Open Diary vs Closed Diary

CaptainMFP

Looks like the neat thing about this site is that there is no ONE way to do it. So many different people are using it in a variety of ways to meet their own needs. Whatever works for you, great!:happy:

Amen to this! I keep my diary open so that interested folks (mainly friends) can use it for ideas...and I've gotten some great ideas for meals from friends' open diaries. It's a wonderful give and take! At the same time, there are so many valid reasons to keep diaries closed that it's no skin off my back if people (including friends) keep them closed. I feel more accountable if its public...but in all seriousness, to each his own!

mscoco10

my diary is closed and i plan to keep it that way. some people here think they are the food police. i don't want nor do i need people giving me their personal comments on what I've eaten. I see people talk about being held accountable but if your not asked then don't volunteer.

StarGeezer

It's the accountability aspect of this community that keeps me honest. I truly log everything...the good, the bad and even the downright ugly. I've tried too many years to police my own behavior, and clearly it hasn't worked for me. I need to be held accountable by my peers, and accept their advice and even criticism in the spirit with which it was given.

At the same time, I don't need to be accountable to every putz with a PC and an opinion. That's why I keep mine only open to friends, and I carefully select my friends. Life is too short, and I've dealt with more than my fair share of azzhats over the years, I need to keep things positive and healthy for my own sake.

kennethmgreen

I keep my diary open, but everything listed is actually encoded to mean something else. I have a giant spreadsheet for what all my food entries really mean.

Pebble321

I'm open and invite anyone and everyone to look on in. I do respect those that don't want to open their diary. Many reasons for this I'm sure. I think overall it is a matter of respect for others choices. When they want to share, they will. Those of us that prefer to be open, great!

Yup, personal choice. Just because you (OP) have your diary open doesn't mean that is right or necessary for everyone.

leomentlines

I leave mine open to everyone on my friends' list. Accountability is a huge factor in why I've lost as much weight as I have, and will probably still be necessary for me to continue my loss. I don't eat perfect 100% of the time, but I love to see my food choices laid out, especially when I've eaten well.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't let random commenters get to me. It's just the internet, y'know? Tell random person that their comments are unwarranted, and if they persist, then report them.

I know a lot of clean eaters sometimes like to get on a high horse and preach about the error of other peoples' diet, but just let it go in one ear and out the other. (I certainly do, especially when it comes to paleo diets - hello, vegetarian!)

msmayor

I leave mine open to everyone on my friends' list. Accountability is a huge factor in why I've lost as much weight as I have, and will probably still be necessary for me to continue my loss. I don't eat perfect 100% of the time, but I love to see my food choices laid out, especially when I've eaten well.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't let random commenters get to me. It's just the internet, y'know? Tell random person that their comments are unwarranted, and if they persist, then report them.

I know a lot of clean eaters sometimes like to get on a high horse and preach about the error of other peoples' diet, but just let it go in one ear and out the other. (I certainly do, especially when it comes to paleo diets - hello, vegetarian!)

Yeah I agree with you! I feel I'm on MFP for support and not just the kind that I want to hear.......

fosterr8

Mine is open to everyone. I honestly think that if you're eating something you are embarrassed of, you shouldn't be eating it. I also haven't gotten any rude comments or messages about my diary. Not sure who would be that concerned...

horror_hamster

mine is closed right now for one reason and one reason only: I started my diary on a particularly uncommon weekend where I ate out twice in one weekend (when i usually try to keep it to once a month, but sometimes it's once a week) and when i did open it after asking for advice, i got BOMBARDED with unhelpful criticism from so many users that they nearly brought me to tears. Even with explanation and backing up my bad choices during that time (which i fully admitted to), many users continued to send unhelpful and critical messages.

Sometimes, in instances like that, it's better to keep it private and when people want background on your eating habits, if you feel comfortable, you can let them in. There are several people i encountered that, just by their initial attitude/approach, i would NEVER want to see my diary, while others were kind and considerate from the start i wouldn't MIND letting them in.

Diaries can be sensitive, especially at the beginning of a diet when you're still working out what will be best for you, identifying the areas that need improving, etc.

just my opinion.

msmayor

mine is closed right now for one reason and one reason only: I started my diary on a particularly uncommon weekend where I ate out twice in one weekend (when i usually try to keep it to once a month, but sometimes it's once a week) and when i did open it after asking for advice, i got BOMBARDED with unhelpful criticism from so many users that they nearly brought me to tears. Even with explanation and backing up my bad choices during that time (which i fully admitted to), many users continued to send unhelpful and critical messages.

Sometimes, in instances like that, it's better to keep it private and when people want background on your eating habits, if you feel comfortable, you can let them in. There are several people i encountered that, just by their initial attitude/approach, i would NEVER want to see my diary, while others were kind and considerate from the start i wouldn't MIND letting them in.

Diaries can be sensitive, especially at the beginning of a diet when you're still working out what will be best for you, identifying the areas that need improving, etc.

just my opinion.

I can understand that....my diary sucks on some days - but that's me and my choices and by NO way am I a "clean eater" ....I can only imagine what people say about my diary.....but who cares!!!!

horror_hamster

I can understand that....my diary sucks on some days - but that's me and my choices and by NO way am I a "clean eater" ....I can only imagine what people say about my diary.....but who cares!!!!

Yea, I feel that way about most of my food choices, I made them, if i hide them i'm lying to myself and others, but right now (because i've already experienced it) I find it's better to keep it private until you get a good representation of what your diet actually is before opening yourself up to the wolves. Because you'll ask one question and if people take you at what you have in there (me, for example) they get a very bad picture of what your actual health is.

I'll open it when i get beyond my first week, but 5 days in after an admittedly bad first two days, I dont want to tease those wolves quite yet LOL