Finding it hard to log all foods?

Hey, I know this counting calories is mainly to watch how much you're actually consuming, but sometimes I just feel so busy and don't feel like logging everything!

 I'm in my 3rd week, but I totally finked out logging foods from Thanksgiving thru Sunday - and I just feel soooooo not into logging foods.

Does anyone else find it time consuming to log all their foods? Have you found an easier way to log stuff?

I have a seperate, personal log I fill in on MS Excel that seems to be a lot easier - does anyone else mainly go here for the motivation and other stuff, but sometimes logs foods?

I had that same problem today, they don't have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on there, you have to break it all down, and that is just too much "searching for foods"!!!

Have you tagged your foods? In the beginning, logging for me was extremely time-consuming. I tend to eat a lot of the same stuff everyday. Like bananas, coffee, yogurt ect. If you take the time (it doesn't take long) to tag your favorite stuff, you don't have to look up the foods repeatedly. I tag foods, forums, and activities. Since I plan my meals ahead, I log my breakfast and lunch the night before or in the morning b/4 work. Logging really makes all the differance. As far as Thanksgiving....forget it. It's over. I didn't even try to log all that stuff. I'd still be trying to do it. It was one day. I enjoyed it. It's over. I'm back on the wagon.

I went from logging foods on CC to logging them on a printed out spreadsheet then back to logging foods on CC. 

I found that it was easier to log foods on CC because I can tag items and easily search items to add.  It may seem frustrating at first but after a few times it gets easier once you learn your way around more.

But do what you find easiest and works best for you.  I know that some people can count calories in their head throughout the day or log all their calories at the end of the day.  Personally, I like to add the food shortly after I eat it so I do not forget. 

I log all of my food here so I can have a running total throughout the day of my carbs, fats, protein and fiber -- and it helps me make better-informed choices for my next meal or snack. (In addition to a calorie goal for each meal and the whole day, I have a daily goal for protein, carbs, fats, and fiber.)

But I agree, do what works best for you! (And Tagging your most commonly-eaten items is a great timesaver!)

=^..^= MOLLY

I've been diligent for 7 months about logging calories, but have decided to give myself a break from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and probably New Years.

Right now, I'm only logging during the week.  On the weekends I try to be careful, but I'm not going to log my foods... too much work... and too discouraging.  After 7 months of keeping track, I have a good idea of how many calories are in most foods I eat.

Thanks guys; you're right Munsey, "it's over!"  I enjoyed my weekend and now I'm trying to get back on track.

I have tagged some items, including ones they don't have in their system, and it is helpful.

I guess it just takes a long time, as you all said, to actually tag everything so I don't have to go searching for it.

Usually I don't really know what I'm going to eat the next day, besides breakfast (I'm still in college and the only day that I really know what I'll be eating is on Mondays when I go to my internship)

So there's really only one day a week that I can log everything in advance, and that DOES make the day easier..

Molly:  how are we able to see a runing total of fiber and protein and everything?? I am not that familiar with the system yet, and that sounds like it would be very helpful.

Tracker:  That sounds like a good idea, not REALLY logging stuff on weekends...I think for me, since I'm just starting, I had better keep closer track until I really know what I'm eating.

Thanks again everyone! (I love these forums!!!)

Hey kvbohn!

When you are looking at your My Account or Food Log you can click on the Analysis button and you can see your Fat, Protein, Carbohydrates, Alcohol, Sodium, Cholesterol, and Fiber Intake.  If you scroll your mouse over the date, you will see a box with other things such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Another great thing about logging your foods on CC is that you can select a range (7 days/30 days) and select Analysis and view an average.

(If you click on the highlighted blue words, it will take you to those locations)

I agree with everyone else, tagging your most eaten items saves time. I especially make a point to enter and tag the things that aren't in the system and I had to input. Another shortcut I have started using is that I use the "new recipe" form to enter everything from the meal, even if it was actually in separate dishes. Then I just use "add one serving to your log" and don't save the recipe that really wasn't one!

i used to log everything. after i lost 30 lbs i stopped and haven't lost a lb since......      i'm going back to logging. 

for me, seeing how many calories i've had makes it easier to stay away from my 'bad' foods and reminds me that i shouldn't be hungry after i've just consumed 300 calories.

I'm somewhat sporadic.  When I first started it was **** and then after I got the hang of tagging things and realized that an approximation was just fine in most instances it became easier.  I still go through periods when I just don't feel like it so I don't but I do notice that I rarely lose any weight when I'm not tracking.

Now I tag things that I've bought or expect to eat frequently, but not those that I might only eat for one week.  For instance I bought a chocolate mint soy drink that I was adding to my coffee for a few days and while I entered it once I didn't tag it, instead I just went to a previous day when I'd already entered it and added it again.  I have the soy milk that I frequently drink entered as both 1/2 cup and 1 cup so I can easily tag the right amount (foods that you enter don't always allow for adjustment in quantities). When I do tag I usually tag by the store I buy it from, the item that it is and possibly another for the time when I'd eat it.  That way I can find things very quickly.