Hi EXSKINNYSISTAH, I have found the food tracker to be the single most important tool to help me get control of my intake. Until I could see right in front of me, in black and white, where the calories were coming from I just didn't realize what I was eating.
Once I started using it (a couple of weeks after I joined) I never stopped...except for vacation, of course. I participate in a Challenge where we report to each other every day...calories, Fiber, fruit servings, veggie servings, water, calcium, temptations, exercise, etc...and we add something new every few weeks. It really keeps me accountable to the group and helps me immensely.
I admit, I really don't have trouble saying "No, thank you" to foods that are very high in calories (or empty calories) once I see what they do to my food tracker picture for the day.
I do continually juggle to make the best use of my calories, however. For example, when we started counting our daily fiber and I realized I was way too low, I started adding those things that would bring me into a recommended fiber range. That took up alot of calories because the really good fiber is in things I used to avoid like cereal (Fiber One), whole grain breads, and extras (like Flaxseed). So, I'm continually learning how to eat healthy for less calories.
EXSKINNYSISTAH 7/5/06 4:31 P
Part of this is probably my own babbling to myself, but I do have a couple of curious questions, too, so bear with me if you will. :)
I've appreciated the fact the trackers here keep me accountable and very aware of my input and output (food and exercise). I have to remind myself that I opted for little steps to in order to get myself back on track and the trackers really help me to see where it is I am weak and where I'm strong.
But I do have to say that it gets kinda freaky watching these 1.5 inches travel from my gut to my hips as well as 1.5lb gain, and stay sane. The hips overall are 3" down. The calories are down (almost too low), but they hadn't been significantly high to begin with--I just don't eat "right" these days and the tracker really keeps it clear as to why and how.
How beneficial did you all find the food tracker in establishing your unhealthy eating habits? If so, did you adjust to that? Do you have weak areas also, or an overall issue?
I'm figuring out that regardless of my calorie intake everything tends to go up when my carbs are high. I do know that my carbs of late have been processed, so I need to get that in balance. Anyone else w/ similar carb issues?
I'm not a sugar fiend at all--as a matter of fact I get a bit nauseous with too much--my carbs tend to be on the salty side as opposed to sweet. I'm told that's weird. lol.
