keeping a food journal helped me

Started at 214 my higest weight. Started logging every thing I ate and it helped me make smart choices. 1200 calories was a struggle on a daily and now it's a daily achievement.
Don't get me wrong I have my days where I want to cheat, but I look at the progress and it is not
Worth all my efforts.

So I recommend journaling it helps.

Well done! You're absolutely right - keeping your food journal gives YOU the control.

You are so right. Before I never realized just how much junk I was eating. Or I was eating things that I THOUGHT were low in calorie but it wasnt! Journaling has changed my life! Keep it up!

It really does help, and if you log everything and plateau you will know it's not something you've done and is likely water or other "transient" weight.

The journal has definitely been effective with the loss - it was so easy to think I was mentally adding it all and keeping a total. I especially like that it helped me start thinking about the total makeup of food besides just calories and fat grams; now I'm able to see fiber, protein and carbs at a glance too.

I continually tell myself once I reach goal I hope to have enough bad habits out of the way to eat intuitively and mindfully and with an ever expanding database of 'healthy food' in my head and won't feel the need to record every single thing. Then I'll read yet another 'Yep, I'm back... thought I could do it on my own and was wrong' journal or post and wonder if this is going to be my daily routine for life...

Stay tuned

Writing down the food, exercise and weigh ins have all helped me to stay focused! I enjoy reading other people's posts and gain encouragement from other's successes and giving them a "high Five" and a "well done!" I also like giving encouragement to those who may need it. Love the journals! Now if I could just find some ACTIVE Buddies, seems like nobody is active....

I think more along the lines of:

When I get to target I will continue to weigh myself weekly. And if my weight gets up beyond X I will go back to journalling and controlling my intake until I'm back to target.

I don't want to journal everything forever. But I know I will creep up if I allow myself leeway. But so long as I keep an eye on the creep I should be able to manage it.

@Rio - that's what I mean / intend as well. I am planning to give myself a +7lbs two weekly weighs in a row as my 'measure' to allow for water/muscle/fluctuations. Have you set an amount for yourself?

Not yet I want to get to my current target then I need to sit myself down and make some decisions.