Remembering to log your food

karma8008

How does everyone go about their busy lives and still remember to log in their food and snacks? Im always forgetting to log everything

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

You have to commit to it. I don't open the packet until I've scanned the bar code. It takes seconds to do it. If I don't log, I don't eat!

karma8008

That's a good idea maybe I'll try that. If I don't log I don't eat. Cool thanks

Alatariel75

I pre-log everything. There's no point in logging it afterwards and finding it doesn't fit my day.

Kalici

I write things down when I'm out so I don't forget things that I've eaten. When I'm in the kitchen making things I have a dry erase board. I mark everything down as I go and I only erase it as I log it into MFP.

karma8008

I tried doing that a once and then got to work and realized I left in such a hurry I forgot my food -.- so that didn't count.

Unknown

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Phrick

I also pre-log. It takes ~4-5 minutes at most to map out my eating day and then if any small adjustments are needed through the day (like I forgot my lunch haha ) then I make those adjustments on the fly. In the instance of forgetting to bring your food/snacks, when you're standing in the order line, whip out your phone and log it before you even order.

malibu927

I log it either as I'm making it, as I have the weights of everything right in front of me, or eating it

lisalsd1

I log what I am going to eat the next day when I get ready for bed. If I have to deviate from the pre-logging, I just fix it and don't freak out. I eat a lot of leftovers and very similar meals most days during the work week.

wishfuljune

I do a couple of things:
- When I make recipes, I log everything in it as I make it. I'll usually scan the barcodes of each item. Most of my recipes tell you what the serving size is, so I make sure it matches to the recipe index.
- I pre-plan my meals for the week so I already know what I am eating for each meal and log it accordingly.
- I pre-pack my lunch at night and all my healthy snacks that way I know what I am going to be eating for the day when I am work. I am a bored eater, so I make sure to pack fruit, veggies, protein to snack on during the day.
- If I'm out at a restaurant, I do quick add. My feeling is, log it as accurately as you can, but never be afraid you're going to go over your calorie goal. We all do and it shows us what we might need to cut back on, or weigh out food more accurately.
- Get a food scale. It takes all of two seconds to weigh your food, but your calories will be more accurate.

I hope that helps!

shannie018

I log it in before I eat. I know mine is not completely accurate because I don't have a food scale, but I try to log higher than what I think.

ClosetBayesian

I log everything in the morning either before I leave for work or when I'm eating breakfast.

CollieFit

It's just so quick on the phone it's really no bother.

iecreamheadaches

I usually log as I'm stuffing my face hahaha. Or right after I clean up my mess. If it's something with a barcode on it I'll just scan it real quick and add it while the packaging is in my hand still.

just a commitment thing more than anything.

TaraTall

Alatariel75 wrote: »

I pre-log everything. There's no point in logging it afterwards and finding it doesn't fit my day.

Same. I make my lunches the night before but when I get in to work about 20 min early, I take 5 min to plug it all in to MFP. It also shows me what allotment I have for dinner. (I will delete at the end of the day if I don't eat something)

Nachise

I log as I go. I log my breakfast first thing in the morning at my desktop, log on my cell phone while I am out for the day, and finish logging before I go to bed. I sync all devices.

cwolfman13

When I kept a diary, I found it best to pre-log and thus plan my days ahead of time...so the evening before I would sit down and log what I intended to eat the following day...sometimes things would change, but I generally stuck to the plan...maybe it would end up being potatoes instead of rice or something for dinner...stuff like that.

Generally speaking, going in with an actual plan is going to produce better results than just doing things on the fly. I would wager that most people here who've had the greatest success and sustained success are also planners.

majigurl

if I don't get to it during the day, I do it at bedtime or the next day. I try and do it the minute I eat.

samiraeh08

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Generally speaking, going in with an actual plan is going to produce better results than just doing things on the fly.

I completely agree. You have to have a plan.You can say "OK I'm going to eat better," but if you don't have a specific plan, you will be more likely to stick with your old eating habits. Just because you forgot your lunch once is not a reason to stop making your lunch. Keep at it, and your habits will get better over time. Don't expect to be a pro right away. Eventually you will want to eat the healthier foods, and logging your diet will help you see where your nutrition is lacking, and holds you accountable for your choices.

karma8008

Thank you all so much. I'll try a couple of things you suggested and see what works for me

Gisel2015

Keep a note pad and pen in your kitchen and in your purse and write everything that you ate and do the same when you are at work. Even if you forgot to enter it in your diary, the information will not be lost.

I don't pre-log in advance unless I know for sure what I am going to have, and that doesn't happen too often . I don't have/use the app so I need to have access to my PC to complete my food diary; the information listed in a piece of paper is very helpful

Timelordlady85

i use the bar code scanner before i eat it. pre logging for the day helps me stay on track.

MarziDeThrall

Alatariel75 wrote: »

I pre-log everything. There's no point in logging it afterwards and finding it doesn't fit my day.

Same. Planning ahead also helps me keep my macros evened out. I don't think I could do it any other way.

jlitzinger172

I am so bad with logging my food...I will try to logged before I eat. I'm great with logging my exercise..

positivepowers

Alatariel75 wrote: »

I pre-log everything. There's no point in logging it afterwards and finding it doesn't fit my day.

+1

arditarose

I pre-log everything I'm going to eat for the day usually. Even if I don't...I don't know. For me eating food and logging my food go hand in hand. Even if I'm scarfing something down there's just no way I'd forget to log it.

Gisel2015

Timelordlady85 wrote: »

i use the bar code scanner before i eat it. pre logging for the day helps me stay on track.

But there are foods that don't have a bar code. Fresh vegetables, lettuce, zucchini, sweet potatoes and many other things need to be weighted before entering in the diary. Besides, that will only work it you use the phone; can't scan with my PC

Lightsoh

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

You have to commit to it. I don't open the packet until I've scanned the bar code. It takes seconds to do it. If I don't log, I don't eat!

Same here xD

niamibunni

I plan meals on Friday/Saturday for the following week and do a lot of food prep on Sunday. Most days I already have the entries for the next day or so already entered.

Those pint and a half jars sold on amazon hold overnight oatmeal and dinner salads pretty well and those meals can be made ahead on Sunday. Recipes for those can be found on the 21 Day Fix site or Pinterest.

jkal1979

Another option is if you use the app you can set reminders.