MFP - how long do you think you'll keep a diary?

Yup. Before I found MFP, I used another calorie tracking website, and before that, a handy dandy notebook and pen in the purse.

I've been logging for 6 weeks now, and I don't see why I would ever stop! I ALWAYS have my Iphone with me everywhere I go, so I have no real reason to ever stop -- even if I do reach my ultimate goal!

I used the diary for 2 days. I don't need it.

So the other day, I came to the conclusion that I'll probably always be a calorie logger, as I've always had problems with portion control and calorie counting. I don't think I'll ever get to a point where I can safely eye a serving of something. It got me thinking if anyone else out there has thought about how long you'll stay on MFP or any other site like MFP.

Do you think you'll be keeping a food and exercise log forever?

YES I will do it forever because being a large framed woman, its easier for me to gain weight and its why even though I'm curerntly at my normal weight I still need to watch out what I eat and keep track of my exercises. Logging in makes you avoid gaining much fat weight.

I'm planning on logging until I don't need to log anymore. I too have a difficult time with portion control. I know that it will take a loooong time to teach myself how to *crave* healthy things...until then, I'm here

I've been at this DAILY for 175 consecutive days (come Saturday). To be honest with you, I don't know how long I will continue to do this. Forever is a definite possibility. I enjoy my time spent on MFP and all the support available here. I refer all the people I know but only a few actually take me up on it. Good luck to everyone on their journeys!

Well let's put it this way...When I don't track what I eat, I gain weight.:/ My dad who is an ultrarunner and my mom completed her first marathon this year told me something as we were discussing healthy lifestyles...They told me although they are in the best shape of their lives, they have to constantly be aware of what they are eating because as soon as they don't, they gain weight. I did not come from a gene pool of high metabolism's and naturally thin individuals. People in my family are in good shape only because they choose that lifestyle and are aware if they aren't mindful and if they dont keep themselves accountable, things will go downhill and they will gain weight fast.

I know personally I'll have to do some sort of tracking whether it be on here or somewhere else for the rest of my life...but if it means I'll be in killer shape and live a long life, I think it'll be worth it

I have been logging in some way for almost 4.5 yrs now. It is the only way I can keep my weight off. Took me 1.5 yrs to lose 100 lbs and I have kept it off for 3 yrs now. As soon as I quit weighing or quit logging, I gain weight. I have gained as much as 17 lbs back and I didn't like that feeling!! I love this site, have only been using it now for 2 months, but it is my new home! Like someone else said, with having it on my phone all of the time, it makes it easy!!

I foresee me using this until I'm 102 yrs old......lol :flowerforyou:

I love the diary to keep my macros in check at this point in time, however, I am not the kind of person that can commit to journeling my food for the rest of my life. I have to live a little more freely than that eventually. I have been weaning myself away from using the diary and taking days off from logging here and there. I'm hoping I've learned enough about calorie amounts and good nutrition to not have to depend on it.

I will keep using it until I no longer need to. When I reach goal weight, reach my desired fitness level, and am able to maintain my weight, then I will look to transition off of using MFP to keep track of calories. But for now, its a great tool and using it on my phone it's really convenient to keep track from almost anywhere.

after I hit my goal weight I'm thinking I'll log my foods for another year or so, maybe more and then take a few months to see if eyeballing things worked or not.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I lost weight for 18mths on my own quite happily, but hit a major plateau and since then have been logging daily for 7 months. I reached goal in march and have still been logging every day. I find most days when I pre-plan my meals that I naturally hit about 1400 cals with the foods that I now love to eat and then usually add a few snacks throughout the day to hit my maintenance calories. I feel like I'm at the point now where I can make the right decisions and can recognise portion control, but if I'm not vigilant I do start to graze more on bad foods, one sweet here, a potato chip there and even though at the time it all seems insignificant, once I've logged it I've added an extra 300+ cals of junk so this is something I'm working on.

I'm so tempted to go on a trial month long MFP free plan. Just to see if I can do it, see if my new eating instincts are right. See if I gain weight and can avoid binges... I'm not quite ready for that yet I think, but I'm getting there! I don't want to log for the rest of my life as I don't think it's too healthy for me, I get obsessed by numbers and goals and don't want to spend the rest of my life worrying about being in the green. It's been invaluable in teaching my how to eat right, but I think I need an end point. Maybe try and wean myself off by my MFP anniversary this December!

I think I'll be doing it for a long time, or at least until I learn how to control my portions and be conscious of calories without it. Like, knowing how many calories something is and knowing that it probably won't help, or something. My basic problem is control, so I think if I can learn where to stop, I'll be fine. But if I don't, it's to MFP.