Open vs. closed diaries

toe1226

I am noticing that I have friends with open diaries, friends with closed diaries, and friends who have their diaries open sometimes, and closed other times. Right now my diary is open.

My question for you all, is, what motivates you to keep your diary open? Does it scare you or make you feel uncomfortable that people may judge what you eat? How much or little you eat?

Why do you keep your diaries closed? Are you worried someone might think you eat too little? Too unhealthily? Or do you just thing it's nobodies dang business (wouldn't argue with you there! though mine is open now)

For those of you who have your diary open sometimes and not other times, what determines why you decide to keep it open or closed?

Mostly just curious about what's going on in people's brains.

missblondi2u

I had my diary closed at first just because it was the default setting. I wanted to use a spreadsheet I found online that pulled data from your log, so I opened it up.

I left it open because I decided that I really don't care what other people think about what I eat. I am losing weight marvelously, and if the junk I sometimes eat shows somebody that you don't have to eat perfectly to lose weight, I'm happy. Also, I discovered that it's fascinating to read what other people eat everyday, especially those from abroad. Since I'm a self-admitted diary snoop, I think it's only fair that I reciprocate!

I've seen some people complain that with open diaries they get PMs from people they don't know criticizing their food, but that hasn't happened to me and I would just ignore/block anyone who bothered me with crap like that.

strong_curves

I keep mine closed, tho I'm not 100% sure why. Part of the reason is I'm very introverted, hell I barely even update my feed with my updates. I guess I'm a little social media phobic, I don't even have a facebook

I do log almost every single day and if I have ever had any problems with losing weight, I'd open my diary for perusal.

Scamd83

Closed, I don't require any critique or advice from anyone on what to eat so no need to open it up.

FitGirl0123

I keep my diary closed because it's no ones business what I eat lol. I'm not one bit embarrassed by my food diary and nor do I worry about being judged, but what I eat or what my calories/macros are set to are what is right for me, and not necessarily for the next person.

Dreysander

My diary is open. I'm sure that people are judging it, whatevs, judge away!

Colorscheme

Scamd83 wrote: »

Closed, I don't require any critique or advice from anyone on what to eat so no need to open it up.

This is why my diary is private. My food is my business and I don't want unwanted critique or advice.

MsJulesRenee

When I first started MFP I had my diary open. I have recently closed it because I feel I'm not 100% honest with myself when it is open, especially over the holidays. Actually lost a couple friends over it... but I have to do what is right for me!

abatonfan

I keep mine closed. There's been a few times where I would get into a debate with someone, and they would say something along the lines of "well you went over your calories three days ago, so your claims are invalid/you had a Big Mac five Sundays ago and not eating a 100% clean non-GMO diet, so I'm better than you" as a way to pathetically win an argument. Closing my diary prevents those headaches from occurring (why would anyone care what I ate yesterday?).

besaro

open. dont care what anyone else thinks of my choices.

tatiannajanel

My diary has always been open. I don't care what others think about my eating habits because this app is for me to be aware of what I'm putting in my body. But I must admit that I love looking at other people's diaries. It gives me so many ideas on what I could eat too.

annette_15

I dont give a *kitten*... if ppl wanna look, be my guest

krdews

I use MFP specifically for logging and motivation therefore the need to have it open is not necessary.

dkingdom1

Closed because I've done some form of logging since late October but my diary is just *wierd*. When it was open, I just tried to make myself look better even if I overate that day. Also because I like food, so my calorie goal is set a bit higher than someone for my height should be.

20yearsyounger

I keep mine open. As an example of how not to eat clean and still lose weight/maintain.

H4Life_2016

My diary was open at once, but now I decided to keep it private. I feel that people really don't care what you eat verses exercising.

callsitlikeiseeit

if people want to judge me by what i eat, they can look at the 73 pounds I've lost and shove it

in fact, the reason WHY i leave mine open is so people can see you can eat out, eat 'normal', drink and have chocolate, and still lose weight.

LaurenAOK

Mine has always been open, since I know people like to look at diaries for ideas and I don't care at all what others think of my diet. I probably eat more junk than most on MFP, but I've never had someone criticize me for it.

I have it closed right now though, only because in the past week or so I've been having stomach issues so I haven't been eating much. I don't want someone looking at my diary thinking I usually undereat.

dorkyfaery

I have mine open to friends only, which I started when I took on a few "noobs" from the adopt a noob thread last year. I wanted people to see that you can eat all kinds of things and still lose weight; that you can have good and bad days and it doesn't have to mean the end of your goals.

I have been having some tummy issues for the past few months, so I may close my diary so I can use the notes section to document some TMI types of information about my symptoms. Discussing bodily functions or getting into medical issues is where I draw the line for sharing!

toe1226

This is all great info!

It makes me think about how it would be great if the diary had a little comments section like "felt sick today, couldn't eat much." or WHATEVER, not just for others, but for ourselves.

lyttlewon

MsJulesRenee wrote: »

When I first started MFP I had my diary open. I have recently closed it because I feel I'm not 100% honest with myself when it is open, especially over the holidays. Actually lost a couple friends over it... but I have to do what is right for me!

^^This

It is purely psychological for me. Although my trainer was reviewing my food logs weekly when I first started working with him, and I was always 100% honest. IDK why, but on this site I have to keep it closed.

ChocolateMjau

I kept it closed cause I felt ashamed about my weight.. But since I decided to write a blog and help other people eat healthier, I don't feel so bad anymore.. Cause as I am now, I won't be the same after 6 months.. after 1 year.. and it motivates me. I made it public because otherwise I could not post on FB, that I have lost weight!

llbennett74

Mine is open. It keeps me even more accountable when I know my friends are looking and I prefer friends who keep theirs open too. I like getting ideas from they eat.

AmazonMayan

realityfades wrote: »

Scamd83 wrote: »

Closed, I don't require any critique or advice from anyone on what to eat so no need to open it up.

This is why my diary is private. My food is my business and I don't want unwanted critique or advice.

+1 I did get this when mine was open and I hadn't asked for help and wasn't struggling to lose at all.

I also stopped my exercise postings because I was bullied pretty harshly by a "friend" who thought it was impossible for me to hike 11 miles. She ranted openly for days about me to others too. I decided I was the only one that really needed to know if I walked a few miles one day and hiked between 5 and 10 the next or maybe skipped a week hiking ::::for shame::::: how dare I! lol

BuddhaB0y

I keep mine open and don't care who reads it. My results so far speak for themselves and anyone who has a problem can go f-themselves.

Colorscheme

AmazonMayan wrote: »

realityfades wrote: »

Scamd83 wrote: »

Closed, I don't require any critique or advice from anyone on what to eat so no need to open it up.

This is why my diary is private. My food is my business and I don't want unwanted critique or advice.

+1 I did get this when mine was open and I hadn't asked for help and wasn't struggling to lose at all.

I also stopped my exercise postings because I was bullied pretty harshly by a "friend" who thought it was impossible for me to hike 11 miles. She ranted openly for days about me to others too. I decided I was the only one that really needed to know if I walked a few miles one day and hiked between 5 and 10 the next or maybe skipped a week hiking ::::for shame::::: how dare I! lol

Wow, how rude. I know someone who is overweight but super active and losing, and he did a 20 mile hike over the summer. 11 miles is pretty reasonable.

VintageFeline

Mine is open (I think) and I don't care what people think. It's another one that's a great example that you can eat whatever you damn want and more than 1200 calories if you're not short and tiny and lose plenty of weight. And I eat my exercise calories which I don't mind people being aware of. Nobody has ever commented on my diary.

I do look at other diaries but usually only if someone expresses struggling, often they're eating low volume and/or just not very much as they have a very low goal so I'll try to offer friendly advice because I genuinely want people to succeed without being miserable. If I get unfriended over it then fine.

Nuke_64

I keep mine open as if I want to give advice to others or suggest they open their dairy I can show I walk the walk and talk the talk.

fat2fitshley

toe1226 wrote: »

This is all great info!

It makes me think about how it would be great if the diary had a little comments section like "felt sick today, couldn't eat much." or WHATEVER, not just for others, but for ourselves.

Your diary does have a notes section. On a desk top under the food tab it's the box next to water consumption and you can just click edit note to add notes in and then save. There is also a notes section on the exercise tab.

On the app (for apple at least not sure if driod is different) go to the diary tab and then at the very bottom click notes to add in notes for food or exercise.

ETA: These notes would basically be the same a comments section, others can see notes as well I believe. I hope this helps!

Fursian

strong_curves wrote: »

I keep mine closed, tho I'm not 100% sure why. Part of the reason is I'm very introverted, hell I barely even update my feed with my updates. I guess I'm a little social media phobic, I don't even have a facebook

I do log almost every single day and if I have ever had any problems with losing weight, I'd open my diary for perusal.

FitGirl0123 wrote: »

I keep my diary closed because it's no ones business what I eat lol. I'm not one bit embarrassed by my food diary and nor do I worry about being judged, but what I eat or what my calories/macros are set to are what is right for me, and not necessarily for the next person.

These things and the bolded are the reasons why mine also remains closed.

Kitty_Nikki

I keep mine closed. It isn't because I care what other people think about what I eat, it's because I use the notes section almost every day and the stuff I put in there can be personal information that I don't want to share.