Do people even look at diaries before they comment?

bmacholiday

If my friends have their diaries open for me to view I consider it an invitation to look and see how they are doing. If they didn't want comments their diary would be closed.

I don't comment on closed diaries and always look at open diaries before commenting, I don't want to congratulate someone for staying under calories but eating junk food all day. If I can't think of something constructive so say, I say nothing.

I've also deleted friends, depending on the situation for very low calorie intake.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

No...I'm far to preoccupied and busy trying to take this huge , heavy, bothersome log out of my own eye, so that I can see more clearly to **try** to take the speck out of someone else eye. In other words, I'm focusing on my own personal business and issues first, rather than being a critic and gossip. That used to come so easy to me, but now that I'm living a New LIFE style, I find this is one area (being a busybody (with the intention of helping), being a gossip (which I used to love to listen to and spread) and judge, jury and executioners in everybody's life...except my own.

I'm so GLAD those days are gone for me, forever! So long story short answer--NO, I don't look at people's diary's to approve or disapprove of their choices before I comment. I want to keep a very limited number of friends-and be an encouragement/example when I can to those limited number of friends and keep my lips sealed and pray for them when I can't.

MissFit0101

I rarely comment on diaries at all because I don't have the time to read through every one of my friend's food diaries, and even if I did, I don't know what's right for each individual so I really don't want to comment either way. I do try to comment when people go over their calories just to say great job on logging though, because a lot of people need that as they are embarassed or disappointed about it. I think most people around MFP do comment without reading the diaries though. Bummer..

bobbin1

I agree that if you truly want help on this site you would open your diary. If you are honest with yourself you are recording all food put on into your mouth and if your friends are truly your friends they should be honest and say if they think there is an area where you could improve, good or bad. You choose these friends so listen.

Cccaroline

I try and comment on everyone's day if I can. I don't comment every single day, but I do most days. For me, it's all about encouraging my mfp pals. I comment on all activity that gets posted. I do some most mornings and evenings, but it is very time conusming, so I don't always have time to open everyone's diaries every day, so sometimes I will just put "well done" or something. If someone's had a day of poor choices (in my opinion!) or has a very low cals count, I'll try and make my comment allude to what I think, but still try and say something encouraging.

I'm here to try and improve my eating habits and effect a lifestyle change, so I can loose weight and maintain that loss. I think that's what most of my mfp pals are trying to do too, so I think the crux of this is to encourage, and get encouragement on eachothers eating habits as well as other activities.

For me, this is a big reason why I've been successful this time, and just knowing that others are encouraging me (even if it's just a well done) is awesome:)

rdsxgrl28

I just joined last week so I haven't really looked at too many diaries. I think it would be interesting though.

I made mine public so the nutritionist can look at it. If she thinks I am being unhealthy I am sure I will hear it LOL!! I have yet to hit a "calorie" goal, 1285 seems like alot to me. I look more at my protein & carbs to see if I am on track, if they are healthy I am good.

I know my workouts on 2 days a week are HUGE - like almost 1500 calories. Those are days I do trainer & cardio, so numbers can be deceptive. As long as a certified trainer & nutritionist think I am good - I guess I am.

I think I would welcome comments in a constructive helpful way though.

mixedfeelings

I never comment unless I've had a look in a friends diary. Maybe these friends just condone that lifestyle. I have to say I find it hard to say anything harsh but if I didn't quite agree I wouldn't leave a positive comment. If I was really concerned I would send a private message.

Melsy7

Are you sure they are even logging every calorie? That's my problem. But I've finally made a vow to myself that if I don't feel like logging it, or it's too difficult to log, I shouldn't eat it. That usually means the embarrassing little things I snack on here and there that completely ruin my progress.

cPT_Helice

It just feels like my comments are drowned out in a sea of "well dones".

Absolutely I wish mfp would change the display to "X is within Y% of their target net cals today". Would be a much better celebration.

YUP!!!!

NovemberJune

I try to have friends with similar weight loss strategies. I think I've had a couple with really low calories, and I deleted them. I don't comment on diaries unless I have time to actually look at them.

But I'm never anywhere near my calorie goal because I like to have it set to "maintain" so that the number remaining at the end of the day is my deficit. So if it says I have 500 calories remaining, that means I met the 1 lb goal. I worry that people will see that and think I'm under eating. lol

Mellocare

If my friends have their diaries open to friends, I look before commenting. That's mostly because I feel like we can offer each other the best support if we actually MEAN what we say and know how these other person's REALLY doing.
But most of my friends have closed diaries. So for them I just give them the benefit of the doubt and give the encouragement that I can.

BaconMD

I do kind of hate the way MFP seems to "celebrate" being under your calorie goal by posting it on your wall. I kind of wish it just said "Suzie finished her food log for today". Then you could look at it to see how the person did. Personally I think undereating by 900 calories is a lot worse than overeating by 25 calories.

COMPLETELY AGREE! This is what it should do: "Suzie finished her food log for today and was within 54 calories from her goal." Going over or under some here or there isn't a big deal.

Edit: I replied without reading the rest of the posts first, and others have already said as much but with a percentage. That's probably better or at least as good, I think.

G30Grrl

Absolutely I wish mfp would change the display to "X is within Y% of their target net cals today". Would be a much better celebration.

What a great idea!
I think I have some pretty awesome MFP friends, as they DO tend to read my diary when they comment, and even on days I have gone over by 50 or so calories, I get tons of encouragement about what a good day it was nutritionally. I LOVE my MFP pals!

MissMaryMac33

I never praise anyone for being under unless I look at the diary. Half of the people who WERENT under actually ate better. You won't see a "WTG" from me if you had mcdonalds for breakfast and drank diet soda the rest of the day, sorry.

jimmie25

I delete people that have continually unhealthy diaries (low calories).

same here

jskaggs1971

do they comment without even opening the diary?

This.

Interestingly, I tend to auto-delete pretentious jerks who offer unsolicited advice. Funny how the world balances.

erinw1011

I had a friend on here who was new and I had been logging for a while. I noticed on her diary that while she was eating very healthy, she would only net between 300 and 600 calories a day. Before I started really getting into this I had no idea about net calories and eating exercise calories. I sent her a polite inbox message trying to be helpful, made it clear that it was just a suggestion based on what I had learned. She never wrote back, then about a week later she deleted me. I wasn't trying to be judgmental, just trying to help her since she was new. If she had replied "Thanks for the info but I'm going to keep doing it how I'm doing it" that would have been fine and I would have shut up. People were constantly commenting on how she did such a great job.

stormieweather

Always.

HauteP1nk

I don't really look at too many people's diets or diaries... Of course, I don't praise people for being under. I praise people for exercising though or losing weight. Most of my friends are fairly healthy though. I choose them based on similar goals.

JenAiMarres

i look, and yes I tell people that have calories set too low excatly what I think!

dreamshadows

I don't comment on peoples eats because I know nothing about nutrition. I had WTG's on chips and cola days. I know then that people don't read the diary.

I will never meet my calorie goal. I set it to 1200 to take care of the fitbit adjustment.

lucky1ns

Not this again.

The "well done" is for logging food. The message that comes up says so and so logged their food.

_greeneyedgirl_

I know a lot of people don't. I wouldn't comment unless I looked at it, but that's just me.

_Bob_

I don't have time to check all of them, I try to as much as I can but mostly I just notice the other comment and drop a "WTG" but what I really like is the people that post even when they have went over or had an awful day. seriously, they are awesome not being afraid to lay it all out there.

and I think it's funny when people comment on my beer consumption, with out it i wouldn't hit my calorie goals

Mom0fTwo

I always look before I comment, if they are not hitting 1200 min. and not having nice fruit and veg and protein I don't say anything but if it looks like a day I would love to have then I say so

joemomma3d

i know it is terrible !! I see people complementing people on there food / exercise diary and i have a peek and i am horrified !! I am shocked at how poorly so many people eat !! I work hard at making sure i eat a balanced diet, I don't eat alot of breads & pastas (they really bother my stomach) I try to eat clean and eat 5 or 6 times a day. It is horrible when i look at people's diarys and see they eat alot of crap, very little veggies. Oh well. I am losing slowly but i know it will not come back and it will be easy to maintain since I eat real food . I cringe when i see the soda and fast food people eat i can't figure out why people would choose a coke 160 cal over a cup of plain yogurt and a sm pc of fruit with water ??

needtolose50lbs

I have mfp friends that regularly or semi-regularly log very VERY low nets cals. And I mean 600 or below, or even regularly in the 3-400s.

If I see a diary that low and it's unusual for them fine. If someone has had a massive burn and is struggling to plan the extra cals in, I might offer support with some advice on how to plan in extra snacks etc, or say not to worry if they "overeat" the following day because the body wont reset at midnight.

BUT if someone is regularly netting very low, even apparently successfully, with regular weight loss, I'll comment that I think cals that low are unhealthy.

However I see lot, and I mean LOTS of "well done", "wtg", "great job" replies on these ridiculously low net diaries.

What I dont know is, do these people think that is a good number of net cals? or do they comment without even opening the diary?

I look at every diary before I comment because sometimes I'm looking at what my friends are eating so that I can get some ideas on eating for myself. I don't understand how someone can say good job or wtg without looking at someone's diary, that's just fake to me. I personally like it when someone looks at my diary and gives me advice, that's why we have friends on here to encourage us, not to appease us.

snlperdue93

I have mfp friends that regularly or semi-regularly log very VERY low nets cals. And I mean 600 or below, or even regularly in the 3-400s.

If I see a diary that low and it's unusual for them fine. If someone has had a massive burn and is struggling to plan the extra cals in, I might offer support with some advice on how to plan in extra snacks etc, or say not to worry if they "overeat" the following day because the body wont reset at midnight.

BUT if someone is regularly netting very low, even apparently successfully, with regular weight loss, I'll comment that I think cals that low are unhealthy.

However I see lot, and I mean LOTS of "well done", "wtg", "great job" replies on these ridiculously low net diaries.

What I dont know is, do these people think that is a good number of net cals? or do they comment without even opening the diary?

I do look at the diaries, but some people you also have to understand what is going on with them.

Me, for instance, I am working with my OB/GYN as I lose weight and I meet with her monthly for a full check up and weigh in. I went in yesterday and asked her if I should eat my exercise calories back, or just eat the 1200 calories per day. She told me that for now she does NOT want me to eat my exercise calories back, so my diary always shows a net calorie number of around 700-900.

I am sure as my weight comes off, she will have me start eating some of my exercise calories back. However, I started out eating almost nothing except dinner and was only eating 400-500 calories a day and still working out, which stalled my metabolism and allowed me to keep on baby fat from my daughter.

So going up to 1200 and not eating exercise calories back for me is a huge difference.

I don't delete someone just because of daily numbers. If I think numbers are too low, I ask them why they are doing this to get the full picture so that I can motivate them to do what is right giving their situation.

Amy_Lynn74

If I am using the app on my phone I can't look at other people's diaries, so I just tell them they did a good job being under. I also have some friends that have their diaries blocked so you can't look at them. Occasionally I'll go and check out people's diaries on the web but not very often because I don't have a computer at home.

_Bob_

If I am using the app on my phone I can't look at other people's diaries, so I just tell them they did a good job being under. I also have some friends that have their diaries blocked so you can't look at them. Occasionally I'll go and check out people's diaries on the web but not very often because I don't have a computer at home.

that too