Posts: 5,755
9/12/07 7:28 A

Way to go, SandyK!!! It is a really good feeling to know that you can handle special occassions like vacations and dinners without going out of control, isn't it!

You might have gained some from not drinking as much water as you usually do and from travel. I know when I came home from Cleveland it took a few days for me to lose all the water I retained stuck in that car for 6 hours.

Sandy

current weight: 227.6

227.6 210.7 193.8 176.9

160

Posts: 96
9/11/07 4:56 P

Hi,
I use the tracker everyday, except when I was on vacation this last week. But the Beck book helped me a great deal. I didn't take my cards with me, but each time I was reading a menu I mentally reread them to myself. I had a great time planning good healthy meals that would fill and delight. One evening in an Italian restaurant, I had a bowl of minastrone soup, a slice of bread with olive oil, and a large salad of asparagus (about 1/2 lb) with chopped cucumbers & tomatoes in a vinager dressing. I also remembered to pay attention to my stomach to recognize when I was full enough and sometimes quit eating before I was finished. I felt "in control" and kept telling myself that I was doing great.
I did deviate one time. We were in Boston and I had planned to have some Boston Creme Pie, but I had a cantalope and shrimp salad first, so I felr I was also in control then.
Each day I was mentally keeping track of what I would have been entering in my tracker.
On the entire trip I never felt deprived or cheated out of a great time. Instead, I felt pleased and happy with myself. I am so thankful for SP and the Dr. Beck book. Yes, I gained 2 lbs. last week, but I believe it might have been partly muscle since Boston is a walking town and I did a lot, & I do mean a lot, of walking.
SandyK

227.6 210.7 193.8 176.9

160

Posts: 218
9/10/07 4:37 P

I think there is not enough interest to keep it as a sticky topic. Thanks for responding.

Posts: 5,755
9/10/07 6:28 A

I use the tracker every day; even when I'm on vacation I write down what I ate and I come home and write it in the tracker. I just wasn't using this thread; sorry. No one else has been around for the past week or so. Mary posted some days but I'm hearing crickets out here!

Sandy

current weight: 227.6

227.6 210.7 193.8 176.9

160

Posts: 218
9/9/07 7:27 P

Back today. No one else interested in using the tracker though. At least not to discuss it daily.

Posts: 218
9/7/07 1:21 P

Friday posted food. OK as you might imagine, I found that by posting to the Tracker after I've eaten results in a higher caloric intake. The plan I'm on the 5 factor plan says you don't have to concern yourself with calories if you eat protein and complex carbs at each meal...but I don't know if I buy that. To be safe I think I will post to the Tracker prior to eating and stay within the calorie budget I got from SP.

Posts: 218
9/6/07 6:23 P

Thursday- posted food. Are there any barriers keeping you guys from using the Tracker? Do you find it easy to use or difficult?

Posts: 218
9/5/07 12:25 P

Wednesday, posted my food. I have noticed that by eating 3meals and 2 snacks I do not eat as much at a time. I am learning to eat to satiate my hunger and not until physical discomfort. That is a definite benefit of using the tracker.

Posts: 218
9/4/07 11:49 A

I posted my food plan for today. I wondered what you guys find easier to post it the night before, the morning or at the end of the day? What is working for you guys?

SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (85)
Posts: 149
9/3/07 2:34 P

For me it helps short term ... if I'm feeling lousy I can almost always look back at my food tracker and see what I ate that caused me to feel bad.

Because I'm more focused on health than the actual pounds I also like that it tracks nutrients. I feel good when I see that I'm eating food with good vitamins and minerals.

SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (85)
Posts: 149
9/3/07 2:33 P

For me it helps short term ... if I'm feeling lousy I can almost always look back at my food tracker and see what I ate that caused me to feel bad.

Because I'm more focused on health than the actual pounds I also like that it tracks nutrients. I feel good when I see that I'm eating food with good vitamins and minerals.

SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (85)
Posts: 149
9/3/07 2:33 P

For me it helps short term ... if I'm feeling lousy I can almost always look back at my food tracker and see what I ate that caused me to feel bad.

Because I'm more focused on health than the actual pounds I also like that it tracks nutrients. I feel good when I see that I'm eating food with good vitamins and minerals.

SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (85)
Posts: 149
9/3/07 2:33 P

For me it helps short term ... if I'm feeling lousy I can almost always look back at my food tracker and see what I ate that caused me to feel bad.

Because I'm more focused on health than the actual pounds I also like that it tracks nutrients. I feel good when I see that I'm eating food with good vitamins and minerals.

Posts: 218
9/3/07 2:06 P

What do you guys find are some advantages or disadvantages if any of keeping track of your food each day?
I feel like it gives me a blueprint that I can look back on so see how what I ate impacted my weight goals.
Thanks for participating, you guys are great!

SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (85)
Posts: 149
9/3/07 9:55 A

Sept. 2 Food tracker used! I forgot to check in with my report yesterday.

Deb

Posts: 5,755
9/2/07 10:28 P

I think the food tracker is a great tool, too! I use it everyday. I try to add in foods I eat at restaurants -- some chains have their info on the web; others I guess.

Mary, Have you tried using the food groupings category on the food tracker? You can list the items you usually eat at a meal and call it "breakfast" or "lunch"; I have some for "spaghetti and meatballs" or "bagel with margarine". That way to add it to your tracking you just have to click on the grouping and the items are automatically added. It works pretty kool.

Also, if you have a recipe you make, you can enter it into the recipe tool and it will calculate your calories per serving.

Handy tools! Helps to keep you on track.

Sandy

current weight: 227.6

227.6 210.7 193.8 176.9

160

SparkPoints: (46,224)
Fitness Minutes: (6,500)
Posts: 1,245
9/2/07 10:27 P

Deb, the food on which I am better about keeping track is breakfast through lunch. Even the afternoon snack. Apparently my mind would like for any food eaten after mid-day meal to be "Free".

Carol

SparkPoints: (46,224)
Fitness Minutes: (6,500)
Posts: 1,245
9/2/07 10:23 P

Mary, have you read Dr. Oz's You on a Diet. He suggests eating the same breakfast and lunch everyday.

Speaking of eating the same breakfast everyday:

For two years straight my morning meal was a portion of old-fashioned oatmeal. I was following Weight Watchers at the time. One morning my mind rebelled. I had reached my fill of oatmeal. Two being the magic number, it has taken another 2 years so that I can now say I do eat oatmeal occasionally.

Posts: 214
9/2/07 8:15 P

Hi, I will try to track my calories daily. I often eat the same breakfast and lunch all week. It doesn't bother me and if somethings working I try not to mess up.
the only thing is sometimes I say why write it, its exactly the same as the other days.
Mary

SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (85)
Posts: 149
9/2/07 7:01 P

Great challenge. I do a good job of tracking breakfast and dinner so I will try for lunch, too. Every day!

Deb

Posts: 218
9/2/07 4:51 P

I would try to separate it out too, otherwise I think I might inflate the number. I want to get better about putting new foods(that I don't see on the tracker list) or my recipes in so I can get a fairly accurate track of calories.

It is a great tool and it's free.

SparkPoints: (46,224)
Fitness Minutes: (6,500)
Posts: 1,245
9/2/07 4:00 P

Good Challenge. I need this incentive.

Do you break down foods you eat out, or do you just guess at the total calories?

I ask because I ate at a local Italian Restaurant yesterday. I knew my food order contained chicken, cheese, veggies - (onion, zucchini, mushrooms) so I added each ingredient.

Posts: 218
9/2/07 12:13 P

Hello all. I thought this might be a good challenge for this month. Meal planning is discussed in the book and we have a great tool here at SP. I would like to be more consistent in the daily use of it, perhaps some of you would too.