Curious...has anyone stopped logging food?

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melodymartinez
melodymartinez Posts: 65
in Health and Weight Loss
And not because you've gone off track for the day :). I'm just wondering if anyone has stopped keeping track of their food calories on here. I have been on her for over a month and have had great success and have really changed the way I look at food/eating. I am able to feel full and satisfied eating healthy foods. I stock my fridge with fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains, etc. I really haven't gone off track much at all. I don't think and plan what I'm going to eat, besides packing my lunch for work. Mostly because I like to eat the same things. So I already know how many calories are in it. Also, when I go out to eat, I don't research ahead. If there are healthy items listed on the menu I always order that, if not I stick to a sald with chicken and light dressing or something similar.

All of this makes me think that I've really made the changes neccessary to go the distance. And maybe I don't need to log everything I eat. Don't get me wrong, I love this site, I don't want to leave and I think it's a wonderful and invaluble tool. I just maybe don't want to be obsessing over every calorie and want things to be focused on the bigger picture of healthy eating. For the last couple days, I didn't log anything and just ate what I was going to eat. I totally stayed on track.

I'm just wondering what others thoughts are on this, thanks!
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Replies

  • Beach_Chica
    Beach_Chica Posts: 111
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    I try to always keep log of what I eat. I tend to do well for a while and then I get off track. I like to see where I went wrong or if something I ate or maybe the date I ate it could effect why I munched on something. I just like it for my benefit. I write it in a paper journal as well in case I forget.

    But, to each his/her own.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
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    I've been here about 7 weeks and I'm still logging my food. My main reason is because I was in starvation mode when I started and I'm still having trouble eating enough. For a while I hadn't grasped the concept of "net calories" so I was still eating too little. Even today I'm having a hard time making it to 1200 net calories. But once I've lost the weight I need to and I'm in the maintenance phase I'm sure I won't be worrying about it.
  • inguvap
    inguvap Posts: 85 Member
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    I am here for 200 days now and I am still logging. The thought crossed my mind that I should stop and see how I would do but as long as I have my iPhone, I have no problem logging. I am not as obsessed about every morsel of food anymore but still logging keeps me in check.
    Padma.
  • sgeorgia
    sgeorgia Posts: 66 Member
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    I've been on here since August and i feel like i may always need to log my food somewhat or at least refer to the database for calorie count of foods from time to time.
    I think this will keep me on track for the long hall, even though i feel like i could eat well without - just not sure i'll ever feel like i can live without some kind of tracking.
  • binary_jester
    binary_jester Posts: 3,311 Member
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    I am Type A...and that should pretty much answer that question.
  • Megooo19
    Megooo19 Posts: 199
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    I've stopped because I feel like I obsess too much over how little food I'm eating and then feel deprived and then eat too much. But I feel like I know how many calories is in a lot of stuff now and I have a good idea how many calories Ive eaten without having to log every morsel of it.
  • soze
    soze Posts: 604 Member
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    I've been on here since August and i feel like i may always need to log my food somewhat or at least refer to the database for calorie count of foods from time to time.
    I think this will keep me on track for the long hall, even though i feel like i could eat well without - just not sure i'll ever feel like i can live without some kind of tracking.

    :laugh:

    I try to track everything everyday.
  • shawnnshinta
    shawnnshinta Posts: 37 Member
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    it makes sense really.. after spending many months of logging , you would easily be able to remember the calories that each of your favorite foods have in them. you can just add it up in your head. not that complicated.
    I'm not speaking from experience, but I assume that I would do the same after awhile.
  • KeriD
    KeriD Posts: 324
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    Everyday....305+ days in a row....it's working for me! :bigsmile:
  • WildFlower7
    WildFlower7 Posts: 714 Member
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    I've been on MFP since end of April of this year (had to delete my old profile cause I couldn't post anymore) and I stopped logging food a LONG time ago. I don't need to now. If you feel educated enough and eat healthy all of the time then I don't really think there's a need unless you want to see it in black and white what you've burnt and the extra calories you have, whihc isn't even an issue now that I'm approaching maintence mode!

    Congrats on your success!!:flowerforyou:
  • potluck965
    potluck965 Posts: 529 Member
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    Maybe you'll be alright, but I found that although I have a pretty good sense for my total calories, it really helps me to keep track and be sure.

    Just don't get too overconfident after only a month. This is usually a longer and more arduous journey than that.
  • AdymondNtheRuff
    AdymondNtheRuff Posts: 108 Member
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    Ive stopped logging... several different times but what i have learned is my weight is maintained or ill gain a few lbsa if i do no log... so i may not log all day or everyday but i do know i have to log!
  • Jamiecfc1
    Jamiecfc1 Posts: 75 Member
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    I have some days when I can't get to my PC to log but even then I write stuff down, on my phone or in a diary or something. Mainly because it helps me stay on track. Maybe in a few months I will feel ready to move away from keeping a log, but I didn't keep one for 47 years which is how I ended up 5 stone overweight! Plus its only a few minutes a day, where is the hassle? And the support from others is great, although it can be a little frustrating to give more than you get back on occasions...!
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,023 Member
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    I think for me logging the food helps to keep me on track. I have a ways to go but I am scared of not being able to maintain. I lost alot of weight before kept it off for 4 yrs and then gained it all back due to illness, medication and eating for comfort. So I think even after I have been on maintenance for awhile I will go back to the food log if I start to gain. But every one is different if you can do it without logging go for it . If you start to gain you can always start logging again
  • Cytherea
    Cytherea Posts: 515 Member
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    I have gone weeks, even a month without logging. Typically I can't get on because there are people visiting or I am away, and I give myself some leeway and plan to only maintain not lose. It has worked every time.

    I think at this point though, it has become so second nature to log that even when I am at my goal I will still do it, just to keep myself accountable and because it is a good habit. It is very easy to get carried away and have a few extra bites of something or a bite of someone else's food without realizing what you are doing to yourself.
  • LilynEdensmom
    LilynEdensmom Posts: 612 Member
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    I log everyday...sometimes it seems obsessive, but I am eating and loosing weight, so why stop
  • bjberry
    bjberry Posts: 665 Member
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    I am on maintenance now, but I eat so many different things, plus my husband keeps making new foods that are not in this site, so I enter his recipes into the recipe area. Entering my foods also reminds me to drink my water for the day. I have been on this site since Mar 2010. I may eventually stop recording food, but I am not ready yet. I guess it is each person's choice, but logging foods works for me. Hugs, :drinker: (drink lots of water)
  • UpToAnyCool
    UpToAnyCool Posts: 1,673
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    Cheers to you! I hope to get there someday. I eat fairly healthy (mostly produce, whole grains, etc.) but this site made me realize that I had simply been EATING TOO MUCH and NOT MOVING AROUND ENOUGH! I honestly believed I didn't have to keep track of quantities if I was eating healthy food! :laugh:

    So now I have a few rules, like 'No eating out of the serving bowl unless it is salad,' and 'A calorie is a calorie is a calorie' which makes me think twice before wasting calories on alcohol when I can eat something else that will help me hit my iron or calcium goals...

    I will always be curious to log in b/c I like to eat all sorts of different foods and would never remember what the basic counts are for various things - that's just me though.
  • Michelle_J
    Michelle_J Posts: 362 Member
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    it makes sense really.. after spending many months of logging , you would easily be able to remember the calories that each of your favorite foods have in them. you can just add it up in your head. not that complicated.
    I'm not speaking from experience, but I assume that I would do the same after awhile.

    I agree here. It is time consuming and if you're able to make the necessary changes w/o logging every calorie, why do it. Personally, I have a long way to go till I'm to that point but once I reach my goal weight I may stop logging it. If you start to gain, start logging again.
    Go easy on me MFPeeps.....I think she's fine not logging. I'm not recommending it to anyone else.....:huh:
  • guardup
    guardup Posts: 230
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    I have to second what bjberry said... my diet is very diverse. I love trying new foods. Some meals like breakfast are rather routine. But lunch can change and dinner is rarely the same. I like a diverse diet because I love trying new things... and because it improves my chances of getting vital trace nutrients that I may not be getting elsewhere.

    So because of my diverse diet, I do log my food rather consistently.

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