I need to get over myself!

PrfctGdess

I've been logging etc on MFP now for just over 110 days. I've lost 17 lbs so far and I feel great! I took a break for a couple of weeks to just maintain b/c I was mentally out-of-it, but now I'm ready to jump back in.

But here's the thing - I find I don't want to log my food. I've NEVER had ANYONE on here make me feel judged or make negative comments about what i eat, and my diary isn't THAT bad - it's not like I"m eating McD's 3x a day or anything. But for some reason, if I eat worse than a salad w/fat free dressing for lunch, for ex, I find I'm not wanting to "admit" it by logging it. Anyone else experience this?

I know I probably need to just get over myself and do it anyway, and I have no idea why I'm feeling this way now (when I WAS eating worse to start with and I was logging it then!). For now I've just made my food diary private again so I can log everything, but what's my deal? LOL

dmoses

I always log everything - EVERYTHING - I eat. That way, when I overeat or binge, then click on that 'complete this entry' button to see what I'd weigh in x weeks... It's a slap of reality for me!

freerange

IMO, it’s because you are still buying into the myths about “healthy” food. Educate yourself about what is really healthy, decide you are going to eat healthy at least 80% of the time, and you will no longer feel bad about logging your foods.

jagfan

The weekends are the worse for me! I do pretty well throughout the week, but the weekend for me is out of control (at least when it comes to dinner on Friday and Saturday)! I am not necessarily trying to lose anymore, I am really pretty much toning and still burning a high number of calories...but just think...if I actually logged the garbage I eat on the weekend how much further I would be in my fitness journey!!

I guess the first step is to admit we have a problem...I am not sure I will ever fix mine, but yes, why do we do that? Like whatever we eat doesn't exist just because we don't write it down? Really?

I am with you...but in a different boat! Thanks for the thoughts...very helpful insight to my own shortcomings!

laddyboy

Easy fix...don't eat poorly and log your food. Problem solved. Glad I could help.

Yes, I feel the same way at times and I really do what I said above.

What you are feeling is accountability...to those that can see you food log. It's not a bad thing. Try finding a eating challenge and jump in on that.

auticus

I don't know if its more getting over yourself as opposed to being accountable. I hate logging to but when I log everything it makes me see just how bad I eat. Which is what put me on the Train of Consequences in the first place. I'm now paying said Consequences. So logging the food is how I get OUT of here...

Nikiki

yeah generally if I have a blank entry its because I've been eating badly, i just don't want to put the effort into posting just to see those red numbers! although a few times I have been surprised to find that I wasnt really over a few times that I've almost not tracked and then entered it in anyway. that was exciting good luck!

helenoftroy1

I had this problem but with my starting weight. I never told anyone what I was. Then I admitted it on here first and suddenly I was really into it all, weighing my food, dedicated to doing my diary, drinking my water etc. It's almost like being held back with a new partner. I'm not sure how to explain, but it's like you can pretend to be someone or something you're not but admitting it suddenly makes you accountable for it and maybe you're just not quite there yet. I think when I could finally look in the mirror and say "this is me", that's when everything changed.
Hope this makes sense it was a bit waffley but I think I know how you feel!
:-)

msblueyes5

I just started..I weigh 125 lbs..well 124 now lol..but I have for yrs now bbecause I have workedout and watched my diet. I put in here that I want to try and lose 5 lbs which allows me 1200 calories a day..even when working out yesterday I went over..but its fine..I have a high metabolism And the calories you burn thoughout the day just walking and doing some house work isnt logged. As long as you know youe feel good and are eating better than you were before like you said dont judge yourself! I think everyone here has been really supportive too! Dont get me wrong, I didnt wanna add in the klondike bar I had last night because I knew It would put me over (more than I already was lol) But I did and today I dont even care!! lol

GkMusic

I just started on MFP a couple of weeks ago and I am definitely experiencing the same thing. I have always been an "all of nothing - perfect or failure" type of person. Because of this realization, I made a goal just last night that I was going to log every bite for a couple of days and we'll see where it goes from there. Maybe making a small goal for yourself will help you achieve it so you can move forward. Good luck!

jam3114

I found that when I had my diary public to friends that I wasn't logging everything - I think it was the fear of being judged even though no-one had ever done that to me.

I suppose I really should have looked at it in the sense that if I didn't want to be judged for eating it maybe I shouldn't have eaten it but I felt I never owned up to it.

Also if I went over I stupidly wouldn't enter it - didn't like to see the red number

I think I need to get over myself !!!! I've made my diary private for the time being hoping that this will spur me on to being totally honest with myself - how else is this ever going to work !!!! :ohwell:

Best of Luck

kr3851

Only one of my 'friends' on here actually know me in real life - and it's my aunty who I haven't seen in over a year. So even though there's people out there looking at my diary... it really is only for me. I'm cheating myself if I don't log - and the reason I'm at the weight I am today is because I cheated myself every time I pretended that stopping by McDonald's on the way home and then eating a full meal at dinner was okay.

I'm accountable to me - and I do feel a little bit awful when I hit that button on my off days and it tells me that if I eat like this every day, I won't lose anything. You've gotta be here for you first - don't give a s**t about other people judging your food choices (unless you're asking them to look into your diary and give suggestions). You need to log accurately so that you can look back in a couple of weeks and think "oh yeah, that week I had a rough time but then look how I pulled through". You won't learn unless you record your mistakes AND your triumphs!!!

cameralinds

I experienced this yesterday and I know exactly how you feel. Well, it doesn't count if I don't log it, right? My day looked so good until I ate THAT. I've learned though, it's good to admit it, even if to just yourself. If that means making your diary private for a little bit, that's okay. Good luck!

ivansmomma

I think it was a good move to put your diary on 'private' for now. As long as you are tracking your foods, whether healthy or not-so-much, you can see where you need to improve, etc. I didn't want to put in my entries, but decided I'm only cheating myself and getting into too comfortable a place. Do what works for you.

glypta

I think you've probably come back at it with more gusto and therefore are more sensitive to doing things 'wrongly'. I know I made my diary public to make myself more accountable, but during a 'bad' day on Sunday, I was too ashamed to admit what I'd eaten to my MFP friends, who I know would've been supportive (and were!), so I just did the quick add calories to acknowledge it, without actually admitting the content - I was ashamed of myself, and didn't want others to feel ashamed of me, even though they wouldn't be.

Do what makes you most comfortable - this is your journey, and it's hard enough. So if you don't want folk to see, be private. If/when you change your mind, open it up. Simple :flowerforyou:

blpope

I understand how you feel. It helps me to log everything I eat so I make myself accountable, but I also keep my diary private. I haven't really experienced direct negativity on here, but from seeing other peoples' comments and exchanges, I'm paranoid! For instance, I eat Dannon Light & Fit yogurt a lot, but I know loads of people on here would (and do) say, "Oh my gosh, beware the aspartame!! You should only eat plain greek yogurt!!" But one, I dislike yogurt in the first place, so it's a step up for me and two, it's a heck of a lot better than eating Doritos (my bad, guilty pleasure..om nom nom).

So, what I say is this--this is YOUR journey to a healthy lifestyle, no one else's. You don't need to feel guilty for keeping your diary private and you certainly don't need to worry that other people are judging you. We're all at different steps in the game--for some, it's replacing fast food with the occasional salad and a stroll around the block and for others, it's eating super "clean" and hardcore working out.

I've been wanting to rant about this for awhile
Keep up the good work!

Barneystinson

IMO, it’s because you are still buying into the myths about “healthy” food. Educate yourself about what is really healthy, decide you are going to eat healthy at least 80% of the time, and you will no longer feel bad about logging your foods.

This. Not everything that's "healthy" is low calorie or fat-free.

ajbeans

Before you can be honest with others, and before you can find success, you first need to be honest with yourself. If you need to, set your food diary to private, and make a commitment to log every bite that crosses your lips. EVERYTHING. If you don't log these things, you won't be able to get an accurate picture of what you're eating, and you won't be able to solve the problems that need to be solved. Then when you're more comfortable with logging everything, make your diary public, or viewable to friends. But you need to be honest with yourself if you're going to continue to succeed. It's just food! Food isn't evil or bad, and eating it doesn't make you a bad person.

TTHdred

I feel the exact same way. My diary is private for that reason. When it is private I log every single thing and I am accountable to myself. I may be in the minority here, but I prefer it that way. It really depends on the person. My husband is on here and he works out like 2 hours a day. But he eats horribly. I mean McDonald’s horrible. But his diary is public. I couldn’t do it, but he has no problem with it. Personal preference if you ask me. If keeping it privates makes you more comfortable & causes you to track more accurately then so be it.

eates

I think making it private is a good idea if that's what you need to do to make it accurate. It's for you not for the rest of us.
I'll make you a deal though, just so you know for the future...you don't judge my peach cobbler for lunch and I won't judge your non-salads
You know I think you're doing awesome and it's all about figuring out what you need to do to make it work for you!

PrfctGdess

gylpta - you're probably right about the increased sensitivity Thanks for the support!

Easy fix...don't eat poorly and log your food. Problem solved. Glad I could help.

i haven't really experienced direct negativity on here, but from seeing other peoples' comments and exchanges, I'm paranoid! For instance, I eat Dannon Light & Fit yogurt a lot, but I know loads of people on here would (and do) say, "Oh my gosh, beware the aspartame!! You should only eat plain greek yogurt!!" But one, I dislike yogurt in the first place, so it's a step up for me and two, it's a heck of a lot better than eating Doritos

This is it exactly!! I don't mind accountability, in fact I WANT it, but sometimes on MFP what is meant as accountability actually comes across as judgement. I realize that the healthiest I could be would mean eating no processed foods at all and drinking nothing but water, but that's not reasonable for me. At least, not yet. I WANT this change to be forever, so I have to come up with a system I can live with long-term. And that is NOT cutting out all bad-for-me-foods. I'm an adult, and if I want a candy bar or the occasional burrito from Taco Bell, I don't want to have to endure "Oh, your diary looks awful today; you really shouldn't eat that" or "don't you KNOW how bad fast food is for you?" Yes, I do, but if I can eat it and still be under my calories (which I AM 90% of the time) then that's fine by me.

Maybe I'm just not giving my MFP friends enough credit I had my diary public before and didn't have any trouble, but like blpope said, even though I haven't experienced negativity on here directly, I've been seeing a lot of it lately and I"m paranoid!

(Liz, you've got a deal :P)

heatherstiara

Look, idk about you, but SALADS AREN'T FOR ME...

You don't have to eat FAT FREE HEALTHY FOODS 24/7. You CAN EAT whatever you want. Just portion control is the key!

CARNAT22

My diary was private until the other day and now it is only viewable to my 'friends'

Everyone is different, some people wil be spurred on by having their diary open to all and other people prefer to be private.

I sometimes take a look at other people's diaries and do you know what - they are pretty boring LOL! - as you say we're not eating tons of crappy food so all people's diaries are pretty tame.

I found logging everything but keeping my diary private worked well for me!!

But remember if you don't log something you are only cheating yourself!

Libby81

The weekends are the worse for me! I do pretty well throughout the week, but the weekend for me is out of control (at least when it comes to dinner on Friday and Saturday)! I am not necessarily trying to lose anymore, I am really pretty much toning and still burning a high number of calories...but just think...if I actually logged the garbage I eat on the weekend how much further I would be in my fitness journey!!

I guess the first step is to admit we have a problem...I am not sure I will ever fix mine, but yes, why do we do that? Like whatever we eat doesn't exist just because we don't write it down? Really?

I am with you...but in a different boat! Thanks for the thoughts...very helpful insight to my own shortcomings!

This is totally my story too, although I'm still trying to shift the few extra stubborn pounds. I get lost in pub food, sweets, crips and mostly wine at weekends. I do log to an extent some weekends but then I feel so bad about putting in that pub meal (unless it was a jacket potato, which it NEVER is) I just can't bring myself to do it, although I always tell myself it's because I couldn't even hazard a guess at how many calories to log it as

shadow1025

I suppose I am confused..This site is for me..Noone else..I do this to help me. When you are not logging your food your only cheating yourself because bottom line your the only one it affects. Noone is going to sock you if you slip up..I'm new here but I am really trying hard to stick to a 1100 calorie diet. I'm doing it for me. If your not going to stick to your plan why bother. I don't really think anyone can do right all the time. A slip up once in awhile is going to happen to all of us. I really wish you good luck.

ccmulder5

you are absolutely entitled to eat whatever you want.. we are all here on our OWN paths.. and you are doing Great! you have already lost 17lbs.. and don't have too much to go until you reach Your goal weight.. i do not consider having a burrito from taco bell or a candy bar "cheating".. you are living your life! you are obviously on here for a reason.. you get to decide what that reason is, and what YOUR goals are.. log all your food, and do it YOUR way.. or else this website is not going to work for you at all..

RNewton4269

I log everything..irregardless if it is bad for me or not...that way I hold myself accountable.

raerie81

First, I love the fact you were so honest. I can't even begin to tell you how much you sound like me! LOL
I am 29 (30 next month AHHH) and my whole life I have been dieting and never...and I do me NEVER logged successfully. I hated it. it is also one of the reasons why I couldn't do Weight Watchers. I hated ...DESPISED counting. This time around though was different in 2008 I lost 50lbs. I moved Jersey and gained 30 of those pounds back. I have never been a yo-yo dieter so it was my first time RE-losing the weight. O-M-G this blows worst than the first time. So I tried to do things differently. A friend suggested different sites like this one and I really did fall into a routine. It makes it easier I can do it from my phone or I touch and that I am not writing or carrying around something. THAT BEING SAID....I do not journal ALL DAYS...for the most part I do but if there is a day that I do not feel like it I cut myself a break. I mean like you said you are aware of what you eat. The counting helps but if you need to give yourself a day time-out...DO IT!! Being burnt out is the reason people can't keep healthy. I also really believe what Oprah says...NEVER DIET...just change your eating habits. Being militant helps some people but not ALL. Not one thing works for everyone and anyone who tells you that is a ...DIET BULLY!!! Avoid and Ignore girlie!

GOODLUCK!

evilbanks

My motto is 'if it works for you, use it'...........sometimes it's as simple as that.

melsinct

I log every day and used to keep my diary private. I wasn't ready to open it up to the world at first, especially after reading some really awful comments on the boards here not long after I joined. I think it was a few bad seeds having a low carb vs Paleo vs clean eating debate that included people ramming their point of views down others throats and claiming everyone else was "wrong." Anyway, I soon learned that 95% of MFP are good people and I don't care about the rude/obnoxious 5%, so public I went. Not yet has anyone said a bad word about what I eat or drink (alcohol especially, lol).

Really, if you will only log honestly when private, then keep it private. Whatever gets you to log everything you eat is the best route for you to take.

Hodar

If you don't log your food - isn't this whole exercise a waste of time?

Log it, and if you are going to eat something bad - you make a concession later on the day. Sure, McD's tastes good - but if you aren't honest with yourself and log it; you don't know where you are on the calorie limit. This is how we all got big - we ate more calories than we burned; and our weight reflects this.

So, enjoy your treats. Mine are Carmel Popcorn, ice cream and cake. I enjoy them on a regular basis - but I log my calories and make an effort to make sure that a bulk of my meals are healthy and balanced.