Do you log when you hit goal weight?

DeirdreMum8
DeirdreMum8 Posts: 68
in Health and Weight Loss
Changed my weight loss goals to maintain! A little scary for me but I want to a routine Dr check and my BMI is 19.5, and under 18.5 is considered underweight. I know I still think of myself as 30 pounds heavier than I am but time to keep these habits and stay where I am in the mid to high 120's. For those of you here do you continue to log daily food?

Thinking maybe I will attempt to keep daily habits and as long as I stay in my weight range I will not track food. But it has worked so well for almost 2 years I am hesitant to stop:)

Any thoughts?:smile:

Replies

  • ash_lauren2
    ash_lauren2 Posts: 16
    Being close to my goal, I have wondered this as well.
    I think I will probably try not logging, then have when I weigh as a "check-in" about once a month. If I have gained, I will then log again for a while & try again :)
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    When I am ready to gain back the 90 lbs that I lost, I will quit logging.
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    When I am ready to gain back the 90 lbs that I lost, I will quit logging.

    Roger that :laugh:
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    It is extremely important that you learn how many calories a day your body needs to maintain your weight. Everybody's amount is different. You cannot do this if you don't log.

    When I was in weight loss mode, I didn't know what this number was. All I knew that I was creating a calorie deficit since I was losing weight. Once I hit goal, it took me about six months to learn how many calories I need to maintain. This time frame is pretty average for every one, from what I have read.
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    When I am ready to gain back the 90 lbs that I lost, I will quit logging.

    :)
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    First of all congrats on hitting goal weight! I plan to keep logging. I have never maintained a healthy weight in my life, I will need to figure out my maintenance calories and how to stick to them. MFP will be invaluable for this. Plus I'd miss all the people here if I left.
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    It is extremely important that you learn how many calories a day your body needs to maintain your weight. Everybody's amount is different. You cannot do this if you don't log.

    When I was in weight loss mode, I didn't know what this number was. All I knew that I was creating a calorie deficit since I was losing weight. Once I hit goal, it took me about six months to learn how many calories I need to maintain. This time frame is pretty average for every one, from what I have read.

    I definitely agree with this. You may not log forever, but I would definitely log while trying to determine maintenance calories needed. Some people then log once or twice a week to keep it honest. I won't give up MFP for at least a year, if then. Maintenance can be as hard as weight loss for some.

    Also, I think there are studies that show that those who maintain a food journal are more successful at keeping off the weight. I'd rather keep logging than have to come back and lose again.
  • vbarcok
    vbarcok Posts: 20 Member
    I plan to keep logging when I meet my goal. I have never been able to maintain on my own. When I feel like I can do it alone then I will stop. I don't want to stop logging and go back to who I was before.
  • DeirdreMum8
    DeirdreMum8 Posts: 68
    Thanks all! I really appreciate it. I have been within 5 lbs of goal for about 6 months.

    I find getting on a scale each and every morning is as important as logging for me.

    That said I really agree it keeps me honest, helps me plan my day and give me a sense of healthy accomplishment. I think with exercise the calories they give me are about right, without exercise I would gain. I will experiment with what works, basically if I go above my goal I log until I am back on track. And corn chips and Peanut Butter will always be very much in moderation.... for life!!

    Thanks for the feedback! Congrats on all your accomplishments:smile:
  • lvtruu1
    lvtruu1 Posts: 211 Member
    For every story of the person that lost a lot of weight and kept it off there are 100 about people that lost the weight and then gained it back and more. I'm basically at maintenance weight. I'm cutting for another 10 days. Vacation for 6 then I'll decide what to do.

    I really think that even if you are at maintenance you should continue logging for at least a month or two. Eventually you'll want to stop, life is far to short to count every last calorie for the rest of your life. Log for a while. Make sure what you think maintenance is is actually correct. Then step away from it, but continue tracking your weight. I plan on being one of those that keeps the weight off. I went on a "diet" which became a lifestyle change. Just because I may choose not to count calories down the road, doesn't give me a license to eat like crap and get fat again.
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    It is extremely important that you learn how many calories a day your body needs to maintain your weight. Everybody's amount is different. You cannot do this if you don't log.

    When I was in weight loss mode, I didn't know what this number was. All I knew that I was creating a calorie deficit since I was losing weight. Once I hit goal, it took me about six months to learn how many calories I need to maintain. This time frame is pretty average for every one, from what I have read.

    I hope you realize I was agreeing with you, in my stupid way :smile: I was just laughing because of the way you stated your original post. You are so right!! I'm about half way through and I have a pretty good idea of what I'll have to eat to maintain my goal weight.
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    Oh no worries, I know you were agreeing with me! This was directed the OP. I'm just really passionate when it comes to logging my food. lol
  • shellfly
    shellfly Posts: 186
    I met my goal in December, and at first I stopped logging, but then I continued to lose weight and realized I need to get more scientific about figuring out exactly where my calories need to be so that I can truly maintain. I tend to think I've eaten more calories than I actually have. Also, I wanted to focus more on continuing to improve my nutrition along with my fitness and wanted to take a look at my sodium, sugar, etc. intake.
  • DeirdreMum8
    DeirdreMum8 Posts: 68
    You guys have me sold! I am going to continue to log for awhile and take daily weight!

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