I don't understand the "I'm not gonna log it" mentality

AllTehBeers

I am not here to lose weight, I have never been overweight, and I do not think therefore, for me, that obsessively logging every single day(especially given I am prone to obsessiveness around food) is good. If I have a very bad day, I know I am having a bad day, and I have that thing in my head called a brain to tell me how many calories I have got up to. Logging it isn't going to change it, anymore than knowing how much I have eaten will change it. I think people get a bit too anal about what everyone else here is doing and logging or not logging. I personally, do not intend on spending the rest of my life sat here logging every bit of food I eat, while life passes me by, no sirree. I can understand those who are overweight feeling a need to do it, and to keep an eye on things, but I honestly think some here get way too obsessed with it, and to me, that sort of obsessiveness will eventually lead to their falling off the wagon totally. 'Normal' people do not sit there all day counting every calorie they put in their mouths, nor sitting wagging their finger at themselves if they have a pig out day once in a while. And nor shall I. Logging for me, simply serves the purpose of giving me a rough idea of what I will maintain my weight on and what sort of food/exercise balance I need, thus for me personally, it is not a longterm thing.

I think this is a huge generalization. Its not like I spend hours searching for foods on the database. After you use the same thing once or twice its right there on the list and you just have to check it. If I'm sitting in the passenger seat while someone is driving, there's time I can log my calories. Its not like I can do anything else while I'm riding around. Honestly, you probably spent more time writing that giant post then I took logging my calories for the entire day.

Also, I don't worry if I go over at all for one day because its weekly totals that count anyways. Pounds are lost in weeks, not days.

Il_DaniD_lI

When I was losing I logged every single day, but now that I'm in maintenance I may take a Saturday or Sunday off. No big deal.

ccburn5

I log everything possible everyday. I have had a lot of good days since joining MFP and a few BAD days that I have 100% admitted to. I figure that at the end of the week I can look back at my calorie intake, excercise, etc. and if I'm good then I'm satisfied.

bellesouth18

I have a food scale for my food. I have a weight scale for my body. I have MFP diary for my conscience. I have MFP friends/community for my mind. I have me for accountability in order to relearn how to eat the proper portion sizes. Not having accountability is why I weigh what I do now. I log everything that goes into my mouth. At a family reunion last Saturday, I added calories because it would have taken me all night to add each item that I ate. This site has made me more aware of what goes into my mouth. I never want to weigh what I weighed last week ever again. I tell myself this every day. I'm losing slowly but surely.

neverstray

I see a lot of people saying they're not logging the rest of their day because the food they ate was bad. Isn't that sort of the point of logging? If I didn't log when I went over my cals, I would never log... ha ha.

I just feel like the point of this site is to keep yourself accountable. If you only wanna see your food log on the good days, doesn't that defeat the point? It doesn't change the fact that you ate it. It's still in your stomach.

What do you guys think? Do you ever not log simply because you don't want to see it?

No. I log to stay within. Once I know it's over the top, it doesn't matter to me to log it. I don't have a curiosity to see how far over or to understand what I ate that day. I don't care. Once I go over the top, I'm not interested anymore. That doesn't mean I go crazy that day, it just means that that's it. Tomorrow is a new day.

ThisisMiss

I stop logging if I know I went way over. The reason why I log is to make sure I am within my calorie goals for the day. If I max that, and I already know it - it loses it's point for me. That doesn't mean I keep going crazy. I get right back on the horse the next day and learn my lesson on the scale. I think as long as you acknowledge the mistake and not use it as an excuse to eat like crap the rest of the day or let it spill over into the next day, why should I have to put it down? It's my own diary, I should be able to use it as I see fit. I am getting results, so what I do works for me.

kennethmgreen

I think everyone has to do things their own way. Of course we're probably all more likely to be successful if we log everything, but I just don't have the time or energy to worry about others' food diaries.

Spot on, Kort. Also, boobs.

I think these threads are often little more than justification flypaper. You know: If I am making decision A based on reasons X, Y, and Z, then any other decision besides A will get called into question. Am I right? I'll post and see who agrees with my own personal decision that works for me in the context of my own life.

OP, I'm not trying to pick on you. I don't think your intentions were bad. In general, though, I see these threads and the question of logging tied to accountability, honesty, "doing it right", etc. I see people talk about logging everything that goes in their mouths. And then either explicitly or via implications, say that those that don't log everything are liars, cheats, and/or doing it wrong.

And while FOR ME logging means accountability, it doesn't mean that's true for others. And often it's not about honesty, either. A decision not to log or a conscious break from logging isn't being dishonest or unaccountable. It's a decision to not log for whatever reason(s).

It's hard allowing that the opposite of what I choose to do may work wonders for someone else. We're all different. You say tomato, I say turnip.

johnsummerton

I log everything it just gives me guilty pleasure when i sometimes go over

SaraADaigle

..... I feel like a failure when I log and have to face the reality of not meeting my goals.... so I chicken out and don't log..... I am one of which you speak .... I need to get out of this bad habit ...... just woman up to what i eat