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The secret to the SP food tracker

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The thing I have figured out is...
TRACK YOUR FOOD
I stopped really tracking everything I ate in late October 2009 after totaling over 100 lbs lost, and I did well, for a while...
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Slowly but surely I stopped losing and began to plateau, then I moved from plateau in January to gaining weight in February.
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Then this week I went back to the basics that got me such great results in the first place. Tracking my food, every piece of everything that I eat goes in the tracker.
THEN AND ONLY THEN can I honestly evaluate the choices I am making in my nutrition.
And now that Im doing just this basic activity, I have already lost over 10 lbs this week, part of that is due to how hard I am working out but I was working out with the same intensity for the 2 weeks prior and had gained a net total of 2 lbs. The only NEW thing "re"introduced this last Sunday was honest food tracking.

I challenge you to take the time to be very honest with yourself and the food tracker, only then will you make those very difficult dietary decisions necessary for the results we are all craving.

Next blog I will talk about my first 3 weeks of the 100 day challenge.

ENJOYING THE RIDE
Dennis
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Member Comments About This Blog Post
  • SGTMOM911
    I absolutely agree. I had been getting a little lazy with it for the past week. On again, off again. Apparently not logging food doesn't mean the calories just magically disappear! Darn it! emoticon

    I am finally back down (plus a half pound!) to where I was before I started getting off track! I had gone back UP a few lbs. Sure seems to come back a LOT faster than it took to get rid of it! I am now a half pound away from my first 5% goal (to be met by the end of February). That in itself is motivating enough to get back to trackin'!

    ENJOYING THE bUmPy RIDE!

    3990 days ago
  • GOLDENGAL3
    Just purchased a scale. I find it hard to get in the habit of using it and have to guess-timate after I have eaten. I even have it on my counter. It's a work in progress. emoticon
    3991 days ago
  • CEARADOWELL
    oh definitely a must!! I am learning so much by tracking my nutrition! Congrats on getting back on track :-)
    3992 days ago
  • BBWINLA
    I love tracking my food. It's helping me to learn what foods are healthy and what is not. Thank you for posting. You are doing great.

    Jayni emoticon
    3993 days ago
  • CHARGER25
    Yep, you gotta track! 100% agree. I know I am NOT going to lose weight this week because of the fitness and food tracker....It takes all of the mystery out of it.....
    3993 days ago
  • JSTCHLIN
    I love the tracker. No matter the calorie count I still put it in. The only time I do not is when I have gone out to a place that doesn't have the information available, including my Mom's house...LOL. I use it more as a guide anyways, not as a strict way of life. Keep up the good work.

    Take care and stay healthy

    emoticon emoticon
    3993 days ago
  • JUDITH1654
    Another thing to watch for is seasoning. I used to forget to include any Season All (which is loaded with sodium). Including that really opens ones eyes!
    3993 days ago
  • SPUNKYDUCKY
    I have a love/hate relationship with the tracker, but definitely need to use it! I also notice plateaus on weeks I don't track (like last week)
    3993 days ago
  • SWEET_DREAMS
    Oh that food tracker.. I both love and hate that thing.
    3993 days ago
  • DOLLYDAGGER64
    I lost track (pun intended) of tracking my food over the last two weeks. It was gradual so I thought it was no big deal until I realized that I'd pretty much quit altogether. I've recommitted to track my daily food first thing in the morning so I have a roadmap for the day. I have to remember that if I could limit my food intake on my own I would be doing it.

    Thanks for the post!
    3993 days ago
  • SHELBYDELLAROSA
    Amen to that! I tried not tracking for a week or so, because frankly I don't know how to NOT be obsessed with the numbers, but not tracking did me no favors. I feel icky and I'm afraid of the scale. So today I start tracking again.
    3993 days ago
  • ASTORRES1
    Dennis..
    you are so right...tracking is the key. Even when I get to my goal weight ...I will keep tracking...it holds me accountable...and then I know I am on the right path. When I reach my goal...i don't think I will change anything....because I don't want to slack off on my healthy living. Spark is such a phenomenal program...I have met some really inspiring folks...YOU ARE ONE OF THEM!!! You are amazing!!!

    emoticon emoticon
    amy
    3993 days ago
  • no profile photo CD5926514
    I couldn't agree with you more. The nutrition tracker is one of the best tools in terms of planning as well. I love being able to make choices that will allow me to stay within my goals. emoticon
    3993 days ago
  • EVILKLOWN
    I joined Spark 395 days ago and today is my 395th day in a row of tracking.
    3993 days ago
  • -POOKIE-
    I totally agree, its a hugely helpful tool, I cant do without it, I love planning my meals in advance and sticking to it.
    3993 days ago
  • FRENCHTOSD
    I absolutely agree with this. Any time I stop tracking, I'm doomed! It keeps me honest and helps me get the right breakdowns. Looking at the daily breakdown also helps me a lot. I try really hard to keep everything in the ranges, and it's a lot harder than you'd think.


    3993 days ago
  • POKEY_
    I have found that same thing to be true...track what I eat...it's the only thing that really keeps food intake foremost in my mind!

    Congratulations, keep up the good work!
    3993 days ago

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    Disclaimer: Weight loss results will vary from person to person. No individual result should be seen as a typical result of following the SparkPeople program.