Is your food diary public or private?

LauraMcGanity

I read somewhere on here - I forget which thread it was now - that some people whose diaries are public may not be honest with what they are documenting, because they know other people are reading them.

What I want to know, as a newbie, is this - is it better to have my food diary public and open to scrutiny, or private so only I know what I've had to eat and drink? Is it more motivating to know others can read it it, or am I more likely to fake the results so it looks good?

Your thoughts would be appreciated - I want to get this right.

MSDRIZZ

I think your diary should be private. Sometimes I have something like marshmallows or even a cupcake. This is not every day mind you, but maybe once every few weeks. I can count these and be ok. I don't think I would feel very good logging this for everybody to read. I can stay in my calories and still lose weight, but these are empty calories. I think it really is a personal chioce, but that was my decision.

Rachaely

Mine is public, but I have yet to receive any type of criticism for it. When I look at other public food diaries I don't look to scrutinize but to get ideas for meals/snacks/etc.

Entering incorrect data or "faking it" only hurts yourself in the long run, because you'll forget that you lied and wonder why you aren't receiving the results that your entered data projects.

Just my $.02 but I'm sure others have different feedback!

snockers3112

Mine was private to begin with but I made it public and I fill it in truthfully as I would only be cheating myself if I lied in it

Suzy12

I think it's a judgment call on your side. Mine was public and then I actually found myself not entering because I knew others WOULD be seeing it. So I set it to private so I'd be honest with myself.

Some might see that as backwards. You have to decide what will work for you. Not much help maybe....sorry...

luvmypoochie

Hi there, I am a newbie as well. My setting is that my friends can view my food diary. I joined along with a girlfriend, so I thought it would be nice for her (and any other friends I make along the way) to be able to view my food intake and offer suggestions. For example my friend is my motivator, I learn so much from her, so being able to view her foods will greatly help me in my journey! Good Luck to you on your journey too!

kac7700

I changed my to be public to everyone. Knowing I have to put everything down and someone might look at it, makes me think about my choices. But I'm very honest on there too. If I'm not honest, the only person I'm hurting is myself, and it would be very apparent.

I like to see other's food diarys. It gives me ideas on what to eat if I'm getting in a rut and bored. I hope I give other's some great ideas too and they get something out of it.

PonyTailedLoser

I just made mine public. I feel bad when I have to put something in that isn't good for me and if i know that other people can see it and judge (at least in my mind) then I will try to avoid that if at all possible. i wouldn't fake it as I would feel that I was cheating myself and probably not even bother with logging it if I were going that ruute.

ashlee954

I leave it open to my friends only. They can view it or choose not to. Typically no one gives their two cents unless I ask for it. So just make sure not to go over your calories by 2000 every day and then post a topic asking why you aren't losing? LOL! Either way it's totally up to you babe. Just keep YOU accountable and be honest with YOU. That's what truly matters.

lrns88

Mine's public, but to be honest that is more for other people to have a nose and pass on some comments/tips which are constructive and helpful. I don't lie in my food diary as it won't get me anywhere (to be honest, lying to myself about what I've eaten got me here in the first place so dont see the point in continuing to lie as I won't change!!)

xxx

AsaThorsWoman

Mine's public and I'm honest on it. I like getting called out.

fzyfrog

Mine is only available to my friends to view. Like another poster said, you should be honest with what you eat regardless of if you're diary is public or private. You're only hurting yourself if you aren't honest about what you eat. I think that is what got some of us in trouble with our weight gain in the first place. We were lying to ourselves and others about what and how much we were actually eating.

Black_Swan

Mine is open for friends. I dont want EVERYONE to see it, but i do want my friends to see it. When i eat something bad i usually rant about it to them:D

emmyvera

mine is public. i love that because i'm an honest person so i don't alter it for anyone. and it makes me accountable for what i eat and drink that day.

it is also good to get encouragement on your food and not just exercise. very motivational! :bigsmile:

modernfemme

I don't really care if someone knows what I'm eating, personally. It's just at whatever the default is. Though I may be more descriptive with that I'm eating so people know there is fresh veggies, etc.

annie_p

Mine was private...but then I went public! I wanted some feedback and input from others who had been at this for a while, and could give me suggestions to help me along. I find that I am completely honest in what I enter, and that it gives me more of a push to eat better. I have never gotten any criticism...even on the days when I had cookie dough! Everything in moderation, is my motto!

It's a completely personal decision and you need to do what you think is best.

DancingDreamer

Mine's public and I'm honest on it. I like getting called out.

i second this. i think keeping it public makes me MORE honest instead of less. i have people other than myself to be accountable to and i'm going to be honest, if i go over from something really bad for me i WANT a slap on the hand.

also i personally feel like people who's diaries are closed have something to hide. "why wouldnt you show your diary?are you eating crap food?" is my go to response when i cant see someone's. :ohwell: but maybe thats just me.

jennyfair24

Mine is public and I'm honest about what I enter. I find that knowing other people can see it and that I will log it keeps me accountable.

jeorwa

Public! It makes me more accountable for what I eat. For me, if it's private - then I want to be sneaky and eat crap anyways...like I have been doing the last 30 years. But if it's public - then anyone can see it, and I am less likely to go over!

ladyhawk00

I have mine open to friends (though it's not like I ever "limit" my friends list). I totally understand both strategies - whatever you feel is right for you is best - whatever will keep you honest AND help you make good choices.

For me, it helps keep me a little more aware of choices. Not because I'll get called out, but because I want others to see REALITY. I'm not perfect. I indulge occasionally. I get lazy some days. And on those days, I try to comment about it and let people know I'm aware of those things.

And I think it's helpful for other people, especially those who are just learning about nutrition, to see other people's diaries. Gives them ideas and helps them see some of the things that can help with specific things, like boosting protein naturally.

UpToAnyCool

:laugh: Wow, interesting responses.
I would never presume to tell someone else what to do - if you learn anything at all from this site, it's that you just do what works for you - but I would say choose to do whatever will keep you honest!!!

I didn't quite 'get' how the site worked when I first joined, but a lot of the interaction and support on the News Feeds are comments/responses to when you close your diary for the day, log exercise, etc. At first I kept my diary private b/c I thought I would be tempted to cheat if it was public of there would be judgements about the 1200 allotment (I'm 5'-0"), but then I realized that IF I EAT DOUBLE MY CALORIES FOR THE DAY, I ATE 'EM.
Not logging or not logging in public doesn't change that!! :laugh:

You should just do what is comfortable for you - ! I eventually decided that for me, it's rather unsporting to look at other people's food diaries and not reciprocate, so my pals can see my diary. I look in other people's diaries not for comparison, but rather for food ideas, etc. There are amazing people on this site that share recipes, etc.

Good luck on reaching your goals! :flowerforyou:

cassidystreasures

i started out with mine private and after a few days of seeing other people's and being able to view them i changed mine to pulic but only friends can view. Maybe i will inspire someone to try another snack? Some of these other one's i have looked at and said wow that really isn't that many calories! I gotta get me some of that to eat.

I don't cheat, I know im going to have good and bad days, its party of life. We are not perfect but we are all in this together to lose

Teerai

Public no doubt.

Some of the best conversations come from food log topics. Knowing people see my choices definately makes me evaluate for the better. And I have been encouraged both by other peoples healthy days and their bad days. Those logs let me know I am not alone with some of the same struggles yet more and more, day by day, we get better and better....

UpToAnyCool

Sometimes I have something like marshmallows or even a cupcake.

^ I understand that. And that's great if you'd rather keep that to yourself.

To the original poster: My opinion is that this is a healthy new LIFESTYLE, not a diet, and there is no way that I will live the rest of my life w/o eating cupcakes and drinking alcohol, etc. so I just log it and it's there for my friends to see. No big deal.

LauraMcGanity

Hmm, lots of food for thought here- forgive the pun!!:bigsmile:

I'm guessing opening my diary up to friends is the way forward.

I think I'm nervous of getting criticism if I have a bad day or don't eat as well as I should.:embarassed:

But I like the idea of getting inspiration for meals and snacks from others - and I guess if I'm peeking at friends ' diaries, I really should reciprocate.

poisongirl6485

Mine is open to friends only I believe. I don't care if people see what I each, and if I have a bad day, so be it. But then again, I don't give two sh*ts what people think about me anyway haha.

NikkiDerrig386

Mine is public bc people run out of ideas for meals. I use it as motivation when I look at others. For example, when I see someone on their pics with a hot bod I like to see what they eat on a daily basis. So if I look at others it is only fair to make mine public.

morganadk2_deleted

I think your diary should be private. Sometimes I have something like marshmallows or even a cupcake. This is not every day mind you, but maybe once every few weeks. I can count these and be ok. I don't think I would feel very good logging this for everybody to read. I can stay in my calories and still lose weight, but these are empty calories. I think it really is a personal chioce, but that was my decision.

mine public, if i have a treat and stay in my calories or go over! nobody has commented badly thus far..

vcatmb44

mine used to be private now it is public to my friends only. I think its better that way bc it may help you not eat those bad things you really want bc u know other ppl can see it. And if you are ever wondering why ur not losing weight ppl can look at your diary and give u advice

myukniewicz

my diary is public! i don't mind if people know what i am eating at all... i am very honest in my food diary and i never "lie" about what i am eating... like when i went out to dinner to red lobster and the meal i had was 1000+ calories, i still recoded it haha. no need to make things up.
i actually enjoy people looking at my food diary because i honestly can say i normally eat really really well & i want others to see that too.

somigliana

Mine is public and I rarely get comments about what I eat. I don't mind if people want to see what I eat now that I'm maintaining. I like to find meal ideas in other diaries from time to time; I don't judge or comment, though, on their personal choices.