Time away from tracking

bondyyooo · October 2019

Hi all, I have been tracking and working out religiously for nearly 8 months now. Very committed, 6 days a week, everything tracked and for the most part loving it. I’ve lost nearly 30kg and have really turned my life around. To be honest though I think I may have become a little obsessive with it, I find that I no longer want to go out with friends because I’m afraid of not being able to track what I eat. This leads me to my problem, I’m going away on a camping trip for 3 weeks (I know it’s quite a big one!) and during this 3 weeks I won’t be able to workout or track my food, plus I will be on the road for hours at a time everyday meaning I won’t get my steps up. To try and keep this short as possible, I’m really scared I’m going to lose my progress, and I’m really mentally struggling, anyone have any advice or kind words? Thanks everyone

Chris_J99 · October 2019

Walk when you can. Make sensible choices.
Have fun! A 3 week camping trip sounds amazing.
Maybe there won’t be a kitchen cupboard full of forbidden treats.
You can get back on track when you return.
❤️💪🏼

seska422 · October 2019

For food tracking, take a little notebook and pen so that you can write items down before you consume them. That will give you a basic overview of your eating day and you can have confidence that you aren't going wild without realizing it.

As for exercise, work in as much movement as you can. Every little bit adds up. You might even save a section of your notebook to write down your activities so that you can get a feel for how much you are moving.

Diatonic12 · October 2019

I went on summer backcountry trip without cell phone service. I sadly lost my long streak but you can still hold onto your self-accountability. You won't lose a single day of progress because you know the way. I had to eat many dehydrated foods that I wouldn't normally eat but I did it. You've been mentally training for 8 months now. Keep your head engaged while you're out there and always remember your MFP roots. You don't have to make any plans for a 3 week food explosion while you're out there on the trail. We'll be here when you get back.

Luke_rabbit · October 2019

I took one week off from tracking while on vacation. I walked way more than usual, but also ate a lot more. A few days after returning my weight was the same as before. I was able to log in every day so I didn't lose my logging in streak. As soon as I got back, I started logging food again. I knew that was the plan, and I found it easy to stick to.

What I do when out at a place without any online nutrition info/calculator is photograph all of my food and the menu info. That way I can get a decent estimate when I get home without interrupting the fun.

MikePTY · October 2019

It sounds like you are along overdue for a diet break, especially mentally. I wouldn't worry about logging a single thing while you are away. Try to make good decisions when you can, and do what you can to be active. I have to imagine on a camping trip, there are outdoor activities involved, right? It can't all just be driving and sleeping. So try to stay active during those.

I can guarantee you that you are not gonna gain 30 kg back in 3 weeks. That I am sure of. You may put on a couple of pounds, mostly from water weight, but that will go away quickly once you are back on track.

I recently took a month off from logging and dieting due to mtiple vacations and business trips, and I basically funneled every possibly fatty food I could find into my stomach. At the end of the month, I had gained almost 9 pounds. But 4 pounds of that has already come off just in the last 2 days. I know within a couple more weeks of being good, I can get back to where I was. Ultimately that is a small price to pay for the enjoyment of the last month.

So really do not stress. Focus first and foremost on enjoying your trip. Everything else is a distant second.

corinasue1143 · October 2019

Do you know what day you will get back? Pre log your meals for 3 days after you get back. Make yourself a grocery list for when you get back before you go. That way you know before you go that you’re prepared to go right back to it. It may take a little stress off you while you’re gone. You can relax and enjoy your trip a little more knowing this is a set time to enjoy.

Ziggae2016 · October 2019

There are some good suggestions here, but I understand the obsessive part of tracking. I have had good success in losing weight and feeling better and the app has made me concentrate more on what I eat (for the first time in a long while). I think its important to look for balance. The app is tool to help make better food choices, but I am sure after 8 months, you have become fairly good at doing this.

It is hard to track when you are eating out, so I try my best to estimate and use the notes section of the app when I do this. I figure if you are within about 10% of the actual amount, you will still get the results in health and weight loss which this tool is designed to help. Congrats on your success! I know you got this. Remember balance!

bondyyooo · October 2019

Thankyou all so much! Will let everyone know how I went when I return! Going to focus on enjoying this holiday and giving mysel a mental break and looking forward to getting back into it when I return!

I appreciate you all, you’re all heroes

JenniferM1234 · October 2019

Hope you have a great time, it sounds like so much fun.

Chris_J99 · October 2019

Have fun!! We will be here when you get back 😁😁😁

kenrodz422 · October 2019

Everyone on this thread has provided some constructive feedback. You should also know your body about now (i.e. feeling full, endurance level, etc.), so leverage those instincts. But also ENJOY yourself! Godspeed!

ElizabethKalmbach · October 2019

I go on a 3 week camping trip every year. Have fun! You may be surprised by how much you actually move when you have to walk a city block or more to use the privy, and you're drinking twice as much water and electrolyte supplement beverage as you normally would because you have to put up a tent before you can sleep. The one year, I was convinced I wouldn't get any steps, because my daughter was young and we never left camp to "do anything" I was *shocked* to find that I was getting in 10,000 steps a day taking her AND me to the bathroom.

Enjoy your time away, and do keep in mind that a lot of preserved "camping foods" are high in salt. You may retain a *surprising* amount of water. Don't panic. It'll be gone in a week or less once you're back in your normal routine.

Katmary71 · October 2019

I usually go exploring, walks and hiking are a lot of fun when camping, it's great to go out and explore! The last time I went camping I stuck to meat and veggies at meals. I actually said no to Smores! One wouldn't have been bad but I knew I'd want more than one. Have a great trip, don't worry, and get back on track when home..
It's only 3 weeks!

Time away from tracking

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