Logging in public?

FibroHiker
FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone here have hesitation in logging their meals in public?

I've found myself at a few group dinners and gatherings over the past few weeks where I'd really like to know after what I've eaten if I can eat more, have another drink or eat dessert. But I can't say for sure until I've logged my current meal and checked my remaining calories for the day.

In the past I've told people about my weight loss goals and talked openly but lately I've been wanting to keep that to myself. I've grown tired of answering the questions and having people inquire about my progress. When I've lost the weight then I'll be happy to discuss. Until then I'd rather keep to myself.

In order to log while I'm out with others I have to go into the bathroom!

Anyone else feel similarly?
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Replies

  • Millicent3015
    Millicent3015 Posts: 374 Member
    I'd probably feel the same as you, but I'm T2 diabetic and have to log so I don't go over my carbs limit, and I have to know how much, if any, added sugar is in every item. It makes it easier when logging has to be done for medical reasons, so whatever hesitation I had is pretty much gone by now. If people are nosy you could say you'd rather not talk about your weight loss until you've reached your goal. Most people will understand where you're coming from, and the next time you log in public they'll know you're doing it for a good reason and won't press you for information.
  • mariluny
    mariluny Posts: 428 Member
    I usually do it in the bathroom as well. I don't like pulling up my front in front of people at dinner anyway so if I went to enter it right away to decide about dessert or a drink, i'll take a bathroom break and do it there. That being said, with my bf I would simply say it and log in front of him, but that's pretty much it.
  • RunnerGrl1982
    RunnerGrl1982 Posts: 412 Member
    edited August 2018
    Nah..

    It's not like someone should be staring at your phone while you're on it. Seems that would be a bit odd..but even if someone were nosy, what you do is your business and really no one has a place to judge you for taking care of yourself and your health.

    Edited to add: On the same note, obviously do what you are comfortable with. Answering question after question can get tiring after some time. I suppose you could always try diverting the conversation in order to distract while you log. :)
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    Kitten them. Log and forget. It's your body. Would you ask permission to get a tattoo or piercing if you wanted one? Just my 2 cents...
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    psychod787 wrote: »
    Kitten them. Log and forget. It's your body. Would you ask permission to get a tattoo or piercing if you wanted one? Just my 2 cents...

    It's not about asking permission. It's just the questions that people ask when they see what I'm doing.
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    seska422 wrote: »
    Tell them you are gathering data for an n=1 science experiment. Mentioning science scares many people away from asking more questions.

    Haha! Luv this.

    I work in a science field and when I start discussing related topics people's eyes start glazing over.
  • Lillymoo01
    Lillymoo01 Posts: 2,865 Member
    If I can I look at a menu before I go out and prelog as best I can. When out it is easier not having to explain so I take a photo of my meal before I eat it and then visit the bathroom. I find having the photo gives me a better estimate of what I have eaten rather than relying on memory alone. I do feel uncomfortable logging in front of others that are not my immediate family.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I've always prelogged.
    If you don't want to do that and need to know during the meal but not call attention to it then checking in on your food diary while on a trip to the restroom doesn't seem that bad.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I log before or after when I'm with anybody other than my husband or daughter. I don't have seconds on drinks or unplanned desserts.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,606 Member
    If I'm planning to go out to eat, I look up the menu before I go, make my choice and log it well in advance. That way I know before I even walk into the restaurant. :)
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    If I'm planning to go out to eat, I look up the menu before I go, make my choice and log it well in advance. That way I know before I even walk into the restaurant. :)

    I do this as much as I can. Sometimes it's not always possible.
  • kiela64
    kiela64 Posts: 1,447 Member
    CarvedTones wrote: »
    It's rare that I am the first or the last person at the table to pull out their phone, tap, type and/or swipe for a minute or so and then put the phone away.

    Exactly. Worst case I log as best I can from memory on the bus home. It's not precise anyway, and I'm pretty much always over when I go out to eat because like one restaurant meal is like 1000cal. Oh well.
    mmapags wrote: »
    In social situations I don't worry about getting that precise. It's not and everyday thing. If I'm off one day high, I'll be off another day low with errors. One meal doesn't kill you. It's the trend over time. Don't let weight loss interfere with normal live on special occasions. Just get back on board the next day.

    And ^ that is why. If it helps you can aim for a weekly goal, and shoot maybe 50cal under for the other days so it evens out, etc.

    What I aim for in social situations is to make sure I'm making my food choices mindfully, not mindlessly shoving chips into my face to not talk or just because it's there. Now I try to shoot for something with protein, maybe not fries, and if it's a place with a calorie guestimate on the menu even better. I just drink water, or coffee/tea if it's a brunch thing.

    Unless you're an absolute social butterfly and going out multiple times a week, it shouldn't warrant this much stress. (I totally stressed about food choices while going out too, and I'm still not totally calm, until I saw my weight drop anyway. Like I needed that proof for myself, not just hearing other people talk about it).
  • shaf238
    shaf238 Posts: 4,022 Member
    I have a goal to achieve. I don't care what others think. I'll pull out my tracker or scale with no shame.
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    I think my real concern is that I foolishly announced at the beginning of the year that this year would be the year I lost the extra weight as opposed to last year and the year before. We all talk about weight loss and whose losing at our gatherings amongst my friends. So far this year I have only maintained. Having people ask me how it's going and only be able to say that I'm working in losing the 5 lb. I gained on vacation is a huge let down.
  • Shan0Marie
    Shan0Marie Posts: 22 Member
    Check the menu of where you're going to go beforehand and pick and log what you want to eat, that way you'll know how close you are to your goals for the day. That's what I do so I know exactly what I'll be ordering and won't get distracted by what everyone else is eating. If I'm going with friends who would get appetizers or something, I'll check a few that would go with my goals and suggest those as well.
    I understand wanting to keep it to yourself, so if you feel like you need to excuse yourself and go to the bathroom to double check something that's absolutely fine! But honestly, it's no ones business what you're doing so if you need to pull up your phone briefly just do it.

    After my workout one day some girls from my new crossfit class invited me to try this protein shake place. I went to be part of the group and get to know them, but the smoothies didn't fit in with my goals, even though it fit with theirs. I got a tea instead, and while they talked about how great their smoothies were and kept insisting I try a shake I said no, I'm happy with my tea and to just be out with all of you :) They understood, even if they kept insisting I try it and talked about how good it was, but it didn't matter. What worked for them wasn't part of my goals.

    Hope this helps!
  • kiela64
    kiela64 Posts: 1,447 Member
    aidydh wrote: »
    I think my real concern is that I foolishly announced at the beginning of the year that this year would be the year I lost the extra weight as opposed to last year and the year before. We all talk about weight loss and whose losing at our gatherings amongst my friends. So far this year I have only maintained. Having people ask me how it's going and only be able to say that I'm working in losing the 5 lb. I gained on vacation is a huge let down.

    That sounds really upsetting. I honestly didn't tell anyone except my SO and my parents. I haven't told any friends, and I've lost 35lbs and no one has noticed. I can't stand interrogation with food, it just increases a lot of anxiety and stress for me.

    Any comments from my parents or SO, even something silly and offhand about how many tomatoes I'm eating, it makes me feel like panicking and crying and I just feel terrible. I think it's something I'm extremely sensitive about, and literally the slightest bit of attention that isn't controlled or directed by me feels like a tidal wave of guilt and shame and fear and it's Not Fun.

    I wonder if there's a way to ask your friends to keep discussions of dieting/weight loss away from the table? Like it's just the worst feeling to sit down to a meal/get up from a meal/be currently eating a meal and then start talking about food and weight. I hate it so much. Even if it's not meant meanly or interrogatively, it just feels like I'm being interrogated and criticized because of my own feelings.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    More seriously, I'm old enough to not want to log when I'm out to dinner with people because I think it's rude to be preoccupied with your phone when you should be giving your attention to the people who are physically with you. Yeah, sure, if you need to take a call or respond to a text from the babysitter or your SO if they're not with you, but I would feel like I was being really rude if I was logging my meal rather than talking to the people I'm with.

    Prelog if you can, or do your best when you get home. Once you've been doing this for a while, you should be able to make a rough ballpark estimate while you're sitting at the table and decide whether you still have leeway for dessert or another drink.

    Yes, I'd avoid logging during the meal for the rudeness factor.

    I don't go out to eat a lot, and can usually get in more exercise that day, look at the menu ahead of time, and prelog.
  • DoubleUbea
    DoubleUbea Posts: 1,115 Member
    "Hey, whatta ya doin aidydh?"
    "I'm minding my own business. You?"
  • FL_Hiker
    FL_Hiker Posts: 919 Member
    edited August 2018
    My meals are roughly the same calories everyday so when we go out I have sort of an idea of what I should be looking for. I treat calories similar to money, if I only have 500 calories to spend I don't want to go over! By now I also have the basics of what most foods cost calorie wise so i can make a pretty good spur of the moment guess in a pinch, when I doubt I'll over guesstimate. But I generally prefer to prelog and have plans.
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    kiela64 wrote: »
    aidydh wrote: »
    I think my real concern is that I foolishly announced at the beginning of the year that this year would be the year I lost the extra weight as opposed to last year and the year before. We all talk about weight loss and whose losing at our gatherings amongst my friends. So far this year I have only maintained. Having people ask me how it's going and only be able to say that I'm working in losing the 5 lb. I gained on vacation is a huge let down.

    That sounds really upsetting. I honestly didn't tell anyone except my SO and my parents. I haven't told any friends, and I've lost 35lbs and no one has noticed. I can't stand interrogation with food, it just increases a lot of anxiety and stress for me.

    Any comments from my parents or SO, even something silly and offhand about how many tomatoes I'm eating, it makes me feel like panicking and crying and I just feel terrible. I think it's something I'm extremely sensitive about, and literally the slightest bit of attention that isn't controlled or directed by me feels like a tidal wave of guilt and shame and fear and it's Not Fun.

    I wonder if there's a way to ask your friends to keep discussions of dieting/weight loss away from the table? Like it's just the worst feeling to sit down to a meal/get up from a meal/be currently eating a meal and then start talking about food and weight. I hate it so much. Even if it's not meant meanly or interrogatively, it just feels like I'm being interrogated and criticized because of my own feelings.

    I know that no one is trying to be rude in asking how it's going for me. I'm sure they want to be encouraging and are trying to find out if I've had success.

    Maybe I'm just in a group of women where weight loss is on everyone's mind. We are all in our early 40s or soon to be and we all feel the changes we are going through. None of us are having an easy time of it.
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    Walter__ wrote: »
    There's no shame in logging in public. I do it all the time.

    But just be reasonable. There was once a lady on MFP that made a post about how she'd take her scale to Chipotle, take her burrito apart, weigh every ingredient individually, log it, then put it back together. Lmao. Don't be that lady.

    Ha!

    I definitely won't be that person. Not sure why the food scale was necessary. Maybe she didn't trust the nutrition information on Chipotle's website.

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