237 Member
    what i found to be easier is just sitting down at the begining of the day and logging what im gonna eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner and sometimes snacks...and then if i eat anything else i come back and log that whenever i come to log my exercise makes it much easier and my day is planned out and keeps me on track
  • vixmonsta
    vixmonsta Posts: 27 Member
    I plan ahead too - so i log in every morning and complete the day before whilst entering what i do know i'll be eating that day...
    with a bit of practise it gets really easy... and seeing how 1 bottle of orange juice compares to another can be really handy when you're shopping.....
  • sgv0918
    sgv0918 Posts: 851 Member
    totally 2nd nature now. Keep plugging along and it will become habit
  • slbrantner
    slbrantner Posts: 9 Member
    I log everything since the day I started. The thing I had a prblem with was drinks ... sonow I only drink water and I don't have that problem anymore. It is easier if you hae the app on your phone that way you can just scan it as you eat it.
  • ksemien
    ksemien Posts: 133 Member
    Different strategies for all. I play it by ear and log as I go on my phone. But either way, you just started, it gets way easier with time. Good Luck.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    It gets easier once most of your favorite foods are already loaded in your diary, so it's more a matter of clicking check boxes than searching for and adding foods.
  • davidpm
    davidpm Posts: 208 Member
    To add to what others have said, I found that I tend to eat similar things every day. I always have cereal for breakfast, always have yogurt and a ready made meal at lunch, etc. Those things that you eat every day show up at the top of the list on the site so you don't have to search for them anymore. Just check the boxes and click add and you're good to go! You can also copy from a previous day into today if you ate the same thing today.
  • divinebird
    divinebird Posts: 81 Member
    As everyone else mentioned, it DOES get easier. Especially since you'll start building a list of things you eat often, so you just have to check a box and make sure the portion is about right. I set up a meal section for beverages, since I tend to have the same coffee but at different times of the day. This way I can just add up the total as I go, rather than adding that same coffee/cream/sugar combo each time.

    Look at my diary if you want to see what I mean. The first couple of days are hard but then it only takes me about 5 minutes a day altogether. The phone app will be really helpful, too.
  • confettibetti
    confettibetti Posts: 405 Member
    it gets easier the more you do it. Also try prelogging your whole day, it keeps me on track! :)
  • Nysie5
    Nysie5 Posts: 215 Member
    if you have time for facebook, you have time for MFP, thats just me =)
  • Thanks everyone for your kind words. :flowerforyou:

    I just downloaded the app on my iPhone..and hope it will be convenient and easier now. :smile:
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    You know what's hard? Managing your diabetes with medication because your insulin spikes with everything you eat. Know what else is hard? Seeing the pity and sometimes even disgust on other people's faces because you can't fit into a regular sized seat on the train. You know what else is hard? Having to use a seatbelt extender on a plane, or having to buy a second seat. You know what's even harder? Dying young because you never took charge of your health.

    In the grand scheme of things, I log my food because it's the least hard of all of the alternatives.
  • It gets easier log everything just before you eat it and get the app on your phone so you can do it when you go out:)
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    It gets easier and becomes routine/habit.

    If you have trouble logging as you go, try logging the night before. I log my meals the night before then I know how much I have left over for snacks...although, sometimes I log the snacks too. It helps me know consistently where I am.

    Sometimes I do things the day of. Like tonight for instance...I'm sick and I had planned to make something for dinner that takes a LOT of prep but now I'm thinking I may do something different...but usually its all in there the night before.
  • rainghirl
    rainghirl Posts: 203 Member
    It's easier on this site, I was using Fitday before and all the foods were American so I had to enter all my own items, it was really time consuming. This site is much more international and it doesn't take me nearly so long.
  • AMHouse85
    AMHouse85 Posts: 285 Member
    I noticed the past few days that loading the food search has been slower also. I read a post the other day about a server update MFP did over the weekend and that is why there are slow/lag issues. Just in case that is part of the time issue. I've been waiting almost 5 minutes for it to open so I can pre add some stuff today.

    Other than that it does get easier, especially if you eat of the same variety often. I pretty much eat salads or eggs for lunch so they are right on the top of my recent foods list. No searching needed. I like to pre add things I know I will eat and then I add things either as I am eating them at dinner time or sit down later in the day and add it up. Give it some time and it will be 2nd nature.

    Good luck!!
  • GinaBeana1121
    GinaBeana1121 Posts: 49 Member
    It definitely gets easier with time. I log everything that I put In my mouth (I logged Advil the other day) if you have time to eat it you have time to log it!
  • Mama_Mila
    Mama_Mila Posts: 511 Member
    It is kindo hard :indifferent:
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    time to cowboy up
  • It gets easier as you familiarize yourself with the site and once you develop a list of "recent" and "most used" foods. The "most used" list also helps you to see if you're getting into a bad habit...unfortunately I noticed that "Hy-vee Chinese" made it onto my most used list for lunches, which helped me to realize just how often I was resorting to that for lunch. It can be an eye-opener.
  • emmie0622
    emmie0622 Posts: 167 Member
    Thanks everyone for your kind words. :flowerforyou:

    I just downloaded the app on my iPhone..and hope it will be convenient and easier now. :smile:

    Awesome! The Iphone app will help you a lot - also remember once you have been doing it for a couple of weeks, you will have foods stored in your recents or you can copy from a certain date. If you eat the same meal make sure you record that as a meal too, it gets easier! you just need to build your data base up some!