Are we ruining the Holidays?

I've been trying not to log at the table but of course then there's the "what else did I eat today" family interrogation session until I'm satsified that I've logged everything. I think they'd prefer me just logging as I eat than trying to "group remember" what I ate.

During the Thanksgiving holiday I was in an area where I didn't have Internet service. For the five days I was there I would sit down each night and write down what I ate for the day. When I returned home I was able to log in all my food. It was a little time consuming but it also allowed me to not obsess around my family and friends about logging in. Good luck with the weight loss.

"enjoy in moderation, be tuned into my body's signals so I know when I'm full, and then go move and get some exercise afterward! I have a feeling that doing that could make for an even more festive and healthier holiday meal"

I agree. Care about portions. More brocolli than mashed potatoes and gravy. The smallest peice of pie. But enjoy. It's a celebration.

The thing that I like about MFP is that it emphasizes the journey and the lifelong committment, not one treat or one meal. It's changing the way that I deal with food and exercise not eating only grapefruit for a week.

It's working for me (slowly) but each of us is on his own journey too. Whatever works for you.

I agree with MizzFitness! The people who care about you wont complain because they'll know you're happier because of your efforts.

My mom laughed with a smile when I asked her to write down what she put in her meatloaf but happily did it because she knows logging everything is how I got here.

Log away.

I don't know if logging ruins the Holidays (personally, I'm not going to be logging Christmas dinner, that's just going too far for me), but I would have to agree that it's rude to be logging on your phone while you're sitting at a meal with friends. Of course, I just find cellphones at the table rude in general, so maybe I'm old fashioned.

I wait and log everything when I get home if I eat out. It'll keep.

I agree with MizzFitness! The people who care about you wont complain because they'll know you're happier because of your efforts.

My mom laughed with a smile when I asked her to write down what she put in her meatloaf but happily did it because she knows logging everything is how I got here.

Log away.

What an awesome Mommy!

I disagree with the article. One little slip here, and one little slip there, the next thing you know, you'll be right back where you started. I do not record at the table, I record throughout the day during free time. I know without a doubt that it is the convenience of this site, and knowing what foods 'cost', that has allowed me to drop 33 pounds, over 20% of my starting weight. I come from obese parents and have to be extra diligent about what I eat due to kidney stones and genetics. This site has helped me 100%.

I a proof of this! See ticker V...........I was down by 36 pounds. Stress, illness, work changes and my close friend moving away and I am back up 10 pounds. This is just adding a pc of chicken here, a cup of icecream there............a choc pc or a coke..........when you see it on paper you dont want to do it again.

I am back on the wagon after logging ALL of my food for 2 days......when I hit the button at the bottom and it said "In 5 wks you will weigh 144 (5 lbs more!!) I hit the bricks and the keyboard.

Good Luck

I have to admit, I didn't read the article, but in response to what you mentioned. I would find it rude if someone logged their food while at my table in my house and while out. I do log everything, but I don't do it until the meal is over. Or if going out, I log it before I go if I know what I'm having. To be honest, I can't imagine logging while sitting at someone else's table eating their food. However, I also find it rude when people text or take calls at the table, unless they excuse themselves.

That is just me though. For me table time is about being together.

While I think the article has a good point or two, as a whole I disagree with the tone. If someone is spending half the meal trying to record the calories, ok, I would think that a bit rude. However, to take 2-3 minutes to record the basics of your meal? What's the harm in that (as long as you're fairly discreet and don't make a big production/deal out of it)? You aren't ignoring your family, you aren't "obsessing" over the food, you are making a quick note to try and keep yourself focused on your bigger goal. As soon as those couple of minutes are up, you're just like everyone else enjoying and celebrating - and you're probably happier for it too knowing your subconcious is at ease for having stuck to your new pattern of recording stuff. Besides, I have a hard time believing that FAMILY or close friends would be so easily offended (as the article implied) by a couple of minutes of you quickly making a log entry. Those closest to you I would hope are the most supportive of your positive changes - and if they're not, perhaps it's time to consider being thankful/celebrating life around more supportive people? On the other hand, yes, it's probably considered rude to do the same thing in front of strangers - but as one person suggested, during those times just excuse yourself to go use the restroom and go put your log in on your app while in there.

Personally, I made an agreement with myself that certain holidays (and sometimes the day after for main leftovers) just won't be logged. Those are certain days I've decided that FOR ME I'll be able to keep my mental sanity on this long journey if I just enjoy the meal and celebration - trying to keep moderation in mind - but that those are my Bingo Card Free Spots. If I pig out on those days, Life will not end - that I'll still reach my goal - and that I'll probably still show a weight loss for the month. Granted, it may not be as big of a loss as in a month where I was "good" all of the time - but this isn't a race or competition of DAILY calorie counting/weight, this is about an overall end result somewhere down the line (wherever we have set our goal).

These are just my opinions though - and I still have around 100 more pounds to lose, so your mileage and opinions may differ.
As an aside, I think there's a difference between taking a phone call/texting at the table, and taking a moment to log your food (in regards to being in the company of friends/family). If someone's on the phone or texting, their attention is on that conversation with someone not present and who's expecting prompt replies, and not on you. However, if I'm logging my food [quickly] while at the table with you, I can still hold a conversation with YOU and be sociable with you at the same time.

When I go out to eat I take a little notebook and a pen and quickly log everything I just ordered and log it later. If I go to my mother-in-laws house she completely understands what I'm doing if I ask exactly what is in her food and how she prepared it. She sees the progress and thinks I'm doing a great job. I never even thought of taking a picture of my food though... That is a GREAT idea that I am going to have to take into consideration instead of my notebook. I don't care for others answering a phone call or texting at my table without being excused first but if I knew they were just quickly logging their food and didn't make a huge deal out it I'm fine with it.