I don't want to count calories forever

srecupid · August 2016

But I'm terrified of gaining it all back like so many people do. I had an impromptu dinner with family tonight and had bread with olive oil,pork tenderloin wrapped in zucchini, and a stew made from garden vegetables. It was probably the healthiest meal I have had in a long time and if I was counting calories i would never even bother trying to cook something like that. I'd probably have a steak and a frozen vegetable. So how do I stop counting but not gain it back?

CorneliusPhoton · August 2016

i think it is doable. You just need to try it and watch the scale. I have been practicing intermittent fasting (18:6) for several weeks now and it has really helped me to stay in check without logging much. I eat 2 very satisfying meals per day: a fast-breaking meal at noon and dinner at 5pm. Each of those meals can consist of about 700-calories for my activity level. From logging my meals for several months, I can pretty accurately estimate how much food is within 700 calories. I eat a lot of the same things from week to week. Unless I eat out, then all bets are off! But even then, I use what I learned from logging everything ... which foods are more calorie-dense, which foods I can eat more freely, how to eyeball protein portions.

That being said, I weigh myself every morning and if my weight goes up by more than a couple of pounds, I am back on the logging. As long as you stay focused and check in with your weight every day or every week, you can still be in control. It's when you stop logging and stop thinking about it and just eat everything you want and never weigh yourself that you get into trouble. Keep logging in to MFP, even when you are not logging food and keep your goal in mind.

AnabolicMind2011 · August 2016

Learn portion control and moderation. After weighing every morsel of food for years and years, you'll start to see what portions look like. After a while, you may be good at eyeballing portions.
Moderation is self explanatory. Eat all foods in moderation- one serving of ice cream not the whole gallon

_Bro · August 2016

There's really no need to count calories all the time...
Just do it while you are trying to get things back on track with a good healthy diet and exercise.
Furthermore, it's absurd to try and eat clean all the time -- where's the fun in that?

So, I would just use this as a tool while you are getting to your goals and make sure that you have a practical diet in place before you stop really watching things. For example, a more severe diet with calorie cutting may help you lose weight over the short term but it will leave you ill equipped afterwards. A severe diet (really restrictive) can work but make sure you transition back to something more moderate and enjoy the occasional treat/dessert/beer/whatever.

enonymous01 · August 2016

I have been counting calories for so long it's second nature. I used to do it old-school, pen and paper with a Calorie King book, then with the internet to help me look things up, now with this app. You will get burned out. Take a break, stop counting, then go back to it when you see the scale start to creep up. Eventually, whether officially logging or not, you will have a mental picture of what you are taking in and burning.

kimny72 · August 2016

Weigh yourself regularly and as soon as you see your weight creep up over your goal "range", go back to counting for a little while.

You could also plan on counting one week out of every month so you avoid "portion creep" before it starts.

Or you could count he meals you have easy control over, but don't sweat the meals out, the family celebrations, that sort of thing.

You can count part time, track your weight and see how you do. If it goes well, dial it back a little more until you get to a place you're comfortable with. It doesn't have to be all or nothing!

sijomial · August 2016

Don't you think you would notice if the weight started to go back on?
You only "gain it all back" if you ignore your weight trending above your maintenance range and do nothing about it over a prolonged period of time.

Counting is just one of many tools to control your weight. Eating patterns, portion control, food choices, lifestyle, activity, exercise etc. etc..

Experiment to find what works for you. You can always go back to counting in case you need or want to.

kommodevaran · August 2016

You won't regain unless you start to consistently overeat again. Impromptu meals is one of the joys of life. Calorie counting can teach you to eyeball appropriate portion sizes. "The Hunger Scale" combined with logging can teach you to recognize when you've had enough, even when you aren't logging. Eat until you've had enough. Occasional feasting is no problem. Consistent feasting is a problem.

I'm also for daily weighing and moving.

IcanIwill1 · August 2016

One of the benefits of a true lifestyle change, that this whole process becomes, is that, it is a skills acquisition process because of what we learn along the way.
As time goes on, you know what food choices to make, and what preparation methods will ensure you stay within your calorie range.
When you go out, you choose starters like soups, made without the calorific ingredients. You choose vegetables that are either steamed or made with as little fat as possible. Ditto your protein and carbs...all in all, this will ensure that overall your choices will not amount to a calorie bomb.
I made vegetable soup with lean chicken meat, onions, mushrooms, broccoli etc for work, I did not need to count the calories, because I knew that the broccoli, mushrooms, and onions, plus chicken breast will not amount to a calorie bomb. I had an idea what it all amounts to thanks to experience. Its not necessary to count calories as time goes on.
Don't get me wrong...from time to time, I do weigh and look up the nutrient values, to make sure I'm not making any mistakes..especially when the food in question tastes so delicious, I doubt it could be 'sinfree'

srecupid · August 2016

kommodevaran wrote: »

You won't regain unless you start to consistently overeat again. Impromptu meals is one of the joys of life. Calorie counting can teach you to eyeball appropriate portion sizes. "The Hunger Scale" combined with logging can teach you to recognize when you've had enough, even when you aren't logging. Eat until you've had enough. Occasional feasting is no problem. Consistent feasting is a problem.

I'm also for daily weighing and moving.

I weigh daily and try to walk at least a mile first thing in the morning just to get my sleepy *kitten* fully alert quicker. It's just I could easily find myself consistently overeating. Like last night I found myself at Marianos bakery counter staring at the sweets like a teenager would stare at a playboy.

xmichaelyx · August 2016

I eat (mostly) the same things every weekday, and whatever I want on the weekends. This allows me to only count calories once every few months (just when I change things up a little). I'm still meeting my goals.

robingmurphy · August 2016

srecupid wrote: »

kommodevaran wrote: »

You won't regain unless you start to consistently overeat again. Impromptu meals is one of the joys of life. Calorie counting can teach you to eyeball appropriate portion sizes. "The Hunger Scale" combined with logging can teach you to recognize when you've had enough, even when you aren't logging. Eat until you've had enough. Occasional feasting is no problem. Consistent feasting is a problem.

I'm also for daily weighing and moving.

I weigh daily and try to walk at least a mile first thing in the morning just to get my sleepy *kitten* fully alert quicker. It's just I could easily find myself consistently overeating. Like last night I found myself at Marianos bakery counter staring at the sweets like a teenager would stare at a playboy.

Pick out a strategy you think might work for maintaining without counting calories and try it. But monitor your weight closely and consistently and commit that if it creeps up a certain number of pounds (3 lbs? 5 lbs?) you will start counting calories again religiously until it gets back down to the lower end of your maintenance range. Then modify your maintenance strategy and try again. It may take a few tries to get there. Feel confident that you do know how to lose weight, and you are committed to monitoring your weight and taking action to lose if you gain a bit. You will not let it go and keep overeating because you will note the weight creep and address it.

BiggDaddy58 · August 2016

For me..in the long run (and I am not there yet) I am going to use my experience here..to make sure I log enough exercise calories during the week (walking..jogging..whatever) to offset the calorie intake when I have decided I don't need to log calories anymore.

My Dr. asked me about sticking with this..he meant the computer, logging calories, not my lifestyle change.

I said..I hope I quit this someday. I do not want to be tied to a computer and logging calories.

So, educate yourself as you go..you'll get a good idea of about how much food you've eaten. Make sure you stay active..

It is a lifestyle change..NOT a diet & exercise program. That's why people fail. They view it as a D&E program..accomplish their goal, toss it aside and gain weight back.

View it the other way..make it a lifestyle change, and eventually you will not need these tools. That's all they are in the end, tools to assist you.

nvpixie · August 2016

Two years ago, I lost 15 pounds by counting and logging calories. For nearly a year after I got to my goal weight, I maintained within just a few pounds without logging. However, I started to get lazy and into bad habits again. The weight started creeping back up, and now I'm almost at what I started before.

I definitely agree with others who have replied-if the weight starts creeping up more than just a couple pounds, start logging again to put yourself in check quickly and avoid any bad habits.
My bad habits are eating until I'm super full or picking at food throughout the day instead of having a decent meal. All the calories here and there add up without me realizing it!

If you feel you've over-eaten one day, you could always log to see where you're at calorie-wise and maybe adjust and eat a little less the next day or two if you feel you've really gone over.

leejoyce31 · August 2016

I think I may be the person who will always need to log. I need the accountability.

gothchiq · August 2016

Experiment and see if you can do it. I tried and was total fail, but then again, I burn very few calories so I really have to watch it. If you burn plenty you may be able to manage it.

rebel_26 · August 2016

counting sets a baseline. After you do it for a while you can go off program as your more educated on what is going into your body and whats good vs. bad. To me the App is a crutch per say for people whose simple goal is just to lose weight or maintain (just my opinion don't get upset yall) . Once familiar with sizing portion you SHOULD be able to better guesstimate portions etc. Eat smart and healthy and watch portions...you dont NEED the app honestly once you use it for a while. Now if your actually trying to change your form or body build the app is somewhat of a must for a longer period of time. You can play with Macros and look for a sweet spot that makes best sense for the goals, but in a calorie in calorie out I think logging would be laborious.

srecupid · August 2016

Maybe it's not like j eat out all the time. I usually have something easy to log like scrambled eggs or just a protein bar for breakfast and a microwave dinner for lunch. Maybe just guesstimating dinner wouldn't be too bad. Would be better than nothing

cwolfman13 · August 2016

How long have you been counting? You should be pretty well versed in what portions of various things are appropriate for you if you've been doing it for awhile.

I've been maintaining for closing in on 3.5 years now (more or less) without logging. I do tend to put on 5-8 Lbs every winter, but that's it and it comes off easily in the spring when I start racking up the miles again on my bike.

Basically, I do the things that lean, healthy, and fit people do. My diet is pretty solid from a nutritional standpoint...my diet is comprised largely of whole foods and meals prepared using whole food or minimally processed food stuffs. I eat "junk" here and there, but it isn't a big part of my diet. I keep things pretty tight during the week and let myself be a little more lose on weekends.

I train regularly...I'm on my bike usually 5-6 days per week and in the weight room 2-3 days per week. I also just try to be generally active outside of my office job...I don't watch much t.v...maybe 6-10 hours per week or so. On weekends I like spending time working in my yard or taking my kids to various things like the zoo or trampoline park or like yesterday the whole family took an easy 11 mile Bike and Wine tour which made for a great Sunday afternoon outing (and I was thoroughly impressed that my 6 year old could cycle 11 miles). Basically, my philosophy is that there's almost always something better to do than sit on my *kitten* and do nothing.

I weigh in regularly...if you're weighing in regularly, there's pretty much zero excuse to put all of the weight back on...if you're weighing in regularly and you put all of your weight back on, it just means you really don't give a crap...it's pretty easy to see as a trend if you're going up a bit and to just knock off a couple of daily snacks or up your activity, etc...you nip it in the bud...you don't just let it roll.

srecupid · August 2016

cwolfman13 wrote: »

How long have you been counting? You should be pretty well versed in what portions of various things are appropriate for you if you've been doing it for awhile.

I've been maintaining for closing in on 3.5 years now (more or less) without logging. I do tend to put on 5-8 Lbs every winter, but that's it and it comes off easily in the spring when I start racking up the miles again on my bike.

Basically, I do the things that lean, healthy, and fit people do. My diet is pretty solid from a nutritional standpoint...my diet is comprised largely of whole foods and meals prepared using whole food or minimally processed food stuffs. I eat "junk" here and there, but it isn't a big part of my diet. I keep things pretty tight during the week and let myself be a little more lose on weekends.

I train regularly...I'm on my bike usually 5-6 days per week and in the weight room 2-3 days per week. I also just try to be generally active outside of my office job...I don't watch much t.v...maybe 6-10 hours per week or so. On weekends I like spending time working in my yard or taking my kids to various things like the zoo or trampoline park or like yesterday the whole family took an easy 11 mile Bike and Wine tour which made for a great Sunday afternoon outing (and I was thoroughly impressed that my 6 year old could cycle 11 miles). Basically, my philosophy is that there's almost always something better to do than sit on my *kitten* and do nothing.

I weigh in regularly...if you're weighing in regularly, there's pretty much zero excuse to put all of the weight back on...if you're weighing in regularly and you put all of your weight back on, it just means you really don't give a crap...it's pretty easy to see as a trend if you're going up a bit and to just knock off a couple of daily snacks or up your activity, etc...you nip it in the bud...you don't just let it roll.

Almost a year now. You are right it's kinda hard to go too far in debt as long as you check your balance and make payments regularly sane should be for weight

ninerbuff · August 2016

You don't have to count per se, but be aware if you're surplusing in calories or you'll gain weight back. Realize that a 1 or 2 day eating fest shouldn't leave you with permanent weight gain if you go back to consistently eating just the right amount of calories you need to maintain weight.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

nxd10 · August 2016

I eat like that all the time and I've maintained four years. Look at portion size. Walk.

LivingtheLeanDream · August 2016

nxd10 wrote: »

I eat like that all the time and I've maintained four years. Look at portion size. Walk.

^^ +1

kommodevaran · August 2016

I think the "it's not what you eat but how much" is great when you are counting calories. But if you don't want to count calories, food choice becomes more important. If you eat mostly "normal" food (a diet based on fruit and vegetables, whole grains and home cooked meals), it's easier to stick to "normal" portions, and the "normal" daily variations of calorie intake evens out over time. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's easier - because it's easier to overeat calorie dense less nutritious foods, and your margin of error is smaller.

kommodevaran · August 2016

.

Packerjohn · August 2016

sijomial wrote: »

Don't you think you would notice if the weight started to go back on?
You only "gain it all back" if you ignore your weight trending above your maintenance range and do nothing about it over a prolonged period of time.

Counting is just one of many tools to control your weight. Eating patterns, portion control, food choices, lifestyle, activity, exercise etc. etc..

Experiment to find what works for you. You can always go back to counting in case you need or want to.

This. If the OP is happy with current weight note how pants and belt fit. If they start to get tight, need to loosen the belt, probably need to watch the diet a bit.

ericatoday · August 2016

Just pay attention to the food youre eating throughout the day. You should be able to tell if youre over doing it with the calories. And weigh yourself every couple of days if you see the scale going in the wrong direction more than 2lbs then log again.

I don't want to count calories forever

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