Goal Help!

When I first started (before mfp) i was losing 2-3 lbs a week. Then i started logging everything and continued to lose 1-1.5 lbs a week. then i stopped losing for a month. thats when i stopped logging. the following week i lost another 3 lbs. I havent been logging for a few months and have consistently losing 1-1.5 lbs a week.... until now. i know its important to keep track of my food... but these goals just seem low. i know when i exercise i can eat more... but i exercise 5-6 days a week and on my "off" day im going to be hungry. I'm also worried about eating my exercise calories because i dont have a hrm... so everything is really an estimate from mfp.

along the lines of never cheating, ever... that's why i've always quit in the past. there are days where im going to want a piece of pizza... and maybe i dont have time to exercise... its going to happen... and thats ok.

This sounds more of a case of you not recognizing what you need your goals set to than a problem with food logging. Or at least that's what I'm inclined to think. You may benefit from some individualized help (if you can afford it) from a registered dietitian. If not (not many of us can afford to shell out for a RD) then we can do our best to help, but we would really need to know pretty much all aspects of your profile in detail before any kind of informed recommendations can be made.

Thank you so much for your help! I may ask one of the teachers at my gym if she has any advice for me... that may be cheaper... or maybe free I wish i could afford a nutritionist... and a personal trainer!!!

I'm not sure I agree with giving your self no leeway to live. I do, I always have (granted, using me as a barometer for you isn't really that great but...), but it comes down to your will power, if you can move away from the strict adherence for a day or two a month and then go right back, then I think it's find to do that, but if this tends to sabotage you for days or weeks after, then you might want to rethink that strategy.

As to 55% protein, I heartily disagree. There's no need for that. Having your carbs set at about 50%, your protein at about 30% and your fats at around 20% should be fine assuming you have no issues with any of those three (I.E. allergies and such). Unless you're in an anabolic state and doing some serious muscle mass increases, your body won't use anything more than about 30% protein (everyone's a little different).

I do agree with needing to keep your food diary, until you feel you can keep track in your head (after a year or more, most people can do this pretty well) and accurately estimate what calories you are consuming without using MFP, then you need a way to know what you are eating, otherwise you're just playing guessing games, and that never works.

Make a commitment
Permanent weight loss takes time and effort. It requires focus and a lifelong commitment. Make sure that you're ready to make permanent changes and that you do so for the right reasons. No one else can make you lose weight. In fact, external pressure — often from people closest to you — may make matters worse. You must undertake diet and exercise changes to please yourself.

As you're planning new weight-related lifestyle changes, try to resolve any other problems in your life. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you aren't distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems. Timing is key to success. Ask yourself if you're ready to take on the challenges of serious weight loss.

Set a realistic goal
When you're considering what to expect from your new eating and exercise plan, be realistic. Over the long term, it's best to aim for losing 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week, although initially you might lose weight more quickly if you make significant changes — just be sure the changes are health supporting. To lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.

When you're setting goals, think about process and outcome. "Exercise regularly" is an example of a process goal, while "Lose 30 pounds" is an example of an outcome goal. It isn't essential that you have an outcome goal, but you should establish process goals because changing your process — your habits — is the key to weight loss. Make sure that your goals are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and trackable. An example of a SMART goal is aiming to walk for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and logging your results.

Many nutritional experts agree that keeping a food diary is critical to weight loss success. A food diary creates a conscious awareness of food intake and eating patterns.

After keeping a diary many people are often surprised at how that "occasional" big dessert turns out to be a regular occurrence.

If you were to ask anyone who is trying to lose weight how many calories they eat each day or how long they spend exercising, chances are overwhelming that the answer would be grossly underestimated. People are very poor judges of calorie count or portion size when working toward a weight loss goal.

Most will indicate they eat very little when in reality they are taking in 20 to 40% more calories than anticipated, more than enough to sabotage their efforts. Another common mistake is the belief that since they are exercising regularly, they can consume more to compensate. The only way you can accurately gauge caloric intake and energy expenditure is to keep a daily log or journal to prevent excess calories and ensure successful weight loss.

Keeping a Food Journal Can Double Weight Loss
The results of a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine demonstrates that despite our best intentions, most people grossly underestimate portion sizes and calories eaten when they don’t measure their food. The researchers found that the more detailed food records that were kept by study participants, the more weight they lost. Those with the most meticulous recordkeeping lost twice as much as those who kept no track at all. And they were able to keep the weight off as long as they continued to record in their journal.

Keeping an Accurate Food Log: Be Honest With Yourself
It isn’t that people are trying to be dishonest with food tracking, as they are only hurting themselves. The problem is we like to snack between meals or grab a few jelly beans, a small piece of chocolate or a sugary power drink with the thought it won’t make a difference. Those calories add up and at the end of the day you could be adding several hundred calories to you total. Keeping a handy journal where you record every bite of food before it goes in your mouth can help you stay on track. Here’s why:

Provides a True Understanding of Portions and Calories: When you’re forced to account for every calorie you eat, you quickly gain an understanding of portion sizes and the type of foods that pack on the calories (processed snacks, baked treats and fried foods), compared to fresh vegetables that you can eat in almost unlimited quantities.

Record Your Food Before You Eat: The most important part of the program is to always record the food or drink and portion size before you consume it. This will give your mind the time to understand the caloric impact of your food choice and possibly you’ll decide that you don’t need to eat now and can wait until your next meal.

I think people are upset with the WAY you are speaking to her. Not your advice, but your approach. For instance, I don't log my food on this site, but rather my gym site. I also keep a personal food journal with me 24/7. While I understand your advice to put in the work for success, you also have to try and understand that sometimes we do hit a low or lazy point and we need more encouragement and less ridicule. I know that often times people have told me, if you want to lose weight, just DO it. But obviously it is not that easy for all of us, hence why we are here. Just a gentle reminder that she may not be in the exact same place as you are and you should respect that