Do you plan on counting calories your whole life in order to maintain?
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I'm not in maintenance just yet, but historically (most of my life prior to the dreaded desk job) I was, and while it was helpful to occasionally track, it wasn't a daily process like it is right now. Right now I need it to stay honest about my portions and to help my appetite and body adjust to what it actually needs. Once I'm back to maintenance and holding there, I will back off on the tracking. I'll still pick it up on some challenges and such to be sure I'm staying honest, and it's good for me to still measure and track weight, but the constant calorie check? Nope.1
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I think my answer to this question will always be the same...
"If I need to"
I've done the yo-yo before and would prefer not to do it again. If counting is the only tool that is long term effective for me, then it will be the tool I continue to use forever. It's never been a problem. It doesn't take hardly any time, etc. It's a small price to pay, I guess.10 -
I have been counting calories daily for nearly 7 years. It's just part of my life now. Some can go without counting and will be just fine, but I'm not one of those people.7
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I will log my food for the foreseeable future. Keeps me honest and accountable3
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SummerSkier wrote: »Interesting. It seems almost like some folks think counting calories forever is a bad thing and something to try to wean off of? What harm is there in it? I can see being a little less strict about it but if it works where is the negative? Unless of course you just hate using MFP to log.
IMO it's okay to log for the rest of your life if you're okay relying on something other than yourself to be healthy.
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Yes I plan to log forever. I’ve lost and gained 60+ lbs 9 TIMES in my life starting at the age of 15. I’m down about 60 lbs again. Some crazy stuff I’ve done to lose weight too. Like eating every other day, low carb (actually starving on around 500 calories a day because I started hating meat), weight watchers (hated it and didn’t lose a lot) and vegan (lowest weight achieved but I love cheese, so that didn’t last).
When I got more mature I thought “I will keep it off this time because I've been healed of my overeating problem” and “ I will just act different this time and won’t overeat to mask my stress anymore” or “I will just suffer through this diet and figure out how to maintain when it’s time”. Didn’t work. The longest I've maintained was about 3 years and even then I gained 10 lbs.
It’s not a crutch or weak to be intelligent enough to know you need help.
I actually like to log because sometimes I’m only slightly hungry and not starving and I look at my calories remaining for the day and I have enough left for a treat. That makes me happy and I feel like I’m not being deprived. Ive had food issues since childhood. I like food and the way it makes me feel, so relying on my natural instincts on how much to eat would leave me overeating all the time. I’m a smart and successful person. Weight is pretty much the biggest problem in my life. I am determined to conquer it. Using a tool to do that is actually a smart (non lazy) thing to do.19 -
AnotherPlate wrote: »IMO it's okay to log for the rest of your life if you're okay relying on something other than yourself to be healthy.
Oh Jeeves, you failed to log my food properly my man, and I've now gained fat! I'm letting you go ol'boy and getting someone else who will log my food properly for me!
Both statements are equally err... *kitten*.
Look: nobody is forcing anyone to log their food... right?
I mean if it ain't working for you by all means, don't log.
Just remember that if you have a tendency to 'naturally' put on weight over time... well, don't be surprised as to where you'll find yourself in 5 years.
Heck, this may happen even if you log.13 -
AnotherPlate wrote: »SummerSkier wrote: »Interesting. It seems almost like some folks think counting calories forever is a bad thing and something to try to wean off of? What harm is there in it? I can see being a little less strict about it but if it works where is the negative? Unless of course you just hate using MFP to log.
IMO it's okay to log for the rest of your life if you're okay relying on something other than yourself to be healthy.
This post annoys me for some reason. As if you don't rely on anything or anyone else for your health? Do you not use exercise equipment? Athletic shoes? Food that comes from farms and slaughter houses at which YOU did absolutely no work? Doctors? Gyms? Grocery stores? Medication? I think you can see where I'm going with this...we all rely on something other than ourselves in order to be healthy. If some of us use mfp as an aid, why should that be considered a negative?15 -
lightenup2016 wrote: »AnotherPlate wrote: »SummerSkier wrote: »Interesting. It seems almost like some folks think counting calories forever is a bad thing and something to try to wean off of? What harm is there in it? I can see being a little less strict about it but if it works where is the negative? Unless of course you just hate using MFP to log.
IMO it's okay to log for the rest of your life if you're okay relying on something other than yourself to be healthy.
This post annoys me for some reason. As if you don't rely on anything or anyone else for your health? Do you not use exercise equipment? Athletic shoes? Food that comes from farms and slaughter houses at which YOU did absolutely no work? Doctors? Gyms? Grocery stores? Medication? I think you can see where I'm going with this...we all rely on something other than ourselves in order to be healthy. If some of us use mfp as an aid, why should that be considered a negative?
I think it has something to do with some weird moral connotations. There has always been some kind of a moral undertone to eating, probably has religious roots in the past and the values stuck around (gluttony is bad, shunning hedonistic pleasures is good, the body is a temple, self restraint...etc). It's kind of like those who are smart about using any tools and strategies that help them achieve their goal are seen as taking "the easy way out" or "using a crutch", which I don't get. The goal is sustainable weight management with a healthy mindset, why does it matter how that is achieved? Why does not counting calories is somehow better?14 -
I don't "plan" to, but if it turns out I need to, then I will2
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I plan to keep looking at the labels and portion sizes. I plan to keep regularly checking my weight and how my clothes fit.
If I then need to make an intervention I know I can log and stick to a routine to keep back on track.
I've found it useful to come back for a couple of months at times and start logging again, this is to do with having a staged weight loss plan, cut a chunk, maintain and then cut the rest, but it gets me back on track.
Maybe I'll carry on doing a January log each year to keep aware of what's going in and out and what's changed over time.2 -
I'd like to say no, but in reality probably yes. Perhaps less religiously or only with more calorie dense foods.0
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lightenup2016 wrote: »AnotherPlate wrote: »SummerSkier wrote: »Interesting. It seems almost like some folks think counting calories forever is a bad thing and something to try to wean off of? What harm is there in it? I can see being a little less strict about it but if it works where is the negative? Unless of course you just hate using MFP to log.
IMO it's okay to log for the rest of your life if you're okay relying on something other than yourself to be healthy.
This post annoys me for some reason. As if you don't rely on anything or anyone else for your health? Do you not use exercise equipment? Athletic shoes? Food that comes from farms and slaughter houses at which YOU did absolutely no work? Doctors? Gyms? Grocery stores? Medication? I think you can see where I'm going with this...we all rely on something other than ourselves in order to be healthy. If some of us use mfp as an aid, why should that be considered a negative?
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It annoys me when people think everyone's goal should be to stop calorie counting and/or tracking. Calorie counting is a tool, not a crutch, unless one would consider a ruler a crutch, and expect everyone's goal should be to accurately measure an inch without it. Sure, some people are good at eyeballing, and if they don't apply it to a project where more precision is required, they get through life just fine without rulers. Nothing wrong with that, unless those people then turn around and expect those of us working on projects where that sixteenth of an inch makes a difference to learn to eyeball it, and believe we are obsessed or weak when eyeballing doesn't work for our particular purposes.
^This. I don't understand why if calorie counting "isn't for you" it needs to not be for everyone.
In the reverse, I understand that for some people, calorie counting isn't their thing, and that's fine. There are lots of ways to find a sustainable path, and we each have to work out which way is best for our goals and personal idiosyncrasies. I see nothing wrong with choosing to either calorie count or not. Whichever way gets you to where you want to be.
For me personally? I remember throughout my years of dieting prior to coming to MFP that there was always a sense of something unknown underpinning what was going on in the process of my diet. How the whole thing worked or was supposed to work was always a bit of a mystery. Understanding the relationship between calories, activity, and the scale was freeing for me and I like the reassurance it brings me. I'll continue counting calories because I like to.12 -
SummerSkier wrote: »Interesting. It seems almost like some folks think counting calories forever is a bad thing and something to try to wean off of? What harm is there in it? I can see being a little less strict about it but if it works where is the negative? Unless of course you just hate using MFP to log.
I am guessing because it isn't natural, to do especially upon; a regular basis!
It's not natural to wear eyeglasses either, but I still do that.10 -
When I stop counting calories my portions get bigger and bigger until, well you know... I eat low carb and had been continuing that for some time. I was pretty happy with my weight but saw it start to creep back up over the course of 18 months. Not a lot but about twelve pounds. I was still eating low or no carbs but slowly gaining weight. I went back to counting again about a month ago and was amazed at how much smaller my omelets got measuring and counting as compared to freestyle. Have managed to drop about six pounds in a month with at least ten more to go. Counting is good, at least for me!11
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AnotherPlate wrote: »SummerSkier wrote: »Interesting. It seems almost like some folks think counting calories forever is a bad thing and something to try to wean off of? What harm is there in it? I can see being a little less strict about it but if it works where is the negative? Unless of course you just hate using MFP to log.
IMO it's okay to log for the rest of your life if you're okay relying on something other than yourself to be healthy.
This is such nonsense.
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I think because we live in a world where foods are so much higher and unhealthy MSG gravings: yes I think we should always look on the backside to see how many calories we take in but to weigh it..is temporary to help you portion control to give you an idea of the food amount.I feel this is now a life style so I only weigh things I cook or make.So yes I think it is positive for people that over eat it helps like me!1
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No, not really. I don't have a problem maintaining without counting if I'm being mindful of what I'm eating/eating when I'm truly hungry. Losing weight while not counting is a lot harder, though.3
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Once you have learned and habituated your needs for calorie level, as opposed to wants and thoughtless eating, and you have learned the actual caloric content of most of your regular foods, there is no further need for formal counting, But, yes, you have to be aware and make appropriate choices for intake and output the rest of your life, if you truly expect to have a fit and healthy lifestyle. Harder to do for some of us than for others, but every single person is subject to the results of CICO, whether you count or not.7
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