Does anyone here mentally log their calories?

BlessedMom70
BlessedMom70 Posts: 124 Member
edited June 2018 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been learning about intuitive eating, but don't think I'm quite ready for it yet. I was trying to think of a way to "transition" from counting calories on an app (which I have been doing for what seems like forever), to eventually learning to eat intuitively (and no more counting anything).

I thought it might be a good idea to start keeping track of calories in my head only while staying mindful of what I am eating. I'm tired of the actual tracking on an app and worrying about every little thing (i.e., macros). Calorie counting on and off for 30 years+ (since I was 14) and I am ready to be done with it. :neutral:

Replies

  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    I do. At least I do when I care enough to.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Yup I do.. I keep a mental tally estimate of protein g and my daily calories.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    My husband does. I am terrible at it. I can do it for a meal, but trying to remember a whole days worth is too hard
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    BlessedMom70 wrote: »
    I have been learning about intuitive eating, but don't think I'm quite ready for it yet. I was trying to think of a way to "transition" from counting calories on an app (which I have been doing for what seems like forever), to eventually learning to eat intuitively (and no more counting anything).

    I thought it might be a good idea to start keeping track of calories in my head only while staying mindful of what I am eating. I'm tired of the actual tracking on an app and worrying about every little thing (i.e., macros). Calorie counting on and off for 30 years+ (since I was 14) and I am ready to be done with it. :neutral:

    I am so forgetful at times, that I have my phone handy as I weigh and log my meals. I try to make a good guesses when I eat out and don't know what calories are in this and that.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    When I’m bulking yes, when I first initially start a cut then yes, when I start to get into my 8-10% body fat range and I’m digging deeper then I’m pretty damn strict
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Yep, and the key is knowing your portion sizes. I estimate a lot of food portions in relation to my hand, a fist, a finger, or an open hand, etc.
    I actually logged for only my first 35 lbs or do of loss. Went on to lose another 125 and maintaining for 1.5 years with almost no logging. Not many can do this but it works for me. As for “intuitive “ eating, I’ve never known what that means. My “intuition” caused me to weigh twice what I should, so I don’t really trust it.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I don't focus on calories, but I get in the right amount of calories over time because I've stopped grazing, and eat regular meals, and normal portions, so even if the calorie count varies from day to day, it evens out over time. As a safety precaution, I weigh myself daily, and I stay active to have some wiggle room.
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    I hope to get to that place one day too. I've been trying to mentally guess the number of calories in a meal/food, before inputting it. With foods I eat a lot it's easy and I can guess them quite well. When I have something different, I'm normally well out (although sometimes not in the direction I think)
  • Johnd2000
    Johnd2000 Posts: 198 Member
    I tried to roughly count calories in my head for about 6 months. I always assumed it would be highly inaccurate, but I lost the weight I wanted.

    When I started using MFP, I was surprised to find that my rough calculations were much closer to reality than I thought. I was typically within about 200 cals of my daily target, which was close enough considering I was aiming at a fairly large deficit.

    What I was doing wasn’t really sustainable long term, as I had to cut out sweets (my biggest vice these days) to be sure of staying within my target. The greater accuracy of MFP allows me to fit anything I want into my diet and to eat at a more moderate deficit, so I’m nowhere near as hungry as I was. I can see myself logging for the rest of my life.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    when i was in maintenance i did. when im actively losing (like now), i dont.
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    I mentally logged when I was losing and still do it in maintenance. Basically, I counted calories but didn't bother logging actual food items. I mentally kept track of calories totals by day and running variances vs target by week.

    It helped that my variance from target was zero for most days and that I only needed to keep track of the spare off day every now and then.

    Note that mental logging is not a stepping stone towards intuitive eating. It's just a different way of logging without bothering to have a formal record. Even though I don't write anything down I still consciously count the calories in my food such that I know how much I'm consuming even now that I'm in maintenance.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    After years of logging, I find I have a very accurate idea of what comprises a 300 calorie breakfast, a 400 calorie lunch, etc, and that I can fit in 2-300 calories in snacking or a treat, and when I take a week off of logging for a vacation or something, I do find myself casually tracking in my head. But that's just never translated to long-term success for me (maintenance or weight loss), because without the data staring me in the face, it's too easy to start to rationalize a few bites here & there and let portion creep set in. I know some do well with a set weight range, and once they get to the top of that range, they go back to logging for a while. But when I get out of the habit of logging, I tend to let things go until it's too late. I guess it depends on how disciplined the individual is, and I'm just not that disciplined. ;)
  • nicolehorn0114
    nicolehorn0114 Posts: 51 Member
    I keep a running tally in my head of calories I consumed. It works for me!
  • qweck3
    qweck3 Posts: 346 Member
    I do quick calculations for how much more protein/carbs/calories etc I'll need for heavier workout days.
  • buffinlovin
    buffinlovin Posts: 100 Member
    I'm doing this currently, and I find it's going a bit smoother this time around because I don't feel tied to the numbers.

    It helps to have things that are pre-measured/counted/individually wrapped, such as yogurt, string cheese, etc. The only variables I have are the things I cook, and I have a good understanding (from counting/measuring/weighing previously) of what a serving should look like.

    The "downside" is that the weight loss is slower, but I personally don't consider that to be a negative. I have a better relationship with food and the weight is coming off. Will I have a bikini body next week? nope. Next year? maybe. But I'm ok with that.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    mkculs wrote: »
    I tried that. It was called “underestimating and overeating.”

    Amen!
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,069 Member
    I'm trying to find that balance right now.

    Consistent logging just isn't realistic for me long term. I find, however, that using a food scale and knowing the calories involved does help keep me accountable to myself and make sure my meals are around the proper number of calories.

    At the moment, I'm finding that having meals in a calorie range (400-500 for lunches, 600-900 for dinners, and breakfast depending on my activity that day) is a lot easier than trying to count every little thing. I am trying to meal prep a variety of meals that will land in that range, so I can grab whatever I want on a particular day and not have to sit there entering all my numbers.

    Time will tell the effectiveness, but thus far, it seems to be working pretty well. The meal prep is key though, otherwise it's too easy for portion sizes to get out of hand for me.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,740 Member
    mkculs wrote: »
    I tried that. It was called “underestimating and overeating.”

    LOL totally. Plus I would just lose count of the amounts if I didn't write them down.
  • BlessedMom70
    BlessedMom70 Posts: 124 Member
    edited June 2018
    I am already feeling so much better in not pulling out my phone at every meal and tracking every carb, gram of protein, etc! I am rounding foods/meals up...so for example..today I had a 360 calorie lunch..I rounded it to 400. I figure this way there will be a sort of buffer in there if I underestimate other things..it will all (hopefully) even out. I'm at 800 calories now, before dinner and a snack.

    I am using my common sense as well as far as macros. If I have pancakes for breakfast, I might have a salad for lunch. Balancing the macros without counting. The numbers were driving me nuts! lol
  • BlessedMom70
    BlessedMom70 Posts: 124 Member
    edited June 2018
    buffinlovin wrote: »
    I'm doing this currently, and I find it's going a bit smoother this time around because I don't feel tied to the numbers.

    It helps to have things that are pre-measured/counted/individually wrapped, such as yogurt, string cheese, etc. The only variables I have are the things I cook, and I have a good understanding (from counting/measuring/weighing previously) of what a serving should look like.

    The "downside" is that the weight loss is slower, but I personally don't consider that to be a negative. I have a better relationship with food and the weight is coming off. Will I have a bikini body next week? nope. Next year? maybe. But I'm ok with that.

    Amen to that!! I think you are going about this the right way...kudos to you! :)

    (and your kitty is adorable)
  • buffinlovin
    buffinlovin Posts: 100 Member
    BlessedMom70 wrote: »

    Amen to that!! I think you are going about this the right way...kudos to you! :)

    (and your kitty is adorable)

    Thanks! her official title is Lyanna, Gate Keeper of the Bathroom lol! It's her favorite spot
  • BlessedMom70
    BlessedMom70 Posts: 124 Member
    buffinlovin wrote: »
    BlessedMom70 wrote: »

    Amen to that!! I think you are going about this the right way...kudos to you! :)

    (and your kitty is adorable)

    Thanks! her official title is Lyanna, Gate Keeper of the Bathroom lol! It's her favorite spot

    Awwww...that's so cute! :smiley:

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