transitioning from strict journaling and weighing...

[Joni]

Hey maintainers!! Hoping some of you can share advice on how you are dealing with going from strict food journaling and weighing. I'm currently still weighing everyday and recording every bite in the livestrong app on my phone. I'm feeling really ruled by this constant recording but I keep doing it I think prmarily because I don't trust myself. For example.. yesterday I recorded every bit of exercise I was going to do (for those of you who don't know how livestrong works, it's a checks and balances thing. you put in your goal, I currently have mine set at lose two pounds a week still because if I move it to maintain I would gain, you add in your exercise and what you eat. it tells you how many calories you have left for the day). Anyway... I had written down all my exercise then we were running late and my elliptical session got cut short by my husband. I immediately panicked because I knew I now wouldn't have enough calories for the dinner we had planned. So I added something else in after we got home to "balance it out". The problem with this kind of record keeping is obvious. You work out more to eat more and I think in my case I may do so even if I'm not particularly hungry but just because I have some calories left.

Anyway. It's not working. Ive gained a little weight (which may be more of a product of weight training and running than anything) and even though my measurements are the same I'm going into panic mode anyway. I need to do something else. What is everyone else doing?

[Maren]

Joni...How many calories are you eating? How much do you exercise?

[Joni]

Working out 6 days. Elliptical about 20-40 minutes a day depending but I try to do that everyday, it's a sanity thing. Weights 3 days week for 30-60 minutes depending on what I'm doing (if I can't get the the gym I do the trouble zone which uses weights and cardio together like circuit training). Typically ride my bike anywhere from 1-2 hours a day depending in where I'm going it would be very unusual for me to not be riding at least some. On a VERY low calorie day I might eat 1600 (that would be if I'm working, and not typical) a very high day might be 2600 (if we are eating out) but my usual range is probably 1800-2200. Again I try to eat pretty clean (which you know) but I do eat cheesecake every now and then :) I think I generally have a pretty forgiving metabolism if I'm moving around.