liv001's Journal, 21 Feb 22

Unpopular opinion: apps and tracking aren't forever. It's normal to leave. Having to track every morsel you eat to maintain your weight is a sign there are still issues with food, eating, the overall lifestyle to work on and using tracking as a tool. If you aren't going for a specific weight class as an athlete or very particular look as a professional model, it should be easy to maintain one's weight within 2-5 lbs without tracking. I acknowledge I'm here because I'm still learning. 

Honestly, I don’t leave but I cut didn’t we need n activity on app . Only bec of time . It’s very time consuming to follow posts and comment on them and be vigilant that you’re doing the right thing. I sometimes feel, that unless I support fully I shouldn’t be supporting at all. I know that’s it it’s wrong thinking, that way, but time, it takes a lot of time. People on this app understand when you come on and off. Only because of time. So come on when you can leave when you need to. And keep maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Keep up with your good food habits, and your workout routines. And when you have time, you could always catch up. I found that to be true for myself, and people on here are so generous, and kind, and very supportive and understanding. So liv , there’s nothing wrong with taking time off this app or any other app🙏🙏🙏🙏💪❤️❤️💪 

@ Oats... still issues is a good point. I don't think I will be over my issues just because the scale reads 120. Experience tells me that if I think I am healed I have actually just given up..  

Yeah Ocean_girl... I have wondered abit about the social engagement... at what point I should maybe just let that go or take a break. I think I might consider that if I feel "pressures" 

liv001 -- do you feel like your health/weight slipped when you stopped tracking? Or do you feel like you just should be doing it? If you're maintaining without it, and feeling like you're meeting your nutritional goals, then you may not need it. I was off FS for a bit last year, and wound up gaining a little, so I came back. Even if I'm just wanting to maintain, I find tracking keeps me more focused. Plus, I enjoy the camaraderie. It really boils down to whether you feel like you're getting value out of it. If you are, then it can always be good to remind yourself of that 😊 

Great question and glad you shared Liv. Been in maintenance for over 2 years so here are things I do. #1 - Weigh everyday after waking up but only post a weekly average. Less fluctuation and ooohs & ahhhs. Less emotional response. #2 - Find something you want to role model and post occassionally about that. Maybe workouts or for me, eating well and maintaining. #3 - No self-judging. Just record the data and move on. Great question and glad you shared Liv. Been in maintenance for over 2 years so here are things I do. #4 - Maintenance is a range not a single number based on BMI or whatever. My original goal was 154 lb which I hit in Dec 2019. Was 149.9 lb when I joined May 2020 but this was too light. Been ss high as 158. I eat plenty of tasty cslories. Perhaps your old targwt was too low? Or not maintainable long-term? #5 - Use a graphing tool to show your whole journey and how your doing on different timeframes. I use HappyScale and I think @Egull1 does too. You were one of the 1st people I followed when I joined so glad you‘re back❣️👍 

I just came back too I need to track to maintain I’ve quit smoking 8 months ago been through my husband’s chemo and radiation treatment and recently diagnosed with CLL so I need to get some control over myself 😂 

Yes I understand. I keep tracking what I eat and my exercise, but, I don't post unless I am losing weight.  

I think the question to ask ourselves is: what are the behaviors I can live with for the rest of my life? If you're constantly falling off your plan or stopping a behavior (like tracking calories and/or weight, posting it), maybe that's a sign that behavior is not sustainable for you over a lifetime even if it is for someone else. So the trick is to identify some behaviors that keep you in a weight range that is good for you and that take the least effort to do over time. This guy has an interesting recent video about realistic goals and behaviors. A lot of people talk about lifestyle change and then advocate for things that are absolutely not normal healthy behaviors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKMd_IgxrCs 

Thank you for sharing Liv...I've only been here for about 7 months but I can't imagine not checking in here on FS. The tracking, the accountability, the banter, the recipes, have become a very important part of my journey. Of course, I am retired, with lotsa time to spend, so I can understand if it's burdensome for those with more on their proverbial plate. For now, I am benefitting immensely from my time spent here. I have no doubt that if I took a break, I would be welcomed back with open arms. This community is so wonderful💙 

Thanks guys. You are giving me a lot of things to think about. I really enjoy you all and the friendliness here so I now that when I taper off it is trouble on the horizon sign... 

I have left for 6 mos and just came back today! I have lost over 100lbs with diet and exercise using Fat Secret so I know it works! I feel discouraged that I have gained 70 of it back due to challenging life circumstances. I feel a lot of disgust and shame and am beating myself up terribly. 

@Tininoly. Hugs and welcome back. i decided when I came back that shame was not one of the things I would choose to feel. Gaining weight itself was a sign of hardship and now that I had emerged from that I would just look forward to getting healthier 

Tinainoly -- the best part of beating yourself up is stopping. 😉 If you wouldn't say an awful thing to a beloved child, don't say it to yourself ❤ 

welcome back! I stay because if I don't log I stray and overeat. For me it keeps me accountable.💜 

I don't know why you keep leaving liv001 but I'm so glad you came back and I hope you stay awhile this time because we need you. 

my take, I do what I have time for. I log for me. I journal mostly for me. I sometimes reply on posts, but I don't have the time to respond to every single one individually and do my job, walk the dogs, clean the house, etc. so I do what I can. there are those that live online and there are those who live. I mostly choose to live except when I have down time. it sounds selfish to some, but it's actually self-care in practice. that said, let us know when you need to take a break so I don't have to stalk you.  

Welcome back, you haven't done too bad while away. Congrats!!! 

Overeating is an addiction. Addicts isolate when using. On social media, isolating is merely disappearing. Just MHO. 

Liv, I've said this before, but you are the first person who supported me. It was huge! I didn't even know it was a public space when I joined and I didn't know people could see my journal... How surprised I was that this community would come to be so important to my life. The trouble is... It takes so much time for me to feel I am fully invested and supporting everyone who might be counting on me. Ocean girl is exactly right on and expresses precisely how I feel. Ty, girl! 😁 We are busy, have lives full of stress, feel failure, get discouraged, don't feel like we don't have anything to give and feel badly only "taking." When I am not doing great on either my intake or exercise, I feel so little motivation to show up and participate. I know it is exactly where I need to be in that moment, but I want to just fall away. Liv, I don't know how things will go for you going forward. I just kkow for me I need to be here. Maybe someday I will have grown up enough to not need the support, but the most successful maintainers here show up... They are here daily and it is just part of their lives. We get tired and sick of this journey, but we have no choice but to push on... The alternative for me right now would be bad news. So... I trudge on even though I've gained and feel embarrassed. My life is filled with worry and strain. The fact I'm not where I was has to be enough. The fact that I'm not at the peak of my success... Still had to be OK for now. I'm glad you are here, liv! One day at a time... We can't fear the future too much! ♥️