Pre-logging Food Diaries

ningggsm
ningggsm Posts: 202
in Chit-Chat
How many of you do this? I think it's interesting when I see others pre-logging their meals and snacks in, I guess it does give you an idea of what your calorie intake will be for that day. My question is, do many of you actually end up eating what you've entered? And do you find it easier to have all of this planned out beforehand, than deciding what you're eating at every meal right then and there?
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Replies

  • midschool22
    midschool22 Posts: 1,267 Member
    Yes. I do this during the work week. It's just easier for me that way. On my off days, I do it as I eat / exercise.
  • katamus
    katamus Posts: 2,363 Member
    I can't pre-log. I like to wing it. :)
  • Sarah_Wins
    Sarah_Wins Posts: 936 Member
    I prelog my food every night, sometimes up to two days at a time. I'm doing NROLFW and the diet macros are so specific that I couldn't possibly guess without going over on at least one of them.

    I never prelog exercise. Using an hrm, that just doesn't make sense to me.
  • AnnieMontes28
    AnnieMontes28 Posts: 11
    I tried this a couple times and it never worked for me, I always end up having more or getting too busy and not eating what I wrote. Now I just wait until the end of the day to get it all down or log as I go if I have time throughout the day
  • Arexxx
    Arexxx Posts: 486 Member
    I do :)
    I like to plan ahead, helps me stay on track xD
  • clydethecat
    clydethecat Posts: 1,087 Member
    i love pre-logging. then i dont have to guess throughout the day. plus i eat basically the same thing everyday during the week so its really just for me to know how many calories i have for dinner. i usually do end up eating what i pre-logged.

    has worked for me all of this year so far.
  • cyberpope
    cyberpope Posts: 2 Member
    Funny i Just did this for the first time tonight. I packed up our lunches for tomorrow so I knew what we'd be eating and figured I might as well go ahead and book it.
  • Hmmcglothl
    Hmmcglothl Posts: 51 Member
    I pre plan a lot. It helps me stay on track. I already know what I can and can't have for the day. Makes it a whole lot easier.
  • CarmenSandiegoInVA
    CarmenSandiegoInVA Posts: 235 Member
    I usually prelog so I know what I have to eat. It keeps me accountable so that I don't go over. That and if I want to eat something like FroYo, I know I will be able to fit it in.
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    I almost always enter my food before I eat it and I'm pretty good at sticking to my plan.
  • Brandi1168
    Brandi1168 Posts: 105 Member
    I like to pre-log food one day ahead, but I don't do it all the time. If I pre-log I do end up eating what I've logged. I don't log exercise in advance.
  • MsTru2U
    MsTru2U Posts: 119 Member
    Working 2 jobs and taking 2 classes in school :noway: , pre-logging is the best option for me. Occasionally it changes if I have last minute plans to meet with friends, but for the most part I stick with it. Pre-logging definitely keeps me on track. :wink:
  • CarmenSandiegoInVA
    CarmenSandiegoInVA Posts: 235 Member
    And also because I am leaning out trying to drop the rest of this fat and gain muscle. I need to try to get my macros in check. Especially my protein and carbs.
  • ningggsm
    ningggsm Posts: 202
    I prelog my food every night, sometimes up to two days at a time. I'm doing NROLFW and the diet macros are so specific that I couldn't possibly guess without going over on at least one of them.

    I never prelog exercise. Using an hrm, that just doesn't make sense to me.

    Lol. No offense to those that do prelog exercise, but that doesn't make sense to me either.
  • healthyformeanMona
    healthyformeanMona Posts: 143 Member
    I never thought of doing that. I guess if the time was right, I would. I like to log after, but maybe I need to try this.
  • Litlbeast
    Litlbeast Posts: 340 Member
    I sometimes do it, especially during a workday and I already have my breakfast, lunch and snack packed and ready to go. But it's usually easy for me to do most days, because I eat an assortment of the same things most of the time. And if I deviate from the plan, I'll just delete and replace the entry.
  • chimpy_chimp
    chimpy_chimp Posts: 106 Member
    I usually prelog so I know what I have to eat. It keeps me accountable so that I don't go over. That and if I want to eat something like FroYo, I know I will be able to fit it in.

    This!

    It means a lot when you see people whom have lost more than 75 pounds saying this. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO PRE-PLAN!
  • ningggsm
    ningggsm Posts: 202
    I can't pre-log. I like to wing it. :)

    Same here, lol. However, I do fail at trying to wing it sometimes. Haha. Thought I might try something new this time.
  • gadenni34
    gadenni34 Posts: 294 Member
    I often pre-log but only for the day. I normally don't go past that unless I have a meal out planned and I want to just make the decisions on what I am eating ahead of time.

    I am starting NROLFW myself and planning my day helps me to make sure I am on track for my protein, fat and carbs seem to balance out as long as I am getting my protein in.

    I log exercise in the am sometimes too but only because I *earn* a set amount of calories following the NROLFW plan so I can log on a day when I know I am going to be going to the gym.
  • ningggsm
    ningggsm Posts: 202
    Thank you everyone! I think I'm going to try it. :) Here I am thinking it was a waste of time and thought 'who sticks to their plan anyway?' But many of you seem to be successful with planning ahead of time. Will give it a go and see how things work out. Thanks again!
  • vabchloser
    vabchloser Posts: 223 Member
    I usually eat my breakfast, pre-log dinner and a snack, then that tells me what I have to budget for lunch and some day time snacks. That way I don't end up way over or way under at the end of the day.

    Usually I am within about 20 calories of 1350, my goal for the day.
  • ningggsm
    ningggsm Posts: 202
    I often pre-log but only for the day. I normally don't go past that unless I have a meal out planned and I want to just make the decisions on what I am eating ahead of time.

    I am starting NROLFW myself and planning my day helps me to make sure I am on track for my protein, fat and carbs seem to balance out as long as I am getting my protein in.

    I log exercise in the am sometimes too but only because I *earn* a set amount of calories following the NROLFW plan so I can log on a day when I know I am going to be going to the gym.


    Hi. :) What's NROLFW? Havn't heard of it. :P
  • ningggsm
    ningggsm Posts: 202
    I usually prelog so I know what I have to eat. It keeps me accountable so that I don't go over. That and if I want to eat something like FroYo, I know I will be able to fit it in.

    Awesome. :) I love frozen yogurt. Congrats on your weightloss btw! Amazing job!
  • andreanicole686
    andreanicole686 Posts: 406 Member
    Ever since I started pre-logging it helped me big time in keeping myself accountable for what I was going to eat. I usually try to pre-log the next day or two days. If I need to make a few changes I will but I usually keep it to what it says.
  • LeggyAmericanGirl
    LeggyAmericanGirl Posts: 285 Member
    The first step in success is PLAN
  • omanitshann
    omanitshann Posts: 179
    i almost always pre log. 95% of the time i stick to what I log, unless I have an extra snack or something. I just like knowing, takes the stress off over eating.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    I try to pre-log at least my breakfast and my lunch. I generally find that I tend to follow it though sometimes I'll bring one or two items and may move them around or eat less so I'll modify the quantities at work. It works for me which is nice. Dinner...that's more a fly by the pants sorta deal. I never know what I'm planning on eating.
  • carrietehbear
    carrietehbear Posts: 384 Member
    I pre-log my food during the work week. I eat what I log 95% of the time. If anything changes it is usually dinner and evening snack. Actually, I usually end up having to add more food to those meals because of my workouts. My weekends are a little less predictable so I don't usually get to pre-log.
  • suckerlove
    suckerlove Posts: 198
    I pre log most things and that way I can get myself to about 1000 of my 1250 cal and if I need a snack I add it later.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    My question is, do many of you actually end up eating what you've entered? And do you find it easier to have all of this planned out beforehand, than deciding what you're eating at every meal right then and there?

    I pre-log virtually every weekday.

    It's MUCH easier for me this way. We do our menu planning and shopping Sunday mornings. I create all the recipes in MFP and see how the carb/protein/sodium etc balances out. Based on that I set up my week. If I am having a higher carb, lower protein dinner, I know to structure my lunch appropriately so I hit my macros. If a certain meal is very high calorie, I know to go lighter on my snacks.

    I sometimes deviate from my plan but not typically. In fact, pre-logging helps me stay on track. It's easier to say "no" to a cookie at work if I know what I'm having for dinner and treats that day and I know the cookie won't fit.

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