Food Diary Snooping... OR Why is your diary CLOSED?!

secretlobster

a) I'm not looking for advice, I've spent years trying to figure out how to maintain my weight and I'm happy with my diet
b) It's not indicative of everything I put in my mouth. I use it as a tool to look at trends in my nutrition.

thebigcb

Lost 305lbs? That is a serious achievement. Amazing stuff. Truely is

TwtyMami35

There is a difference between advice and blatant judgment. We are all on here for the same reason. To become more fit and healthy. When people give advice and it is actually a hard judment on someone else's eating habits, it demotivates. I was on here for only one month and received some unfair remarks. I appreciate the few members that were courteous enough to send messages that were between only us.

shan_0517

Anyone can read mine.. Don't care :glasses:

ChitownFoodie

My diary is closed because after a year of being on MFP, I have decided to try and not log. Basically, I am trying to see if I can do this on my own now.

12skipafew99100

I guess I never pay much attention. Mine is closed because I KNOW I eat weird foods or too much of one thing or the other and me seeing it and logging it for myself is as much scrutiny as I can handle haha.

this^

mamaclose

Lost 305lbs? That is a serious achievement. Amazing stuff. Truely is

^^Yeah, that. Wow.

itsalaina

mine is closed because I have a hard enough time eating in public and would rather not share. I eat pretty healthy though, but some days I slip.

(i also keep it closed so people cant see what I do as exercise)

Silver_Star

Mine is open to public scrutiny and public shaming. LOL.
i personally dont care who looks at it....if i get a scolding for eating too much carbs or sodium...then its because that someone actually took the time to let me know he/she cares!

Anu_mee13

My diary is open. I don't have anything to hide. When I choose to skim through someone's diary, I don't make a big deal about what someone's eating. The quickest way to piss someone off is to come at them about what they're eating. Just that simple. If they don't think what' they're eating is one, it's not my place to tell them different. OTOH, if they're asking for opinions on what can they do differently to clean up their diet, then someone's response would be warranted!

KrazyAsianNic

I recently just opened my food diary open to my friends. At first I didn't becuase if I had a bad day, I didn't want to share, but I figure the people I add probably want to help me as much as I want to help them, so I opened it to them. I don't really "snoop" though. except for my boyfriend, I have looked at 2 other people, only to see what they are doing to keep the pounds falling of amazingly fast.

Ribena145

I also have that hangup here. That fear of having a diary full of bad days in an online community full of people who know what the heck they're doing, and eat right, and are proud of tracking it and showing it. Despite knowing it's irrational, I'm still afraid of being judged for still being so off-track.

And oddly, that's one reason I leave mine open. I'm not 100% on-track. I'm moving gradually towards a better-for-me diet. I found it reassuring to read other people's open diaries and realize that not everyone here was perfect either.

I started with mine closed (thinking I didn't eat well) and had looked at a few open ones and realized I eat really well - not perfect - but pretty darn good I think. I also keep it open, hoping that others will see what you can eat (and how much) without going to the golden arches, etc, etc.

On the other hand, who am I to judge others, when what I see that they're eating is only a small snap shot of their lives.

drmattski

<<Open>>

I find that making the public commitment keeps me honest. I like to think it doesn't influence my choices, but I am sure it does. :happy:

I just try to stick to "Eat it - log it" - so far working pretty well.

The biggest thing about logging is making ME aware of EVERYTHING I consume. It comes down to becoming "mindful" whenever we are contemplating putting something in our mouths. For me, that added "how would this look in my diary?" might be just enough for me to avoid scarfing down a mess o' donuts!

I welcome all feedback!

Cheers,
Matt

Amberetta82

Mine is open. It's whatever. I try.

Specialkayrina

Mine is open from friends .
I just started my journey into healthy life and I have lots to learn, so I love to look on others people diaries to get new ideas for snacks or meals.

blondejillie

Mine is open to friends, but I may close it. Since this site s open and searchable on Google, that changes everything to me. I hate that.

Really? Not cool.

blondejillie

Mine is open, and awash with Red wine.

:drinker: :drinker:

rachemn

Mine is wide open because it helps me stay on track. Sometimes it will actually stop me from eating bad stuff because I don't want my friends to see it!!

I don't spend a lot of time checking out other's diary's because I'm usually checking in to MFP on my phone, but if I'm going through to support other's and the post says that they completed their journal for the day, I won't comment if I haven't actually been able to check out their diary. I don't want to give 'token' support.

I think we're all on here because we want to improve our lifestyle and make changes. We're not always going to make the right choices. I don't ever give harsh criticism, but I might just casually mention something like 'run from McDonalds!'

If they don't like my comments, they can delete me and vice versa. This isn't facebook. I don't actually know any of my MFP friends..though I would like to meet a lot of them!

jessabethheather

Mine is open because I find sometimes thinking about my MFP friends reading my diary at the end of the night gives me the little push I need to skip that snack late at night when I am at goal for the day. Being accountable to myself should be most important, but let's be honest, if we have weight to lose, we aren't doing a great job of being accountable to just ourselves.

graelwyn

I keep mine open to friends now, as no-one other than that seemed to notice or comment on my diary anyway, unless I posted asking about it. Also, I have issues with binge eating sometimes, and bulimia, so I get a bit uncomfortable with having that all open to the public. I am pretty honest in my diary and diary notes and so prefer only those who are friends and who are offering mutual support, to be able to read it.

I tend to rarely look at other peoples' diaries, outside of friends, unless I see something that stands out in a post.
My diary is pretty boring mostly, anyway.

numindan

My diary is closed because I have so many food allergies and intolerances (and am celiac on top of that). I don't want to deal with well meaning comments suggesting I substitute X food for Y as often Y will be a food that would either make me very ill, or could possibly kill me. I track everything I eat or drink for my reference and to show my family doc/gastroenterologist/dietician if/when they ask what I'm eating. And I state as much in my profile...

That said, I have been known to recommend eating nuts to people looking to up their calorie intake and they're on the "will kill me" list of foods denied to me. Perhaps a case of do as I say, not as I do

I rarely look at anyone else's diary even when they're soliciting feedback. I'm just not comfortable commenting on other's choices.

ashreynolds09

mine is open to my friends, which I guess I'm not too specific on my friends. I just don't need Joe-Blow with nothing better to do emailing me what's so wrong with my diet. I am well aware that my love for all things sugar is what has led me to be fat! I also know that I have come a long way from the way I used to eat to now, and my slip ups are minor compared to what I used to eat. Its a wonder I don't weight about 300 pounds right now, honestly!

penrbrown

My diary is closed because I have so many food allergies and intolerances (and am celiac on top of that). I don't want to deal with well meaning comments suggesting I substitute X food for Y as often Y will be a food that would either make me very ill, or could possibly kill me. I track everything I eat or drink for my reference and to show my family doc/gastroenterologist/dietician if/when they ask what I'm eating. And I state as much in my profile...

That said, I have been known to recommend eating nuts to people looking to up their calorie intake and they're on the "will kill me" list of foods denied to me. Perhaps a case of do as I say, not as I do

I rarely look at anyone else's diary even when they're soliciting feedback. I'm just not comfortable commenting on other's choices.

Sounds like we have the same food issues.

amyreafleng

Open to friends...feel free to add me. I like to see what others are eating...to get ideas...to compare...to make sure I am making the best choices I can! Not to judge...be critical...or belittle

shmunster

Mine is open, I dont really care what people think, I cant change what I've eaten after I've eaten it

I did recently find a comment on a friends wall from someone else commenting on how out of control my eating over easter had been, it shocked me a little and I closed my diary, for about 10 min then I realised what did it matter, I may have over eaten but I had also burnt around 5000 cals in exercise as well lol!

gracieabem

Mine is open. I don't have any friends yet, and I cannot say I have had any comments about what I eat, well at least no unsolicited advice.

There are some things that I have eaten in the past week (Easter) that I'm not 100% happy with BUT I'm not going to feel too guilty about it. I will just move on and continue as I am - making healthier choices that are sustainable for a lifetime.

straitcrzyMary

Mine is open. I like people making comments or suggestions for me. It really does help. I also like looking at other people's diary it gives me different choices of something I might consider to eat.

Its really hard for me to say you are doing a great job if I really can't see what you have done.

straitcrzyMary

I agree with you Matt. Open....

kat82501

Mine is open because I'm super nosy and I don't want to be a hypocrite

mdj1501

Mine is open to friends.. I like viewing because I get ideas! Also, if someone has a really good diary then it motivates me to do better. I have a love/hate relationship with popcorn and ice cream.. Although I did move to air popcorn and skinny cow ice cream thanks to seeing it on another diary. If I wouldn't have, I probably would not have thought about it.

MIne is open to friends for the same reason... I love getting ideas from others! And... it holds me accountable for what goes in my mouth.