Losing steam while calorie counting
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I get bored of logging things too. What really helps is the barcode scanner on the mfp app. I use Android but I think it's a feature for iPhone users too. It really cuts down time spent plugging in endless ingredients if I'm making a complicated meal.0
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then dont count calories and stay fat, your choice. You pick. Will power, motivation, excitement, support, these things are not nessacary for weight loss. The only requirement is calorie counting and whether or not you actually do it.
You will find no sympathy here. People here have worked hard for a long time to meet their goals. We really have no patience for whinners who "dont want to."
You think we all wake up in the morning and "want to"? Hell no, there are days I want to tank a whole cake and stay in bed, skip a workout, or just not count. We all lose steam and feel unmotivated from time to time but we keep going.
So as I said the choice is yours; count calories, get healthier, or get bored, lose steam and stay fat. Your choice.
tough love baby.
well said that girl.
I've been back on MFP for 40 something days, in that time there were 6 days I didn't properly track my calories and in that 6 days I gained back 3 of the 10lbs I'd lost up to that week, basically screw that........................ I'd rather log everything I eat for the rest of my life to lose this weight and maintain the loss than 'run out of steam' and stay fat or get fatter. Suck it up buttercup.0 -
Do you get bored of brushing your teeth or cleaning the bathroom too? Probably, but you do them because you need to. Look at calorie counting the same way.
Its also ok to take a true cheat day a few times a year (like your birthday and Christmas). However, you should limit it to only a few very special days.0 -
I agree with "loosening the noose". 1200 is tight and wears on most people after a few weeks. 1500 should be a lot more comfortable and you should still be able to lose.
You can go back to intuitive eating but for most it's a skill you're going to have to relearn. So if you feel like calorie counting is forever, it doesn't have to be for everyone. Maybe you can use it to get to your goal then you can re-learn intuitive eating.
There are also other ways to lose weight, if you really hate the intense focus on calories. It's not for everyone.
Good luck!0 -
I've been logging for around 400 days. I haven't gotten bored at all. The continued progress is what motivates me and honestly, at this point I can't even imagine NOT logging.
Do you "indulge" from time to time? I certainly do. Although I strive to eat a lot of healthy foods, fresh vegetables, etc, I have ice cream weekly and a square of dark chocolate almost daily. My husband is on MFP too, and our weekends are full of activity (walking, hiking, biking, errands and/or sight-seeing for many hours) and then we "pig out" on restaurant favorites like Thai, Mexican, gyros, etc, and make big breakfasts at home like French toast, crepes, etc. We look forward to that but by Sunday evening we actually choose salads and healthy stir fries...it's like we get the indulgence out of our system somewhat. FTR we're both eating around 1400 cal/day but on weekends eat back some of our exercise calories in order to have all of the treats.
Obviously for some people that would be a bad way to go, trigger overeating all week, etc...I know many people here look down on it. But for me (and my husband) it works really well!0 -
Hmm, wow, thanks for all your replies, I really didn't expect too much. Thanks for the support and the tough love too. And thanks to the user who reminded me of the "good old days". Maybe if i scroll through my fat pics, I won't mind calorie counting so much.
To answer some questions, my goal is set to standard 1200 cals and it is working for me so far as I am losing gradually. I haven't cut out all my fave foods and learnt to balance a heavy meal with a lighter one to stay within the goal.
I think this outburst maybe more emotional than anything else. I am feeling under the weather and my kid is sick, so I don't want the added hassle of counting calories. I guess most of you have figured out by now that I am an emotional eater.
Anyways, I guess I will have to keep going. Really, 20 days is not a lot. Feeling inspired by all of you who have been doing it for so long.
Thanks all for the support and reminding me why I am doing this,
Sayali.
No problem and just a few things the MFP tribe and common sense has taught me:
1) This is a thing you DO, not a definition of who you ARE. Just like laundry. Take the emotion out of it wherever possible.
2) My approach? This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. So there is no finite number of days that I am trying to get to. I will be logging in and logging food for the rest of my life, because:
a) This program works
b) I don't want to die young and I was headed that direction
3) Try to remember - We are the results of the choices we make every day, whether those choices are good or bad. Make as many good choices as you can, and the ship will stay steady.
Cal tracking is considered a good choice (whether boring or not) because it tells you where you really are (just like your check register tells you your balance)
I felt like **** last night and almost gave in to a 6 pack. Because I counted? I ultimately decided that was a bad caloric choice.
Good luck to you, friend me if youd like.
Just remember why youre doing this....:)
Fsunami0 -
Hi,
I have been logging on this site for 20+ days now. Unfortunately, I am losing steam and plain bored of thinking of what goes in my mouth. My eating out is at minimum and even if I do eat out, I am calorie-conscious.
Not that this is a bad thing, but I am missing the good old days where I ate whatever I wanted when hungry and went out and had fun without thinking of calories. I know, I know, that's the reason I got fat in the first place, but I am getting bored of this lifestyle change.
How did you all cope with it? Do the ones who are consciously counting have urges to pig out? If so, how do you deal with them? Is it ok to have a day off from calorie counting? Do you hate yourself the next day or will that cause a person to fall off the wagon?
Sorry, too many questions!
Thankfully, I still go to gym 6 days a week and actually look forward to it. That's a lifestyle change I will gladly follow.
LOL @ "the good old days"! Are you talking about the days that we stuffed food in our mouths with wild abandon? The days that we did get up off our butts and burn a few calories? That we kept gaining weight...clothes got tighter and tighter? We felt sluggish...tired...bloated...???
NOPE...at least I don't. I much prefer the current "good days".
Of course I have days where it is harder than others...sometimes I give in to those days...I always however get up the next morning and...start all over again. I want this enough that it is worth whatever it takes to get there.
Yes...occasionally I have days where I want to toss the scale in the trash...delete MFP from my computer...etc etc...I want the enough to work my way through those times.
You ask how one copes...for me...remembering what those so called "good old days" felt like. Fat...out of shape...not doing the things that I wanted to do...not being able to fit in to my clothes...having to where clothes that I felt dumpy in...most of all...I think about what I want out of whatever amount of life that I have ahead of me.
It is not about the "good old days"...at least for me...it is about the "good new days" that lie ahead.
Your choice...lose or not lose...count or not count...the "good old days" or the "good new days". Pick one and then quit feeling sorry for yourself. Don't mean to be snarky but that is what you are doing. You have been at this for 20+ days...I have been at this for 10 months...many here have been at this for a few years...did you really expect us to feel sorry for you?
Okay...hopefully that is my snarkiness for the day...but probably not...I usually shoot for twice a day at least.
I think this was very well said and hearing this just motivates me more! It literally takes me 30 seconds to log my meal. I spend much more time reading these forums. I love waking up now, knowing I do not have to search for clothes that are not too small for me. I love clothes shopping and I LOVE the way I feel now. I do not have the urge to pig out...that is gone. I do like to go out to eat and will allow myself to go over for that day. The next day I have a clean slate and get right back on it. I never want to go back to where I was, and if this means logging every day...no biggie!0 -
then dont count calories and stay fat, your choice. You pick. Will power, motivation, excitement, support, these things are not nessacary for weight loss. The only requirement is calorie counting and whether or not you actually do it.
You will find no sympathy here. People here have worked hard for a long time to meet their goals. We really have no patience for whinners who "dont want to."
You think we all wake up in the morning and "want to"? Hell no, there are days I want to tank a whole cake and stay in bed, skip a workout, or just not count. We all lose steam and feel unmotivated from time to time but we keep going.
So as I said the choice is yours; count calories, get healthier, or get bored, lose steam and stay fat. Your choice.
tough love baby.
Yes. I needed to hear this today!0 -
The only time I didn't log in my one year here was when I was in the DR for a week and didn't have internet access.
I didn't lose steam because I wanted the weight gone.
I wont lose steam because I don't want to gain it back.
There is only one way to ensure those two things happen for me...logging accurately and consistently.
My profile says "you either want it or you don't"...
No I don't have the urge to pig out...if I eat too much I am uncomfortable...I don't like feeling uncomfortable. Besides I eat what I want in reasonable portions when I want it so I don't get those urges...
This. She says it like it is bruh. You need to keep finding ways to motivate yourself, maybe better mfp friends to keep you on track xD pictures of yourself at a lower weight or a cute dress in a smaller size? Calorie counting isn't hard when you develop your own strategies to stay on track, and really I don't find it that time consuming, most of the stuff you eat is already saved so it only takes a couple minutes to log XD seems like a small sacrifice for a healthier body and increased confidence.0 -
Yes.
I get cranky.
And I think I don't want to do this for another minute.
But I told myself that if I give up I HAVE to own it and send out the I GIVE UP email. And no way in hell am I doing that.
The feeling usually passes in a day or so. And whoever said that success motivates is right. Today I am within spitting distance of a number I haven't seen for 14 years. So I will eat some more lettuce and rejoice in it's grassy lowcal-ness. (sorta)
Stick with it, ignore the haters. You are doing a great job, this is hard work.0 -
The only time I didn't log in my one year here was when I was in the DR for a week and didn't have internet access.
I didn't lose steam because I wanted the weight gone.
I wont lose steam because I don't want to gain it back.
There is only one way to ensure those two things happen for me...logging accurately and consistently.
My profile says "you either want it or you don't"...
No I don't have the urge to pig out...if I eat too much I am uncomfortable...I don't like feeling uncomfortable. Besides I eat what I
want in reasonable portions when I want it so I don't get those urges...
^^ love this and TOTALLY agree0 -
I had the same problem and I still do. You look at other people and see them eating anything and everything and they are stick thin and you "think why do I have to watch everything I eat?" I usually have at least 1 cheat day a week (sometimes 2) but I always log everything so I know how bad I was. I'll have weeks where I lose nothing and other weeks where I lose a lot. I'm looking at this as a lifestyle change and you cannot live without treats, whether it's a glass of wine or some cake or any other thing.
The best thing about MPF is the forums. These people know what they are doing and give loads of encouragement. They don't sugar coat anything (which is good since we're not allowed to have it.) Stick with it and remember the old clothes that left marks around your stomach and how much looser they are now.0 -
Yes.
Stick with it, ignore the haters. You are doing a great job, this is hard work.
Sigh...no one expressed any hatred toward the OP. Personally I didn't write anything to her that I haven't said to myself many times. Every time that I have one of those moments that I wonder if it is worth it...I kick my own self in the butt
Counting calories will work for most people. It gets boring...tedious...and honestly...I would prefer not to count myself. I know however that over time...I too would slip back in to those "good old days".
The OP needs to give herself a chance...0 -
Well OP, I feel you. Which is the reason why I don't calorie count. I'm not interested in having that kind of relationship with food.
But here's the thing, you'll have to alter your habits in some major way to shift the weight off and keep it off. For me personally that's intuitive eating meets intermittent fasting. Works well for me, but plenty of others would find that as unpalatable as I find calorie counting.
At some point it's just about doing the best you can to find the road that works for you, hopefully one that keeps the potential misery of weight loss mostly at bay.0 -
counting calories makes me accountable. I tried it the other way (not counting calories) for the first 57 years of my life... not counting calories packed on a good 100+ pounds more than I need over the years.
Since last year I've counted calories... lost that good 100+ pounds and for the first time in my life I feel like I've just been born... year 1 of being healthy..0 -
and for the first time in my life I feel like I've just been born...
What a powerful metaphor. That really hit me in the gut. Thanks for sharing that.0 -
It was a pain in the *kitten* at first, though after some time it just became second nature. Sure, there are days where i don't log (special occasions or holidays) but generally i try to log everything. it's amazing how i STILL underestimate what i eat when i don't log everything. It's really easy to forget little things you eat here and there, and logging keeps me honest. I just try to remind myself of the feeling i get when i get on the scale and i see that it's gone UP a few pounds. NOT a good feeling!!0
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then dont count calories and stay fat, your choice. You pick. Will power, motivation, excitement, support, these things are not nessacary for weight loss. The only requirement is calorie counting and whether or not you actually do it.
You will find no sympathy here. People here have worked hard for a long time to meet their goals. We really have no patience for whinners who "dont want to."
You think we all wake up in the morning and "want to"? Hell no, there are days I want to tank a whole cake and stay in bed, skip a workout, or just not count. We all lose steam and feel unmotivated from time to time but we keep going.
So as I said the choice is yours; count calories, get healthier, or get bored, lose steam and stay fat. Your choice.
tough love baby.
This X 100 -
This might not be "your time" if you are ready to throw in the towel.
Not what anyone wants to hear or think, but it's true. I've "tried" dozens of times over 10 years to lose weight. I would log foods (not here, another site), lose 10lbs, join the gym then quit it all. Gain the weight back and I was unhappy all over again.
One day, I signed up for this site, expecting to not go very far. Well, I was ready and I'm going! Like another poster, the only time I "gave up" logging was when I was on a cruise ship. I'll have a "cheat" day, but I feel like crap so I limit those.
The key is (when you're ready) to not give up everything you love... just log it, make it work!
If you're ready, do it, stick with it! If not, give it time, you'll get there!0 -
Keep at it. Pretty soon your 20 days will turn into 40 days, and your 40 days will turn into 80.
Increase your friend network- the more people you have in your corner, the better. My friends list helps me stay in the game- and I've gotten to know some pretty awesome people.
Also, increase your calories. Love yourself. Feelings aren't facts- you can control a feeling. When you start feeling bored, recognize it, and turn it around. When you start feeling emotional, remember, you can't change the root cause of feelings, with food.
You can do this. The whole tribe knows you can do this, because so many have done it before you. Draw on that.0 -
What's your calorie goal?
I find if my goal is too low, I start to lose focus. You begin to feel deprived, etc. Also, I eat all the foods. Fast food, restaurant food, home cooked, whatever. As long as it fits in my calorie goal (and some days not, there's nothing wrong with going over every once in a while), I'll eat it. I 100% agree with eating the foods you like/love. If you want some chocolate cake, eat it. Yes, nutritionally, it might not do much for you, but it'll do wonders for you mentally. Don't cut things out, just work them in.
NAILED IT!!! This is one reason I love you girl. I could not have said it better. Now get out if my head. :-P
I can tell you that I am on a 1200 calorie plan and am having a hard time meeting that goal. I eat all day long, drink half my weight in water and am very full that I usually end up with calories left over...is that bad? I do eat a lot of veggies throughout the day, but I feel like I get full meals as well.0 -
i'm probably going to get a lot of negative feedback for this, but i don't count calories anymore. i was in the same boat as you. it's boring and repetitive. you should definitely do it for a while. it does help, i'm not saying it doesn't,but do it long enough that you learn more about portion sizes, and so you're more aware of what you're putting into your body. i don't count calories, but i'm always aware of what i'm eating. i still make smart decisions, i still read the label/nutritional info before i eat anything. i also take my bike out every day, i walk my dogs, i do jillian michaels videos. stay active and stay aware of what you're eating. this might not be the greatest advice, but i lost 70 pounds this way. i will probly never count calories again.
I don't either. I lost weight counting calories and not counting calories, both, and not counting calories works a lot better for me. Something about feeling obligated to log every. single. thing. that goes into my mouth and knowing I only had x amount of calories for the day made me feel hungry even when was I wasn't!
I eat whole foods, no dairy or grains, and listen to my body. When I'm full, I stop eating. When I'm hungry, I eat something. I know this doesn't work for everyone, but it is working for me.0 -
Not that this is a bad thing, but I am missing the good old days where I ate whatever I wanted when hungry and went out and had fun without thinking of calories. I know, I know, that's the reason I got fat in the first place, but I am getting bored of this lifestyle change.
How did you all cope with it? Do the ones who are consciously counting have urges to pig out? If so, how do you deal with them? Is it ok to have a day off from calorie counting? Do you hate yourself the next day or will that cause a person to fall off the wagon?
You can still go out to eat and have fun but you do need to log your calories so you know you are in a deficit so you can lose weight. I have gone out to eat and still lost weight every week. You can still eat when you are hungry, just eat less. I have been consciously counting since I've been doing MFP and I don't have the urge to pig out cuz I don't want to go over my calories. Plus I feel like I'm letting myself down and also my friends on MFP cuz they are here supporting me. I don't want to waste my time or theirs. I try not to ever hate myself.0 -
i'm probably going to get a lot of negative feedback for this, but i don't count calories anymore. i was in the same boat as you. it's boring and repetitive. you should definitely do it for a while. it does help, i'm not saying it doesn't,but do it long enough that you learn more about portion sizes, and so you're more aware of what you're putting into your body. i don't count calories, but i'm always aware of what i'm eating. i still make smart decisions, i still read the label/nutritional info before i eat anything. i also take my bike out every day, i walk my dogs, i do jillian michaels videos. stay active and stay aware of what you're eating. this might not be the greatest advice, but i lost 70 pounds this way. i will probly never count calories again.
I actually think this is a good approach. I can see a time when I'll have been counting calories long enough to know what I can and can't eat throughout the day.
That being said you can't do this if you're prone to having small indulgences that you brush off as though they don't exist. A bite here and a bite there does start to add up. That's why I can't stop counting calories: not yet, anyway. Of course there are days when I get fed up but I feel terrible when I overeat - even worse than I did back when I ate too much all the time because now my body's just not used to it. I'm an emotional eater too, and there are days when chocolate makes too many appearances in my food diary ... but I try to fit it into my calorie goals.
Think of the benefits and keep using the forums for the times you do feel down. A lot of people on here know their stuff.0 -
I lost 30 pounds last summer using MyFitnessPal and calorie counting, then maintained my loss over winter, and am now 27 days into my goal of losing another 30 pounds this summer (I have lost 10 pounds since 5/15). I had a lot of false starts over the years, but finally reached a point where I am truly committed to do whatever it takes to succeed. While I can get advice from others, only I can actually do the necessary things to cause me to lose weight. So down deep, this is a commitment you make to yourself.
To reach my goal, given my height and frame, I am on a 1200 - 1400 calorie diet plus I do a lot of physical activity. I just focus on each day, and now I have done it long enough that it feels automatic. I really don't have to spend a lot of time thinking about it. I just do what I need to do and then get on with the rest of my day.
Maybe some of things I do might be helpful:
- I used MFP for awhile just recording what I ate without having a weight loss plan. I wanted to see what I ate on average, how many calories I normally took in, and so forth. Plus I recorded my physical activity. This was very informative. I then started reducing my calories, figuring out what calorie level caused me to gain weight, maintain weight, and lose weight.
- I need variety, so I allow myself to eat anything I want, but stop when I reach my calorie limit. Doing this, I quickly learned what foods are splurges that left me hungry early in the day and what foods kept me full.
- Proper nutrition is highly important with a lower calorie diet, so I took several online nutrition courses (through Coursera), which have given me the vital information I needed to make wise choices.
- I eat a wide variety of nutritional foods over the course of a week, making sure I cover all the food groups.
- I had to redefine what a meal is. Last night for "dinner" I had a salad around 4;30 pm before going out to garden. I then had a small grilled pork loin around 7 pm, and then for desert around 9:30, I had some orange juice placed in a freeze cup that turned it into an orange juice slush. Earlier in the day, I had had an egg, toast with Smart Balance buttery spread, a glass of milk, coffee, bean soup, whole wheat crackers, and an apple. I never felt hungry.
- While I am actively losing weight, I measure and record everything I eat. This includes building recipes in MFP to get an accurate calorie count. It does take time, which is why I do it in the summer when school is out. Also note that a lot of food entries in MFP are less than accurate, so I do spend time researching foods to make sure the entered information is correct.
- There are certain foods that are not wise choices for me, so I don't buy them nor keep them in the house. No need to tempt yourself with ice cream in the freezer or cookies in the cabinet, and without them around, I find an apple tastes mighty nice.
- I find it is almost impossible to stay with my plan if I regularly eat out or eat what someone else cooks. Most of the time, I just prepare all of my own food.
- I fill my time with plenty of non-food activities that I enjoy that make me forget about eating. For me that could be gardening, hiking, playing with the dog, going for a bike ride or to the beach.
- A lot of times when I felt hungry, I was really dehydrated.
- And every pound I lose is motivation to lose another.0 -
It's a choice I make every day... Keep doing this or get fat again. It's a pretty easy choice really.0
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My guess is that you're being overly restrictive. You're allowed to cut lose every now and then...you don't have to be "on" 100% of the time...thinking you will be or should be is a recipe for failure. I've been maintaining for over a year now and I don't log...but I'm very mindful of what goes into my mouth and I'm a very conscious of proper nutrition, namely because this is more about overall health and well being for me than it is the actual lbs...but guess what? Last weekend I had a huge BBQ at my house with slow smoked ribs, pulled pork, brisket, all the fixings and a keg of beer...I had a rockin' good time and enjoyed myself with the understanding that one does not get fat in a day...this is overwhelmingly about what you're doing 90% of the time, not the 10%. I had a great time and the next morning I resumed my awesome and much more nutritious dietary lifestyle.
To that end, eating nutritiously doesn't have to be boring either...I'm a foodie so I like good food...healthy nutritious food can also rock.0 -
Thanks all for sharing your tips and insight. I feel much more motivated now. 0
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I understand what you mean. I am the same. I cannot keep up with repetetive food or avoiding going out for a meal because I cannot always know the calories. After lots of false starts and yo-yo'ing, I have now started 5:2 - 2 days fast per week and mindful eating on the remaining 5 days. I am yet to see the results but it is much easier, more fun, not boring and I don't need to count calories.0
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Completely understandable. You will get to a point where you will relax a bit more and feel more at ease juggling your calories so you stay within budget and don't feel restricted. I don't eat out AT ALL(my budget won't allow right now, $$ wise) and never have any cheat days. Ever. I also don't eat meat and gavnt for years, so going out to eat is usually about finding things I CAN eat anyway. I feel you. Its probably a good thing I've got more expenses lately cuz Im down to eating kale beans and healthy crap like that. I've always worked out six days a week so no change there. Im just training for another marathon so wnt to get back down to race weight. I've lost eight pounds so I'll have to change my ticker. It was a little less monotonous to have a little something I like yesterday tho...a Popsicle bar. :-) maybe try small things so its not so boring psychologically. A little treat here and there.Hi,
I have been logging on this site for 20+ days now. Unfortunately, I am losing steam and plain bored of thinking of what goes in my mouth. My eating out is at minimum and even if I do eat out, I am calorie-conscious.
Not that this is a bad thing, but I am missing the good old days where I ate whatever I wanted when hungry and went out and had fun without thinking of calories. I know, I know, that's the reason I got fat in the first place, but I am getting bored of this lifestyle change.
How did you all cope with it? Do the ones who are consciously counting have urges to pig out? If so, how do you deal with them? Is it ok to have a day off from calorie counting? Do you hate yourself the next day or will that cause a person to fall off the wagon?
Sorry, too many questions!
Thankfully, I still go to gym 6 days a week and actually look forward to it. That's a lifestyle change I will gladly follow.0
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