Jurnal gingrins, 02 Apr 19

It IS fun to see big losses. But Slow and Steady really DOES win the race! 

Most people that were losing weight with me but in a faster pace seems to be yo yo omg cause they did not learn the basic, “how to maintain a lower weight”. 

It’s obviously your decision but whatever you pick you will pay for the consequences whether you like them or not 

Ing* 

Yep after you get to your goal and feel fantastic it can be a double edge sword... In the summer I lose anyway because Im very very active so I go under my goal but fall /winter comes and I just do what I want instead of what I should...its a learning process that's for sure...good luck with much success towards your goals;) 

The slow and steady is really the hard part. Those nice big drops in the beginning are super motivating and without seeing them regularly, it can get discouraging, BUT I’ve found that being excited about eating right and moving more on a daily basis and getting satisfaction from that helps get you through to the slower losses on the scale.  

I suggest you return to logging and tracking your food intake. It is difficult to guesstimate how much we are eating and have controlled weight loss.  

Why did you stop tracking calories? I find tracking the #1 most helpful tool to keeping me on task with my weight loss goals.  

I stopped because after discussion with my nutritionist and my therapist it was clear that when I track calories I get mentally overinvested and tend to under eat. It leads me to unhealthy behaviors and I’m working from a place of trusting my body and appetite to make lifelong changes instead of focusing only on weight loss. I’m also a veteran calorie counter and a picky eater. Meaning that I have a pretty good handle on the calories in the things I tend to eat. Letting go of the need for perfection has helped me overall in this process. Does it mean I won’t calorie count in the future? Not at all. Just that for now I’m experimenting with the mental break I get from my obsessive behaviors associated with keeping track. So far it seems to be achieving what I set out to do in a healthy and sustainable way.  

What about tracking without an emphasis on calories? Tracking how many vegetable servings and how many grams of protein you have in a day? Or tracking your water intake? FatSecret might not be the best choice for you, there are some awfully number-obsessed people on here. But the are other ways to hold yourself a little accountable without going crazy. Another idea would be to track every other week, or just 5 days out of the week. 

@Gingrins. There is a lot of recommendations against constant tracking and scale watching for the reason you mentioned. I found that I too overinvest and prior to dieting, chose a diet where my calories are low but I still get the nutrition I need (Take Shape For Life diet). It is just another way in which food controls you kindof. I have been experimenting too. Thus far, I have found that pre-tracking is really helpful. Plan your meals ahead of time as if you were doing meal prep. Then put them into FS beforehand. I started tracking a week out. I also told myself to commit to only checking the scale once to every two weeks. This has allowed me to achieve my goals in a healthy way and just have that mental WOOSAAAA so I can keep a healthy view of weight loss. Good luck! 

Also...people were able to lose weight way before FS (not downing FS, else I wouldn't be on here). My partner doesn't use an app at all and he has gone from 230 to 204 thus far. My anxiousness/perfectionism helps pushes him and his more laid back attitude keeps me body positive and learn to go with the flow. My mother also lost weight without apps...simply by doing a 15 minute morning workout decreasing cheese, bread, and limiting the amount of times she eats crabs (I'm from Baltimore - crabs are a lifestyle). Else, she pretty much eats like she usually does. Different strokes for different folks...just have to find what works for you. 

you are losing regularly, and I am glad to get a pound loss in couple weeks. good for you! 

years ago, I was in a weight loss group called TOPS (take off pounds sensibly). that was made up of food diaries And tracking calories. I was lousy at that, although I lost about 50 pounds over a couple years. Hmm, I stopped going to TOPS and slowly gained the weight back! Same ol story for me (yo-yo).