For some reason I feel incapable of tracking what I eat. I know that it is a critical element that has helped many people lose and keep weight off. But for some reason I can’t figure out a way to do it that sticks.
I’ve tried writing it down in a notepad. I’ve tried using Twitter. I’ve tried using the Lose It iphone app. I’ve tried using the Weight Watchers little notepad. I’ve tried using SparkPeople.
None of it has stuck. I cannot figure out how to track my food in a way that keeps me doing it. I will do it for a few days or even weeks then I’ll start to lose interest, or forget, and soon that version of food tracking disappears from my life.
If I don’t track my food, how will I know how many calories I am eating? I won’t. I try to keep a running tally in my head throughout the day but as forgetful as I am I know it is not accurate. So I eat without any real idea of what is going into my body calorie wise. Not the smartest idea when you are trying to lose weight by cutting calories through food and exercise.
I think my problem is that no one cares. Really. Jen (priorfatgirl) was talking about this today in regards to weight loss. No one cares if you lose weight. Well, really no one cares if you track your food. And when no one cares about something it makes me not care. I have the accountability to eat right and exercise, but to track my food? That went out the door when I stopped paying to go to Weight Watchers meetings.
So now the question is, how do I find a way to track my food that will stick? Will I just have to FORCE myself to do it until it is a habit that I can’t help?
What do you do? Do you track your food and/or water intake? How do you do? How do you keep track? How do you motivate yourself to keep getting it all down? Have any tips for someone who is slightly less than organized? Let me know in the comments, because I really need to figure this out.
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{ 17 comments }
I did it by oversimplifying my diet.
I measured out a small bowl of cereal with skim milk at ~200 calories for breakfast and then ate a no-dressing mostly-veggies salad from the office cafeteria’s salad bar at 3-500 calories for lunch.
Drink nothing but water and black coffee throughout the day, add on a regular sized dinner at 5-700 calories for a total 1000-1400 calories daily intake. Add a simple snack (apple, candy bar, etc) or two throughout the day to reach your dietary goal.
It got a lot more complicated for me when I started trying to build muscle through various calisthenics – now I have to eat just enough to build muscle mass but not so much that I’ll gain extra fat. Mixing protein in with every meal can be complicated too, I’ve finally broken down and gotten some protein powder from the grocery store for the days when I just don’t feel like eating a slab of meat.
By the way, I drank water *all the time* when I was in my serious weight loss phase last year. Drink a glass before breakfast, several glasses throughout the day at work, a glass in lieu of a bedtime snack at 10pm, whenever I could fit it in.
I do it cause I know that if I don’t I over eat and such. My nutrtionist is the one that made me really start my blogging habits, I had to keep a log for her.
It is acountablility for our actions, I blame no one anymore for my weight being this, I blame for the gain, but not for the maintaining of that weight.
I love to blog, and write and I guess letting others know how someone really eats is great to know. Not everyone can be a supermodel on hamburger and fries lunch and then some salmon for dinner.
We all need to know how much we eat and when we eat it. Like I can’t eat for 2 hours from the ending time of my breakfast. Nothing, not even a snack, and I try to keep it like that all day. Stopping after 8 is a great way to limit intake as well.
Hope this helps, really want to see you succeed!
I track all my food with SparkPeople, and it works great for me. I use the site for a lot of other things, too, though, so I am motivated to get on there and earn SparkPoints, plus if I don’t know what I’m eating I will go overboard. Have you tried tracking food before you eat it? I often will input what I’m going to eat for a meal before I actually it, so I am more likely to eat that healthy choice than go out for fast food. I sometimes will track a whole day in advance so I know what I’m going to eat and if I have any wiggle room in my calorie range for anything extra.
Also, if you can figure out a few meals that you will eat for breakfast and lunch, then once you determine the calories for them one time, you can eat them often and know you’re safe. Yes, that makes eating a lot more boring, but sometimes that’s a good thing!
erin’s last blog post..Two Years
I’ve been using Nutrimirror lately and what i like is that when you eat enough say fibre the fibre column turns green, red means too little or too much. I must be a geek because i love tweaking things so i can have a “green” day. Makes it kind of like a game. Plus they are very supportive there.
I used to use FitDay, which is awesome, but it just became too time-consuming. Then I tracked in my head for the longest time, and now I write it all down (rough estimates). I like writing it down because that way I can figure out in advance what to eat, and I can look back on the past and see what food groups I’m not getting enough of etc.
But I’m a sucker for lists and records. I also write down every day what I spend money on and how many steps I walk, and I write several to-do lists just about every day. I think it’s just an obsessive behavior, to be honest!
Sagan’s last blog post..Difficulties with these Challenges
New here, but have been following the last few post. To be honest I don’t track for calorie purposes. I track so that I can get an idea as to what food combinations have worked for me and so that I can monitor daily triggers. It’s come down to me just being mindful of what I eat. I’ve started eating a lot more fruits and veggies, beans and brown rice and it’s working for me. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have my chocolate fix, and still eat pizza and ice cream but I do it in moderation. Tracking can be tough, I know, I’ve been there and that’s one of the reasons I’ve tossed in the hat in the past. I personally had to find another method as I didn’t want to be tracking for the rest of my life!
Christina’s last blog post..Down again..
I don’t track my food :) Mainly because I know what I’m going to eat that day and very rarely deviate. And if I deviate, I make sure I’m still on budget.
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I use an excel spreadsheet to track. I spend a lot of time in front of my computer for work, and I just make entries on the excel spreadsheet as I eat things. I write down anything I’ve eaten the previous evening the next morning. On the weekends, I use my blackberry to email my food and then log it on Monday morning. I also log my activity/exercise and my weight each day. I believe that tracking is absolutely key to my successful weight loss and continuing success in maintenance. But, weirdly, I actually couldn’t tell you why that is — somehow it just keeps me accountable. I don’t do it to track calories, b/c I think that’s too complicated and people just can’t track calories for a long time. A nutritionist who jump-started me on weight loss recommended I do it for two weeks, and so I did. Then, it seemed to be working so well, I just kept doing it (it’s been a year now). Good luck to you!
I don’t usually track, since I don’t count calories. But for the Fabulous Fatties’ Challenge I made a spreadsheet with columns for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks and I just write everything I eat during the day on there. I don’t include water and herbal teas, or portion sizes. The Breakfast for the day will simply say “Green Smoothie” or “Fruit Salad”.
I think putting your daily consumption on your blog is one of the most boring things you can do. Nobody cares! I find it very difficult to comment on people’s blogs when all they post is their daily food and an itemized workout report. A blog is for readers to read and enjoy. A diary and food & exercise trackers, are the author’s tools.
But that’s just my opinion!
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I have tried most all of the ways that you mentioned and I also become bored or forget.
I suppose if I really wanted to make sure that I kept track I could enlist the help of my husband…The Food Nazi…to check my work everyday. But I really don’t want him see ing if I eat a burger and fries or sneak in a soda.
Maybe you need a diet buddy to report to each day…someone that will keep you accountable.
Connie @ Fat2HotMommy’s last blog post..If The Shoe Fits….
I’m currently using a Bodybugg, and the online tracking system that goes with it. But on days when I’m not in front of the computer, I just keep each meal within a certain limit so I know that I’ll be right around my budget at the end of the day. Here’s how it breaks down:
Breakfast 300-400 cal
Snack 150-300 cal
Lunch 300-400 cal
Snack 150-300 cal
Dinner 500-600 cal
And if I’ve been a really good girl, an after dinner 100-200 cal snack (I like the 100 cal fudge pops)
My daily goal is 2000 cals right now (I’ll adjust as needed). If you have an idea of what you are eating and keep to your limits, it may help you when you can’t track.
a_healthier_me’s last blog post..Proud To Be Me!
Like Daniel,
I oversimplify everything. Except for just before bed I eat when I am hungry. I round off calories per eating session and jot down the number only. In the evening enter the food and numbers on the computer. It takes minutes a day.
I am terrified of breaking this routine. I started a 3 month diet because I know that is as long as my attention span will hold. I can count calories as long as I know where the end of the tunnel is. Ask me to do it for the rest of my life and I will probably give up in a few days.
good luck to you
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When you figure it out let me know – I’ve done it for a day or two at most. At this point I don’t need to do it because I KNOW how bad I am being, but when I am THINKING I am doing everything right it’s really important to validate because it is very easy to eat more than you realize. No answer, sorry!
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I’m pretty committed at tracking on sparkpeople, I can even track on my blackberry. I just made my food journal public for the accountability. Like Erin I track everything I can count on first thing, to see what fits and where I am. I too am addicted to earning spark points, those darn sparkpoints get me exercising when I want to break a certain point barrier. I am starting an accountability thing with Jessi from shrinky-dinky.com so she can see if I hit my calorie/carb goal each day and I can see if she’s tracking. I’m up for more accountability buddies if you are looking.
MackAttack’s last blog post..Down again!
I find the best and easiest way to track your food intake is by making yourself a diet plan based around how many calories you need to consume each day to lose around 2 pounds per week. Anymore and your losing lean body mass, once you have that sorted. Go shopping for all your foods on an empty stomach so your not tempted to throw nasty things into your shopping trolley.
Now prepare all your meals on the night for the following day. By having all your meals ready, you are less likely to eat stuff that you shouldn’t. Plus you will know what you’re eating each day without having to write it all down, which to be honest is boring and very time consuming.
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I use http://www.fitday.com. Another good one is http://www.thedailyplate.com
When I started the Flat Belly Diet, the book was very specific about calorie counts and portions and listed a lot of different stuff, so it has helped me know what 400 calories usually looks like. My target is four 400 calorie meals/snacks per day. It also listed some restaurant meals and fast food stuff that is around 400 calories. Before I read that book, I was eating healthy foods, but it was adding up to a lot more calories than I realized. I have a small notebook where I record everything I eat. I’m not always around my computer, so it’s easier to carry my notebook around.
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