Tracking intake

Posts: 2,250
12/28/12 11:26 A

I make it easiest by estimating. I took two nutrition courses in college and later memorized the amount of calories in most common foods I often consume. I make a list daily of what I eat and guesstimate the calories. With the exception of casseroles, I normally am not too far off. After doing this for 30 years, I have a pretty good idea of my food consumption. It was very tedious at first.

The computer age has made it vastly simpler, but it still takes time to track daily. The more I track my food, the less I eat and the healthier I become. Tracking food is important, and it is a hassle.

With experience and taking some time daily, you'll get more accustomed to it.

Remembering why you are doing it makes it easier to take the time to do it.

Good luck!

current weight: 112.4

121 118.85 116.7 114.55

112.4

SparkPoints: (8,493)
Fitness Minutes: (9,602)
Posts: 396
12/28/12 11:22 A

I add the food I eat often to my favorites. It is a lot easier than looking up each item. I usually eat the same meal, I will then create one entry for that.

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 6.5 13 19.5

26

SparkPoints: (21,647)
Fitness Minutes: (10,381)
Posts: 976
12/28/12 11:20 A

Tracking food is easy for me. I have created groups of foods that I routinely eat. I track all my foods in the morning and make adjustments later in the day if I need to.

That said there was a learning curve. Learning to put foods together so that there was balance in accordance with right levels of fat, protein, etc.

SP suggests you put one meal on auto pilot. For me this meal is breakfast. Each morning I have an english muffin with peanut butter and coffee with soy vanilla creamer. It's easy to track because it is in a grouping.

My suggestion for you would be to create the groupings and create favorites. Then work on one meal at a time. When you have that meal in balance move to the next. Go slow and aim for consistency. This is the way to make the journey.

current weight: 187.8

218 196 174 152

130

SparkPoints: (5,730)
Fitness Minutes: (7,223)
Posts: 142
12/28/12 11:14 A

I am supposed to be tracking my meals...I often forget about it. I used to use a little notebook and just put the food in when I remembered and it became a decent habit. I also tried a little binder with less success. But when I forgot my notebook, I just threw the food and calories into my phones notepad or calendar, and would write the, down when I got home. My newest adventure is an app on my iPad to try and track it. My issue is I will forget about or I simply get bored with the notebook or whatever....maybe this will help me...

Hopefully you find something that works for you...

4 Days until:  Half Marathon

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Posts: 28
12/28/12 10:54 A

Anyone have good ideas on how to make it easier? Seriously--this is the most difficult task ever! I get sidetracked, forget, lazy...... How do you make it easiest and convenient for you?

current weight: 185.0

195 183.75 172.5 161.25

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