MyFitnessPal for life?

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Replies

  • jjscholar
    jjscholar Posts: 413 Member
    To be honest, it does not bother me. This is because I have to admit that when it comes to counting calories I am a bit obsessive compulsive.

    I like to plan things out.
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    Didn't say that. I simply explained my own personal observations, which can't be refuted, unless you see everything I see... that's pretty amazing of you! :laugh:

    Welcome to the MFP forums .. where anything can and does happen.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    I've recently come to the conclusion that unless I count calories I gain weight. I find this really sad. If I want to keep the body I get, will I have to count calories forever? Has anyone else come to this conclusion? Are any of you content with doing this for life?

    You will, and I say this politely, be here FOREVER!!!!! Okay, seriously, yes you'll be doing this until you make your mind or remember what certain foods are calorically(a word, dunno, but sounds good). ie...1 ounce of cheese 100 calories.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I plan on doing this for life. :bigsmile:
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I have lost weight too many times in my life...

    once in high school and I maintained it nicely for 4 years(counting calories, mindful of my eating) until I got pregnant...military wouldn't let me exercise...I got fat...yo yo'd the same 20-30lbs(lose it for 6 months, gain it back +) for 20 years...tried exercise only, tried just limited food, tried the two together...didn't work for over 20 years

    Lost weight again and well now...I am lower than when I got pregnant...counting calories and logging my food.

    Will I log for life...if I have to...

    I know after 10months of using my food scale I have a good handle on my cheese, veggies and meat...not so much on my yogurt, cereal, potatoes and starches...so that will be used too...

    It's not that bad..and I am perfectly fine with it...esp with the phone app..I mean in this day and age there is no reason it should be hard...24 years ago I had a little book with food listing and calories and a pen and a spiral notebook...now that took some time.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    Well..i am not close to maintenance yet. I plan to hold onto maintenance for probably a year or two...and slowly detach from counting and see where I go from there. Of course, I will monitor my weight/measurements and if I notice changes I plan to incorporate counting again.

    ps - if i do have to count for the rest of my life, it is a small price to pay for something that is priceless.
  • JessieSky
    JessieSky Posts: 79
    I think I'll be counting calories for the rest of my life, yes. Maybe some of it will end up being more in my head, a little less thought to it and a better understanding of just 'eyeing' portions and such. Especially by the time I'm in maintenance mode. Still though, I'll be counting them for the rest of my life, and I like to have a nice clean record of things, so I see no reason not to keep up with a simple system like this.
  • lemonlionheart
    lemonlionheart Posts: 580 Member
    I've thought about this too, and it has bothered me in the past. My plan is to log at maintenance for at least 6 months after I reach my goal then gradually wean myself off and get used to days where I don't log but also eat a reasonable amount of food for maintenance. And try to stay sensible on the weekends with meals out too! I'm going to keep weighing myself every month and if I gain, well, back to logging and a deficit until I can train myself to have more self control haha. I think it's hard because I definitely rely on the structure and the counting but at the same time if I stick to a basic meal plan during the week that allows for a couple of snacks, I think it is doable :)
  • kwantlen2051
    kwantlen2051 Posts: 455 Member
    I've kind of realized that's true for me as well. But, I've been doing it for over 3 years so far and it's such a normal part of my day. The times I choose not to log, I really overeat.
    Same here. MFP for life. It's not as bad as the alternative and gaining all the weight back.
  • ihad
    ihad Posts: 7,463 Member
    tumblr_ms5g24qIBb1sruo27o1_500.jpg

    :heart:
  • glassgallm
    glassgallm Posts: 276 Member
    I'm tired of being a weight yo-yo. I'm almost 3 years in on MFP and it works. Intuitive eating is what got me into this mess. MFP is what has gotten me out. It is a lifestyle change.
  • SephiraRose
    SephiraRose Posts: 766 Member
    So true, once we obtain our goal weight I believe you'll have to be mindful of the calorie counts to avoid gaining the pounds back.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    OP I will tell you this-- I've gone long stretches without logging and my weight tends to creep up. But the most recent break I took I managed not to gain anything. I still plan to track though because of my macros (I'm trying to build muscle and I don't like protein so I have to track or I won't get anywhere near enough).

    I think the best strategy if you want to stop logging eventually is to continue to be mindful, to weigh and measure regularly, and to have a comfortable range for your weight. If you start to see things creeping up you can come back and log for a bit longer.

    For myself though, logging is second nature. It's not a hassle anymore, so I don't see any reason to stop.
  • bhdon
    bhdon Posts: 117 Member
    To manage your weight, you will always have to be mindful of your caloric intake.


    I'm working on being more mindful of being mindful :-)
  • Trueray
    Trueray Posts: 1,189 Member
    Once you have done it long enough you will be able to estimate the amount of cals you are eating and etc.
  • MrsATrotta
    MrsATrotta Posts: 278 Member
    Trust me, all skinny people do this for life - they've just learned to do it in their heads.

    I have actually seen the skinny people in my life doing this over the past 2 years. They are counting, in their brains, every time they pick up a piece of birthday cake at work, or a mini-snickers in the candy bowl - and they calculate whether or not they can "afford" it.

    The skinny people I have worked with in the past have also been nowhere to be found when birthday cake day happens. They'll pop in to sing happy birthday, and then they'll mysteriously vanish.

    I'm not saying everyone has to be on MFP physically typing down their calories for the rest of their lives, but of the adults I know with low BMIs (and have had this their whole lives without weight issues) they absolutely count every single calorie that goes into their mouth. They read every label of everything they eat.

    That's just what I've observed...
    Totally do not agree with this.


    Intuitive eating is huge. Once you have a handle on how your body maintains and loses weight, knowing what you can/can't eat can be done without physically tracking, but keeping a mental idea of what you've eaten and what your body needs can be done.

    ETA: spelling.

    Pretty sure your both making the same point here...
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Yes, I think of it like brushing my teeth 2x a day. I've got to do that for life, but in return, if I take care of my teeth (brushing, flossing, seeing the dentist), I get to keep my teeth.

    The difference is that you can't have healthy teeth without brushing and flossing. But it is entirely possible to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle without keeping a food diary.


    This is MHO as well:
    IMHO, MFP and logging is just training wheels...at some point you have to learn to balance on your own.

    To me, the whole point of keeping a food diary is to learn about portion sizes, about the nutrient make-up of foods, etc. If you are logging every day and after a year or so you haven't learned anything, I don't know what to say to that.
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    Yes, I think of it like brushing my teeth 2x a day. I've got to do that for life, but in return, if I take care of my teeth (brushing, flossing, seeing the dentist), I get to keep my teeth.

    The difference is that you can't have healthy teeth without brushing and flossing. But it is entirely possible to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle without keeping a food diary.


    This is MHO as well:
    IMHO, MFP and logging is just training wheels...at some point you have to learn to balance on your own.

    To me, the whole point of keeping a food diary is to learn about portion sizes, about the nutrient make-up of foods, etc. If you are logging every day and after a year or so you haven't learned anything, I don't know what to say to that.

    There are a few different ways to approach maintaining your weight. One no more right or wrong than the other. Each person has to decide what will work for them.

    I hope to get to a point where I don't have to log every bite that goes in to my mouth...have I don't enough physical activity...have I eaten the right amount of nutrients. I want it to become second nature to me...just like knowing to put on my shoes before I go for a walk.

    I think finding that right method is knowing yourself. I also believe that where you are in life plays a role. At my age...I am not out socializing with friends as much as what a 20 or 30 y/o might be. I think that lifestyle has a lot to do with it also. My meals are prepared mainly at home which makes it easier vs someone that eats out often.

    There are just so many factors that play in to what is right for each individual.

    Then again...I could be wrong...I might always have to log calories. If that is what it takes to maintain...then that is what I will do.
  • Aquamum9
    Aquamum9 Posts: 51
    tumblr_ms5g24qIBb1sruo27o1_500.jpg

    :drinker:
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    i find i kind of do it automatically, as soon as i eat something i try to figure out its cal/protien(dont care about carbs/fats) content and see how much i ave left to eat for the day. may not be ideal but im used to it by now, it may be a little obsessive but its okay to obsess over certain things, something as big as your health is something you should obsess over in my opinion
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I haven't logged since October so no, I won't log for the rest of my life.

    I might come on the forums and read "Sugar is the Devil" threads for the rest of my life though :) At least till that fad passes, and then read the next "_______ is the devil" threads.
  • kakklespakkle
    kakklespakkle Posts: 118 Member
    I've recently come to the conclusion that unless I count calories I gain weight. I find this really sad. If I want to keep the body I get, will I have to count calories forever? Has anyone else come to this conclusion? Are any of you content with doing this for life?
    I also struggle if I don't track what I'm eating. It's easy to miss or underestimate a few things ... I also find it easier to maintain my weight when I weigh myself regularly. Not in an obsessive way, but just to be aware of changes. See you here at the end of forever :L
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Yes, I think of it like brushing my teeth 2x a day. I've got to do that for life, but in return, if I take care of my teeth (brushing, flossing, seeing the dentist), I get to keep my teeth.

    The difference is that you can't have healthy teeth without brushing and flossing. But it is entirely possible to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle without keeping a food diary.


    This is MHO as well:
    IMHO, MFP and logging is just training wheels...at some point you have to learn to balance on your own.

    To me, the whole point of keeping a food diary is to learn about portion sizes, about the nutrient make-up of foods, etc. If you are logging every day and after a year or so you haven't learned anything, I don't know what to say to that.

    There are a few different ways to approach maintaining your weight. One no more right or wrong than the other. Each person has to decide what will work for them.

    I hope to get to a point where I don't have to log every bite that goes in to my mouth...have I don't enough physical activity...have I eaten the right amount of nutrients. I want it to become second nature to me...just like knowing to put on my shoes before I go for a walk.

    I think finding that right method is knowing yourself. I also believe that where you are in life plays a role. At my age...I am not out socializing with friends as much as what a 20 or 30 y/o might be. I think that lifestyle has a lot to do with it also. My meals are prepared mainly at home which makes it easier vs someone that eats out often.

    There are just so many factors that play in to what is right for each individual.

    Then again...I could be wrong...I might always have to log calories. If that is what it takes to maintain...then that is what I will do.


    This isn't about "right ways" and "wrong ways" but about the ability to learn, to grow, and to change. Humans innately have this capability. People should reach inside themselves to find it and use it. :flowerforyou:
  • bkjk997
    bkjk997 Posts: 106 Member
    I posted in the MFP forums a while back, as I was concerned about maintenance. I got some really good advice that I think you will find helpful:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1198562-what-s-your-one-tip-for-maintainig

    And yes, I have since realized there is a monumental typo in the title... :/
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    I wondered this.

    I have been on MFP for over 3 years now. I've left it, I've done maintenance logging free etc but for me this works and to be honest, I have the knowledge to be able to pretty much eyeball food and have a good guestimate at the calories involved.

    However for me, knowledge is power and being in maintenance with a busy workout schedule (I now LOVE exercise, opposed to the me 3.5 years ago that wouldn't go near it) I need to ensure I eat all my calories that I need to not lose weight.

    If you think of the time you might spend browsing other things on the internet or on Facebook etc, what's the hassle of putting a few food diary entries into a database that takes 2 minutes?
  • bhdon
    bhdon Posts: 117 Member
    Yes, I've come to that same conclusion. This documentary explained why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i_cmltmQ6A

    I recently fell of the wagon and now it's real clear to me that I can't maintain without a support system and a method of accountability like logging.

    I'm ok with it. I prefer that to gaining and getting out of shape again.


    This is helpful .....gives me a little more strategy. Thanks for posting this link.

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