Tuesday, February 14, 2012

When I Track, I Am Successful

Just ask my husband, I'm a pretty stubborn person sometimes.  I'm not so good at reading directions (which is the reason why he reads the instructions to board games and then teaches me) and I often think I know what I'm doing when I don't really.  In short, I overestimate my abilities.

The same can be said for weight loss.  I can't count the number of times I've had a Rockstar Week where I've tracked everything, planned things, drank all my water and then some, had killer workouts, and felt like I was on top of the world - only to think that the following week that I'm Super Woman (again) and just do "whatever."

I've proven to myself time and time again that tracking and water consumption are two very big keys to success in the realm of weight loss for me.  The weeks I have at least those two things on task, I demolish the week and smile lovingly at the scale when it's time for weigh in.  On the weeks I don't, I consider putting the scale in the trash.

When I track what I'm eating I'm (sometimes painfully) aware what I'm putting into my body.  It's good to be aware like that.  When I put everything in myfitnesspal.com I am forced to see the nutritious merit of the food choices I'm making, which is a good thing.  I asked my brother how he felt about tracking vs. not tracking food when it comes to weight loss.  He said, "When I don't track I tend to eat whatever I want, without regard to portion size or servings . When I track, I makes me aware all the time."  I find the same to be true for me....


My first outstanding week on MyFitnessPal yielded me a 4.4 pound loss.  Last week?  I half-assed tracking and water and made less-than-stellar choices.  The result was a gain of 0.6 pounds.  Not a huge gain but a gain is a tally in the direction I'm not wanting to go.  


So I'm back to tracking.  I may fall flat on my face a million times.  But I swear I'll get back up a million and one times.

10 comments:

  1. That's how I feel...I fall on my face, and get back up...and then fall again, sometimes immediately, sometimes a mile down the road. Just keep brushing yourself off.

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  2. I hear you I have been pretending to be on weight watchers since Jan..For me it is tracking, water, and exercise to get below the weight my body is comfortable at. I got to get on this too. I just need to pick myself off and dust myself off and get on my way!

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    1. I love it. I pretended to be on Weight Watchers for most of 2011. Needless to say my results were not good. Pretending for me led to a 70 lbs. weight gain. BOO!!! I started back, for real this time, on February 1. Tracking is KEY! It makes all the difference for me.

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  3. Oh tracking..I love and hate you.

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  4. I love tracking. I really do. I miss it.

    Give yourself stickers. Use fun pens. Draw sausages in your tracker. Whatever amuses you and gets you to do it!

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  5. Tracking is definitely one of the keys to my success in keeping off 220 pounds. I have to track honestly and completely. Half assed tracking gives me half assed results. I track my food, my water, my fat, fiber, protein, carbs, and my workouts. My husband has to start tracking his sodium so I guess I might keep him company with that if it can help him, too.

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  6. Tracking is one of those things I have a love hate relationship with. Love the results I get when I am diligent about tracking, hate doing it. Don't know why, but just hate having to do it. Regardless, pretty much every study out there says that tracking is a proven effective tool for weight loss - and since I have a WHOLE LOT of weight to lose (265 lbs. to be exact...well, 259.2 as of last Saturday), I better start to love tracking - I'm going to be doing it for a very long time!!

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  7. I think it is very essential to lose the calories and become fit and gorgeous too.Your words are inspiring and influencing my mind and I am sure many others too.

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  8. When I feel I am eating more than I should, I just start visiting gym more often. After tough workout I never want to eat. In order to have enough energy for regular workouts I am taking Super Army formula by Military Grade. It gives me tone and strength like nothing else. I am able to workout as much as I want and keep great shape.

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