poll: how do you...

I am curious.  From reading everyones M and M I can tell you are all careful what you eat.  But do you count calories? carbs? Protein?  Do you use something like my fitness pal to record what you eat?  Do you just have a general idea of what you should eat every day and then plan accordingly?  Do you kind of use an exchange plan?

Like I said I am just wondering.  I'm not really asking how many carbs, calories, protein etc. Just generally how you plan.  your eating.

I am still recording everything in my fitness pal, and I have a maximum for calories, a minimum for protein, a max for fats, and a general goal for carbs. 

Feels a little "worky" haha

Anne

I use MyFitnessPal.  I have put a lot of my recipes in there and have scanned lots of the foods that I eat on a regular basis so it doesn't take long to  put my meals in it.  I eat the same thing lots of days during the week.

I try to stay under 1200 calories. I did not worry about calories until I got to maintenance.   I try to really watch my carbs closely especially the white ones.  Some days I do better than others.  I have had some struggles the last couple of months.  I don't really worry about my protein count because I get in 4 protein drinks a day usually so I know I'm getting enough in protein drinks so my food is extra.

I try to cook on the weekend enough to last me the next week so I don't have to come home and wonder what to have for supper.  That is usually when I grab something I shouldn't have.

I love gadgets.  I have a FitBit Flex that I just got a couple of weeks ago so I'm trying to get in 10,000 steps atleast 3-4 times a week.  I have MapMyRun on my iPhone so I turn that on when I walk.  I think exercise is really important in maintenance. 

Linda

I am nine years out with a regain--20 lbs.  I have just started tracking food again after a long time of not doing it.  I just write it on a pad.  Track calories, protein, carbs.  Trying to follow Atkins right not--Not more than 20 net carbs.  I had a Fitbit Force, but have returned because made a blister on arm.  There is a recall on it.  Thinking about a Fitbit One.  I walk 2-4 miles a day.  Attend an exercise class four days a week.  Well sometimes life gets in a way, and I do not get all my walking and exercise in.  

I kept a paper diet diary the first 2 years and used a book called The Book of Food Counts. I counted carbs and protein to make sure I was staying under 50 carbs and over 120 protein grams a day. Old fashioned. :)

I do my the old fashion way,too.  it is sometimes less time consuming that using all these websites, etc. 

I track what I eat with Calorie King and use my FitBit One to track my exercise and steps taken per day.  I mainly track my protein and carb intake but not so much in the way of calories.

When I was losing, I tracked with the tracker on this site.  I was basically tracking protein and carbs early out and still eyeball that every day.  These days I don't actually track but I eat pretty much the same day after day.  I still plan on protein coffee to start the day and a protein shake to end it with 1-2 half strenght protein drinks during the day.  Then food with protein at every meal, usually with some green veggie/salad, etc.  I have always heard that logging your intake is the best way there is to ensure you stay on track.  Although I no longer calculate everything, I do log on Miles and menus daily.

Hi there - I use My Fitness Pal to track calories, carbs and protein.   I recently had my resting metabolic rate tested and in order to maintain my weight loss I need to keep my calories in the 1500-1600 range.  Based on that I like to keep my carbs to 100 or less (it was 40 or less in weight-loss mode) and my protein to 80-100 grams per day.  

I don't focus on fats, sugars, sodium, etc. because that all seems to take care of itself when I stick within the other parameters.  

I plan all my eating the night before and pre-load it into MFP.  This way I can tweak it ahead of time if needed.  Every day I eat almost the same thing for breakfast - an egg, and then follow-up with a protein shake on my way to work (usually an hour time lapse between these two events).  On the weekends I'll sometimes thrown in a piece of bacon and a couple berries or grapes too.  

Lunch is always protein and veggies (often leftovers from night before) and then dinner is whatever protein I've planned for the family and some veggie too.  For snacks I'll do half an apple, citrus fruit or berries, almonds, greek yogurt, half a protein bar, jerky, etc.  

I just keep my protein first. I Hate tracking food.  It feels like a diet.  I just eat small portions 4-6 times daily. 

I do repeat the same foods a lot: turkey jerky, Greek yogurt, LC cheese wedges, hunter sausage, egg, protein shakes, salads, soups, egg or chicken salad, prunes, dill pickles....etc.

ETA: just wanted to add that I really don't differentiate between meals and snacks. All my meals are small, nothing like a real meal at all.   

I'm with Candy on this one... being militant about writing it down, using the word "tracking" makes me feel defensive and like I am on a diet.  I so epically failed at all my diets - most notably the diet I followed when I had my Lap Band - that I am super conscious of not being my own food police.  In the early days - I wrote in a notebook all the things I typically eat during a week so that I know how many grams of protein I am eating.  I freeze lots of my food in muffin tins so I know the portion size and the protein content (in my various chili's for example). I try to keep my portions under 100g (4oz) but I don't pay attention to calories or carbs.  I eat plenty of carbs found in beans and lentils and I don't eat white carbs (except the rice in my beloved sushi) or sugar full stop.  If I let that back in my normal eating life - I am doomed.  And like so many of us LW's I get the majority of my protein from protein shakes so I don't need to stress about it :)

I know that everyone is different and you need to do what works.  MFP is a great tool and when I struggle in maintenance I may need to use it regularly to get myself where I want to be - but I really tend to rebel from that kind of thing so i am staying away from it for now  -