The FastDay Forum

Hey everyone

So...I'm new here and new to 5:2 - after doing calorie counting for so long (unsuccessfully) I've just changed my goals in MyFitnessPal to show maintenance calories needed for my non-fasting days. Don't know why doing that feels so psychologically scary...probably because I know if I eat at that level every day I'll definitely *not* lose weight. It's just going to be strange seeing it there. (I'm choosing to track my non-fast days too for the first little while, just to make sure my net calories over the week aren't crazy high! - it'll take me a while to trust this WOE I think...)

Anyone else still tracking on MFP?

[Tracieknits]

I *sometimes* track with MFP, and I am now. I use a fitbit, and they sync up, which is nice.

I track when I need to make sure I'm doing things correctly. For example, I just was stubborn and naughty through January and February, so I've forced myself to track everything and now I'm down 6 pounds, and I've almost made up for the free-for-all I've had since Thanksgiving. I expect I'll need to track until at least I'm back below my low in November and I've gotten good habits re-established.

But warning-- MFP does a nasty note in your diary on fast days when you hit the "complete entry" button, as they don't like to see you eat only 25% of your TDEE! So I don't hit that button any longer.

I find tracking for a month or two at a pop to be a very helpful reminder of what normal or maintenance eating should be like. I expect I'll use it for at least a month or two out of every year for the rest of my life, or whenever my weight isn't budging.

[carieoates]

I love MFP and its such a great idea to log everything g at first otherwise how will you know you're eating the right amount of calories.

Welcome! And best wishes as you start this way of life.

I have never tracked so precisely - I was too lazy to take the time to enter data initially into MFP - I started but gave up very quickly!! I couldn't be bothered to weigh everything I ate. But I have a reasonable awareness of the calories of the foods I eat, so I do a rough calculation most days. I tend to round everything (also because of course the calories calculated for any food can't be that precise) and don't really count the cals in low-cal veggies. It has worked for me.

I am finally learning that the important thing is to eat as healthily as possible, as little sugar as possible, and no processed foods, and then calorie counting is not quite so critical. (Not that I do eat healthily all the time tho!! Still too much chocolate... )

Again, best wishes, and do have a good read of the fasting library and the forum discussions of interest, as there is so much information here.

I recognise that feeling! What is ahead? Great advice above and on the forum. Counting calories works for so many so do try it, then some of us feel comfortable scaling down the carbs and keeping on top of them as best we can without counting. It's all about finding what works for you. Do keep in touch and let us know how your days are. Slow and steady is good

Anyone else still tracking on MFP?

I've track on Calorie King, a free Australian website. It has helped me stay on track and at goal for almost 14 years.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress

I use MFP to track calories but I don't use its calorie recommendations since it doesn't get intermittent fasting.

If I don't track I put on weight. I use MFP too. I also track my exercise on it more as a log rather than counting the calories burnt as I think that varies from person to person.

Thanks everyone! It's always good to see how others do it! I'll stick with the MFP counting just now - nice to see how many calories I can actually have on a non-fast day too...after ages of (unsuccessful) calorie counting and failing to log things because I'm scared of how over I'd be, it's nice to have a little freedom from it.

Saw the scary "you're not eating enough" banner the other night on MFP - won't be completing my diary entries on those days anymore haha!