Food dairy, why don't more people make them visible?

happydeer

Mine is private because I'm really sensitive to whether people in my particular workplace (part of my university) find out that I'm dieting. I eat a super specific diet (gluten-free) and I have to eat out a lot in our small college town for business reasons, and I'm not the only person in my department who uses this site. It wouldn't be hard for anyone who knows me at work to guess who I am from my diary, which is filled with details about dishes at popular local restaurants! So, it's really unfortunate that my workplace is so political, but people who otherwise perceive me as being healthy and a good candidate for advancement would *start* looking for problems if they find out details about my daily intake. Because I don't want my weight to become a topic of conversation at work, and I really love being able to participate in the support and conversations on these forums, I keep my diary hidden. It's just a trade-off (and a ridiculous one at that).

lizziebeth1028

And quite frankly, I tried reading a few open diarys.....boring!!!!! I have better things to do with my time.

MissMaryMac33

The default is private and most people probably have no clue how to change it...

Mine is NOT private but only open to friends. This is for some specific reasons:
1. It keeps me accountable.... if I eat cake and know I have ot post it for people to see, i might thing twice (not like today! LOL)
2. People get great food ideas from other people's diaries
3. I don't tell friends "great job" if I can't see their diary... I'm not going to pat your back for eating a whole cake and a 6 pack and staying under your calorie goal -- sorry

nas24

I dont think i would ever say "hey your eating junk! thats why your not loosing weight" I did today say something to one of my friends, who complained of a headache, that it maybe because she was eating WAY too little. I was actually concerned health wise and hope that didn't offend her, i was just really concerned. I have an LPN degree so as a nurse i know if you eat very little it can really effect someones health. I get where people are coming from and i'm sure somewhere down the line i will have someone say "Hey, that diary entry sux". I guess for me, i want people to see what i'm eating (friends only) and allow them to help me to suggest what they wish. I just know that what i eat is out there in the open for everyone to see in hopes that it keeps me in line.

cownancy

Mine is private because I am focused on following a very specific program designed for me by my doctor and nutritionists. I have to account to each of them once a month.
MFP members do NOT agree on what is considered a "healthy diet" and I do not want people questioning my choices and distracting me. ALSO, I am not perfect. I do make poor choices some days and know it already. It is already hard for me to not beat myself up when I don't do well, I don't need more distractions.
I have nutritional/eating goals and have prioritized changes. For instance, I still drink diet soda and I eat certain things from fast food restaurants and have fully discussed and disclosed this to my medical pros. I'm already changing so many eating habits...this is a process for me. I have already seen how malicious and judgmental a small percentage of members here can be, so I will support you and share the things I have learned, but do not want my eating to be an example for others. LOL.

_GlaDOS_

I had mine public for a long time, and just last week, I decided to make it private for while.

I eat really healthy already, and I know that now after using MFP for a while. I had my diary public originally because I thought it might help others, but I don’t think anyone really looked at it. Then I started realizing I was becoming super obsessive and picky about it—like not eating certain things because I was afraid people might judge me after I always talk about how healthy I eat (even though I tried to convince myself no one cared or looked anyway). A couple of weeks ago I got pretty sick and was not eating well, and wouldn’t log the things I was eating on purpose because I was afraid people would see. I also started calorie cycling, which means I go over or under my calorie goal, so it doesn’t make sense when someone looks at my diary and ignores what I’m eating and instead just looks at my calories.

Bottom line is that I need to work on me right now, allow myself to be comfortable with not-so-perfect food days, not freaking out when I go over (even when I’m supposed to because I’m calorie cycling), etc.

So, if someone really wanted to know what I eat, or advice on what they could eat, they could just ask.

brittanyjeanxo

Not everyone wants criticism.

Brandicaloriecountess

This is a topic that makes the forums pretty often. My diary is not private, but I think for some people what they eat IS private. And that is ok. No one else in my daily life knows every thing I eat in a day, nor do they really need to.

Plus some people are critical as others have mentioned.

CaptainMFP

I think both sides of this are really valid. I keep mine totally public (a-holes be damned ) because I like to be able to help those who are interested (friends or not) to use anything I'm doing to benefit them if they think it will. At the same time, people's concerns about avoiding scrutiny, following a healthy diet that others may not agree with, or what have you are very valid concerns, and I think the private diary is the best solution for them.

Where friends are concerned, I just respect their choices. If I see that "so-and-so has completed their food diary for the day" and they have a private diary, I don't comment. Maybe they hit their targets, maybe they ate too little...if I can't see, I won't comment. If I can see and I see a day that I disagree with philosophically (for example, I eat exercise calories back; they don't and are really low) I don't comment. If their diary is open, I'll check out what they did (to frankly come up with new ideas for my own menu) and comment if appropriate. It really needs to be live-and-let-live where diary privacy is concerned I think.

vanessaclarkgbr

I have to say mine was private for a while, not because I felt I had anything to hide, but a couple of friends in a row had been 'got at' for drinking wine, eating 'bad' food - when they had actually saved up cals for a special night! They did remove these 'friends' but it warned me off for a while. However, now I think it's only fair, and if anyone dares pull me up for a treat night ...oooh it won't be pretty *evil laugh* :-D

KeriA

There are good reasons to have your diary public and good ones for having it private. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/KeriA/view/food-diaries-to-make-it-public-or-not-114779
I do not need people to advise me on my food and nutrition but if I did it would be a good reason to make mine public. I do not need any one to keep me accountable. I am 58. I am a mother. I am a totally capable human being accountable to myself not all of the WWW. If I did need that it would be another good reason for making my diary public. If you want advice I am happy to provide it. I spend alot of time supporting friends here and I log everyday. I do not have an iPhone so I post log when I am away. Food diaries are tools for the individual. They are one of the most effective tools for weight loss. Having others comment on my food I know is not one of the most effective tools for weight loss. We are all on here for different reasons and with different food and exercise issues. We have different health issues. We have different ages and body types. I have been concerned recently on how people have commented to each other on the boards. I want to be able to support people who ask for my support on here so although I have many friends that I feel like I could trust if they understood me and my issues well enough I am not that confident about everyone here I support as a MFP friend. Some are new how do they know my issues yet? I am not going to jeopardise such an important tool to me for my health just because there is a group think on here that I should. I respect those who do and would appreciate that others have the ability to respect others and their choices.

calibri

In another recent thread related to this, some people stated that they are within their rights and not jerks for making unsolicited comments on people's diaries since they are public. I'm a small girl with a very small frame, I don't need anyone criticising or telling me I'm under-eating because my calories are lower than the average bare minimum (1000 a day). There are too many armchair nutritionists (and a general overshare of emotion) lurking here for me to be willing to share much.

nll002

I am my own worst critic, and after beating myself up for having a bad day, the last thing I need is someone else giving me grief over what I am eating.

laurelei09

Mine's open to those friended. Diaries should be as open as the owner is comfortable with is my way of thinking. it's only when someone asks for help that I go truly rooting off in their business or attempting to give advice. I keep mine open to people I've friended because I think it's fair (being as I like seeing what others are trying) and I'm comfortable with it.

Thamantha

Mine is only open to those I am friends with. I don't mind people being able to see it, but I would object to unsolicited 'advice'.
I doubt it makes for an interesting read. I make a lot of things from scratch so it is quite hard to guess what the flour, egg, and olive oil in amongst the mass of vegetables actually make (i.e. lasagna sheets, egg noodles, tagliatelli).

fiberartist219

I don't make mine visible because I'm not asking for advice on it.

myheartbelongstocralle

Mine is private. I came to this site basically to log and keep track of everything that goes into my mouth. I hold MYSELF accountable. I don't need babysitters or hall monitors yelpin at me because I ate a cookie..or below calories. We are all grownups..if we are serious about fatloss....we will do what's right to achieve it....no one else can do it.

gfchica

Mine is viewable to friends. I like the feedback that I sometimes get but quite honestly, I was hoping I'd get more. Maybe I should just make it public to everyone?

MelC2564

It's private by default, and I don't think most people know they can make it more public.

^^^
I didnt even realise mine was private til the other day.

Kate6868

It's private by default, and I don't think most people know they can make it more public.

^^^
I didnt even realise mine was private til the other day.

I fall into this category.

JConstine

Meh, my diary is public for no particular reason. I'm not really worried about someone making a comment on what I eat. I want to eat better but I also don't want to deprive myself of all of my favorite food. btw...it's been too long since I've had a brownie.

Anyways, I can see why people would want their food diary private! As long as you're achieving or working towards your goals, that is all that counts.

ckspores

I also noticed that mine was private this morning. I changed it to public so the whole world (and website) can see that I still pretty much eat garbage.

seal57

Mine is private. After I joined I did think of making my online friends view it. But then I decided not to as I don't tell my offline friends what I eat, unless I'm eating with them, then why should I tell online friends....

I'm here to lose weight and counting calories is the way it works for me..If I wanted some advice then I would ask all on the forum....

BamaNation73

quote]
You don't need to know what somebody is eating to be able to support them in their weight loss and there's an entire subsection of the message board devotes to recipes if you need new food ideas.
[/quote]

I agree, especially as someone who has just started out on this journey to change my life. I am still floundering on what works for me and know that I am still struggling with conquering bad habits. Someone else on here said that they were their worst critic...well, that's me in a nutshell. As someone who has struggled with their weight for the majority of their life, this is not my first rodeo at weight loss, but it is my first time in doing it, as a whole(with calorie counting, water, and exercise), correctly. I know that I shouldnt be eating cheeseburgers, or jelly beans or anything else that is not good for my body. That doesnt mean that I dont blunder. What's different now is that now I am honest about it and when *I* see it on my diary, I feel guilty and havent, as yet, repeated the same blunder.

I dont know that I will ever make my diary public. After reading this thread, I doubt I will. I do know that I have fallen in love with the feeling I get from the encouraging words that are given to me on a daily basis from everyone on MFP. I hope that I make those that I offer praise and encouragement to feel the same. That is something that is free and can do nothing but good.

BamaNation73

um that top part was part of the other person response...

sandhillcrane

I was also thinking people don't realize they have the option of public vs. private. I checked mine after reading these posts and sure enough...mine was private so I changed it!

Kalrez

Ultimately, it's none of your (general "your") business what I put in my face hole.

My log is friends-only most of the time. Sometimes it is private.

It's the same reason why my Facebook is private/friends-only. I just don't feel comfortable with anyone and everyone all up in my business.

JohnnyStorm

Mine is public mostly so that I can receive feeback if I request it. If I get feedback without requests that's fine too. What I'm doing is working but I always consider well reasoned opinions. If it's not well reasoned; we'll that just gives me something to laugh about.

undermajorconstruction

Mine is open to the public. Helps to keep me accountable knowing that I may have someone watching. It's been working great for me so far! I view other ppl's diary's and always get ideas on what to add to my grocery list. I tend to forget about certain foods that I like. I don't judge or suggest anything unless I am asked or if the person seems to be in a rut. But to each his own

redraidergirl2009

mine's open, I know most days recently it's not been good due to stress with school starting, moving ect. I don't care if people look, but I don't want advice from people about it unless I ask them for it.
People may be giving people advice that is unwarranted so people might be keeping them private for that reason, I think it would just be easier to not be friends with people who are going to give you advice on your diet when you don't want it than to make your diary private.