I think strict calorie counting with an app is going to be what “moves the needle” for you. You are probably a bit older now than you were when you journaled and metabolism is a MFer. I thought strict calorie counting was a giant waste of time at first and I was convinced that I was consuming a healthy amount of calories. But I was shocked when I actually started counting them. Shocked, I tell you.

I get what op is saying.
I find I eat more processed foods just for calorie counting convenience.

Honestly.

Bag of goldfish + apple + green juice in a bottle is easier to track than homemade guac with whole wheat crackers and crudités.


It doesn’t happen directly. I’m not thinking, “oh I should eat processed.” It’s subtly avoiding hassle.

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to be in your head here and avoiding the basics. Just pick a system and if you have to guess, add extra calories. Make sure you aware of what’s considered a serving.

+1. FWIW I find Lose It more user friendly than My fitness pal. But just pick one and use it consistently.

Anonymous wrote:Op here, one more comment.
1. Caloric tracking can still be inaccurate
2. Haven’t you all seen doctors before that still question the reality of your calorie logs, thinking you must not have counted things right?

You seem to be in your head here and avoiding the basics. Just pick a system and if you have to guess, add extra calories. Make sure you aware of what’s considered a serving.

Op here, one more comment.
1. Caloric tracking can still be inaccurate
2. Haven’t you all seen doctors before that still question the reality of your calorie logs, thinking you must not have counted things right?

Anonymous wrote:Op here. The non-calorie-tracking method is somewhat more accurate in that:
-I don’t get tempted to not track something because it’s hard (ex: dinner at friends house)
-I don’t get so busy one day and skip tracking completely. (ex: day was packed. I couldn’t take time to measure, I didn’t have a moment to log amounts).

Journaling doesn’t have a metric, but I track everything. And *i* know if I didn’t lose weight over 1-3 days, qualitatively something was wrong. I can still commit to healthy foods but easier to write or type my whole day in 1 minute.

Get familiar with my fitness pal and make meals with your most regular meals. Then it takes seconds to log. If you don’t, it takes minutes. The truth is that logging is simple and doesn’t take much time. However for many, there is a huge psychological hurdle, which makes it feel burdensome. But it’s not actually a time burden. You spend more time on DCUM, I’m sure of it.

I guess calorie tracking is what you all recommend? And maybe a series of caloric numbers over 3 weeks with my anticipation that it won’t move the needle…is easier for my doctor to read/believe. Rather than my “word” that I had 90% good days.

I have used MyFitnessPal on and off over the years. Anything you all suggest?

Op here. The non-calorie-tracking method is somewhat more accurate in that:
-I don’t get tempted to not track something because it’s hard (ex: dinner at friends house)
-I don’t get so busy one day and skip tracking completely. (ex: day was packed. I couldn’t take time to measure, I didn’t have a moment to log amounts).

Journaling doesn’t have a metric, but I track everything. And *i* know if I didn’t lose weight over 1-3 days, qualitatively something was wrong. I can still commit to healthy foods but easier to write or type my whole day in 1 minute.

Anonymous wrote:I am struggling to understand how a food journal, without quantities or measurements, can be more accurate than measuring and counting your calories. What am I missing here?

+1.

I am struggling to understand how a food journal, without quantities or measurements, can be more accurate than measuring and counting your calories. What am I missing here?

I find the Weight Watchers app very easy because you can scan barcodes or scan the nutrition label. But also, if you're keeping the record to prove you aren't moving the needle, WW offers meds now. I didn't qualify but I wish I would have.

I use an app on my phone. I’m bad at remembering how many calories something has, so the app figuring it out for me helps me keep on track. I don’t stress too much about whether the calories are exactly right, I figure they’re close enough.

I don’t think just writing down a list would do it for me.

Bump. Anyone?

OP here wow I didn’t realize someone else had a very similar question. Their post was started a handful of days ago, but someone commented today. Now I see they had a very similar question about calorie counting, and if it’s effective.

My question is more of a comparison of calorie tracking versus food journaling.

But for example, today, I was at my friend’s house, and she gave me a chocolate covered strawberry. Tracking the calories for it is harder than just writing it down.

This is real for me, so please help me decide.

Which one is better for me right now? I’m attempting a 3-week food journal or tracking so I can show my doctors that nothing is moving the needle.

1. Calorie tracking. I was aiming for a 500 cal deficit. I figured out my steady state is 2000-2200. So I figure I will attempt a range of 1500-1900.

2. Just a food journal. This has the plus of allowing me to be, ironically, more accurate? Not more accurate… I mean. It’s hard to track calories accurately. A simple food journal with no quantities helped me lose 15 pounds a couple of years ago.
The less work of a food journal that helps me see overall patterns but not measuring food, helps me track things I eat out, or the random meal served by my friend at a dinner party. Instead of being unable to track that meal.

This second thing is better in some ways…. But it’s not working anymore. I gained all my weight back. Plus recently another 5 lbs pretty rapidly.



**this is a real, and sort of upsetting, debate in my head. Please help me go forward.