Pre-logging entire food day vs log at end of day?

ErinMcMom

I usually decide what we'll have for dinner a day in advance (so I can thaw out meat etc.) I'll pre-log my dinner and then pack my breakfast and lunch and dinner accordingly. I pre-log my breakfast and lunch as I pack it in my bag for work, so things are getting logged the night before. I leave some extra calories for little snacks that I might end up eating during the day (i.e. someone brings in a fruit tray to the staff room)
On the weekends dinner is still logged in advance, but breakfast/lunch/snacks get logged on the fly.
Weekdays where everything is pre-logged are SO much easier for me than logging on the fly. I NEVER log everything at the end of the day. It's too easy to forget stuff you ate, and I'd hate to get to the end of the day, log my stuff and realize I was way over my goal because I didn't know the calorie counts of things I ate.

CrainT1

I need to Pre-Log or Pre-Plan for the same reason as most of you, to ensure I am sticking to my plan for calories and protien as well as helping me to decided what my meals and snacks for the day will be instead of just grabbing and figuring it out later and being over. I do go back and adjust as needed the end of the day or the next day if I alter anything.

sympha01

I typically pre-log about 50%-80% of my calories, but I like to keep a reserve for snacks or booze options with dinner.

JassiBear

I eat as I log........ like right before I sit down to eat my food, I'll log everything that's on my plate.... so I log several times throughout the day so I can keep track of calories without having to do the math in my head.

JassiBear

Smarter to save a suprise or event that may creep during your day,

why have to turn down a suprise outting, when you reasonably can eat every couple hours and eat as you go and log...

I think it makes life less stressful, to me, pre logging sets me up to fail and sets the tone of that day,... i like flexibility.

I feel the same way you feel......... pre-logging is not realistic... like ....there's so many situations where you'll be caught off guard...a friend might invite you for drinks or dinner..... your roomate may bring home some cookies. I like to pace myself throughout the day. I always save at least 600 or 700 of my calories for dinnertime, that way if I end up going out I can look up the food at the restaurant or wherever and make sure its in accordance with my goals for the day.

bizgirl26

I pre-log a lot of my food. I generally eat the same breakfast during the week so its easy just to keep copying it forward and I bring my own lunch and snacks to work do I prelog them as well. Sometimes I pre-log dinner to see what the calories are but if not I do that at the end of the day. The most important thing is reviewing it at the end to ensure you havent missed anything

jkal1979

I usually pre-log just to avoid any surprises. Once I eat lunch I will put in what I am having for dinner and play around with the portion sizes to make sure I either eat enough or I don't overdo it.

Mariachicat

I log right before or after a meal. I think, like some other posters suggested, that I might pre log in the maintenance phase. Apparently it helps with discipline and reconsidering extra treats.

ahoy_m8

You can't plan if you're doing it after the fact. Pre-logging lets me make little adjustments, i.e. adding a little more protein or fiber or cutting a couple calories.

StaciMarie1974

Generally I'll plan out my evening meals by midday. And I make changes as necessary. I use the phone app so that's very easy to do.