Diary-Keeping

RebelliousRibbons

Does anyone else add in their meal calories before you actually consume them and then adjust accordingly?

Grimmerick

Yes I do definitely

wenders123

Yes - I like to plan, so I have a rough idea of what the totals will be. Then I adjust accordingly .............

BeeElMarvin

Yep.

jagh09

I do. I try to plan out all my meals for the day in the morning and write it all in. Then I know where I have some wiggle room and make adjustments if I need to. It also motivates me to get out there and earn my activity points! I see it all in front of me as I start the day and know that half hour walk at lunch can make an impact.

ohiomom0503

I enter my diary for the day first thing in the morning. If I eat differently, I'll adjust accordingly. It makes it easier for me to plan out my day that way.

curvygirl512

Every day! When I was doing WW with a friend, this is how she tracked her food and she lost a lot of weight. I didn't plan ahead and lost only a little weight. When I first started MFP, planning my calories for the day has made a huge and positive difference. Good luck.

hughannah

i do it seems to keep me on track and like you say just adjust accordingly

Heatherbledsoe

yep! I plan it out so i know what else i can or cant eat lol. that way im like, oh man, i already added this to my diary,now i cant change my mind, lol.

CARNAT22

I've planned all my meals until Friday this week!

I can play around with them as I go along (IE I may change tomorrow's dinner with Wednesday's). Having my meals pre-planned means I am more likely to stick to my calorie allowence.

If I want something else I have to make a subtitution or factor in some extra exercise!

ChitownFoodie

I pre-log a day in advance in order to stay on track. I build in a 100 calorie cushion and try to not use it unless needed.

ajbeans

I do, almost every day. When I don't plan ahead, I end up way over calories and way under protein. Planning ahead helps me get the numbers right and keeps me from living on toast and cheese. :-P

VeganGal84

That's exactly what I do! I plan the whole day either the night before or the morning of, and then adjust as I go through the day. Sometimes I stick to the plan really well, other times my evening diary looks nothing like my morning diary!

aehartley

I usually have to cook my food the night before and pack it. So I count my calories and get everything ready the night before

katevonr

I apparently am one of the few who do not enter my calories until I eat them. But I have been at this long enough (and am careful enough in my grocery shopping), that I have a general idea of calorie counts when I am putting meals together. I enter it after I finish my meal. I always have a general idea of how many calories are left. This way is just easier for me.

If I try and plan my meals ahead, I feel restrained and it makes me want to eat more. I don't like feeling limited, so I like the fluid nature of entering as I go. But that's just my personality type. I've always said that I am not dieting, nor will I ever diet again. I will eat whatever I want, but I will be conscious of what I am eating, and what it means for my daily routine. I still splurge, but I make myself work out to match it, so I have to really want the splurge to make it worthwhile. I'm the kind of person who wants anything that is forbidden. So by allowing anything, I but holding myself accountable to the price of that thing, I have been doing marvelously!

cgd67

I try to. If I know I have a big meal planned in the evening, I do for sure. It helps me stay on track!

TexasTomato

I haven't done this before but I think I will start doing it that way. Don't know why it hadn't occurred to me. Thanks!

SeaChele77

Yes!! By lunch time I know what I can/ can not have for dinner! Can I have the extra piece of garlic bread with my spaghetti? Hmm, lets adjust lunch and afternoon snack so the answer can be yes. :happy:

kdtann

I do sometimes. I am a creature of habit, so a lot of times I know what I will be eating. But then I can change it if I have to.

SavCal71

Most of the time, my meals are logged about 24 hours in advance. Lets me know where I stand, what I can add in, if I need to cut back, etc. I'm a big planner.

yusineddy

This is a great idea, I had not been logging in until after I had my meal, but this seems to work way better, thanks all.