Today is practice

shakeray1173
shakeray1173 Posts: 40
in Getting Started
My doctor told me about this site 2 years ago. I joined then and never did anything with it. So, Wednesday I heard about it again. I signed on and didn't do much else. Yesterday, I started participating on the message boards. In the past I would join things (ie:ww), get all gung ho, do really well, feel deprived and then fall completely off the wagon. So, I decided to take today (and maybe the weekend) to practice logging. This will give me a better feel of what I have been consuming and what I need to cut back on. Maybe I can have better success with baby steps than I did with cold turkey!

Replies

  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Good luck. The logging gets faster and faster with time. It takes a little bit until you figure out which are the entries that match your foods best. Then you'll get a good 'Most Frequent' list and have entered some of your own recipes and it will take you less than a minute to log instead of 5.

    Good luck! Accurate estimation of portion sizes, logging EVERY STUPID BITE, and logging every day are the key to success. It's not hard. It's just tedious.
  • docbrox87
    docbrox87 Posts: 50
    Welcome back to MFP! :) You are so right with the baby steps approach - take it one challenge at a time and you'll nail it! And if you fall off the wagon? Dust yourself off and climb back on asap! We're all here to support ya!
  • bf43005
    bf43005 Posts: 287
    Finding something that works for you is always the best option. Just don't let it turn into months of overeating and eating unhealthy foods because you don't want to quit cold turkey. Try to make one change a week or a day, try a new healthy food each week/day. Challenge yourself and be proud of every little thing you achieve even if it seems small. One pound lost is better than one gained! Best of luck!
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,290 MFP Moderator
    That's what I did. Just started logging one day, and kept at it. They key is being honest with yourself. :) I found out I was eating almost 3000 calories daily. After a while, I started to NOT eat things because I didn't want to see that food item or the extra calories on my log. Then I started making healthier choices. I've been at this for almost a year, and I still eat what I used to, just less of it OR I make healthier choices so that I can have more food for less calories. :) I didn't start out wanting to use the site to lose weight, but that's what ended up happening when I was honest with myself.

    Just logging on and making a commitment to be honest with yourself and log everything you are eating is a major step in the right direction. Congrats, shakeray! And welcome (even though you've been a member for a while).
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  • ashmarie8722
    ashmarie8722 Posts: 247 Member
    One step at at time is the Key, and Celebrate that little successes as well as the big ones. :)
  • shakeray1173
    shakeray1173 Posts: 40
    Thank you all! My ex husband would always discourage me from celebrating little accomplishments. The man I am with now will celebrate every single one with me no matter how small!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    There is a methodology known as IIFYM. The concept is that you still eat the foods you enjoy, but in moderation. You watch your calories and macros closely. This does not mean that you will be able to eat what you want, when you want it, but that you can plan your day around indulgences so that the impact is minimized and your success can continue.

    This methodology works for many people because it is not a deprivation approach to nutrition. It might be a good fit for you.
  • nomad1000
    nomad1000 Posts: 206 Member
    You have take the first step. Congrats!!

    I logged what i was actually eating first too to get an idea of what my regular day's worth of calories was. For me, that week was pretty eye opening. I also set my weight loss per week at 1 lb to ease into the whole tracking/regular exercise thing. Like you I was worried about going at it all gangbusters and then losing focus because I felt deprived. But I still eat chocolate, ice cream, baked treats, pita chips and Pirate Booty snacks, just in smaller portions.

    If you haven't gotten a food scale, get one. Getting used to actual protion sizes by weight is a big step. I still am amazed at how small a portion is of some stuff like a serving of frosted mini wheats is 20-21 biscuits. It looks so small in the bowl. :)

    Oh, and I log everything I eat, even if it puts me over my target for the day. That was hard for me in the beginning because it made me feel like I was failing but now I realize that logging everything (the good and the bad) is just about being accountable and honest with myself. And I have learned some triggers of my overeating which has been helpful as well.

    You can do this!!
  • cloverfield4
    cloverfield4 Posts: 52 Member
    Welcome back! I'm new, too, have had the app on my phone forever and done nothing with it; sporadic logging here and there. A couple weeks ago, I came back, and I've been logging ever since, and am trying to participate on the boards more, too. I am the same, I have a looooooong history of starting strong and fizzling out. My mindset right now is to just take one day at a time. And every night when I go to bed, to be able to say to myself that I tried today, and made at least a 1% change in the right direction. Good luck, you can do it!!
  • Sztheday
    Sztheday Posts: 31 Member
    Sounds like you have a keeper! Hang in there, you can do this!
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    Logging is such an eye opener. I could have sworn I didnt eat much until i started to log my foods everyday.
    You have got the right idea. Do not do anything drastic that will make you get fed up. Do not go hungry and be patience. Good luck. x
  • KetosisTina
    KetosisTina Posts: 197 Member
    Learn how to use the my food and my meals. They are huge time savers. Especially if there is something that you eat frequently. This way you create it once and save it as a "meal" then just choose it from your meal. This is also good for items with a lot of ingredients when you want to figure out the nutrient data per serving. You just enter all the ingredients, save as meal, then enter what portion you ate for the day ie .25 for 1/4
  • KetosisTina
    KetosisTina Posts: 197 Member
    My doctor is also a member of MFP and it is SO helpful for him to see what I am eating. (as long as I am honest and log each day of course). At my quarterly appointments he can just look at my log and make any adjustments he thinks might me necessary.
    Versus the typical meeting most folks have.
    Dr. : How are you eating.
    Patient: Oh, pretty healthy.. I guess.
    Dr: What did you have for breakfast yesterday?
    Patient: Um... I think... oatmeal, no wait that was Tuesday. Eggs white omelet.
  • StephyA86
    StephyA86 Posts: 68 Member
    Two quotes I try to remind myself of..

    "The first step is the hardest!"

    and

    "You can't fail if you don't quit!"

    Small steps eventually add up, keep going and celebrate the small stuff! :)

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