February 12, 2010

A Loser's Guide to Tracking

One thing that I have been reading over and over again out in the weight loss blogosphere is that people are struggling to track what they eat on a daily basis. Tracking is something that is encouraged in just about any weight loss program there is, so it makes sense that everyone is trying to do it. The key word is TRYING.

I have a system that really seems to work. When I do it.

  1. Pick a day on which you will plan every meal for one entire week. I choose to do this on my weigh in day. I am usually ready to face a new week and excited to plan on that day. Include everything right down to the individual ingredients you will use. Record points, calories, carbs or whatever the heck you are counting. Make sure you are within your limits. Maybe even leave a little wiggle room. Take into consideration various activities, outings, etc. that will occur during the week and plan accordingly. Be realistic and be thorough. This may take a while to do, but taking the time to do it is key. If you think about it, what good does writing down everything you eat AFTER you eat it really do? Things that make you go hmm...

  2. ASAP go to the store and buy everything you will need to stick to the plan--for the entire week. I usually plan on Sunday and my plan covers Monday through the following Sunday. I do my shopping Monday morning. This way there is never a time that I don't have anything healthy to eat. We all know what that can lead to. Don't let it happen! Get to the store and get the shopping done. All at once. End of story.


  3. STICK TO YOUR PLAN! If you are invited over to a friend's house to eat on short notice, you have to decide. Can you handle it? If so then go and eat what they have and come back home immediately to edit your plan. Editing is allowed. If you can't handle it, eat before you go or take your food with you. This is okay to do. Sure people may think you're a freak, but who cares!? You are going to have a killer week on the scale.
Some will say this system is a little excessive. Well, my weight is a little excessive so--what you gonna do? This works for a lot of reasons. If you take the time to plan everything out, you are more likely to stick to it. If you have everything on hand, you are less likely to stray. If you are firm in sticking to your plan, there really is no way you can fail.

Try it and let me know what a loser you are.
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7 comments:

Mr.s Gokey said...

We start off doing this and I get really excited about it at the store, but after a few days we do everything but the plan. We just need to stick with it.

Julie, The Accidental Fat Chick said...

This is what I do also & it helps SOOOO much. If I know of a special event, then I plan it in. I don' think its excessive at all... but I've been told it is. My response is always the same: "Failing to plan, is like planning to fail." :)

Apron Senorita said...

Hi, so nice to meet you. I’m Yoli, a fellow “Texas Blogging Gal”. I made it my goal to visit each member’s Blog. I don’t want to just “drive-thru” to meet a quota, but instead to share the gift of friendship that God gives us all. I’m excited to read your inspirational stories and see your creative works. You are always welcomed at my Apron Senorita Blog.

Keelie, you are an inspiration. So many of us have the same stuggle; I know I do. I loved how your wrote about "dressing the muffin". I know how that feel. Keep up the courage, honesty, and love yourself as a beautiful child of God.

God Bless You!
Yoli Kalkofen
http://apronsenorita.blogspot.com/

Dana (www.eatsleepgetfit.com) said...

So glad you like my blog and so glad you posted a comment so I could find yours! You look awesome! Keep up the good work! I look forward to reading more of your posts :)

Happy Fun Pants said...

Ugh! I wrote about my struggle with tracking recently (and boy is it a struggle sometimes!) but I have decided to do more tracking these days. I feel more in control (which, really food is one of the few things I can control) and I am able to feel proud of the loss that inevitably follows. This was a good post!

Thanks for following me by the way. It's high praise coming from someone that has many more followers than I do.

Here's to hoping your week is a great one!

annie said...

You are so right, tracking is hard work! I really like your approach, and love the planning ahead! I need to start doing this more.

If you have time, you should do a post on some of your favorite lunch/dinner recipes that are yummy and healthy too! (O:

Allie said...

This is exactly what I like to do. I find it great when it comes to unexpected events - you know how close you are to your target calories and whether or not you can make a substitution work. LOVE that blue shirt you bought with your hair colour. I may have to give that blue a try as well.