Stopping logging for the holidays...

marfhutch
marfhutch Posts: 50 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Today I had an assessment at the gym and was told I have managed to lose 9lbs and 4% bf in the last 4 months (slow and steady etc!). This also coincided with me having a mini break down as I feel I am worrying about food/calories a bit too much! Both of these put together have made me think about giving the old deficit a few weeks off until the new year. I originally thought about keeping logging but aiming for maintenance, but now I'm considering giving my brain a break aswell... Really don't want to lose my hard earned progress so is there any tips? Has anyone successfully managed to eyeball maintenance level?

Replies

  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    There is no way I'd try to eyeball maintenance right off the bat, and certainly not around the holidays. Personally, I'd keep logging but do it at maintenance if you want a break from the calorie deficit.
  • paxbfl
    paxbfl Posts: 391 Member
    Twice a month or so I log "Free Day" for breakfast, enter about 3,500 calories and hit "Log Complete" and call it a day. I plan to do that a few times over the holidays. But the rest of the time I'm going to log and work out normally. So hopefully I'll minimize the damage.

    It's important to remember that this is a lifestyle change, so you can't go back to eating like you used to eat - or else soon you'll look like you used to look. That said, you can't make yourself crazy either. So you have to find some middle ground.

    Another option is to increase your goals for the holidays, maybe set a goal to gain a pound the week between Christmas and New Year's. That gives you an extra 3,500 calories to play around with. Then reset your goals to maintenance or weight-loss after New Year's.

    Good luck!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I wouldn't do it for more than a day, personally. Besides, I'm thinking that eating at a deficit most days will minimize the damage from Christmas day.
  • Ibleedlipstick
    Ibleedlipstick Posts: 33 Member
    That would be a terrible idea for me. I know that even though I have done great these past few months, I'm probably not at a place to start eyeballing my nutrition, and definitely not during the holidays, when everything is even more calorie-laden and the snow makes me want to stay inside and skip workouts.
  • myurav
    myurav Posts: 165 Member
    As tempting as it is to stop logging (I know, I've been feeling itchy about it also), I don't think I will, even though I'll be traveling.

    I'll just try my best to log accurately, and not worry about being in deficit. My goal is to maintain current loss +/- a few lbs, and then get back to it after the holidays.

    If you think it would be beneficial for you to not think about it, you should do what's best for you. What I've learned in general is that it's important for me to have a record of what I've eaten, so I can see how that affects my progress.
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    Only you know what is best for you! If you feel like trying it, go for it. But keep an eye on the scales and your measurements so you know if it's working for you.

    Personally, I may have Christmas day using estimates, but will be logging consistently every other day as usual. And I have realised that I will probably have to log for a year or two when I reach maintenance, at the very least. But even if I have to log everything for longer, or forever, I am happy with that as it's a long term commitment and lifestyle for me now.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Today I had an assessment at the gym and was told I have managed to lose 9lbs and 4% bf in the last 4 months (slow and steady etc!). This also coincided with me having a mini break down as I feel I am worrying about food/calories a bit too much! Both of these put together have made me think about giving the old deficit a few weeks off until the new year. I originally thought about keeping logging but aiming for maintenance, but now I'm considering giving my brain a break aswell... Really don't want to lose my hard earned progress so wis there any tips? Has anyone successfully managed to eyeball maintenance level?
    Congratulations on your weight and fat los!

    I log all my food, which is more important during the holidays because of how many parties we attend Dirk g this time of year. Yes, I go over calorie goal a few times, but at least I am tracking.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    How comfortable are you with regaining a few pounds?

    I know that if I don't log on a regular basis, I consume way more than my maintenance calories, whether I intend to or not.

    If regaining several pounds causes you to panic, I'd raise calories to maintenance and log all but a few days. If you would be okay with a bit of regain and need a psychological break, then take a break from logging.
  • marfhutch
    marfhutch Posts: 50 Member
    Thanks for all the replies and the advise. Until this time yesterday I was fully intending on logging at maintenance, as I have a bad habit of getting over excited when I give myself free reign! But the problem seems to be more of a mental thing... I am getting too obsessed with food and I just need a break from thinking about it :( but you've all confirmed what I was worrying about!
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    How about logging as normal, but not worrying about goals? That way you don't break the hard-earned habit, and it's like having the "voice of reason" on mute - you know it's there, so you won't be a complete idiot :smile: but it's quiet enough to be not-naggy.
  • FindingMyPerfection
    FindingMyPerfection Posts: 702 Member
    If you need the mental brake I would suggest maybe 3 days no logging. 2-3 weeks when you haven't learned what maintenance cals look like is a long time.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    How about logging as normal, but not worrying about goals? That way you don't break the hard-earned habit, and it's like having the "voice of reason" on mute - you know it's there, so you won't be a complete idiot :smile: but it's quiet enough to be not-naggy.

    that's my plan over the holidays logging but not worrying about staying in a deficet.

    I understand the need for a "break" but at the same time in order to maintain after you reach goal you will have to count as well or chance gaining.
  • dejamos
    dejamos Posts: 53 Member
    Today I had an assessment at the gym and was told I have managed to lose 9lbs and 4% bf in the last 4 months (slow and steady etc!). This also coincided with me having a mini break down as I feel I am worrying about food/calories a bit too much! Both of these put together have made me think about giving the old deficit a few weeks off until the new year. I originally thought about keeping logging but aiming for maintenance, but now I'm considering giving my brain a break aswell... Really don't want to lose my hard earned progress so is there any tips? Has anyone successfully managed to eyeball maintenance level?
    We went to Vegas for Thanksgiving and had no internet access in our rooms and I don't have a smart phone so couldn't use any apps so I couldn't log anything online. The first two days I wrote everything down in a notebook with the intention of entering it all when I got back. By day 3 (of 4) I wasn't writing it down anymore, but still had thoughts of remembering/re-creating it when I got home.

    BUT, I did pay attention to what I was eating, and everything I put into my mouth was a conscious choice. Not always the best choice LOL, but while I did eat more sweets in particular than I would normally eat, I still managed to keep it under control and did not go crazy. And I started right back up again as soon as I got home.

    I weighed myself my first day back and had gained 3 pounds, but I figured most of that was water weight from eating a lot of things I don't normally eat. By the end of the week I was only 1 pound up, and by the next week I not only got back to where I was but even lost more.

    So for me, it helped to take that scary first break from logging and see that I can do it. I just made sure that I was not giving myself a break from being in control of myself, just from tracking it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Today I had an assessment at the gym and was told I have managed to lose 9lbs and 4% bf in the last 4 months (slow and steady etc!). This also coincided with me having a mini break down as I feel I am worrying about food/calories a bit too much! Both of these put together have made me think about giving the old deficit a few weeks off until the new year. I originally thought about keeping logging but aiming for maintenance, but now I'm considering giving my brain a break aswell... Really don't want to lose my hard earned progress so is there any tips? Has anyone successfully managed to eyeball maintenance level?
    Keep logging. If the intent is that you're going to gain weight anyway from holiday eating, then keep logging. That way you can see at least how many calories you've surplused. IMO, this would be a good time to add lean muscle along with the weight gain.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Pandora_King
    Pandora_King Posts: 153
    After 4 months of logging your foods, you should be able to eyeball calorie counts pretty well.
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    Twice a month or so I log "Free Day" for breakfast, enter about 3,500 calories and hit "Log Complete" and call it a day. I plan to do that a few times over the holidays. But the rest of the time I'm going to log and work out normally. So hopefully I'll minimize the damage.

    It's important to remember that this is a lifestyle change, so you can't go back to eating like you used to eat - or else soon you'll look like you used to look. That said, you can't make yourself crazy either. So you have to find some middle ground.

    Another option is to increase your goals for the holidays, maybe set a goal to gain a pound the week between Christmas and New Year's. That gives you an extra 3,500 calories to play around with. Then reset your goals to maintenance or weight-loss after New Year's.Good luck.

    What she said.I can not give myself permission to eat whatever I want,but that's just me.
    Good luck!
  • emAZn
    emAZn Posts: 413 Member
    There was a time in my journey where all I thought about were calorie counts and what my next meal was... Pre planning my weeks helps me de-stress... I'm not freaking out about what my next meal is where its from or how many calories it has and I save about 700 for dinner/dessert every night. Some nights I know what dinner is and some nights it's a toss up but I can usually find something with what I have left over.

    The trick is to not snack during the day so it doesn't cut into my deficit!

    I know what you mean about needing a mental break and if you want one take one.. what I've learned thus far is the more you stress about it the bigger it becomes... there was life before MFP and there will be life after... MFP is a tool to be used to help us learn how much to eat and enourage us to reach our food and fitness goals... it does not make you lose weight... your choices do... you can make choices with out MFP.
  • marfhutch
    marfhutch Posts: 50 Member
    I have been stalling on my lifts since the 'newbie-gains' ran out...hadn't thought of treating it as a bulk! Thinking of it like that would help keep me on track protein wise (and therefore slightly reducing the crap!)... Maybe just having a few days break from logging will be enough-I'm sure as soon as the lbs start going back up ill be rushing to log again!

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