Do you log when you binge?

NoxDineen

I log EVERYTHING, even things like multi-vitamins and diet coke (zero calories sure, but it has sodium). I've had issues with depression, so I track my mood using another app on my phone as well. I find it useful to be able to correlate mood swings with what's going into my body and how much I'm exercising. (Since I started working out I feel significantly better all the time, which I guess shouldn't be a surprise.)

Logging it makes you accountable, if something triggered a binge mention that in the day's food notes but don't pretend the binge didn't happen.

When I want to eat something I know I probably shouldn't I actually log it *before* I eat it. Half the time seeing the calories right there, and looking at my macronutrient pie chart get all skewed, makes me go looking for a healthier version of what I'm about to eat.

Bottom line, the food log is only as good a tool as you make it. Not logging something doesn't mean the calories didn't happen, so you may as well have the info available to you.

Tat2dDom624

I haven't so far, and don't plan on logging it in the future. But that's happened maybe TWICE in almost a month, and that alone has been giving me that will power that i seek in order to reach my goal weight.

lastchance2010

I didn't at first, but I do now because I have never thought about the calories consumed and visually seeing how many i can haul away...and probably be sick the next day...I have to be true to myself because if I'm not...then I will never get to my goal weight. So I say yes to logging...even if it hurts. My food log is on private mostly because I would HATE for my friends to see a binge. :frown: But the good news is...I don't do it as much because I don't like to get to or near that 3500 calories mark. So that's a +. I guess. :huh:

987Runner

I'm trying to now. I had a mini-binge last night and actually logged it. As others have said, it's being honest and seeing where you messed up. Plus, keeping your diary open and knowing others are looking at it keeps ya more honest!

I didn't use to, only because I would eat such a variety I wouldn't be able to remember all that I ate!:blushing:

DeadMarsha

I would log everything, or it wouldn't be using the tool that MFP provides correctly. I've only been here for a week so my moral is high, haha, but I'm sure I'll have a bad day and I know I'll have to track it.

I've found that planning my meals after breakfast (which is the same every day for me, eggs & toast & oatmeal and a banana for mid-morning snack) really helps me from eating extra junk food, because I factor in my treats for the day and know that I can deny that leftover red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting that magically appeared in the breakroom, because I have my husband's homemade lemon squares and a glass of wine waiting for me at the end of the day (just as an example)

mem50

Yep. If you do the crime, do the time.

Don't sweep it under the rug. Log it, and look it right in the face. This helps me from repeating the mistake too often.

^this.

I don't like seeing it so it helps me to do my best not to do it again. Not that I binge on anything I can get my hands on, I just go a little nuts sometimes on one particular food. Today will be one of them. KFC....here I come!!!!!!

picassoadagio

I use to not log, because I didn't like seeing the numbers in red and seeing the damage I was doing to myself, but then my MFP friends said "do it, don't feel embarassed", so I did it, and I rarely have binge days now. Don't get me wrong, I still binge, but not as bad. And I'm learning, it's okay for the numbers to be over a little, it's when your 300+ calories over that you should feel guilt.

Shyfire62

Yes, I log everything, it's a wake-up call when you see what you've done and what the new projection is.. yikes!! . I would try and calculate the total calories as best I could by looking at the nutritional values on the package(s) and then just do a 'quick add'. If it was candy and such- you already know that most of those are carb cals, plus fat for chocolate and cake etc.

That being said... knock it off!!

lastchance2010

Yup, I log the good the bad and the very ugly binges.

yep.

DoOrDoNotThereIsNoTry1

Absolutely. First because you are allowed from time to time to have a crap day. Second, to provide motivation for the remaining days of the week to burn the calories that you binged on and make it up to yourself. You should never have to feel guilty!

Elzecat

I do sometimes.
I don't attach "shame" to it though...I just feel like, ok, I overdid it, it's not shameful but it will hinder my overall progress if I binge too often... now I need to get back on my healthier habits and keep working on my goals.

mfpcopine

I usually try to log something, even if it's just 1,000 quick calories. I don't have the fastest computer system and sometimes looking up things and adding them can be very time-consuming.

vibegirl

I don't...luckily it doesn't happen too often...but I KNOW what I did..I'm not one to wallow in it ;o) I may exercise more as my 'compensation' - so that helps. Thankfully each day is a fresh start!

Jenspark

Yes! One of the things I've found is that now that I've been eating healthy for awhile what I classify as a binge now is much less than a binge would have been for me 6 months ago. So,logging helps me keep it in perspective and get back on track quicker.
(Plus, when I get on the scales a week later, I'll remember why I didn't see the results I wanted.)

ShazMc73

It can sometimes be completely mortifying but "if I bite it I write it".

Rececntly I went through 3 months of not eating properly with lots of binges in between; looking at those graphs week by way woke me up! Logging not only makes me accountable, but honest with myself through this process. When I am feeling low because I put back on 8 lbs, guess what, I can look back at my logs and see exactly how it happened.


As of today, 21 days back on track with a good frame of mind so no binges forseen in the future! :happy:

lizziebeth1028

Yes :sad: It's very eye opening!!!:noway: And it helps me curb future binges...doesn't completely stop me but definitely will make you more mindful of what's going in your mouth in the future!

Shell_7609

I do, because it's a wake up call when you hit complete & see that 5 week potential, plus if I show a gain, I want to be able to look back & see what I did through the week & do differently the next

juliewalker1

can anyone help me please i have lost 16lb should i decrease my calorie intake if so does any one know what to i am now 12 stone

peacelovelose

I do sometimes, and I'd recommend at least trying it a few times because occasionally I'll see that my binge really wasn't the end of the world, or that it was really one or two choice items that messed me up for the day, or how well I would have done WITHOUT the binge, so it can be a valuable learning experience.
BUT I also don't MAKE myself do it all the time, because I know sometimes I will just find it too discouraging, or it will discourage my use of MFP... I mean, if I know I've messed up, why do I need to spend 15 minutes re-living the binge in my head, logging each morsel meticulously? It just isn't good for my personal psyche/motivation.

Anna800

I log evething. Now if I had a smartphone and could instantly log, then that would stop me from binging.

lastchance2010

Absolutely. First because you are allowed from time to time to have a crap day. Second, to provide motivation for the remaining days of the week to burn the calories that you binged on and make it up to yourself. You should never have to feel guilty!

yes....exactly.

kcp0307

Yes I do...it makes me feel horrible but if you're trying to lose you just have to be honest with yourself in case you see little or no change and you want to know why....you can look back to the log. It doesn't make sense to log only when you're "playing fair" then don't log when you're in "binge mode"! Everything counts! Unless it's zero of course!

AJayHubs

I normally get pissed at myself and don't log it. I just tell myself I'm starting back up tomorrow.

NAcetoLang

Yes! This is the most important time to log in my opinion. Always forgive yourself, but also always learn from what you do... positive OR negative, there is always a lesson.

fitmom2000

I think the key to long term success is to be accountable for your decisions, so if you normally log all of your food, log it in, but I would disagree with the people who say to log it in for shame. If this is going to be a sustainable lifestyle, you can't feel shame every time you "break the rules" or "break your diet," those types of emotions are negative and losing weight is about feeling better.

The real question is - how did you physically feel after eating all of that? Did you have more energy? Did you feel strong? Did you feel satisfied? My guess is you didn't physically feel nearly as well as you do on the days you excercise and eat well, so focus on how GOOD you feel when you are making healthy choices, and you probably won't binge again for a while.

I'm down aout 85 pounds in just under two years. It's been slow, but it's sustainable and I don't ever feel like I'm on a diet. When I plateau for too long I start logging my food again so that i keep my portion sizes in check, but honestly the occassional binge --- when that plate of cheese fries just sounds awesome after a stressful day - usually leaves me feeling physically slow and blah, and I remember that physical feeling hte next time I emotionally think I want the fries --- it's amazing how quickly the desire for the fries goes away.

mspris2u

I do and sometimes I'm quite embarrassed about it. I try to write something on the notes too so I can go back and look at what triggered it.

Sometimes when I think I did really bad it will turn out to be not so bad.. Bonus!

tangal88

depends - I have a free day once a week , so normally I do not log it, because I don't consider it a "bad" day, binge day whatever. It a planned day "free cal, no count" day.

Generally a holiday, or planned event, would be my freeday, also.

I have logged them before, so I do know roughly what the calorie choices will be. I understand the actually calories I am consuming roughly. But I don't really panic over it. Its just one day.

Personally I dont feel "yucky" sick or whatever. I just enjoy a relaxed day, where I can be less concerned over the specific numbers, and take care of any craving I may have at the moment.

All other days I do log, so if I do go over for some reason i log it. But usually it not very bad - because I have a free day once a week coming for that.

I know I can have that theater popcorn, candy bar, soda, extra calorie dinner, and lunch, etc etc on my free day thats coming. So that's when I have it. Some freedays I may have a lot, some days not so much. Just depends on what I want, what I am doing at the time, and so forth. I never eat just to eat. But if I want something, I have it.

If I really must have a cookie or two, candy bar, whatever, outside of my normal food choices on other days, I eat in moderation, track serving sizes, add it to my meals for the day, and plan accordingly with my other food choices, if I still have time. If Its at the end of the day, and I can't adjust other ares, I log it, and it is what it is. I don't do it daily, so its not a deal breaker.

For me it works, and I never feel deprived, or "dieting", and I have lost 60 pounds. For me its not a trigger, that keeps me off track. I know the next day, I just get back to my more disciplined day to day normal plan. Its all works out.

teagirlmedium

I log it. I'm not upset about messing up one day. Plus its not like my friends and family won't notice when they see me eating or drinking it, they are the ones who point it out when I mess up and ask me did I give up when they see me eat or drink what they think I shouldn't, so why would I keep it from a log on a website its not like I don't know I ate or drank a ton more of stuff that I shouldn't have so not logging it isn't helping me any. I also like to see how much it says I would be if I kept eating like that all the time.

sunshinedean

I log it ~ I wouldn't be doing myself any favors if I didn't! I would try @ guess what I ate to be specific not quick adding it. Was it a "binge" that you need to learn from or was it a night out. I would go as far to log in the edit field what was happening if it were a binge so I can become more aware of triggers; if it was a nitght out and nothing more I would write how I felt after and the next day so I can make a better choice next night out to maybe choose healthier options or the same options only a counted serving size so you have the goodie but YOU are in control of it!! Most importantly "move on" nothing good comes from beating yourself up over it; learn from it yes but don't walo in spilt milk!! :embarassed: We have all done it!!

abcmom03

Knowing that I am going to log and my MFP buddies will see it, usually keeps me from eating something bad! Notice I said USUALLY :-)