"WTGs" when someone completes their diary

AngelsKisses75

With out knowing your 'friend' I don't know if you are 'overreacting'. How well do you know your 'friend'? Are you aware of their eating habits, any problems they may have, or maybe their logging habits?

I try to get to know my friends and their eating habits. I aprpeciate all the variety I have on MFP, and often do not have enough time to go through everyones diary's. As well some people actually keep their diray private, or locked for select few because of judgements ... many of which I have noticed posted here.

In my opinion you should get to know your 'friends' and then be the judge as to what is an overreaction. As well take care how you respond to things, keeping a person's feelings in mind before you type. If their eating habits are not something you can deal with maybe rethink the friendship? Best of wisehs to you and yours! :flowerforyou:

Jamazurunner

Honestly, I would rather someone NOT comment on my food log if they don't even take a look at it. The general comments don't help me improve my fitness or nutrition, its like telling a kid "nice work" on an essay, or test, but not ever telling them what they can work on.

TonyaJ83

You're awesome!

dshalbert

Good point! I got WTG's when I had the stomach flu and couild not keep anything down, so did noit eat much that day. I probably should not have posted my food at all that day, even though I did post that I had the stomach flu under commments. It was just out of habit, but I was way underneath my caloric requiremnet and MFP told me so.

kkerri

I guess I don't feel like anyone needs to police anyone else's food consumption or decide what is a good diet and what is not.

kenlad64

If they have not done so good eating, I will simply post "Good Job Logging"!!

I usually do this too. I like to see what folks are eating, it gives me ideas for myself or I ask them a question about something on their list.

WomanofWorth

I totally agree because if you don't check the diary, you may just be reinforcing unhealthy behavior.

VeganGal84

I know that many of my friends on here follow different styles of eating than me (I'm vegan, and eat a LOT of carbs every day, some people eat mostly meat and dairy, some people are "clean" eaters, others eat a lot of Lean Cuisines and such, etc...) so if I look at someone's diary, it usually doesn't look anything like mine, and if they are within their calories, I will give a "WTG".

The only time I ever hesitate to "WTG" is when someone doesn't share their diary, and MFP says "Soandso completed her diary and was under her calorie limit". I don't like to encourage starvation, either, so it's touch to say "WTG" for the hidden diaries.

Otherwise, why not "WTG"? We all eat differently, and maybe your friend with a bunch of oatmeal and vodka actually had that day as a planned day of drinking and fun, and that was in fact a good day for them?

Anyway, to all of you for today: Way To Go!!!

jmruef

I guess I don't feel like anyone needs to police anyone else's food consumption or decide what is a good diet and what is not.

This. The exception is for people who I know (because they've said so) are on the brink of an ED and have asked for help. Because I've been there myself, I'll look at their diaries once in a while, if they're under calories, and if I see something that concerns me, I'll ask them what's up. Sometimes, though, what looks like a bad day to me is a *good* day for them - so it's not something I tread into lightly.

sauerkrautpolka

I guess I don't feel like anyone needs to police anyone else's food consumption or decide what is a good diet and what is not.

Agreed!

Rae6503

i only congratulate the fact that they actually "completed" the diary. To me that is a big step in itself. Whether they ate 1500 calories of gummy bears or 700 calories worth of vodka:sick:

now i want some vodka dipped gummy bears....

Or gummy bear infused vodka.... ::drool::

Oh wait, what was the point of this post?

whisperingdragon

My gosh. I feel horrible now for saying "WTG" or "Good Job"..:sad:

kkerri

Vegangal, I agree with you. I am a vegetarian and may look at someone's filet and think "Wow, that's really a terribly unhealthy dinner they had" but who am I to judge? I have often saved up 600 calories for wine. So what?

TenLaws

I completely agree. Yesterday, I ate four Fiber One banana nut muffins amongst other crap. (I had gone too long after my martial arts class without eating and ended up binging). I worked out a lot so I earned almost 900 calories and I was still under my goal, but eating 800 some odd extra calories back isn't going to help me on my weight loss journey.

There are days when I don't eat enough veggies, I overload on carbs, etc. but I'm still under my goal. These habits should in no way be encouraged. I think the "WTG's" encourage my negligent eating behavior and shouldn't be condoned. I think I may start deleting the "Under her calorie goal" notification from my feed.

WomanofWorth

In my opinion you should get to know your 'friends' and then be the judge as to what is an overreaction. As well take care how you respond to things, keeping a person's feelings in mind before you type. If their eating habits are not something you can deal with maybe rethink the friendship? Best of wisehs to you and yours! :flowerforyou:

Good points as well. My personal policy is I don't give wtg's for unhealthy habits when the habit is a pattern, etc. If someone had a tough day, mentions that it was a tough day and log anyway, were sick, etc I will give a way to go. To me, a wtg is not a participation award. It does come down to knowing your friends, as you mentioned.

AZTrailRunner

I guess I don't view it as "policing" their diary when they choose to publish it on the wall (knowing all their friends will see it). I'm assuming when they publish it that they are ether looking for encouragement, an "atta-boy", or some other kind of feedback. Else, why publish it in the first place?

txjulie

I stopped commenting on diaries unless I can see them which isn't often bc typically I'm on my iphone app @ night. If I'm at the computer & can "see" what they ate, I'll comment; otherwise, I just ignore it.

Articeluvsmemphis

I won't comment on a diary if I disagree with their super low calorie intake and then their next post saying they feel sick, *rolls eyes,* well duh, maybe you should eat. If my diary sucks for the day, please don't encourage me to eat like that, let me know what I could do better, or don't comment at all. I agree w/ ur post

kkerri

I post mine FOR ME. It's public because it helps ME hold MYSELF accountable. I don't post it so other people can deem my diet appropriate or inappropriate. I don't care if my friends see it. And, it never really dawned on me that someone would analyze whether or not to say "WTG" based on what I ate or did not eat. Also, it's such a personal thing. Your idea of a healthy diet may not be my idea of a healthy diet and unless the pendulum swings to some crazy extreme, how can you judge? Plus, I also think it's the balance of all things considered that matters. I strive for 80/20. If 80% of my diet is good, then I really don't care if the 20% is vodka and chips. I'd hate to have someone look at one day of my bad 20 and then deem the entirety of my diet deficient. Of course, maybe you do read all of your friend's diets every day, over the course of a matter of weeks, and then come to a conclusion. In that case, judge away. I will stand (somewhat) corrected. I personally like staying a bit under my calories.

dragonflydi

I don't tend to post on my friends food dairies, only on NSV's, weight loss, workout ethic, etc.

If their food consumption is reasonably healthy, these other smaller, yet important factors, will follow and be earned and well deserved

SavCal71

I guess I don't feel like anyone needs to police anyone else's food consumption or decide what is a good diet and what is not.

*smooches* to you KK!

Purplefly

I agree with those who just edit their encouragement to nice work on your logging etc. If you feel like saying WTG is wrong for a certain situation then find something else nice to say or say nothing at all.

If someone is my friend here personally I could care less if they view my diary. If they have something nice or a positive suggestion thats awesome too but that doesnt give anyone free reign to push their idea of healthy dieting on anyone.

Not saying people who eat or drink poorly should be rewarded but logging is definately a step in the right direction IMHO. The right frame of mind one day when they are reviewing may help them see their habits more clearly.

kkerri

FTR, I don't care if people offer suggestions. Yesterday, I invited comment of how to apportion snack calories. I don't mind suggestions or help. But, I still am a bit surprised at the judgment on here, i.e. "I am refusing to say WTG to anyone unless they eat what I deem an acceptable diet."

dragonflydi

I post mine FOR ME. It's public because it helps ME hold MYSELF accountable. I don't post it so other people can deem my diet appropriate or inappropriate.

Same here However, that being said, I do try to eat fairly healthy (for myself and my kids) and if seeing what I do can encourage someone on my friends list who is struggling with that, all the better!

kkerri

I post mine FOR ME. It's public because it helps ME hold MYSELF accountable. I don't post it so other people can deem my diet appropriate or inappropriate.

Same here However, that being said, I do try to eat fairly healthy (for myself and my kids) and if seeing what I do can encourage someone on my friends list who is struggling with that, all the better!

I agree with that. I am not sure why this bugged me. I do eat pretty healthy though 80% of the time, so I'd hate to be judged by someone who happens to peek at my food diary on a bad day :-)

MeredithRN

I agree- I try to give people encouragement- although it may be blind- just for the accountability. I need accountability! However, I have noticed in the beginning of doing this I found myself having a hard time finding something "worth" eating. If I didn't love food so much, it was borderline anorexia... instead, I just quit altogether and went to McDonalds.

Now I have been looking up recipes on here and utilizing the resources/community- as I have become more balanced and educated, I still have 200 calories for the day and this has been the most healthy/balanced day yet.... and I'm not starving.

Its a fine line. Agreed a WTG should not be given for extreme undereating or extreme imbalance, but I like my WTGs that I get. Like I said---- Its accountability for me.

georgiag111

I think you hit it on the head: if you didn't check the diary, don't comment.

Thats me I only have time to check so many but I think ALL my friends know I am supportive of healthy choices

MeredithRN

FTR, I don't care if people offer suggestions. Yesterday, I invited comment of how to apportion snack calories. I don't mind suggestions or help. But, I still am a bit surprised at the judgment on here, i.e. "I am refusing to say WTG to anyone unless they eat what I deem an acceptable diet."

I see your point- I think the post is simply encouraging healthy choices among everyone instead the encouraging of just being "under". My diary is hidden.... just because I didn't know (still learning) what I'm doing and its embarassing... ;-)

dumb_blondes_rock

All i'm going to say....was i was on a high protein/low carb diet and my intake was around 900 or so a day.....this program was one of the most dr recommended programs there was.....so the "they shouldn't be congratulated because they didn't eat x amount of calories" doesn't apply to everyone.....i consumed food 6 times a day.....plus i think something like that takes way more discipline than eating oatmeal and fruit

HappyHealthyHolly

I can agree with that.
I've seen some diaries that don't contain much food & tons of supplements!!! That's definitely not my way of eating, but I'm not sure that's I should really tell someone else how to eat. It's a little bit tricky.
I like food way too much to eat that way. I just chose healthier versions of what I like, watch my portions & make room for something special when I need it. That's how I eat healthy. That's how I eat to lose weight. And that's how I can eat for the rest of my life to stay healthy. It's full of good healthy food & anything I need to not feel deprived. If I ever feel like I need a day to have drinks or just go crazy, I would just have a day & eat or drink the extra. But I'd still eat my healthy meals too. That would just be a day of extras.