Could not pre-logging/pre-planning my food be beneficial in my case?

soccerkon26
soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I notice that there are a lot of people having issues on the forums with not eating enough food...but I seem to never have that problem.

I pre-plan what I am going to eat the next day to make sure I don't go over my calorie goal. No matter the day, I never have a lot of calories left from working out or just not be hungry because I eat all of my calories. My deficit is usually only about 5-50 calories by the time I go to bed.

I think that if I see a green number and I'm in a deficit, my brain realizes I have the ability to eat more...even if I'm not hungry.

I'm wondering if I would benefit from not logging my food for a day? Maybe then I would only eat when I was hungry. Or maybe it is a terrible idea! Ha ha.

Any opinions are welcome!

Replies

  • LiftAndBalance
    LiftAndBalance Posts: 960 Member
    So basically you meet your goal every day? That's what you're supposed to do. Meeting your goal puts you in a deficit. How big that deficit is depends on the data you put into MFP.
  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    LiftAndBalance wrote: »
    So basically you meet your goal every day? That's what you're supposed to do. Meeting your goal puts you in a deficit. How big that deficit is depends on the data you put into MFP.

    I guess I forgot to add that often times I am then hungry at night or have large cravings that I didn't account for because I just eat and eat and eat all day. So I'm usually right at meeting my goal or a little over
  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    edited March 2015
    What's your goal with not logging? Practicing intuitive eating? Or just eating less? To the first, you could start that by logging after you've eaten until you're comfortable with your habits. To the second, you may overeat but have no idea you're doing so. If you're happy with your weight loss, I see no reason to not log. Your calorie goal ensures you're getting adequate nutrition and fuel, so it's good if you're meeting it. Personally, I like to eat, and if I have extra calories there will definitely be wine or ice cream.

    ETA: Saw your second post. Try saving a couple hundred calories for after dinner, then. Changing the times you eat for maximum satiety is going to be better than not logging, IMO.
  • LiftAndBalance
    LiftAndBalance Posts: 960 Member
    soccerkon26 wrote: »
    So I'm usually right at meeting my goal or a little over

    You're supposed to meet your goal since the goal IS at a deficit. You said initially you're usually around 5–50 kcal below your goal so that puts you in the preset deficit plus 5–50.

    How long have you been at this? What are your stats (age, height, weight, activity level, exercise, calorie goal) and how much do you want to lose? Have you been losing?

    That being said, pre-logging is not a necessity, it's just a tool to make sure you meet your goals.
  • futuremanda
    futuremanda Posts: 816 Member
    soccerkon26 wrote: »
    LiftAndBalance wrote: »
    So basically you meet your goal every day? That's what you're supposed to do. Meeting your goal puts you in a deficit. How big that deficit is depends on the data you put into MFP.

    I guess I forgot to add that often times I am then hungry at night or have large cravings that I didn't account for because I just eat and eat and eat all day. So I'm usually right at meeting my goal or a little over

    Right at meeting your goal, a little under, or a little over, is great. It's a target, not a limit!

    But if you're hungry at night, then you need to account for that in your planning. Take some of the "eat and eat and eat all day" calories and re-allocate them so you're not really hungry before bed, with no calorie room left.

    I don't see how NOT pre-logging would help you. Seems to be serving you well. And now it'll help you adjust your plan to make your evenings better.
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