Pre-Logging

chynn

does anyone pre-log all of their food into mfp for the day? does this work better than logging it in as you go?

bobs_god

I like to pre-log my diary, helps me plan my meals for the week and see how I can balance my calorie in take on the days that I know I will not be able to make it to the gym.

Becoming_A_Butterfly

I just fill in my food diary as I go along. Pre-logging might be a good idea for planning my day first, then making changes through the day if I don't stick 100% to it. So thanks for the idea!

mapinkerton

Early on I would plan a meal and log the portions ahead of time to see exactly what the damage would be. I would always double check it AFTER I actually ate to be sure I ate and what I logged agreed.

Danahimself

I do it sometimes but not often. To me its a good way to surely stay within your diary stats preferences. However, sometimes I just do not want to plan ahead but rather make something on the spot!

coop1973

sometimes I pre-log if I know what I'm going to eat...makes it easier to plan for dinner if I don't have anything ready to cook.

rindyrunsforherlife

I usually plan out what I'm going to eat the night before and log it in. I make changes during the day, but try to stick to what I had planned. This really helps me stay on track and not overeat.

_VoV

I have been pre-logging for a few days, but I always end up making a few modifications as I go. I am finding that it helps me be less random in my eating, and of course, it helps because I can shop for any ingredients I need in advance.

DeepAsAPlate

I pre-log my dinners and lunches, on occasion, so that I know how many calories I need to make up during the day.

CharityEaton

I pre-log if I am trying to figure out a new meal or something. I also pre-log when I know I will have a busy day. It helps me to know that I have already logged everything and then I have to decide how bad I realy want to add something to the log and make my numbers change OR can I go without it this time and stick with what I already logged. It is something I do occasionally but not every day. Nice way to give yourself a little challenge every now and then.

kaetra

I pre-log as much as possible to make a plan. It can always be changed later and the info really helps me out alot! Plan Ahead for Success!

In fact, I have Thanksgiving pre-logged right now just so I could see how it was going to work out. Thankfully :happy: everything I normally eat on Thanksgiving is going to still be within maintenance range as long as I keep my portions to reasonable and not over-stuffed. Hurray for pre-logging!

RachelT14

I pre log my eveing meal if it is something new so i know how many calories and know where to adjust my day for it, ie lower cal lunch, more excercise etc or if we are having a special meal with more calories so i can work around it. If it is one of my more regular meals i tend not to log it until i have eaten it.

twilight_princess

I always pre-log but usually make changes depending on the situation, I'll just swap something for the same number of calories. I do it for both food and exercise. For me pre-logging is the key to my results so far.

kegonzales

I always pre-log my food for the day. This tells me whether I need to make adjustments for dinner. This also helps me to make sure I have the food I need in the house rather than get caught with out good choices and then eating something I will regret later. I just go back throughout the day to make adjustments and to confirm portions and choices. Often I make changes at the end of the day. This has been working great for me so far.

BattyMama

I pre-log as I pack my cooler for the day and eat out of my cooler. I pack a few day food at a time and so I can log two or three days at a time and change things if I don't follow he plan. it has help me lose 12 inches in nine months. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

MrsPeavley

I tried both ways. I have more anxiety pre logging and tended to overeat pre logging bc i would eat too much at a moment where i wasn't that hungry. I like having the freedom of choosing what I want in that moment.

kt2007

I pre log stuff sometime. Normaly like my Breakfast and my vitamins i take i will do it before i work out and than when i get home from working out I get my food and a shower and I know its in the MFP Diary already. If not I catch my self not adding it later in the day.

Maryfullofgrace

I am going to start pre-logging because I want to increase my protein intake. I've come to notice when I am "done for the day" and then realize, oh shoot, well, I didn't eat the amount of protein I was hoping to, it is too late. This way I can tweak and enhance certain portions to fall within the guidelines I set for myself.

DWilbanks

I log as I go, but I do log what I've decided to have for dinner so that I know it won't go over and change the food accordingly

ashlielinn

I do it if I'm going out to eat somewhere. I'll look up nutritional info online beforehand so I know what the healthiest option is and log it in....or if I know what I'll be eating for lunch at work, I'll log it in the morning when I'm putting in my breakfast. It definitely helps with going out to eat. I know how many calories I'll have, and how much I have to work off at the gym!

sandy2006

I do sometimes and sometimes I dont. The days that I do log everything in the morning it seems that I have a more successful day! I think it works out better to do it like that because you can see what to expect in your day

stefchica

i do!!!!! it helps to keep me on track better, lets me see the amoun tof calories i will eat up till lunch, then when i go home, i will take a snack, log it then see wher ei am for dinner and so on. i have to plan my meals or else i will eat crap when i'm hungry. i always try to plan my lunch/breakfast the day before

chynn

i havent been making my calorie goal at all at the end of the day....so i have been trying to be more conscious with my meals.
as i was logging in my breakfast today, i thought "i wonder how many calories i'll have left for lunch and dinner". so i logged in my snack and then my lunch. i ended up logging in the whole days worth of meals (6 meals). after logging in all my food, i noticed that i was 195 calories over my calorie goal. this is actually really good because i havent exercised yet, so i will easily burn that up.
but then i got to thinking, what if i dont eat anything close to what ive got on here!
i think im gonna try it for a week and see how it works out....

mhotch

I pre log only up to one meal. But I like to pre log, because if something is over on fat and calories, I can make adjustments before it is too late.

bonnynblithe04

Yes, have done this for a long time. I can't always pre-track my exercise calories because I don't always know what I will do in advance.

shedoos

I usually plan out what I'm going to eat the night before and log it in. I make changes during the day, but try to stick to what I had planned. This really helps me stay on track and not overeat.

^^ This

stacyb521

I usually try to pre-log my dinners at least because I am such a snacker that I like to know what calories I have to eat. It's so easy to change and it makes me not so anxious during the day that I will go over my calories.

may5220

I like to pre-log my food entries in the morning, so I can stay on track throughout the day to better plan my meals.

UponThisRock

I do, but I also stay flexible.

wendyc122005

Pre-logging helps me stick to my cal goals.

cajunlady56

pre log -