WHY keep your food diary hidden?

cariliz
cariliz Posts: 82
edited October 7 in Food and Nutrition
I'm just curious.....I understand if you want your page to be private. However, why keep your food diary private???? Do you do this....if so what's your reasoning? I personally think by making it viewable to friends that it hold you accountable. ;)
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Replies

  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    I think some people don't like the idea of disclosing something so personal; it's a way to avoid judgement (which of course wouldn't happen here, but it's a valid concern). Some people probably don't know how to make their diary public.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,454 Member
    I've earned the right to do whatever I please.
  • gseburn
    gseburn Posts: 456 Member
    Whoops, didn't realize I had mine set to private, :-) it is now open to public scrutiny!
  • espence30
    espence30 Posts: 116 Member
    I agree.. i think its because they don't want to be held accountable...or to me are they being completely honest?
  • wendyannie1976
    wendyannie1976 Posts: 205 Member
    mines open to friends but not to the rest of mfp, guess I'm choosey on who I want looking at my diary lol
  • Because, quite frankly, it's none of your damn business what people are eating. *shrug*


    *Mine is open to friend, btw... but not to just anyone. But it took me a while to get to that.
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    I don't need to be held accountable.
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    :smile:
  • Umpire57
    Umpire57 Posts: 389 Member
    Ever since I went maintenance, I don't log like I did when I was actively losing and use the site more for other reasons. When I gain any I will log and get back down and then back to maintenance. By keeping it private it keeps the chatter down.
  • Tink_89
    Tink_89 Posts: 23
    I think I've been scared of people judging me. Like, even if I am within the right limits of calories ~ will they judge me for not eating the right sort of food etc.
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    I have mine open to friends only. I have no desire for someone to push their ideas of what a diet means on me. I have seen too many others criticized (without asking for opinions mind you) for their choices. If I ask for help, then I will open it up and expect criticism. But unwanted, unsolicited advice pisses me off, so I keep it locked except to those I have grown to know and trust. My two cents.
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    Whoops, didn't realize I had mine set to private, :-) it is now open to public scrutiny!

    Then I shall scrutinise it with an inscrutable scrute :bigsmile:
  • RoanneRed
    RoanneRed Posts: 429 Member
    I started tracking calories before MFP because I needed to get on top of it but I work really long, boring days and pick at food for something to do then have to find some more calorie burning activities to balance it out - not really the way I should be working it so I think most people would find my food diary puzzling!

    I've also turned off a lot of the notifications posting to the feed as I'm constantly adding exercises throughout the day and that could be annoying to my friends.
  • Hungry_Tuna
    Hungry_Tuna Posts: 361 Member
    Mine's public. I honestly don't care who sees it. I have my good days and my bad ones, but it's out there!
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    I've earned the right to do whatever I please.

    I don't think the person who asked this disputes your right to do as you please. She is only wondering why keeping a diary private pleases some people.
  • tageekly
    tageekly Posts: 3,755 Member
    Mine is open to my friends list, but not all of MFP.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    What I put in my body is my business. I am MORE honest with myself than with anyone else, so having a private diary works for me. If I am ever struggling and need advice, I will open it to my friends, but that isn't the case.
  • PattyCake123
    PattyCake123 Posts: 156 Member
    I actually just set mine so it was open to everyone, I didn't realize it wasn't until I was looking at my settings the other day and found it was only available to my friends! I do think some people are self concious about it and find it personal, I know it took me a while to get that the people on here looking at my diary aren't here to judge me like I judged myself, or criticize what I have eatten but (typically) are here to be encouraging and help me keep on track and give me helpful words when i do fall off a little.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    For the first time ever, I closed my food diary yesterday. And the reason is that I'm taking a break from logging for now. I've been eating in surplus, and I'm sure I can continue this and get all my calories, protein, fat, without meticulously counting everything. In a couple of months when I go into calorie deficit again, I'll start logging again and open up my diary.
  • mandycasey
    mandycasey Posts: 274 Member
    I log everything i eat and feel ok ( most of the time ) with what i eat but if i had to share it - i'm afraid i wouldn't log EVERYTHING! I'm just not comfortable sharing that info xx
  • jlowensby
    jlowensby Posts: 142
    Mine is open. When I first started using MFP I had it closed, just because I didn't want to be crucified by all that happened to view it. But I am here to get something accomplished and my eating habits are a big factor in the achieving that goal or not. So if I am going to be honest with myself I keep it open for others to see and if I am doing something wrong, call me out on it. I want this time around to be successful!
  • I'm on here for a reason, I wasn't even aware mine was private!! I'm not here to scrutinize others and vice versa. But all ideas are welcome as long as they come off as "concerns" and not "demands." I don't follow a strick diet because I would completely fail, so those true "health addicts" might not like what they see on my daily foods, but I'm gonna eat what I want and be smart about it. Mine is open for those who wish to see. Enjoy!!
  • mittle
    mittle Posts: 1
    Why do you need to hold me accountable? We are all adults
  • MeghanAM
    MeghanAM Posts: 222 Member
    Some people experience anxiety around food-topics, and for them it is probably better if no one is looking and commenting about what they eat. Others are just private.

    Personally I keep mine open (at least I think it's open, it might be friend-locked) since I need that accountability. Not everyone does.
  • Football_N_Guns
    Football_N_Guns Posts: 297 Member
    Because one, nobody on here is a damn expert on how I should eat, and two it's not anyone's business but mine.
  • A couple reasons:

    i don't need FOOD accountability.

    i also find my meals kind of weird and i wouldn't want other people to follow my lead.

    I don't like unsolicited criticism which there seems to be a lot of on here.

    I have it password protected and would share it with individuals I know and trust!
  • fatkidsgottaeat
    fatkidsgottaeat Posts: 9 Member
    I leave mine public. I am holding myself accountable to all on my friends list, not just to myself! I am thankful for constructive criticism I get when I make poor choices...it helps me refocus! :smile:

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  • ThatsNotMine
    ThatsNotMine Posts: 75 Member
    My MFP friends can see my diary but I'm trying to better myself, not write a blog for the public.
  • tlsegar
    tlsegar Posts: 185 Member
    Excuse me and I mean this in the most polite way possible but - I am a grown *kitten* woman! The only person I need to hold me accountable is me. It is no one's business what I eat and is certainly not information that complete strangers feel they should be entitled to scrutinize.
  • Mine is open because I am glad I have lost 15 pounds without eating all rabbit food.
This discussion has been closed.