? for people who use calorie trackers like MFP, Lose It, etc.

Some things I can do ahead, like if I'm reheating something, or having a protein bar. But if I'm cooking a steak, I have to wait until afterward to put in a precise weight.

I use MFP and I track all my meals first thing in the morning. I then go back and make adjustments if something changes. I'd say 8 days out of 10 something isn't spot on and I need to change. But, it gives me a basic outline that I feel compelled to follow.

Thank you for your reply :)

I think you are right and having an outline will make me feel like I NEED to follow it.

When losing, I think you need an outline or you'll overshoot (or even undershoot) your total calories. I like to know that I can/can not have jerky as an afternoon snack, etc. I do have to go back quite often and edit total quantities. I may plan to eat 2oz of chicken but only get in 1.5oz or some nights I plan on 2oz of fish but get in 2.5oz. I normally leave a 50 calorie leeway for adjustments.

My browser ate my earlier reply, so I'm trying again.

I have struggled with tracking.

Back in the day, I was VERY successful with tracking with WW when it was a paper planner. I thought now that with smart phones and scanners and all, it would be even better but that has not been the case for me. I do well with breakfast, daytime snacks and lunch, but once I get home and on the weekends I completely fail to track.

Your post has had me thinking about why the paper planner worked better for me (and I've tried going back to a WW-style paper planner, and it doesn't work for me now either because I don't keep it with me the way I used to with my daytimer and all)... and I used to plan out my day with the meals and then adjust as I went if I didn't eat everything I planned, or changed things up midstream. I haven't done that with MFP, and I think I'll try it. That may be the piece I'm missing. I'd thought real-time would be better, but obviously it hasn't been. Time to try something new.

Thanks for the thread, it's given me something new to try, because as my honeymoon period winds down, I know tracking is going to become even more important than it has been.

Thanks! :)

I'm going to try this approach too and see if it helps. We can try it out together LOL

I put my food in MFP either in the morning or the night before, then change things if I decide I don't want something I planned for or to put in exact weights. I like to do it ahead of time to get a rough idea of where my protein, carbs and calories should be. It's also a nice kick in the rear if I'm out of stuff to eat for dinner and need to run to the store. I hate standing in front of a nearly empty fridge at dinnertime because I neglected to plan ahead...

I'm the king of "figure out dinner from what you find" so planning out menus has been a challenge, but I'm getting there LOL

I'm a My Fitness Pal addict. :) I've used MFP since 3 months pre-op and for nearly 3 years post-op. It is as valuable a tool as my sleeve.

Every morning within 15 minutes of arising I plan my day's meals and snacks on MFP and enter the amounts. At this point I've developed a lot of MFP MEALS and RECIPES, which makes everything go a lot faster.

And here's the important part: I really, really, really measure everything I eat, e.g., 1 ounce of cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 medium Fuji apple (2 3/4" in diameter), 1/2 cup skim milk, etc. I use measuring cups (of varying sizes), teaspoon/tablespoon measuring spoons, a Pyrex measuring cup for liquids (including wine), and a food scale (which measures solid food ounces).

I use the MFP database a lot, too, when creating new meals or recipes.

If my daily input varies from the plan, I either adjust it that night or first thing the next morning.

Currently, I track calories, carbs, fats, protein, sodium, and fiber.

I also log my daily weight every day in MFP. I also input my exercise in MFP, but do not "eat my exercise calories."

The major benefits for me have been:

1. I use the data to identify multiple types of patterns.

2. Every day's eating feels fresh / new / innocent. No matter what I did the day before, after it's recorded it doesn't bother me at all or cause a "guilt hangover."

3. It helps me wield power over what I eat and drink. There's no confusion about WHO or WHAT is in charge of my intake -- ME, MYSELF and I. :)

I hope you find a tracker that works for you. I absolutely adore MFP.

Best wishes!

Thus far MFP seems to work quite well. I would like some of the features of the premium option like telling it not to give me exercise calories and being able to set a specific goal for protein by gram instead of %. Right now its not in the budget since I am also saving for surgery LOL but that seems to be the way I am leaning.

Thanks for your response!