Anybody else get tired of counting calories?
Replies
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cartersmom06 wrote: »
That phrase really resonated with me when I first saw it here on MFP 90+ lbs ago and I thought it was inspirational. Sorry if you don’t find it such.
As for positive reinforcement, I think you got a lot of good info on how to make weighing & logging easier and people do want to help!14 -
Lmk if you figure something out. I weighed measured and counted calories for years and now I - Just Can’t. I just can’t. I wonder if mindfully paying attention to my hunger cues and watching portion sizes can work instead. Or cooking more. I was working out super intensely and can’t do that right now either. I need to make my life a little easier. I want my pants to fit too but I want easier more at the moment. ❤️6
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tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
I really don't understand how people here take "only a fe minutes to log". Most of my meals are made from scratch and contain many ingredients. So I have to weigh every one of them every time I cook and log it while I'm cooking or preparing my meal to eat later. Which takes quite a lot of time in my opinion. If I include the time I spend on grocery planning to fit my goals, meal planning, weighing separately the ingredients for my every meal (3-5times a day), or looking for the closest estimates when I don't know the exact calories, logging it, making sure it fits my goal etc. it takes much more time than "a few minutes" and much more energy and headspace than I want to spend on t.
I cook a lot of stuff from scratch and it still only takes a couple of mins to log each day - I have almost all my recipes for things I regularly make in My Recipes, if I change the ingredients or the amounts of the ingredients it literally takes about 30 seconds to update it in the app. Sure it takes a couple of mins the first time that I make something but at this point I have probably close to 100 recipes in there.
I agree. I make 90 percent of what I eat from scratch. Things that are recipes are saved as recipes. Things that are just "toss a bunch of ingredients together" have ingredients that I use all the time. I start typing it in, it pops up, and I just make sure I've got the right ingredient weight entered.
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I don't mind counting calories, and I think I know why; I see results! If it wasn't working for me or I was measuring by guessing and not seeing results I'm sure I'd be sick of it, but after all this time I'm still okay with it. In the beginning it bugged me but now with weight loss I'm happy4
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cartersmom06 wrote: »
Positive reinforcement is when people praise you for the good aspects of your behavior, rather than criticizing you for the bad part of your behavior.
It's great that you're thinking about the aspects of this process that you don't like and maybe creating an avenue for people who have also used the process to offer some insight.1 -
cartersmom06 wrote: »Getting tired of logging everything I eat...there has to be an easier way!
Yeah... I feel it makes think food all the time.. and I feel I get obsessed sometimes3 -
I am with @oat_ brand and all the poster that expressed dislike with the logging and in my case also the weighing.
I don’t like doing it because it adds more work and thoughts to the cooking, which is something that I never enjoyed. When almost nine years ago I got to my goal weight, I decided to slow down and take frequent brakes. Some people take diet breaks, I take weighing and logging breaks and so far, is a way to distress and use my wits and what I have learned during the losing stage, to keep the weight under control.
No logging or dissecting meals while eating out or a friend’s house, not logging while on vacation, no logging during the holidays, not logging if I don’t feel like it. The weighing and the logging is mostly to keep an eye on my macros, but for me the way my clothes fit and the number on the scale is my way to go. But I do think that checking my weight almost daily is what keeps things under control, including my eating habits.
Reading some of the comments (and the OP question has been evaluated and discussed in the past) it seems that mostly the people that had 1) a lot to lose, 2 ) have been overweight for a long time, 3) had lost and regained weight several times, 3) have difficulties with portion and food control, 4) suffer from BED, 5) etc. are the ones without a problem planning or prepping meals, weighing the food and logging. Good for them if that keeps them in the right path.
However, my question is, and only based on my own experience and curiosity, if those people that only had few lbs. to lose (less than 15), and never had a weight or food problem, really, really don’t mind doing all the prepping, weighting and logging?
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I never had a weight problem until I slowly gained weight in my late 30s. I lost 15-20 lbs and have been maintaining for a couple of years.
I spend 5 minutes or less logging my food everyday. Prepping food is just making it ahead of time instead of making it at meal time, I don't really think it takes extra time. I just do it when I'm more relaxed and have more time, as opposed to eating out or trying to make good choices when I'm hungry or rushed. I suppose weighing out a portion takes more times that just eyeballing, but I don't think it takes more time than measuring.
I don't mind it. It's taken most of the guessing and worrying out of eating for me. It has given me a measure of control that has changed my relationship with food. It's very little work considering what I've gained.11 -
I never had a weight problem until I slowly gained weight in my late 30s. I lost 15-20 lbs and have been maintaining for a couple of years.
I spend 5 minutes or less logging my food everyday. Prepping food is just making it ahead of time instead of making it at meal time, I don't really think it takes extra time. I just do it when I'm more relaxed and have more time, as opposed to eating out or trying to make good choices when I'm hungry or rushed. I suppose weighing out a portion takes more times that just eyeballing, but I don't think it takes more time than measuring.
I don't mind it. It's taken most of the guessing and worrying out of eating for me. It has given me a measure of control that has changed my relationship with food. It's very little work considering what I've gained.
Thank you for your answer. You nailed it!3 -
Logging and weighing has given me great results. Therefore I shall keep on doing it. And when I think about getting lazy the good voice waps me up the side of the head and says log now. I love to cook, so am using the recipe recorder all of the time. Finding that handy.4
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Lmk if you figure something out. I weighed measured and counted calories for years and now I - Just Can’t. I just can’t. I wonder if mindfully paying attention to my hunger cues and watching portion sizes can work instead. Or cooking more. I was working out super intensely and can’t do that right now either. I need to make my life a little easier. I want my pants to fit too but I want easier more at the moment. ❤️
Thought to ponder:
The capability exists (can versus can’t).
The willingness is a choice (will versus won’t).
That said - logging isn’t for everyone, but CICO rules no matter what route satisfies your personal control methods.
Good luck!!5 -
I suppose weighing out a portion takes more times that just eyeballing, but I don't think it takes more time than measuring.
One reason I started weighing is that I found that for me it took less time than estimating. Weighing is something I do while cooking, and it doesn't add time to the cooking process, as it fits in well within it -- heat up skillet or oven, chop veg, drop things on the scale, put in pan.
Estimating requires spending more time trying to figure out how much it likely was.
I realize this is not the same for everyone, and I've actually started feeling more comfortable just estimating more often, but I still enjoy weighing when cooking (even when not logging).
I never measure anything by volume (but for liquids, when logging), unless baking. I do eyeball oil in the pan, because weighing would be a pain.5 -
I really am quite fine using measuring spoons for oil in the pan. Sometimes I'm sure it's a little more than what I log, sometimes I'm sure it's a little less. Over time, I'm guessing that it evens out.1
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This is going to sound bizarre, but I actually find logging to be freeing rather than restrictive. Before I was logging I knew I had gained weight so every time I ate something I felt guilty, like "Oh, I shouldn't be eating this cookie." Now I know I can eat the cookie because I planned for it. Knowing I can have dessert later (because I pre-logged it) helps me turn away the stale donuts at work. There is no more internal struggle about it. But I know that's not how it works for everyone. I'm only sharing my experience because it's a different mindset, which some people may find helpful.26
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Rayvis1014 wrote: »This is going to sound bizarre, but I actually find logging to be freeing rather than restrictive. Before I was logging I knew I had gained weight so every time I ate something I felt guilty, like "Oh, I shouldn't be eating this cookie." Now I know I can eat the cookie because I planned for it. Knowing I can have dessert later (because I pre-logged it) helps me turn away the stale donuts at work. There is no more internal struggle about it. But I know that's not how it works for everyone. I'm only sharing my experience because it's a different mindset, which some people may find helpful.
Not bizarre at all. I usually describe it as “liberating.”7 -
Do I get get tired of logging sometimes? Sure. But I can’t eyeball accurately, so I need to log, even if it is a little loosely at time.
I liked being fat a lot less than logging. So I log. Which is more important to me? No contest.5 -
Rayvis1014 wrote: »This is going to sound bizarre, but I actually find logging to be freeing rather than restrictive. Before I was logging I knew I had gained weight so every time I ate something I felt guilty, like "Oh, I shouldn't be eating this cookie." Now I know I can eat the cookie because I planned for it. Knowing I can have dessert later (because I pre-logged it) helps me turn away the stale donuts at work. There is no more internal struggle about it. But I know that's not how it works for everyone. I'm only sharing my experience because it's a different mindset, which some people may find helpful.
It's not bizarre at all. That's how i feel about budgeting. I love budgeting and it makes spending money so much less stressful. I don't feel guilty spending money on XYZ because I had saved up money for it. lol.4 -
If logging is something you find helpful to sustain your goals.. log away!
People have lost weight and maintained it long before MFP or the web, etc... came into existence.
If it's a tool you find helpful - use it. Just be cautious in believing someone can not be successful long term by not.3 -
I stopped paying attention to calories. I still put my food I The app but if I focus on 0123 I hit the calorie and macro goals easily and am never hungry. 0- sugar, 1–meal sized salad everyday, 2-cups cooked non starchy veggies everyday, 3 hours before bed stop eating. My macros are 55-60% fat, 20% protein, the rest carbs. I’ve lost 26 lbs in 14 weeks on this.12
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yes, it is unnatural to think about food so much .. to count every bite. It is like thinking every single time you spend money. being meticulous works.. but it is an unhappy state
The goal is to truly not to want to overeat... to have zero desire to overspend. thinking about these things because we can't easily manage them stinks.19 -
I stopped paying attention to calories. I still put my food I The app but if I focus on 0123 I hit the calorie and macro goals easily and am never hungry. 0- sugar, 1–meal sized salad everyday, 2-cups cooked non starchy veggies everyday, 3 hours before bed stop eating. My macros are 55-60% fat, 20% protein, the rest carbs. I’ve lost 26 lbs in 14 weeks on this.
You forgot the 4
0 - sugar
1- meal sized salad
2 - cups cooked non starchy veggies every day
3 - hours before bed stop eating
4 - things above have nothing to do with losing weight.
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Unless you’re in a calorie deficit, none of those things will make one bit of difference. Whether you pay attention to them or not, calories are the only thing that matters for weight loss. You may not count them, but your body does.I stopped paying attention to calories. I still put my food I The app but if I focus on 0123 I hit the calorie and macro goals easily and am never hungry. 0- sugar, 1–meal sized salad everyday, 2-cups cooked non starchy veggies everyday, 3 hours before bed stop eating. My macros are 55-60% fat, 20% protein, the rest carbs. I’ve lost 26 lbs in 14 weeks on this.
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stephieleee wrote: »I hate it if I'm honest... Especially when I'm eating with other people and I have to log my food before I forget. I always feel stupid for doing it.
But it seems to be getting the job done so I will stick with it.
this... while I don't hate it, I feel really self conscious getting my phone out and logging when I am out with other people - especially as those particular entries have to be guesstimates. Even more embarrassing is logging at a friends house who just cooked you dinner. Awkward...
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my only advice is to set up recipes/save meals. i tend to eat the same sorts of foods and i just do not have the time to be weighing every ingredient/scan every barcode for every meal. it is never 100% accurate but as long as i get a ball park figure i am happy2
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I stopped paying attention to calories. I still put my food I The app but if I focus on 0123 I hit the calorie and macro goals easily and am never hungry. 0- sugar, 1–meal sized salad everyday, 2-cups cooked non starchy veggies everyday, 3 hours before bed stop eating. My macros are 55-60% fat, 20% protein, the rest carbs. I’ve lost 26 lbs in 14 weeks on this.
You forgot the 4
0 - sugar
1- meal sized salad
2 - cups cooked non starchy veggies every day
3 - hours before bed stop eating
4 - things above have nothing to do with losing weight.
I don't think the poster was saying those things, in themselves , matter for weight loss but rather that adhering to them was a strategy for her that meant she could follow these and acheive weight loss without counting calories.
It was just a post about personal experience - what she does instead of calorie counting
And since she has lost 26lb in 14 weeks it seems a good strategy for her.
Not neccesarily for anyone else - but she didn't say that it was.
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paperpudding wrote: »Logging to ensure deficit and exercise consisting of 30+ miles a week with a gym workout every other day helped me lose 50 pounds. The exercise was okay but the logging was a pain, time consuming and made me appear rude. I would sit down to eat and log food but others would think I was addicted to facebook. I was always hungry. I stopped and put 30 pounds back on. I was ready to go back to what I could best call a pain in the you know what and stumbled on the documentary "the magic pill" and it started me down a path of a different way of eating. I switched to LCHF which really translated to cutting out bread, pasta, root vegetables and my true love beer. I don't count calories, I don't limit my food, I eat at meal time when I am hungry and stop when I am full. I feel no need to snack. It has been incredibly easy and I have lost twenty five pounds. My blood work came back as fantastic so this feels like something I will continue from now on.
This is where the quote mongers will bold highlight passages and insist I am limiting, I am in deficit, you can do the same with any diet (insert boring chart of why all diets work here). Bottom line is that it does work for me and counting calories was not sustainable for me. Whatever works for you rock on. If you are still searching you have nothing to lose by trying LCHF.
Not quite sure what your point is - except the plug for LCHF - which may well work for you but doesn't suit everyone.
Yes you are just losing because you are in calorie deficit - sorry if you find that fact boring.
I think everybody has agreed that some people can lose weight without calorie counting - but obviously they still need to create a deficit by whatever method.
Nothing magic about LCHF.
So predictable. The point is counting sucks and I don't need to do it. And yes it was a plug for LCHF and yes it isn't for everybody but I don't recall saying it is. Nothing magic about counting calories either.
Glad what you do works for you. I, on the other hand, would say that LCHF and the restrictions that come with it sucks and counting calories is much easier. There is nothing magic about any method that people have success with because it all boils down to one thing. Eating at a deficit consistently will result in weight loss.3 -
but the logging was a pain, time consuming and made me appear rude. I would sit down to eat and log food but others would think I was addicted to facebook. I was always hungry.
I hope newbies reading this don't think it is normal.
I enjoyed logging, and have maintained without logging, but go back to logging off and on (often when my motivation starts to slide). There are different ways to log -- indeed, for me merely writing down what I eat can be enough as it keeps me mindful and (again) motivated. I'd recommend the thread on consistency vs. accuracy -- hope someone links it.
But assuming one is committed to trying the logging method, there is absolutely no reason to be sitting at a table with your phone. I'll log when cooking or, if I happen to buy lunch, before or after eating, depending on what is most convenient (calorie information in a restaurant is going to be online too, even if your memory isn't good enough to retain it). When doing a restaurant without calories (normally when I go to dinner, about once a week), I'd remember what I ate and estimate it afterwards, with extra calories beyond what I could see (usually extra butter). I can't think of one case when I've ever pulled out my phone and made others wait -- and in fact I've always logged on my computer.
As for being hungry, that has zilch to do with logging, it's about food choices. Hopefully adults are able to come up with ways to eat that are filling and satisfying and calorie appropriate and don't leave them hungry. If for you that required keto (I suspect most people who say that weren't really trying to eat in a filling manner pre keto, but I know some do fine large amounts of fat quite filling), that's cool, but I don't think that's the case for most, and of course there's no reason you couldn't have cut carbs while logging to experiment with what's more filling if struggling.
Back to the OP, what is it that's seeming like a pain? Often it's getting used to the process and figuring out how to find the good entries, but sometimes it's stressing about the impossibility of being perfect or just learning how to deal with recipes or many other things. I don't think logging is necessarily necessary, but I do think it's a helpful and educational process for many, at least temporarily.
I've been known to go to the toilet and quickly log food there, rather than at the table. Only my immediate family ever see me log my food.2 -
I’ve read through several pages of this thread, but admittedly not all of the posts. I love logging. It makes me feel like I’m in control, which I desperately need. Without logging, I always end up gaining weight.
And as someone who has been on a “diet” more times than I can count, back to the days when the only option was to write it on a piece of paper, I love how easy MFP makes it. The foods I frequently eat are right there at my fingertips, and if it’s something new, I can scan the barcode or find a suitable comparison in the database.
I’m terrible at eating intuitively, so I think if I’m going to lose the weight and actually keep it off, I’m going to have to do this forever. I’m ok with that.6 -
Reading some of the comments (and the OP question has been evaluated and discussed in the past) it seems that mostly the people that had 1) a lot to lose, 2 ) have been overweight for a long time, 3) had lost and regained weight several times, 3) have difficulties with portion and food control, 4) suffer from BED, 5) etc. are the ones without a problem planning or prepping meals, weighing the food and logging. Good for them if that keeps them in the right path.
However, my question is, and only based on my own experience and curiosity, if those people that only had few lbs. to lose (less than 15), and never had a weight or food problem, really, really don’t mind doing all the prepping, weighting and logging?
i've never met any of the criterion you reference - i've been in the overweight but not obese BW for years; don't have a lot to lose (10lbs would make me ok); etc
i find logging makes me more aware and ensures that i fuel my body properyl - since i tend to default to less nutritional valued food1 -
I wish I could maintain without logging, but I could never be accurate enough. I like to be accurate, not only with calories, but all the nutrients. I like to track nutrition for health as well as weight.3
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