Is it common to have to rely on the app, at least at first, to know when you should stop eating?

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lorib642
lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
in Getting Started
Left to my own devices I would snack here and there and unknowingly take in more calories than I need. Now that I am logging them, I am getting how to budget my calories. But, if I didn't know I had used up my allotment for the day I would probably nibble more. I like the app. I don't know calories in my head. I don't go to bed hungry. I guess it is more habit for me to graze than true hunger.

It just sounds silly. Like everyone should know when they are done.
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Replies

  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
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    I'm unable to keep a running tally of how many calories I'm eating in my head, so the app is essential and necessary for that. Not to mention its fairly easy.

    I've tried "going it alone" before and it never worked out. I always ended up eating more overall and gaining. So I'm going to be using the app for as long as its available to me.
  • AndyRogan
    AndyRogan Posts: 195 Member
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    You'll probably work out what triggers the nibbles, is its boredom, stress, something else.
    Its common to rely on it, some people stop relying on it after a few months, or a year, others, like myself still rely on it after 15months+ but once you get close to your goal weight, it should become easier
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,134 Member
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    I don't know when I'm done with calories unless I look at my food diary. I still have problems with being mentally satisfied with my food intake. Some people don't have that problem and I wish I was one of them. It sucks to have to argue with myself every day to not eat because I don't have any calories left.
  • oORosadaOo
    oORosadaOo Posts: 97 Member
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    This app is a relevation for me. I never know on my own how much I should eat, my portions are way too big. When I have to log my food I pay attention to the portion size and eat less. I find it hard to know when I'm full ...
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
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    Thanks :)
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,574 Member
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    I can feel maintenance, and I can feel 1200, but anywhere in between I'm not completely sure.
  • retirehappy
    retirehappy Posts: 4,753 Member
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    Well I stopped logging last November. My result? I have a streak of 17 days now because I gained it all back and really didn't want to keep seeing the scale going up and up. I started logging and now it is going down, down. So yeah, for some of us the app is necessary for success. I can lose weight but keeping it off seems to be a real down fall for me.

    MFP is helping me with losing and I will continue to track because I have proven, I will gain weight if I don't track my food and exercise. I am a WW lifetime member, but because I never logged so pure before, I joined MFP last summer and saw consistent results, but I lost the motivation to log and so I am starting over yet again. If I keep my head screwed on right, this will be the last time. I will keep tracking on maintenance and not regain all again.
  • AnthonyThrashD
    AnthonyThrashD Posts: 306 Member
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    I did fine maintaining my weight at 254 lbs without MFP app! >:)
  • crisb2
    crisb2 Posts: 329 Member
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    I'm useless without my MFP app. Especially tracking macros.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited October 2014
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    Totally makes sense to use the app. And make note of what you're learning, make small adjustments in what you eat... One big way *I* use the app is to decide what to order in chain restaurants.

    I think it's very common in today's society to not know when we're "done".
  • toadg53
    toadg53 Posts: 302 Member
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    I've been at maintenance for a couple months now and I can tell you, I am scared to death to NOT use MFP daily. I do not want to go back to where I was or even start to go backward by even a pound. I hope this is available for a long, long time. I do keep a separate written log as well, but I still rely on MFP totally for my food, exercise and carb, fat, sugar and protein daily grams totals. I'd be lost and looking for something, anything comparable if we lost this site.
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
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    For MOST of us, if we did not need a tool to help us stay within our calorie allotment, we would not have come here to begin with. Most of us needed that help... MFP is a great way to keep an eye on what we are doing. I've been logging here for nearly 2 years and have, for the first time, not lost and promptly regained... And when I have regained some, I have realized what was causing it and been able to readjust, rather than just assuming because I am eating healthy things, I'm going to be ok with my weight... It is an excellent tool to keep things on track...
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
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    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    Totally makes sense to use the app. And make note of what you're learning, make small adjustments in what you eat... One big way *I* use the app is to decide what to order in chain restaurants.

    I think it's very common in today's society to not know when we're "done".

    Thanks. Yes, I try looking up restaurants beforehand so I am not shocked when I get home.

  • TJR88
    TJR88 Posts: 37 Member
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    Definitely need it to know when I should stop on gluttonous days when I feel i could carry on indefinitely (which are most days :p) BUT on the other side it's been great to know I can have more than I thought and still stay on track for weight loss. Before counting calories I would eat very little when I was on a health kick and GORGE when I inevitably ran out of will power but with tracking I can take a more balanced approach.

    Hoping I'll get to the point where I can keep that balance without tracking but if I don't then I will make my peace with tracking forever. Cos Lord knows I can't go back to feast and famine - it never worked for me.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    edited October 2014
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    Not for me because I dont use it in that way. I have recorded the food and found I could have 3 meals a day and then went on to fit meals around my allowances. They are something like 20% breakfast/ 25% lunch/40% dinner and 15% snack. I have eat back calories in reserve. Om boring and only have a few different brekfasts and lunches, so dinner is whatever I have left and I know more or less that I cna have anything but reduced portions or a massive plate of veg plus some protein.

    I use the app all the time even though I know what I will have and how many calories because its quick to copy meals and loging your food is the best way to keep you on target before it enters your mouth. Information is really importnat to me and its fun to use. I think I will log even at maintenance when I get there next year.
  • LeonCX
    LeonCX Posts: 862 Member
    edited October 2014
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    I have an app that administers an electric shock when I go over on my calories. So far it's working. But I can hardly sit down.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
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    LeonCX wrote: »
    I have an app that administers an electric shock when I go over on my calories. So far it's working. But I can hardly sit down.

    :)
  • Camilleathome
    Camilleathome Posts: 99 Member
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    Ive been using the app on and off. And I find that using it helps me so much. This is my first time back where I feel like Im finally getting the hang of things. Im on day 9 of being under calory and fat goal and well over the 1200 calory goal. lost nine pounds(Most of that is most likely water weight from all the junk). I live in the middle of nowhere and am fairly nervous about going to a huge convention in two weeks and having access to all the fast food temptations but I know the app will definitely help me pick good choices.
  • KJ4health
    KJ4health Posts: 16 Member
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    I like using the app the night before to log my meals so I can plan the day. I do my best to stick with this plan. I tend to eat the same meals over and over, so if I had to I know what my "typical meal" would be as far as how much carb, protein ect.
  • KJ4health
    KJ4health Posts: 16 Member
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    Camilleathome wrote: »
    Ive been using the app on and off. And I find that using it helps me so much. This is my first time back where I feel like Im finally getting the hang of things. Im on day 9 of being under calory and fat goal and well over the 1200 calory goal. lost nine pounds(Most of that is most likely water weight from all the junk). I live in the middle of nowhere and am fairly nervous about going to a huge convention in two weeks and having access to all the fast food temptations but I know the app will definitely help me pick good choices.

    Also pack cut of veggies, fruit and nutrition bars so you don't have a crisis, I find that helps me to avoid a total spin out when I am on the road.

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