MFP Tool or Crutch? Weigh-in
Options
Replies
-
Counting cals w/MFP and daily weigh ins are very effective tools to use to maintain weightloss.
Some people claim to be able to maintain their weight w/o daily weigh-in/calorie counting. I am not one of them and have no complaints about it.4 -
I was shell-shocked when I saw my macros. Personally, I think it would take me a very long time to trust my gut, unless I was eating the same meals all the time and what fun would that be?
I applaud those of you who have great instinct.0 -
I see managing my weight as being very similar to managing my money. I weigh daily and track loosely just like I check my bank accounts and track my balances. If I eat whatever I want and don't weigh in, my weight creeps up. If I buy whatever I want and don't check to see how much money I have, I end up broke way before payday. Checking in on both food and money probably takes less than 10 minutes total of my whole day, so to me, the benefits speak for themselves.7
-
Have you ever noticed how challenging it can be to trust your own instincts when you reach your goal weight?
My instincts my whole adult life have been to eat a bit more than I actually need. That doesn't change because I do or don't log my food.
I tried weaning myself off counting calories and weighing in everyday.
After three days, I just didn't trust myself that I was actually doing the right thing.
3 days isn't much of an experiment! Not sure why you did both together either - why not try experimenting with one at a time for a number of weeks?
I jumped back on the scale only to find that I had lost some weight.
Never had that problem, I have to make a conscious decision to lose weight.
Have you tried weaning yourself off counting calories and weighing-in everyday?
Yes and no - daily weighing is one of my absolute keys to maintain successfully so I can monitor my trend and stop a drift becoming a slide. They are two very different tools IMHO.
Haven't logged food for years, still log exercise as part of my mindful eating approach. I have a very high and very varied exercise routine which means I eat quite differently day to day, even season to season. I get a lot of dietary freedom on the many days I'm burning 1000+ calories not surprisingly.
How has that worked for you?
Very good, been maintaining (with an odd lapse) under my "intervention weight" for ages.
But that was a return to normal for me. I maintained within a fairly tight range for the 20 years I was overweight too. Calorie counting / weight loss was a specific interlude not the mythical lifestyle change, I didn't need to change my lifestyle I just needed to lose my excess flab and return to maintenance at a lower weight. Calorie counting was a useful educational and accountability tool.
What games does your mind play?
The same games whether I'm food logging or not: I'll make up for over-eating this tasty food "sometime", I'm only right at the top of my acceptable range so I'll fix that "sometime".....
4 -
I've been here maintaining at goal since 2011. It's super easy to do and it really works, so why stop? Some people are bothered by the idea of tracking calories and exercise forever, like it's some sort of weakness. I don't have any hang-ups about tracking calories for the rest of my life. It's better to find something that works and stick with it, than to go back and forth, constantly fighting a battle with your weight. It's not a big deal to track, and I don't see it as a weakness or "crutch" at all, so I just keep doing it and it just keeps working beautifully...I'm sailing through middle age with my ideal body because of this. Not giving it up!9
-
For me, it's better to KNOW that I'm hitting my calorie goals, than to guess - my guessing ability demonstrably stinks.
I've gotten away from logging food a couple of times in the years that I've been using the site - each time I gained weight. Call it a tool or call it a crutch, but it's clear that if I want to maintain my weight loss, I'll need to be a logger for life - and I'm OK with that.3
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.5K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 392 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 926 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions