The FastDay Forum

I don't track except on fast days. Before I did 5:2, I kept a food diary for about 6 months where I recorded my hunger levels (4 being 'REALLY hungry' and 0 being 'not hungry') before and after eating (4 being 'uncomfortably full' or 'stuffed'.) I tried to train myself to listen to my body's signals to guide my eating. I found that more useful than calories. But on fast days, now, I count calories. I didn't for a while, getting complacent, but now I am back to counting.

Since I am in this for the long haul--consider that this is just the way I eat, for the rest of my life--I do not and will not track on normal days. I do have a good idea of calories and watch for traps (like I informed a friend about; he was eating a huge bowl of granola for breakfast every day, and was shocked when I told him he was eating more than 500 calories...more than my daily allowance on a light day!). I also weigh only once a month, first Friday (but I hadn't weighed myself much at all for years before this WOL). I figure that as long as I maintain my 25-lb loss, losing more is a bonus and I can do this--IF I don't have to "diet" every day. I know my (very low) tolerance for constant vigilance/deprivation; I didn't get fat (and lose and regain more times than I can count!) by being highly disciplined!