Gaining Independence from Calorie Count

Yep - I really do appreciate the irony of this post on this website. And I have to begin by saying that I LOVE CALORIE COUNT and what it has done for me (or rather enabled me to do for myself)

but here's the thing: two years ago I joined calorie count and about 9 months after that I had lost 18 pounds (my profile pic has the results-that's me on my wedding day with my hubby). I am/was VERY proud of myself!! and here I am, a little over a year after *that* and I have gained back 15 of the 18 that I lost...

my problem is that this website worked wonders for me, but I cannot seem to keep the pounds off without it! I don't want to be chained to counting calories for the rest of my life! perhaps I should have transitioned to maintenance being the goal before I stopped using CC...

anyway, I was just wondering how many of you have an exit plan? for when you have reached your goal - how do you plan to stay at your weight?

I'm currently maintaining although that wasn't really my plan.  I just haven't found the motivation yet to consistently count calories and exercise.  I've done a pretty good job on maintaining by eating when I'm hungry and having a general idea, but for losing I really need to count everything.

My general idea is that I do step on the scale around once a week, if it gets too high then I start counting for about a week.  If my clothes start fitting a bit tighter then I start counting again for at least a few days.

hmm, good question. i actually only use the calorie counting function occasionally. my results (for my diet) could've actually been better if i had used it consistently. but i find the fitness section & guidance to probably be the best part of cc & until that stops (i may out grow it, find something else, or it may continue) i will most likely be coming back here for training tips & such, occasionally logging my calories to do a check up.

i would suggest to wean yourself off slowly, trying to be more reliant upon your instincts, like being able to eye ball your food & such. gi-jane had some good tips some where.

also maybe you had extra motivation for losing those 18lbs because your wedding was coming up. not necessarily because of cc. now that that part is over perhaps you need to find some other motivation to work towards. i am going through the same thing. cc has helped me a lot & my wedding is in two weeks, but i know once that is over i have to find other means for motivation. i have a specific idea & goal of how i want my body to perform & look. and i am going to keep aiming for that.

i remember someone saying (some where, maybe a movie or someone i know??) "we all live on the edge, if you don't keep climbing up you slide back down". while that doesn't quite sound too logical it has some merit, kind of like keeping your eye on the ball. i know that if i dont keep aiming for progress for my body i might eventually lose focus, like any other goal.

not sure if that helps you or if im just rambling.

I started maintenance last December.  Until then I had never been successful losing all the weight I wanted to, much less keep it off. (92 pounds)  I still use CC to track my food, activity and weight because it has helped me keep real with myself and not fall back into my bad habits.  My plan is to keep this up until my new eating routine becomes my good habits.  (as much as 1 year I think) Then I plan on  moving to a week on and week off CC and go from there.  Losing weight is an accomplishment. Keeping it off is also an accomplishment.  For me my maintenance is what I am most proud of. 

My approach is most likely extreme for your situation but I believe the idea of tracking for a period of time during maintenance is important to make sure you don't return to your old eating habits.  

Good Luck.

  

 

I gained 75 lbs when I became disabled with Rhuematoid Arthritis. After 5 years of watching my weight creep upwards, the last straw was the size 52 DD bra I just had to buy for comfort.

I knew I was going to count calories, and keep a food diary and while searching for an online source of calorie amounts in my favorite foods I found CC. I haven't given much thought to maintenance, since my goal is to permanently change the way I've been eating.

I am amazed at the scope of CC, and I do believe by the time I've shed 30 or 40 lbs. my new eating regime will be firmly inplace. I'll never be sexy, but I'm sure that not carrying so much extra around will make a difference in being able to do things. I hate being exhausted all the time.

I started using calorie count just over a year ago and it helped me lose about 15 pounds.  I was thrilled, because it even got me to a weight that had always been so tough to reach.  Then for about 4 months, I kind of just kept track in my head.  Then I noticed my clothes fitting tighter and although I was still exercising, I wasn't as motivated to go run.  I had gained about 5 pounds back!  I decided to come back here and count every last calorie again.  Honestly when it comes down to those last few pounds I see no other option for me.  I just love how motivating it is here, though, and for me this is an easy way to count my calories, since it does the adding for you.  I don't have to spend a long amount of time on here, just enough to motivate me and log my calories.

I've been thinking about the same thing. CC has helped me eat right, but I've been relying on the numbers instead of listening to my body.

I think the answer is to listen to your body & your own judgment, and then check the numbers on CC to see if you're close. Yesterday I ate what I felt was right to eat, but didn't log anything until this morning. Surprisingly I did pretty well.

I've also heard some people log just one day a week to make sure they're staying on track. In other words, use CC to check that you ate right, not to tell you what to eat.

It's a tool to use........so use it.

I will never be able to be independent of keeping track.

I resent that but it is the truth.

Original Post by jklkj:

It's a tool to use........so use it.

I will never be able to be independent of keeping track.

I resent that but it is the truth.

yes i agree with that about myself. i cannot speak for others though. im an emotional eater, it will always be there. im comfortable with that though because i do have the tools (cc, exercise, yoga, taking care of my needs, etc) so that it doesn't become a major part of my life like it did before. i dont use the calorie counting function all the time or probably as much as i should, but i know it's at least there when i need to gain some perspective on my eating habits.

I can't keep the pounds off without it. In the past the most succesful way I keep pounds off was to track food. The website makes it easy. If I'm honest and add everything throughout the day by dinner time I know what my limits are. If I eat well in the morning and lunch I know I can do a little more at dinner yet stay within my goals.

Can't live without Calorie Count.-Mike

I'm kind of an extreme case (190+ lb lost) but for the first year, I really kept close watch and used this site all the time. Now, I don't log my food because I really do know what to eat and I don't log my activities because the important thing to me is a mental checkmark, did I do it or not. I've continued losing with an occasional interruption due to schedules, vacations, holidays, etc.