How do you motivate yourself to keep logging?

suzicdavis
suzicdavis Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have started and stopped logging my food on MFP I don't know how many times now in the last few years. I know this is the only way to be successful, I just have the hardest time and have always given up after just a few days. I begin to hate the tedious effort. I can't be the only one in this boat, and I really want to follow through this time and finally lose the 40 pounds forever. Obviously many of you here are successful - how do you motivate yourself day after day?? Please help
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Replies

  • blount86
    blount86 Posts: 8 Member
    I was the exact same way. I would be really good for a few days then completely stop logging. I did this off and on for a couple of years. This time around I'm almost 5 weeks in and I have logged every single meal. One thing that helped me was pre-logging my food. I usually make my meals for the day the night before and log at that time. By pre-planning my meals, it also helps me to not eat bad foods. This around I feel like I'm more motivated and ready for this journey. Everyday I just think about my goal and also the progress I've made so far really helps to keep me motivated. The first couple of weeks are the hardest I think and after that, for me at least, I feel like its second nature. Good luck with your journey! You CAN do this!!!
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,604 Member
    I have been logging my cycling since April 29, 1990.

    I like data ... I work with data ... I attend university to learn more about data and databases.

    So logging my food here just fits in with what I like to do. :) Plus MFP is so easy to use.
  • Zipp237
    Zipp237 Posts: 255 Member
    It's not the only way to be successful. People have lost and continue to lose weight without logging food. I do it because I like it. I see my calories and all those little micronutrients, so I know where I stand.

    It gets tedious now and again, but it doesn't seem like a sacrifice because I actually want to do it.
  • hollyvalli
    hollyvalli Posts: 52 Member
    The weight loss is the motivation. Being a better more badass me is the motivation. :)
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    It takes only a few moments to log. 20 years ago calories were listed in a booklet and not everything was there. It's point and click, geez.
  • dlkfox
    dlkfox Posts: 463 Member
    CoachJen71 wrote: »
    I know that if I stop I will gain the weight back. Doesn't mean I don't ever go off the rails. I frequently do, but it is easier to get back on track if I have been logging all along.

    I like the data. And when I am paying attention, I have control. When I am not paying attention, I gain weight...and I don’t want to do that anymore.
  • CoachJen71
    CoachJen71 Posts: 1,200 Member
    dlkfox wrote: »
    CoachJen71 wrote: »
    I know that if I stop I will gain the weight back. Doesn't mean I don't ever go off the rails. I frequently do, but it is easier to get back on track if I have been logging all along.

    I like the data. And when I am paying attention, I have control. When I am not paying attention, I gain weight...and I don’t want to do that anymore.

    Exactly! :) I love data. Just adore it. Gives me something concrete to work with.
  • Gena575
    Gena575 Posts: 224 Member
    Play games with yourself to make it fun. Pick macro or micro to "conquer" For me, right now, that's fiber. Eating a LOT less than I used to means I, ahem, really need to hit my fiber goal. I get all excited when those green happy words pop up about fiber. I'm competitive by nature so this plays right into i . Find your motivator and it'll all fall into place.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    lauraesh0384 wrote: »
    It's just habit. I view it as something I do every day such as brushing my teeth or taking a shower. Do it long enough and it will become natural for you.

    This. My day doesn't feel right if I don't log now. I don't really need motivation for it. Plus I like having the numbers to crunch.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    Not logging just hasn't been an option since I started. Priorities.
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    I don't find it tedious... :)
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    I can barely recognize a spreadsheet, am disorganized as heck, but I knew the best way to lose my excess weight was logging what I ate.

    I logged at the end of the day, I can't decide what I am going to eat for dinner until it is dinner time, but I was consistent in my daytime eating and knew my basic portion sizes pretty fast so it worked for me.
    I am just stubborn and determined so not achieving the weigh loss wasn't an option.

    Being a data geek I am sure would be helpful- but it is a simple case of addition, subtraction, and consistency.

    Been happily maintaining for 6+ years.

    Cheers, h.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I find it a helpful habit. It takes me about 5 minutes to pre-log my whole day every morning.
    I think it is less tedious than a lot of things I've tried. It is like brushing my teeth. I just do it.
    Once you have logged for awhile it gets faster especially if you eat the same foods often.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    afatpersonwholikesfood wrote: »
    PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »
    Not logging just hasn't been an option since I started. Priorities.

    I use this analogy a lot, and maybe it's not perfect, but I consider my weight problem to be something akin to a chronic disease that must be managed. How does a diabetic, for example, stay motivated to keep taking insulin?

    This exactly. I don't feel "motivated" to brush my teeth or shower or do laundry or make my nephew lunch when I'm watching him or wipe his butt when he uses the toilet (or wipe my butt when I use the toilet, while I'm on the subject). They're just requirements. End of story.

  • mayburcm1
    mayburcm1 Posts: 14 Member
    The thing about logging is that it's kind of a pain in the butt at first, but unless you eat completely differently for every single meal, it becomes so much quicker the more (longer) you do it.
  • hannahsadler_tn
    hannahsadler_tn Posts: 77 Member
    I'm back after losing 50-60 pounds a couple of years ago. A light switch just flipped for me about 2 months ago and here I am. At this point I log because I'm comfortable with it. I love my food scale, I love lifting weights and I tolerate the scale. :)
  • Bxqtie116
    Bxqtie116 Posts: 552 Member
    Since I use the app, it's easy for me to log my meals as I'm eating. The only time I don't log is during the holidays when it's a lot of food and it's a little difficult to actually measure how much of each food you're eating.
  • tinallen863
    tinallen863 Posts: 50 Member
    My Health and Happiness is my responsibility. Like finances, I must manage my food budget with care. I can't imagine spending money and using credit cards without constant monitoring. It would be certain financial ruin. Healthy weight and optimal diet is far more important than money. MFP can be done in just a few minutes a day. I make it a priority. If you have time to brush your teeth you have time to log. Good Luck, Tina
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    The more you do it, and the larger your meals database gets, the easier it is.
  • TheRootofGroot
    TheRootofGroot Posts: 118 Member
    You just need to change your attitude.
    If you're serious about attaining your objective you'll suck it up and get into the routine of it.
    If you can't manage logging than you likely can't stick to a sensible exercise program or healthy eating patterns and you will fail.

    Things don't magically fall into place.
    There is no trick, no shortcut, it stops and starts with you.
  • ljbuss
    ljbuss Posts: 26 Member
    I have not been a consistent logger until recently again . First time I used MFP three years ago it helped me to lose almost 50 pounds. When I stopped logging my food and exercise the weight crept back up - and now having to reverse course and re lose some of what I had already accomplished . So logging in again every day is a priority for me. When I tell myself I don't have time it's not really true. Doesn't take long as a habit end of day . And the person that said they "pre logged" is onto something . I do that some days for both food and exercise when I can . I think it helps set the "intention " - and can always edit if the day unfolds a different way.
  • selfepidemic1
    selfepidemic1 Posts: 159 Member
    I use 7 weeks, which is an app that is like a checkbox for each day, I enjoy checking it. Also, I usually find recipes in the evening for the week, so I have things to look forward too. Plan ahead and then its not too tricky.

    You can use frequent foods, it takes like 2 minutes a day and is well worth it.
  • mccokat
    mccokat Posts: 130 Member
    I like keeping the streak going. Also, once I stopped thinking about it as a pain and just started doing it, my life became a lot easier.
    Besides, I was kinda curious as to how many calories I was eating anyway.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Counting calories is not the only way to be successful. It's just a tool to help you reach your main objective - if you want to lose weight and maintain goal weight, that would be to stop overeating for good. I like to play with numbers, so I made the food diary into a game. My problem was that I overate. Playing with numbers helped me stop that. Playing with numbers has always had that effect, but only temporary - I have used different programs before. The crazy thing that happened this time, with MFP, was that I learnt how to eat. Counting calories started to feel like a tedious effort when I didn't need it anymore. So I don't use the food diary on a daily basis anymore, I just use it occasionally to compare stuff and run new recipes through the recipe builder. 50 pounds down, maintaining for 21 months.
  • samchez0
    samchez0 Posts: 364 Member
    I eat a lot of the same stuff frequently so it's all kind of in there for me now which makes it easier.

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