Open food diary

nailtechbec

I'm thinking about opening my food diary (I don't think it is right now) but I was just wondering if a) it will show all my diary from when I started or just from the day I open it and b) if any of you find it beneficial to have your diaries open ? Does knowing ppl can see what you eat make you make better decisions or does it just invite others to criticise the choices you've made each day ! I've read that some ppl will only be friends with you if you're diary is open which I find a bit odd. What are your thoughts ?

chelle_fri

I have mine open to friends and it's off and on open to everyone. I find it holds me accountable. I've never encountered anyone bashing my eating habits, only friendly suggestions. I think if you open it up, people can go back as far as they please. But what's the point of making friends on here if you aren't going to share your experience with them? That's my opinion

marycmeadows

a lot of people choose to only friend people if their diaries are open because if you're truly committed, this holds you more accountable - and that's what anyone who is truly committed should want. Besides, what are you hiding? everyone messes up. The sad thing is even if your diary is open, a lot of people just look and see that you're under your calorie goal without even looking at your food choices and say 'good job' or whatever. I prefer to look at peoples diaries - give me ideas - and I can give them actual feedback so when they wonder why they're not losing weight, they have actual feedback to go on.

MinnieInMaine

Personally, I don't think it's anyone's business. Mine's open to my friends but I rarely "complete" my days because I don't care for the comments - good or bad. I'm an adult, I know what works for me and what doesn't. If I need help, I'll ask for it and I treat others in kind. If someone on the boards or in my FL asks for help, I'll review it and give my opinion.

rubyautumn4

Mine and open and I do value feedback and suggestions on what I can do to improve - even though I already know when I shouldn't eat something or what have you it's helpful to have someone helping me stay accountable. I do flip through my friends diaries for ideas and suggestions as well.

Koldnomore

Personally, I don't think it's anyone's business. Mine's open to my friends but I rarely "complete" my days because I don't care for the comments - good or bad. I'm an adult, I know what works for me and what doesn't. If I need help, I'll ask for it and I treat others in kind. If someone on the boards or in my FL asks for help, I'll review it and give my opinion.

This is me. My diary has been 'public' since day 1. I turn off my messages so I don't spam my friends with "..has completed her diary.." people can look if they want but I don't ask for advice. I do not friend unless I can see the diary - I will NOT congratulate people for under-eating. I'm straight forward and honest (blunt). If someone is eating garbage daily I will call them on it. If someone is not eating enough/too much I will tell them. I look at diaries to get ideas for myself and to see how others are hitting their macros (which is my focus) so that I can try to improve myself and also so that I can spot issues when people complain about hitting plateaus.

I guess it depends what you want. If you have the control over what you eat or if you need help with it.

liittlesparrow

My diary is open, although I'm not sure if it's public or just friends. To be honest, I don't think anyone cares to look at my food diary, so I don't care that it's open. If I got feedback on it, good or bad, I'd just be shocked someone was actually looking at it.

deb3129

Mine is open to everyone. That way if people have questions about what I am eating, they can just look. I am not trying to hide anything, and I think it does make me be more accountable on some days to know that everything I eat is visible to everyone. So far I have not had anyone look at it and be negative, though if they did I would not worry too much about it, since what I am doing is working for me.

Cherbear67

Mine is off to everybody.. I have seen some nasty remarks about people's food diaries on here and as far as I am concerned it's my own personal business.

CottonCandyKisses

Mine is open. I haven't gotten any rude comments yet. I like to look at others diaries for meal/snack ideas, especially if they eat around the same calories a day as me.

PriceK01

Mine is open to friends. It helps keep me accountable.

nailtechbec

Thanks, appreciate the insight, and I think I will open it I will just have to have far more logging dedication, well just dedication in general as I have up to this point had great weeks and slack weeks but from now on they'll all be great ! X

Gerald_King

My diary is open to all but people get bored with mine because its been the same food for the past few weeks because i'm testing MFP weightloss calculator just a bit of fun for me i'm weird like that lol

mygrl4meee

Mine is open to everyone. I find it helps me to stay away from the really high calorie junk. It was hard at first knowing people can see what I am eating but it doesn't bother me now.

mygrl4meee

My diary is open to all but people get bored with mine because its been the same food for the past few weeks because i'm testing MFP weightloss calculator just a bit of fun for me i'm weird like that lol

Too funny. You should let us all know if its accurate or not.

519harley

Mine is open to friends. It helps keep me accountable.
^
This!

Smokey19

I have an open diary and have since I started. You can go back and view other days on other people's diaries and I find it beneficial having mine open. My friends don't criticize my food choices, they make suggestions that are benefical to me. I befriend anyone. I don't care if people have their diaries open...that is their own decision/preference. Feel free to add me for support and encouragement.

mandy0688

That is your decision. I have mine open so ppl can give me suggestions and i love looking at others for ideas. Now for the people who want to only accept friends due to the diarys being open, i think its stupid that they think that but thats thier opinion. I could care less now if you need advice on what u are eating then yea i would need to see your diary. And when you open ur diary, we can see everything you eat from the entire time you been on MFP. If you want to open it, its up to you whether you want to or not

babeinthemoon

I have my diary open because I've had several people ask me what are some good food combinations. I tend to have the same things over an over, so it is just easier (for me) to let them look at my diary instead of having to write it out every time.

km202

I have mine open to friends and it's off and on open to everyone. I find it holds me accountable. I've never encountered anyone bashing my eating habits, only friendly suggestions. I think if you open it up, people can go back as far as they please. But what's the point of making friends on here if you aren't going to share your experience with them? That's my opinion

I pretty much completely agree with this. Mine is open to the public. I do feel like it makes me more accountable. I have never had someone be negative. Most people comment and encourage, even when I go over for the day.

mandy0688

Mine is off to everybody.. I have seen some nasty remarks about people's food diaries on here and as far as I am concerned it's my own personal business.

I don't ever get issues like that i have had ppl who messaged me with opinions but NOTHING mean. If ppl want to be mean to me then there is a unfriend button. Its for suggestions only not to be a *kitten* about

momofthreesons

open diary= accountability! I dont limit friends to just those with an open diary though.. takes a while to get there i suppose! Good luck in your journey!

julie781

I have mine open so I can be held accountable. Nobody busts my *kitten* for having a bad day and I welcome all unsolicited advice from my friends.

mezasu

Like others have said, I keep mine open to my friends because I like the added pressure of being held accountable. One more reason not to binge!

restoreleanne

I have mine open to friends and it's off and on open to everyone. I find it holds me accountable. I've never encountered anyone bashing my eating habits, only friendly suggestions. I think if you open it up, people can go back as far as they please. But what's the point of making friends on here if you aren't going to share your experience with them? That's my opinion

I feel the same way

Nefetete

For your 1st question, yes once you open you diary it will show all entries not just from the day you opened.

Mine is open to public I believe, it keeps me accountable but mostly I don’t mind others taking a peek. Positive / negative comments will be taken with the grain of salt. I guess I would not suggest having it open if you are sensitive to comments that you might consider negative.

phyllio77

I keep my diary closed to everyone except me. I send my daily intake to some of my friends for suggestions or recipes. I log everything I eat and even if its way over. I am a private person and prefer it this way. I feel I am an adult and just as accountable regardless if others can see it or not. I have had my diary open a few times but it felt wrong some how. Maybe in the future I will open it.

Sparlingo

Open to all. I feel like taking the secrecy and shame out of my eating is a good thing. Accountability is welcomed.

metalloz

Mine is open to everyone...this past week has been bad since I've had the flu , but I really don't mind other people checking out what I eat

nailtechbec

I'm going to open it, I really think it will give me the extra push to make better choices and get some advice as I do find when I'm trying really hard I end up not eating even my daily calories before exercise let alone eating exercise calories back ! X