Coutnin' calories for the rest of your life?
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for me personally, i was using MFP pretty solid for about 8mos (and dropping weight). then i fell off the wagon. thought it was second nature, and id conquered my eating habits. but, slowly i started gaining a bit back. then i was able to mostly maintain, but i wasn't losing a thing. thats' when i came back, and now i'm losing weight again (also started going to a gym- obviously helping).
so, just for me, yes, i plan to count calories long term. it's just what works for me, and i find i slip in calories i don't notice when i'm not tracking.
now-- i will also say i happen to have just declared this a "cheat" day for me. and i'm trying to forgive myself for it and not obsess. it's hard, i understand that. but, i know this is a lifelong journey for me, and i'm going to slip up. i feel like if there are days when i'm just absolutely done and wat to go over my calories or eat something "bad" i'm going to have to let myself from time to time. otherwise i fear i'll really slip and fall off bigtime and just devour everything in site.
so again- all about what works for u!!! only u can determine that. GL to you! ;-)0 -
This sounds a bit all-or-nothing in approach, like either you "are" or you're "not" counting calories, and then having to beat yourself up when you take a day off when you currently "are" counting. Why not enjoy your cheat day with your friend and just move on. I take weekends off every few weeks. Honestly, I probably go over by very little but it's the mental break that I need. I also don't worry about it on holidays and birthdays. If you truly pay attention the other, what? 345 days a year? You will be fine. That is unless you go on 10,000 calorie binges but then I think the mental breaks help prevent that sort of thing.
^exactly what he said. well put.0 -
Why not?0
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This sounds a bit all-or-nothing in approach, like either you "are" or you're "not" counting calories, and then having to beat yourself up when you take a day off when you currently "are" counting. Why not enjoy your cheat day with your friend and just move on. I take weekends off every few weeks. Honestly, I probably go over by very little but it's the mental break that I need. I also don't worry about it on holidays and birthdays. If you truly pay attention the other, what? 345 days a year? You will be fine. That is unless you go on 10,000 calorie binges but then I think the mental breaks help prevent that sort of thing.
I completely agree with this.
I enjoy counting calories most of the time, but sometimes I simply take a break for a day or two. I still measure absolutely everything because that allows me to at least rough estimate everything in my mind. I've been counting calories for 3 years now.0 -
If it counting calories is what it takes to lower and maintain my weight. Then I def will count calories for the rest of my life.0
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I don't get this.
Is counting calories REALLY that difficult for you? Is it SO hard, SO much of a terrible inconvenience in your busy, busy life that you are that put off by taking THREE MINUTES (tops) a meal to log what you ate? I would like to know what you do for a living that makes your time THAT valuable. MFP makes it so easy and simple, why would you even waste time thinking about not doing it anymore? Is it worth slipping into your old habits without being held accountable (almost everyone does) and getting fat again? If it is, then give up. As for me, I choose to take a short moment a few times a day to log, in order to guarantee that I I stay fit and trim, for the rest of my life.
I didn't get that vibe from OP. I don't think she said she didn't have time to do it, either. It was more of a "will I have to be this worried about counting calories" type of thing. She then even goes on to say that if she learns portion control in this journey, she won't really need it anyway.0 -
For me, im hoping that i learn about portions and can stay on track without having to count calories. I've been counting calories so long, that i think i could guesstimate through out the day and maintain. This is what i am going to try when i reach my goal weight. I dont think someone should have to do this forever. Good luck!0
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Yeah, pretty much, if I want to keep the weight off, I will be logging. It's what has worked for me my entire life - way before there were these nifty internet sites… way before there was an internet! :happy: I started with a calorie book and a steno pad, then progressed to an Excel spreadsheet, then the wonder of the smartphone and these apps! When I didn't log, that's when the weight came back. It's just my 'in your face' approach to maintenance.
My caveat is that I will not forever log EVERY day. Right now, I don't log weekends, and it's not because I think weekends are free-for-alls, but they are just busy. Yes, I let myself have things I don't during the week (booze, hot wings
, but I still watch portions and my overall consumption. This is my life-balance plan. 0 -
This sounds a bit all-or-nothing in approach, like either you "are" or you're "not" counting calories, and then having to beat yourself up when you take a day off when you currently "are" counting. Why not enjoy your cheat day with your friend and just move on. I take weekends off every few weeks. Honestly, I probably go over by very little but it's the mental break that I need. I also don't worry about it on holidays and birthdays. If you truly pay attention the other, what? 345 days a year? You will be fine. That is unless you go on 10,000 calorie binges but then I think the mental breaks help prevent that sort of thing.
This seems like a healthy approach. I'm afraid I would gradually slip into less days logged as I went along though. Kinda like flossing-- right after I go to the dentist I do really well with it for a few weeks. Then I skip a day, then another day, and before I know it, no more flossing. (erm, I mean I totally floss every day. Sometimes twice a day. I swear.)0 -
I don't get this.
Is counting calories REALLY that difficult for you? Is it SO hard, SO much of a terrible inconvenience in your busy, busy life that you are that put off by taking THREE MINUTES (tops) a meal to log what you ate? I would like to know what you do for a living that makes your time THAT valuable. MFP makes it so easy and simple, why would you even waste time thinking about not doing it anymore? Is it worth slipping into your old habits without being held accountable (almost everyone does) and getting fat again? If it is, then give up. As for me, I choose to take a short moment a few times a day to log, in order to guarantee that I I stay fit and trim, for the rest of my life.
I didn't get that vibe from OP. I don't think she said she didn't have time to do it, either. It was more of a "will I have to be this worried about counting calories" type of thing. She then even goes on to say that if she learns portion control in this journey, she won't really need it anyway.
To be honest, I didn't get that vibe either. I was putting things into perspective, saying to OP that even if she did have to count calories for the rest of her life, so what? So you stay fit and healthy forever. Oh, the calamity.
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I used to think the same way you did, which is why I quit using Weight Watchers. I didn't want to spend the rest of my counting points. (I never could get the hang of their conversion system.) Since I started using MFP I've been paying close attention to how many calories are in the foods that I like to eat, and I'm adjusting my portions so that I can still eat what I want but stay within my calorie goals.
I'm trying hard to learn and remember what foods work and what foods don't. I believe that I'm going to have to pay close attention to nutritional information for the rest of my life. I don't always like that thought, but to me its a small price to pay to insure that I don't balloon back up to my heaviest weight. I'm down 20 pounds total and that feels so good. I know the minute I quit counting, I'll stop caring and start gaining.
I will say this, I do have cheat days once a week. For example, I'm getting together with my friends tomorrow and I know there will not be healthy food options there. I'll pick from the lesser of the evils and enjoy it for the night. Then I'll be back on the band wagon on Sunday. I think its important to allow yourself to indulge from time to time because I have found that total deprivation does not work at all.
Long story short: Calorie counting teaches more than just counting calories - its portion control and teaches you just what you can eat and what you shouldn't. If you feel you don't need to count calories to maintain your weight loss, then good for you. Just be careful not to stop counting and then start gaining.0 -
Once you are done losing weight, you will have more calories. If you keep exercising a few days a week, keep eating clean (for the most part), keep an eye on how much you eat, you should be fine. Keep track of your weight and measurements, say once a month... if you see a serious gain, track again and see what you are doing wrong... otherwise, enjoy your life!0
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It's going to by reality until I die just because I have a food addiction and going back up to 365lb would probably be very easy0
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Personally I like it. It keeps me firmly accountable for both my cals in and cals out. I find it fascinating and I hope I always do. This is the 3rd time on the roller coaster ride and with any luck my last (my first time with mfp). I find I wake up every morning and look forward to logging.0
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I think *I* will have to go on logging for the rest of my life, or for a very long time. Is that the case for everyone? No. But I know how I am, and I think this will be necessary for me.
However - once I'm in maintenance, I suspect I'll probably take the weekends 'off' from logging. I went up to maintenance over the Christmas holidays (for 2 weeks), and I didn't really log much at all. Didn't gain a thing. I will likely do the same thing when I go visit my family this summer.0 -
I suspect I will have to count calories for the rest of my life, perhaps not daily but a few times a week to ensure I'm within a reasonable amount otherwise I will regain weight. It's not an appealing prospect but if that's what it takes to stay healthy then so be it.0
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I thought once I got to where I wanted to be I could stop counting and as a result I have added 20lbs back on =(0
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I've come to the realization that counting calories may not be a life long deal for me, but that nourishing my body is. I now know what makes my body work better and what makes me feel like crap. I definitely do not to stuff myself to the point of being uncomfortable. I have never had an off switch that lets me know when I have had enough food, but paying attention to my body's clues I am able to eat less than I have in the past.0
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I think I will stop logging and begin guestimating eventually. I'm pretty good with numbers, so I'm sure it will just be a passing thought about whether or not I should eat something that day.
PS- Why do you hate the "g" key so much?
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bumping for later0
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I think I will probably count calories for the rest of my life, I am ok with this. I feel like if I stopped the weight would creep back on and I am never ever going back to the way i was before. Just my pinion0
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My username should answer that!0 -
I'm an accountant, counting, according, credits, debits, and making an analysis, is a part of my job. Doing it for myself, and for my food, just makes good accounting sense.0
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This is probably only the second time in my life that I am actually counting calories instead of estimating intake and working out lol. I lost weight both ways but it's probably because I never made the lifestyle change of getting used to eating well all the time and making here and there days for exceptions.
You learn to moderate your meals and work out just for being healthy and fit, also because it becomes enjoyable.
Eventually I will be back to where I was between Highschool and baby where I ate healthy and was pretty fit (not super skinny fat, I actually had good muscle mass) and didn't feel like I had to worry too much on what I ate because I did eat pretty healthy from having it become a lifestyle. I just want to get there again and maintain.0 -
Counting calories have become a part of my everyday routine, so I feel like I will be logging calories for the foreseeable future. I have decided, however, to NOT log on the days that I don't work (Sundays and whatever day during the week that I'm off), and that seems to work for me as far as it being less of a chore (No, I do not go overboard on those days, I'm just a little more lax). As with everything else, you have to find what works for you, and what you know you will stick with.0
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Last night I went out to dinner with a friend I haven't seen or talked to for a couple of years. I only had 700-some calories left for the day I had spent the whole afternoon stressin', thinkin' what could I possibly get at this particular restaurant that wouldn't make me go over. I knew my options where next to none. I get there, and start lookin' over the menu and I just decided to eat what I wanted, without worryin' about calories. I ate and I'm sure I went over my remainin' calories, but I didn't stuff my face and I enjoyed my meal and the company.
Upon leavin' the place, I got to thinkin' about countin' calories and if it's really somethin' I can see myself doin' for a long time. The answer is NO. I will long enough to get the excess weight gone, but for me, this has been a journey in portion control and all over healthier eatin'. My goal is to have transitioned over to the clean eatin' lifestyle, and I don't feel like once I've mastered that, I'll even need to really worry so much about calories.
Anyone else out there feel like this? Or do you plan on continuin' to count calories/points/what have you for a long, long time? Any clean eaters out there that don't count calories and have lost/maintained weight?
Is the G on your keyboard broken? :huh:0 -
I'm not sure what I will do ~ my current plan is to count them while I'm losing ~ and then count them for the first 6 months of maintenance. I think after that I might just start logging again if the scale moves more than 2lbs out of my comfort zone. And to be honest, I don't even know what that 'magic' number is yet. I only weigh once a week, and I'm content to do that for the rest of my life. I think I'm going to take it as it comes, if I feel at the time like I need the support of logging my meals, I think I'm content to do that forever. And if I find that I'm able to maintain without logging, I could be content with that too. I do feel like I will be logging if I can't maintain on my own. And that's ok with me. ;-)0
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I know I'm going to have to continue doing SOMETHING if I'm going to maintain. I can't just rely on healthy, intuitive eating.
I started with the "No S" diet, because it was the first diet I'd seen that I really thought I could do for maintenance (i.e. forever!) rather than just to lose weight. I've mixed it up with calorie counting, but I'm hoping that I might be able to do something like No S (basically no snacking or sweets on weekdays) most of the time in maintenance. I plan to weigh regularly and will probably have to do some calorie counting as well.0 -
I can go prolonged periods without logging, but I feel better and can perform better (running, lifting, etc.) when I track my food.
I think of it like managing my bank account. Sure, I can keep a tally in my head for a while, but if I still need to balance my check book manually.
I don't think of it as a way to limit my intake... just a way to make sure I'm eating right.
^^this
Well put! When you have a habit of eating right and exercising regularly, you will not have to count calories. But, it's good to spot-check, or balance your checkbook, every once in awhile. Sometimes counting calories reminds me that I need to get my butt moving and off the couch! 0 -
What do you have against g's????
But to answer your hypothetical, I probably will continue to count calories for quite some time, maybe even forever. I have already learned not to worry if I go over, and not stress over special occasions. It was hard, but now that I am there, I will continue until I am confident that I have truly learned portion size and control. and then keep going just to keep myself accountable and because I enjoy it. I am a numbers person. But, if it stresses you out, there's no need to keep doing something if you can do it on your own.:flowerforyou: 0
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