judymurphy80's Journal, 05 January 2024

Don't worry about that most people are pretty friendly here...if you don't post often that's not a problem. Just post when you want to and that's great when you don't want to that's okay too. As posting to your calories it becomes less daunting with practice. There's a few tools in the app that make it a little less difficult as well when you're putting your items in if you notice some foods will have an option to put the same food in for multiple days; if you're eating the same foods day to day you can just put it in for more days than one. For example I eat poached eggs (a lot) so I can just put those in for the next day if I want to in the options; I can also save the meal with the option "save meal" and just choose that on a later date under the saved meal tab. Another option is if you find yourself making the same meal for dinner or breakfast or whatever over and over simply make the recipe in the options and save it under recipes and then choose that when you make that meal instead of placing each item in that meal every time you eat it to save you time and energy. These options have been available to me on the free version I'd say there's even more options available on the paid version. remember that this is just a habit and like all habits on average will take a matter of 2 weeks and sometimes up to 3 weeks be something that you do without conscious action. You can do it 😊. 

In addition I don't follow anyone and I seem to have plenty of people that talk to me and are very friendly. You're right it's very easy to rack up calories quickly I think a lot of that's due to our on the go lifestyle and how busy we are as people it's hard to sit down and really enjoy our food just being able to chew many days is difficult you have to get the food in your mouth, chew, and swallow as quickly as you can so you can get moving again and that doesn't really allow a person enough time to enjoy the food or feel satiated. Before you know it you're eating again. It doesn't give the poor body enough time to even know it's eaten much less give the person time to pick out the most quality foods to eat or time to prepare them. 

Thank you both so much for the advise. I do really appreciate it, and look forward to learning how to make this easier. Have a nice night. 

I feel you I haven’t been able to log a C whole day yet because it’s so overwhelming. Best of luck 

💙How many calories are you aiming for? if you don't mind? I am 5'4" and I started with 1700 but I'm very active. Eating meals that take a while to digest (like oatmeal) and spacing them out in certain ways has helped me. so has keeping emergency carrot and celery around for when I wait too long to eat. glad you are here! 💙 

Tracking your food gets easier with practice. You can “save meals” which is what I do for work week days. I usually eat the same meal for breakfast & lunch for a few days. Then each week, I rotate out and eat something different so I don’t get too bored. Like you, I found it shocking (and interesting) how many calories food really is! 😳 For me, I learned through trial & error which foods were the most nutrient dense and that kept me FULLER LONGER. For ME, it’s mainly fresh MEAT 🥩, fruits (any fruit, especially 🥑s), and veggies that keep me FULL. Eggs, nuts, coconut oil, avocado 🥑 oil, EVOO, help satiate me, too. I don’t track on any holidays or my birthday! But tracking my calories has helped me to lose 53 pounds and more importantly, reverse type 2 diabetes. So, I’d rather be STRESSED FROM TRACKING than stressed from being SICKLY like I used to be. I got Covid in Nov 2021 and because I also had diabetes (which I had no idea), I almost DIED. SPENT A FEW DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL ASKING GOD JUST TO TAKE ME OR HEAL ME. It was bad. I have 2 daughters, 2 granddaughters, and my mom who I want to be there for, in a HEALTHY WAY. Plus, my students! They are my WHY. I pray 🙏🏻 your surgeries go well!! That can be stressful dealing with all of that!! You’ve got a lot on your plate! Bless your heart. BTW, my body HEALS much faster now that I’ve got my insulin controlled. No meds, just manage my sugar levels through food & exercise (strength training & walking). No diabetes medication after 5 months of eating right, exercising, and TRACKING. I’m now in maintenance but stayed in a calorie deficit for about one year. 

Also, I keep my meals SIMPLE!! That helps. 

Someone asked me how many calories I get, only a little over 1200 because I'm not being very active. I'd like to be. My schedule needs to be more consistent, and my motivation needs to drastically improve. All of this information is great. I'm not one to like having the same meals, so I think that's where my problems are coming in, not to mention the grocery bill being out of control! 

welcome. I'm new too. not very consistent with healthy eating nor activity. my goal weight is your starting weight and I have a LONG way to go. take one day at a time. here's to a new year and better health! 

Log your food every day but go on the social media as you please. Don't stress...I sometimes will log my planned foods in advance so that I know what I have leftover to play with. I don't do it all the time, just if I'm trying to watch daily intake.