I just don't want to log my food anymore, boo.......

Does anybody else feel this way and are we setting ourselves up for failure?

I have taken considerable time off from logging food.

As far as setting yourself up for failure I think this entirely depends on the individual. It sounds to me like you need a break. I'd keep close tabs on your bodyweight/body composition and if things start to go south on you, resume tracking.

I stopped logging for a long time once, and I only put on about 5 lbs. I am totally convinced that I could stop logging and stay pretty close to my current weight with no problem. The only reason I keep logging is because I want to go further, so I'm trying new things to get me there. But, if I was happy with my weight and activity and I didnt feel like logging in mattered to me much, I'd totally go off it for a while, but monitor the scale just in case. And, come back if it get out of whack.

The fact is, you can't count calories for the rest of your life. You must learn how to control your eating, what your body needs and in what quantities... I think it's great to take the summer off of counting and doing it on your own. Then reassess your situation in fall and see if you should go back to counting or if you can maintain on your own.

Do you have a smartphone? If so, you could download the app. I love it! And use it all the time. I really like how you can scan bar codes and it automatically will add the food item to your diary.

I am with you though! When I am really busy, I don't log my food. But I am very aware of what I am eating. I do think that logging everything in MFP has taught me what healthy portions look like. And also I really started looking at the calories in the food that I am about to eat when in the past I would just eat it without thinking twice about it.

To me, this isn't a diet. It is a life change. If you can stay committed without logging your food every day, then you will be just fine!

take the break and keep doing what youre doing...im sure you'll be fine and a gain of a few over the summer isnt the end of the world nor the end of your lifestyle change for the better!! youve got this - and good luck on your 5K!!!

I stopped logging a few months ago and i have lost 3 lbs in 6 weeks and losing body fat as we speak. I have also continued to increase my strength and definition. Once you have good habits it isnt required to track calorie. Some days i go over and some i am under but i stay active and make smart food choices. If i know i am gonna have pizza i will eat less snacks or workout longet or go extra healthy the next day.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1143 - Interesting study saying people who track the food they eat / calorie intake lose twice as much on a diet (From American Journal of Preventive Medicine).

As other people are saying though, it's ultimately about self awareness and control - tracking is just a tool to do those things.

I feel that way sometimes too. Logging food isnt a time issue for me sometimes its just a stress issue. even if I have hundreds of calories left for the day i start to stress as i see the number get smaller and smaller. I took a break last year and unfortunately put on a considerable amount of the weight i had lost.... like all of it. but I also was partying alot more then, and cut way back on the intensity of my workouts.

I'm with @MoreBean13. I usually make the decision to stop logging because I know, deep down, that I'm going to go off track. For me, it's truly a way to hide my head in the sand because I'm just tired of being accountable. To each his own, and if you feel like the tracking isn't something that necessarily keeps you on track, take the break you feel you need.

Even though I have a good idea of what constitutes a healthy portion or a good choice, I still feel that when I've gone an extended period without logging in anything, I get comfortable letting poor choices slide until I reach a point where occasional cheats become commonplace.

Good luck with your decision!

I actually lost most of my weight(60+pounds) without counting calories. I started with journaling (in a notebook) everything I ate, but I never actually counted the calories. After about 6 months, I stopped doing that and continued with eating healthy. Then every so often, if I got frustrated with a plateau, or worried because I wasn't exercising enough, I'd start journaling again. I only started on MFP several weeks ago, because I've got my body to the point that it is very difficult to lose any more. So for me, it was something new to try and I was curious to actually calculate what I'm taking in and putting out. But it is entirely possible to lose weight without it, if you eat healthy and hold yourself accountable.
The whole point of tracking your food is to understand what you are putting into your body, and to keep yourself accountable. If you have learned to do that for yourself, than you should feel empowered and maybe give it ago without logging. Keep track of your weight and if you notice any upwards fluctuation, you can always go back to logging again.
One other thing to keep in mind, sometimes logging calories or a food journal can really help you to keep track of all your little splurges. A cheeseburger here or an ice cream sundae every once in a while is not a bad thing. The problem is when once in a while becomes a couple times a week. I always found the food journal helped me to keep that in check.