What's the deal with no logging a bad day.

jiggy_gibby

I log every day except for traveling <no smart phone, no internet connection>.

If I have a day I overeat, I log it all. Occasionally, I might be embarassed to put something in (like a whole box of crackers) but I usually do. If I am in a hurry then I log in calories only. I am not going to lie to myself - I ate those calories.

The friends on my MFP list don't judge me for what I eat on a "bad day" and if they do, they can delete me.

Why other people log or not is their business. I'm not going to change my habits because of them. Live and let live.

TheBraveryLover

I don't know why people get so bent out of shape about others' diaries. Let them log how they want. Why does that have any effect on your own weight loss journey?

Agreed.

MMarvelous

I log EVERYTHING! I have to be ACCOUNTABLE for my actions - GOOD, BAD & UGLY! This is the only way for me to learn, grow, adjust and develop different strategies to deal w/ my current unhealthy life style. I refuse to accept my body and unhealthy eating habits but I ACCEPT the challenge to change them EVERY DAY...GOOD, BAD & UGLY!

SergeantSunshine_reused

A bad day for me is usually if I go out to eat. Due to the fact that I cannot know for certain what the calorie content was, I don't log it. (This doesn't count for chain restaurants as their nutrition info is generally on this site).

Also, I just don't want to beat myself up too much about having the occasional bad day.

This.

If I have a day where I go over it is because I go out with friends and have a good time. I don't log it because one bad day isn't a big deal, and I just don't care enough to. I don't want to freak out about calories, I want to go and enjoy time with my friends and not have to worry.

FrostyFour

When I don't log it's not cause of the guilt, it's usually cause there's too much stuff I'd have to look up to put in there. On a good diet day I eat maybe 10 different things. On bad days I'm eating chips, things without nutritional labels, diggin up candy and donuts from my MIL's room, maybe it's something from the local bakery that I just don't know how to log anyway. Or I'm out to eat and can't find a similar item on MFP. Like the thai garlic shrimp I got last week? No freakin way that was only 100 calories, no fat, sodium or protein but that's what the only other thing like it said. Or I'm at a friends house and don't want to bother them for the recipe of something they made.

Quasita

Personally, I log the days that I originally chose for my "on goal" days. Those days that I work out, and want to make sure that I eat well enough to support the workouts. I have stopped "completing" my diary entries because I'm tired of people being prompted to go look, critique, whatever they want.

Maybe announcing it is accountability enough for them right now?

I don't announce it when I choose not to log, I just don't log. I figure when I'm ready to do it, I will. So, I think the real question is, why are you announcing it to your friends in the first place?

Jmstill300

I log everything..... it makes me more accountable when I see those numbers going up. It also helps when you hit a gain or plateau. You can look back and figure where you went wrong. Logging it all stops me from "going any further" when I make a bad choice. Thought it was what this site was about??????

I agree with this entirely!

Kerri_is_so_very

I am spending the day in Boston tomorrow, going to a Red Sox game and I plan to enjoy many many beers, probably a hot dog and who knows what else. Just for the day I want to forget about counting every morsel that enters my lips, I do not want to think of every Sam Adams I drink as 250+ cals....tomorrow will be the first day I have not logged all of my everything since I joined this site 75+ days ago. I will enter a food note that says "AWOL - Red Sox Fever", but I will not feel guilty about not logging...but announcing why I am not logging to my "pals" lets them know their feedback or approval is not required for the day . And I have added several extra work outs this week to make up for not doing any tomorrow. To each their own I guess.

soontobesam

Well you see, if you don't log stuff, your body doesn't process it, basic biology really!

That goes along with the the though that if no one sees you eat it it has 0 calories.

Also - calories don't count on your birthday. <-- totally used that before (prior to being a food logging *kitten*)

dlwyatt82

<--- guilty. There are quite a few small snacks that don't make it into my diary. I keep a mental tally of them and try to make sure it doesn't bump me by more than a couple hundred calories at most. If I hit a plateau that lasts for more than a month or so, I'll have to be more strict about that, but for now, the weight is still coming off, and I can have my little secret chocolates now and then.

PaperThinLips

log everything.. that's what i do.
it helps me know HOW MUCH OF WHAT I'M GETTING.

Smuterella

Personally, I need to log the bad so that I can see my weekly intake and see why I haven't lost. You can't work out trends etc without logging everything.

soontobesam

I think it's because people feel altogether too much guilt about eating anything they consider "bad". I don't believe in "bad" days and "good" days. If I'm breathing and my kids are healthy, EVERY day is a good day! I DO have high-calorie days and low-calorie days, and days where I eat junk food--doesn't make it a "bad" day to me. I feel zero guilt about my food choices, so I just log it and move on. I think the guilt eats at some people, and they don't want to be reminded about over-eating. Honestly, I'm really grateful to finally be free of that mindset, because I strongly believe all that guilt was keeping me fat. I log it all now, and I'm FREE!

This!!

To each their own and how you achieve your goals is none of my business but for myself - logging all my good, bad, or just plain rediculous is how I hold myself to a higher standard. And

prsusa38

People are only cheating themselves if they don't log everything. I understand you might not be able to log daily, however, don't just skip your bad days. I'm new at this website but think it will help by keeping me honest.

dlwyatt82

People are only cheating themselves if they don't log everything. I understand you might not be able to log daily, however, don't just skip your bad days. I'm new at this website but think it will help by keeping me honest.

Basically true, but I do it anyway. Unless (or until) the weight stops coming off, I won't really see it as a problem worth changing.

leomom72

bump

LadyKatieBug

alot of it has to do with people being really judgmental. me I log everyday even when I eat 3 mini meals and 2 snacks I am on the prevent diabetes diet with my family they give a list of eating to help balance your proteins, carbs, sugar etc they are lower calorie I get questioned a lot without knowing the circumstances behind it. many like me come for suport not judgementalness.

Babymomakell

Personally, I dont see how it matters, you are only cheating yourself, and if you are not logging just to look better to "others" than in my opinion you need to re-evaluate whats important. For me, my logs are private because I dont feel the need to explain my choices to anyone, be supportive of others and worry about your own choices. As I mentioned before, you are doing this for YOU and that is the ONLY way you will be sucessfull

thistimeismytime

Well you see, if you don't log stuff, your body doesn't process it, basic biology really!

That goes along with the the though that if no one sees you eat it it has 0 calories.

Also - calories don't count on your birthday. <-- totally used that before (prior to being a food logging *kitten*)

Haha! I used to subscribe to that too--Calories also didn't count on the weekends, past 8 p.m., on bank and government holidays, sick days, sad days, bored days, stressed days, or leap year days...guess that's why I'm here now! :laugh:

em435

Usually, when I have a bad day, something else is bothering me and seeing 4 red digits on MFP is really no help to me.

I keep a mental tally of my calories throughout the day anyway though and often log it later on in the week so I'll still know my average and learn to improve my food choices when stressed.

Aeriesified

Personally, I log things as I pack them in my lunch so I've got the entry even if I forget to log later. If someone at work orders pizza or chinese food or something, I'll wait until the next day to log it if I know I've overindulged. I know I've done bad, and I sit there and wonder how bad for the rest of the day. Then the next day I'll put it in, and I'll be able to get over it because I'm focusing on that day, and not the day before.

fdny9943

I am spending the day in Boston tomorrow, going to a Red Sox game and I plan to enjoy many many beers, probably a hot dog and who knows what else. Just for the day I want to forget about counting every morsel that enters my lips, I do not want to think of every Sam Adams I drink as 250+ cals....tomorrow will be the first day I have not logged all of my everything since I joined this site 75+ days ago. I will enter a food note that says "AWOL - Red Sox Fever", but I will not feel guilty about not logging...but announcing why I am not logging to my "pals" lets them know their feedback or approval is not required for the day . And I have added several extra work outs this week to make up for not doing any tomorrow. To each their own I guess.

jjnt007

I log everyday. Today you will notice I logged my baby shower cupcake. It was delicious followed by an hour at the gym.