Pre-logging?

glyphhen

I've been logging pretty consistently for the past four months or so now, but I've recently started pre-logging all of my meals and snacks the night before. I mostly do it because I've become more conscientious about my macros, but I haven't been doing this long enough to be able to estimate percentages yet, but also because my weight loss has slowed down lately and I'm just trying to be more conscientious in general.

I was just wondering, for the other people who pre-log, if you think it helps you stick to your calories for the day? I think it's helped so far, though I do still add an unplanned item or two to my "snacks" nearly every day.

Just wanted to get the take from people who have been doing this longer and so have more experience to draw upon. Thanks.

RoxieDawn

Pre log for the day early morning... I also pre-cook and prepare for the week (unless something unexplained happens).. It does help me stay a float with my calories and sometimes it becomes a bit OCD for me as I do tweak during the day... sometimes a lot...

mora982

I've been logging my food the night before or early in the morning.. It really helps not to go over your calories and you get very close to your Macros!! I also meal prep so it helps me to mix and match proteins and veggies from day to day.. Sometimes I add a snack or so every day but I don't go above my calorie limit!!! I hope this helps, keep logging!!

rosebarnalice

Not quite the same pattern, I usually make breakfast and pack my lunch & snacks at the same time in the morning, so I'll log basically everything except dinner all at one time. I find it helps two ways: (1) I don't have to feel guilty or worried about eating what I've already logged, so I can just enjoy it. and (2) when I see ALL THAT FOOD at one time in a big pile, I have a visual image that stays with me most of the day that helps me avoid mindless snackage.

bametels

I pre-log too. Now that I am near goal and have a lower daily calorie allotment, I am more flexible with my plan for the day. Sometimes this mean switching some planned foods; other times it means adding more calories. Sometimes the added calories reflect additional calories burned during exercise, sometimes not. While pre-logging helps me enormously, I find that there are times I am particularly hungry or am craving something. Being somewhat flexible helps me to avoid a major pigout.

Lounmoun

I've been pre-logging for almost 8 months and it definitely helps me stick to my calorie goal. I log everything the night before or in the morning. I sometimes make small adjustments.

azulvioleta6

Yep, it's a great idea! I generally only do a day or two at a time, unless I've been batch cooking.

dargytaylor

i also pre-log first thing in the morning ~ it helps me stay accountable!

JillianRN527

I pre log the night before if I have work so I know if I eat everything I bring for my 13 hour shift I am still in the green.

Muscleflex79

I pre-log a week at a time! Always know what I'm going to be having (and I eat the same thing for a week at a time thanks to batch cooking). I do adjust things as I go if things change, but this definitely helps keep me on track!

Upstate_Dunadan

I pre-log when I know there is something specific I'm going to be having later in the day, or if there's something I want to have later and ensure I have room for it (i.e. a Beer on the weekend).

It's rare I pre-log the entire day, but common I start the day, then add in dinner or a late snack, and then work backwards to fill in the middle of the day.

Queenmunchy

gia07 wrote: »

Pre log for the day early morning... I also pre-cook and prepare for the week (unless something unexplained happens).. It does help me stay a float with my calories and sometimes it becomes a bit OCD for me as I do tweak during the day... sometimes a lot...

Yep. I pre-log, but for 7 years previous to MFP, I also pre-planned and pre-cooked for the week, so there is little difference except that it's more portable!

laurieethridge

pre-logging has been extremely beneficial for me obtaining my goals. I log the night before.

kshama2001

I prelog before a big meal with others in order to see what I have left. On my own, I don't need to.

SlimBride2Be

I generally prolog. Sometimes if I'm going out for dinner I will prolog breakfast and lunch and then seeing how little I have left to have on the night out inspires me to get some exercise in to earn a few calories! Even just a 300 cal lunchtime walk / jog makes all the difference later on.

wanttobefit300

Yes, pre-logging has been extremely helpful for me. I still ending up adding something occasionally, but not often anymore. When I pre-log for longer than a day, it also helps with the grocery shopping (I live 45 min from the store).

EmBlazes

I tend to pre-log on the day before each meal, mainly to check that the calorie count is what I expect it to be. If I'm eating out, I might pre-log the entire day to make sure I can fit in whatever I'm planning to eat out. For me, once it is in the diary, that's it. I find it very hard to change it because it is already recorded. That really helps a lot.

The only problem is occasionally I want to eat something that isn't in the log already (i.e. when someone offers you something you weren't expecting, for example). Even then, because I've already pre-logged I feel like it is easier to say "no".

Even better is completing your entry for the day. Once I've done that, it is REALLY hard for me to "make additional entries" so that stops me being tempted when I'm chilling of an evening

cwolfman13

In my experience, most people who've had success with this pre-log or at some point have pre-logged. I think it's pretty important, particularly in the beginning. As you progress you become a bit more accustomed to what your day to day is going to be anyway...and then eventually you don't have to log anything.

bookworm_847

I make a meal plan on Friday for the following week and pre-log my dinners. Then I'll pre-log my other meals either in morning or the night before. It has helped me stay within my goals.

I even pre-log "fun meals" so I know how many calories I have to work with to stay within my goal but still enjoy the pizza I'm having on Friday night (for example).

PeachyCarol

I've been pre-prepping food for the day in the mornings for years now (it's when I have most of my energy, and I'm an early riser), so adding the extra step to weigh and then pre-log just fits in with that and with my daily schedule.

I might make small tweaks here or there, depending if an odd craving hits me, but it's pretty rare.

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Lexicpt

I try and pre log, but sometimes I have to tweak things. It definitely helps me plan ahead for special occasions or sneaking an unplanned treat into my goal.

_whatsherface

mora982 wrote: »

I've been logging my food the night before or early in the morning.. It really helps not to go over your calories and you get very close to your Macros!! I also meal prep so it helps me to mix and match proteins and veggies from day to day.. Sometimes I add a snack or so every day but I don't go above my calorie limit!!! I hope this helps, keep logging!!

This.

galaxyeyed

I like prelogging because it allows me to make sure I'll hit my macros for the day

thenewme58

I also pre-log and i also make my breakfast and snacks and lunch the night before--this way i know exactly what i am eating thru the day---i stick to it---no extras--i try to plan my meals out for the entire week---i see what i have in my pantry and fridge and freezer--plan my meals---saturday i make a list of what i am going to need--sunday i got shopping and cook and prep as much as possible---it makes my work week so much easier

squishprincess

i pre-log every day, the night before or every single morning while i eat breakfast. it really helps!

mostly i log my main meals/snacks and then whatever calories i have left over are my freebies. it helps me not go over, and know how much i have left to work with in a day. and of course a little more if i exercise.

Asher_Ethan

I love pre logging! Sometimes I forget to eat what I've already pre logged so when I'm reviewing everything at night I get a little nice surprise of 200 extra calories... It happens more than I care to admit.

segacs

I tend to pre-log my week on Sundays, and I use the log to make my grocery list and go shopping and do food prep for the week. Having my days pre-logged helps me stay on track, and I like the fun of trying to fit in foods I enjoy and make them fit my macros, like a jigsaw puzzle.

Do things change? Sure. But having a plan is great, and if something changes at the last minute, I just go in and alter my diary.

SezxyStef

segacs wrote: »

I tend to pre-log my week on Sundays, and I use the log to make my grocery list and go shopping and do food prep for the week. Having my days pre-logged helps me stay on track, and I like the fun of trying to fit in foods I enjoy and make them fit my macros, like a jigsaw puzzle.

Do things change? Sure. But having a plan is great, and if something changes at the last minute, I just go in and alter my diary.

phew glad I am not the only one who does this..was starting to feel a bit OCD.

I prelog for the week as well. Typically my breakfasts are the same as well as my snacks. Dinners are done and typically my next days lunch. Friday dinners are not logged nor are Saturdays and Sundays unless I know what is going on. Weekends seem to be busy for me. I do however try hard to get in my macros.

kommodevaran

For me it's crucial. I prelog in a pattern that is a little difficult to explain: I log in an OCD spreadsheet and in Fitbit - sometimes spreadsheet first, sometimes Fitbit first. I usually log the next day completely, but tweak as I go - amounts, order, or even items, for whatever reason.
1) Will I be somewhere unusual, will I eat food there, maybe bring food? Or will I have company that makes my usual choice of food not appropriate? Mark that meal blue.
2) I have a breakfast template - crispbread with meat/fish spread, milk, fruit and veggie. Rotate and alternate as I run out of an item.
3) Dinner is usually a rotation of meat/fish, starch and vegetable - pick a combination that go well together. I prefer to alternate between "light" and "heavy" dinners - pork chop - soup - lamb chops - salmon... Decide if I'll have to defrost or soak something; this definitely requires that I decide the night before.
4) What's on sale, what looks delicious, what do I fancy? What haven't I had for a while? If something unusual, I will put it into the plan some days ahead, and gather ingredients. Maybe I'll have to move it to another day, but this way I can look forward to this special dish.
5) Are there any (planned) leftovers or dishes made for several days? "Casserole" type dinners, tuna salad, soup..? Plan to have a serving every day if very persihable, or every other day if not.
6) Make sure I don't have too many perishable items at once, and plan to eat regularly things like cheese, fruit, vegetables.
7) Aim to hit calorie goal, fat and protein goal (ballpark) - if not every day, every two days.
8) Aim to have a serving of nuts or nut butter every day. Mark this item in brown. Three servings of fruit - pink; vegetables for every meal, if possible - green.
9) Think up or google recipes to use up ingredients I already have, instead of just buying whatever for some random recipe, or freak out and give up if there's just one ingredient I can't get.
10) Keep a running inventory list of freezer, fridge and pantry. Replenish whenever I run out. Add items to list on mobile phone, sorted by categorie for easy retrieval in store. Always bring mobile phone, something to carry groceries in when going shopping, has to feel just as natural as bringing money/card.

This saves me money, stress, anxiety, waste. I get to eat what I like, and I have so much fun in the kitchen. It would save me time too, but I get all too excited playing with the meal plan, snooping in stores (not shoplifting haha, maybe there's a better word I don't know), and visualizing all the delicacies I'm going to make and indulge in

Carol_

I pre log about 8-900 calories of my 1200, then I adjust a little as I go along. Like last night, I logged more soup for lunch than I actually felt like eating today. So I deducted some of it. And that left more calories for a salad I will have later tonight. Pre logging helps me a lot.