My wife has been tracking everything she eats (except on the weekend) for a while now and has lost a decent amount of weight and looks great. I just started yesterday because my clothes are a little tighter than I'd like them to be. I weighed in at 213 yesterday morning after a weekend of pure gluttony. My goal is 190-195 by late August.

Yesterday was pretty interesting weighing and tracking everything I ate. I can definitely eat a decent amount of food. I'm probably going to have trouble getting enough protein each day. FYI, if you do protein bars try Built Bars if you haven't already. Every protein bar I've ever had in the past was dry, gritty, and had a shitty aftertaste. These things aren't just better than most, they are downright tasty.

Anyone else track what they eat? Or have you done it in the past?

How tall are you? I don't know why, but I always envisioned 6'4 so 190 seems quite thin haha.

And no, I have never tracked. What's the actual process? Just write it down and realize you ate a lot, or more than needed? Or write it down with calories attached and other information and trying to fit into a set amount?

I did when I was really into my fitness and nutrition. That was before kids, a wife, and a full-time job too lol. 

I would do it again but I just became a slave into entering everything into MyFitnessPal. Then there would be stuff I would eat that wasn't easy to measure or calculate into MFP and that always sucked.

Looking back at it though, it was the healthiest and most in shape time(s) of my life. I should probably start tracking stuff again but I honestly just don't care to monitor it that closely anymore. I know what I should be putting into my body and what I shouldn't. For me, a lot of it is portion control too. 

I typically intermittent fast as well from about 9p-12:30p each day as well so that seems to help.

Okay, my rumbling is over. 

TLDR, yes - used to track what I eat. Don't do it anymore.

posted by Laley23

How tall are you? I don't know why, but I always envisioned 6'4 so 190 seems quite thin haha.

And no, I have never tracked. What's the actual process? Just write it down and realize you ate a lot, or more than needed? Or write it down with calories attached and other information and trying to fit into a set amount?

I’m 6’3” so 190 might be a little on the thin side. I’ll be happy with 200 and less of a beer belly.

My wife has been using an app for tracking so I downloaded it as well. I’m either scanning a barcode or entering in the nutritional info for everything I consume.

This is today so far. After breakfast, lunch, and a protein bar. I really need to eat more. If it weren’t for the beer I’d probably not be in this predicament.

Yes, when I first discovered Leangains and intermittent fasting. I turned into a lunatic. Results were great, I got super ripped in 90 days. Then I tailed off and it all went to shit.

For me it was helpful to gauge my macros so later on I wouldn't have to track anymore. I would basically I know how my body would react to a change in diet and what I needed to do. 

IF is very legit, I can't recommend it enough.

posted by justincredible

I’m 6’3” so 190 might be a little on the thin side. I’ll be happy with 200 and less of a beer belly.

My wife has been using an app for tracking so I downloaded it as well. I’m either scanning a barcode or entering in the nutritional info for everything I consume.

This is today so far. After breakfast, lunch, and a protein bar. I really need to eat more. If it weren’t for the beer I’d probably not be in this predicament.

Gotcha. I am 6'1, and right around 200. Want 190, but can't get there lol. Maybe I will add this method to try and get over the hump.

posted by Laley23

Gotcha. I am 6'1, and right around 200. Want 190, but can't get there lol. Maybe I will add this method to try and get over the hump.

The app we use is called Carb Manager.

Fwiw I used My Fitness Pal. 

I’m afraid of doing this. I’ve settled into a lifestyle where I eat only breakfast and dinner. Generally decent stuff, but I seem to be able to maintain my weight and eat two pretty full meals.  MeUsuring makes me nervous in that I may have to make some changes I won’t be happy about.  

Question for those that do IF, I do it probably 6 days a week, do I ruin it if I eat breakfast 1 day?

Lol no…you get out what you put in.

Being strict 75-80% of the time is better than 0. I would always aim for that. 

The only thing intermittent fasting does is limits the window you're consuming calories. It doesn't really do anything magical to make you lose weight. That's what I've gathered in my reading but maybe I'm wrong.

Yes, it’s a lot simpler than people tend to believe.

IF, calories in vs. calories out.

Limit sugar and carbs, high protein and a fuckload of greens. Move your body around. 

I thought there was a small amount about your metabolism and what your body was burning after so many hours, lol but I clearly didn’t do a whole lot of research. I don’t like breakfast anyway. 

posted by Automatik

Yes, when I first discovered Leangains and intermittent fasting. I turned into a lunatic. Results were great, I got super ripped in 90 days. Then I tailed off and it all went to shit.

For me it was helpful to gauge my macros so later on I wouldn't have to track anymore. I would basically I know how my body would react to a change in diet and what I needed to do. 

IF is very legit, I can't recommend it enough.

That was me too lol. Freakin Martin Berkhan

I looked it up not too long ago. Looks like most of his content is paid now.

Same with rippedbody.jp

Those sites got me hooked. 

I did for 100 days last year….only counted carbs and started off just staying under 200 per day (for a couple weeks), then 180, then 160 and final weeks was under 140 a day.  I dropped big weight. Never weighed or measured and estimated when I didn’t know a carb intake. Made myself a chart and graded myself 1-100 every day. Only 2 days out of a 100 were below a 90. (Each day also had modest water intake, no pop and a workout piece)

posted by Automatik

I looked it up not too long ago. Looks like most of his content is paid now.

Same with rippedbody.jp

Those sites got me hooked. 

Me too. Both of them have podcasts I believe. 

To answer Justin’s questions, yes I have tracked. I still do, but not as hardcore as I used to.  I use the MyMacros+ app. If you weigh your food after it is cooked, but sure to factor in that it’s lighter after cooking.  The general rule of thumb for meat/poultry/fish is that it will shrink at least 25%.

On the topic of tracking food.....

I hated whenever I had to measure stuff. Greek yogurt especially comes to mind. 

It was also tough whenever I would use items such as peanut butter, shredded cheese, fruit, nuts, etc.

posted by birddog23

On the topic of tracking food.....

I hated whenever I had to measure stuff. Greek yogurt especially comes to mind. 

It was also tough whenever I would use items such as peanut butter, shredded cheese, fruit, nuts, etc.

Kitchen scale. I enter in grams instead of cups/tbsp/etc.

Day 3 and I'm starting to get into the groove with this. Curious to see what the scale says on Friday morning.

posted by justincredible

Kitchen scale. I enter in grams instead of cups/tbsp/etc.

Yeah we have one but it's just another added step lol. I've got 2 toddlers so a lot of time I am just grabbing stuff and going. Like anything else, priororties. I am sure I could make and find time to prep evertyhign beforehand. Maybe one day.....

I’ll tell ya, working from home everyday makes it pretty damn easy. Also no kids helps. 

I work from home, but also dont have the heart to go up for lunch and not play with the 3yo for a bit when he asks. So, I go up when I have time and just make a bowl of something.

Today, it was a small gala apple, 3 celery sticks, some mixed pineapple and watermelon  and 2 TSP of peanut butter (roughly). No clue what that would come out to, but it will be all I eat today before dinner as I skip breakfast like 5/7 days. Unless I sneak in a leftover cupcake for snack lol.

posted by justincredible

 I weighed in at 213 yesterday morning 

That's a lot of syrup!

If you want to lose weight fast, and I say this from personal experience.  Walk (fast paced) every single day.  Track your pace, and try to beat it every day, just by a little.  Do HiiT workouts in there too.  Then obviously change your eating.  Change, not diet.

Met Rx bars are high protein and filling.  I like those.

posted by like_that

at it will shrink at least 25%.