Keeping track of foods

Hi everyone i"m new here but have been reading your blogs and am curious.  I have not had my surgery as of yet but hope to in the fall.  Do you write down everything you eat and keep track of your numbers on protein, calories, types of food  and how do your know how much to eat? I'm still learning the ropes and want to know the best ways to get the most results! 

Hi Cheryl, Yes, almost two years post op I still log every thing I eat.  Obsessive?  Maybe, but it keeps me in line and in tuned to what I'm doing. I use Fitday.com, some folks don't like it, but I do. Another one I've looked at lately is Thedailyplate.com. It seems to have more foods listed so you don't have to enter as much manually. Starting to keep track of your intake now will help you realize what you're eating and get you into the habit for after surgery. Good luck!

Cheryl, Welcome to the OFF board and you are wise to educate yourself prior to your surgery.  Your question is a very good one and keeping track of your food intake is a very good habit to start prior to surgery so that you get used to doing it, not to mention it helps you stay aware of everything you are actually putting in your mouth. . . There are several online sites, the one I use is Fitday.com, it's free and has some good other parts where you can keep a journal, as well as post physical activities, etc.  In many instances, you will need to add foods to the list, with the nurtition facts that are listed on most food labels, the good part is once you've added them, they are there at your finger tips and it gives you the amount of protein, carbs, fats taken in daily, as well as the calories consumed.  There are others that I'm sure people will post to you. Good luck on your journey towards healthier living, Laureen

* * * * * WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL OFF WORLD * * * * I manually write down what I have to eat. I try to get everything down on the paper ( the good the bad & ugly).* * * * My Nut does not require me to write the calories, fat, sugars etc of every food. On the top corner of my weekly journal I put the date (Sun thru Sat) and the beginning weight and ending weight so I can track how well I did. Also, this is handy for the Nut to look over at our visits. * * * * My next project is to pre plan a weekly menu so I know ahead of time what to cook. I think that will help take some guess work out of my daily "what to eat today" dilemma. Best wishes and hope to see you here at OFF more often..... Millie

Thanks Susan and Laureen for your responses and advice.  Will check out those sites.

I like www.myfitnesspal.com

Hi Cheryl, And welcome to the best forum!  I use thedailyplate.com , its free and has alot of food already in there, even exercises.  If it goes in my mouth, it goes on thedailyplate.  It's a good reality check, and it keeps me honest.

Thanks, I was checking out this site earlier today.  I also looked at one called sparkpeople.com and will have to choose one of them to help me stay on track. I hate writing down things as I had to with weigh****chers, but I guess thats the only way to stay on track.

Yes, yes, yes I document everything I eat.  I am more than 2 years post op, I have lost 120lbs which is my goal and I document everyday.  I use www.fitday.com.  I am not sure it's perfect but it works for me. I read an article written by the Center for Disease Control and they did a study of folks who lost weight and kept it off for 10 years or more (the % is very low) and they determined that folks who successfully lost and kept weight off all had a few things in common regardless of how they lost the weight (surgery, weigh****ches, Atkins, etc...) Those things were Support Groups! Water, water, water Exercise  Low fat diets (again regardless of how the weight was lost)  AND The Journaling of all food intake Cant argue with success! Good luck, Lou

THE SITE I USE IS GREAT AND VERY EASY TO USE.  IT IS CALLED MY FITNESS PAL.  BELOW IS THE LOCATION -       myfitnesspal.com    TRY IT.