Attention long term my fitness pal users

1. How long have you used MFP for?
Joined <--, started tracking, stopped for a good while, started again May/June of 2013 too aggressively, had to stop, started again August 2013 after a surgery too aggressively, then finally put all the puzzle pieces together and realized I just had to be way less aggressive--1200 calories was never going to work for me and I didn't need to make it work for me anyway.

2. How have your logging habits changed over time?
Prelogging was the biggest thing for me, followed by paying attention to protein. I feel like my (food)day revolves around that protein macro now. My attitude toward logging also changed. Originally it this thing I did to track calories, sort of as an afterthought. Now, it's a tool that I use to make sure the food that I'm eating will fuel me through the day. I feel a lot better for that change.

3. Have you ever reached goal and if so at what point?
I don't have a numeric goal, really. I'm more of a balance-keeper than a goal-setter. I wouldn't mind getting more on top of physical fitness at some point, but I haven't yet found the desire to do so. I just want to keep things under control, which isn't a really tangible goal.

4. Have you ever reverted to your old ways whilst using MFP? If so, what did you do?
The first time I tried to transition to maintenance (several weeks ago), I would log up to maintenance and then not log anything after that. You might imagine that didn't really work out. I went back into loss mode and think that next time I try for maintenance (don't know when that will be), I think I'll up my calories gradually instead of all at once.

5. Do you see MFP as a short term tool or intend to use it indefinitely?
I don't see any reason not to use it indefinitely, although I know that I will probably have to justify it to my parents (mostly my mother) when I go home in May--I'll be home for more than two weeks for the first time in over a year. I was home temporarily in December/January, but my logging got a bit spotty because I felt like I had to hide it. I'm going to try to change that in May, and if I can use it through this summer and make it a full year, I think I'll have gotten so used to it that I won't really want to stop anyway. I think a lot of this attitude comes from the fact that I don't really have a goal weight, so I don't really see a clear stopping point.

1. How long have you used mfp for?

Nov 2012

2. How has your logging habits changed over time?

I logged religiously while I was losing; I haven't logged much at all since going to maintenance save for a spot check here and there.

3. Have you ever reached goal and if so at what point?

Yes, but I never really had a specific goal weight. My goals have largely been health and fitness related moreso than hitting some arbitrary number on the scale.

4 Have you ever reverted to your old ways whilst using mfp? If so, what did you do?

No...for me, "old ways" means not exercising. I always ate pretty good and I'm a total foodie...so I like quality and have never been much of a junk food eater or anything like that. My issues were that I got off track on my fitness with a desk job, family obligations, etc but I never accounted for that by reducing my consumption. I have since made fitness an intrinsic part of my life.

5. Do you see mfp as a short term tool (stop using it when you are goal weight) or (like me) intend to use it indefinitely?

At the moment I use it primarily to talk shop with a few folks on my FR and I hope that I can help some people on the forums from time to time...but I don't really use it anymore to track my nutrition. I've been toying around with the idea of trying to get my BF% down to around 12-15%, but every time I try to cut my fitness and training suffers and I'm more into that right now than worrying about whether I'm 15% BF or 18% or whatever.

1. How long have you used mfp for?

I have been using mfp since summer of 2012.

2. How have your logging habits changed over time?

Well lately not very regular. But I keep trying.

3. Have you ever reached goal and if so at what point?

One of my goals was to get moving normally, after I injured my hip. When I first started, I was using a cane and couldn't walk to the end of the drive way. Now I am hiking, (sometimes) walking where I want, and doing some vigorous exercises. But I have to be careful, as I have had some set backs. Never have reached my weight goal yet, but I am still trying.


4. Have you ever reverted to your old ways whilst using mfp? If so what did you do?

Yes, over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Didn't worry to much about what I ate.


5. Do you see mfp as a short term tool?

I plan to keep my mfp account. I may take time off once in a while. But think I will come back, I like my friends.

1. How long have you used mfp for?

I've used MFP for at least two years on separate accounts.

2. How has your logging habits changed over time?

I've made my diary public which has made me more accountable. I know that I am not just saying things to be comfortable with what I ate, I am logging every bite I put in my mouth so that I know exactly what a portion is. I weight my meats before and after cooking now. I understand exactly how different grams are from pieces. I also know that I can still lose weight even though I have slip ups in a healthy way of eating.

3. Have you ever reached goal and if so at what point?

I have reached my goal before, about a year ago. I have since lowered my goal.

4 Have you ever reverted to your old ways whilst using mfp? If so, what did you do?

I've never reverted to my old ways whilst using MFP because I believe in everything in moderation. You can eat whatever you want as long as you stick to portions. Yes, even those delicious chips and homemade onion dip are still open to you, just in moderation. And if you binge, account for it.

5. Do you see mfp as a short term tool (stop using it when you are goal weight) or (like me) intend to use it indefinitely?

I plan to use MFP indefinitely. If I stop I stop, if I keep using it I keep using it. It's a tool that helps me be mindful of the things I put in my body and lets me be accountable for keeping it properly fueled for every day activities.