How do you all keep track

2026-10-15 14:32

Hi everyone, I’m brand new here and only on week one. I have a small sugery coming up in about three weeks, and I’ll have to pause my medication for it.

I’m trying not to spiral, but I’m nervous the old snacky evenings will come back while I’m recovering. So far I’ve started a tiny paper log: three columns for water, protein at breakfast, and a short walk.

It feels a little silly, but it’s the only thing keeping my hands busy. My question is more about the process than the scale: how do you all keep track when your normal routine gets interrupted?

Do you switch to a different notebook, use notes on your phone, or just let the tracking go for a bit? I don’t want to be doing this wrong already.

Any gentle advice is appreciated.

2026-10-19 03:21

I’m a spreadsheet person, so my contrarian take: don’t track just food, track the urge itself. I log evening snackiness 0–3 and the time it hits.

My trendline showed it’s usually 8:15–9:30, and it drops ~40% on days I front-load protein at breakfast + take a 10-min post-dinner walk. For your recovery window, I’d build a “zero-decision” basket before surgery: pre-portioned yogurt, jerky, grapes, herbal tea, whatever fits your surgeon’s instructions.

Then your only job is grab-and-log. Sharp question: will you be mobile enough for short walks, or is this more of a couch recovery? That changes the plan a lot.

2026-11-01 01:35

I’d add a fourth column: did I hit my protein floor by dinner? My snacky evenings almost always trace back to under-eating protein earlier, especially when I’m not lifting.

For recovery, I’d prep grab-and-go protein and keep it at eye level so it’s the easy choice, then just log whether I hit that floor. Keeps you honest without turning week one into a second job.