When do you log?

SurfyFriend

I log my food as I'm making it at home, but I know some people do it the day before, and some at the end of the day?
WhT do you do and how is it helpful?

bookworm_847

I log my exercise and breakfast just after I eat in the morning. I'll also sort of plan out the rest of the day just to get a general idea of what my food diary will look like. Doing it that way has also helped me stay on track with the actual diet.

Louiseisme

I usually log as I go, sometimes if I am packing up leftovers for lunch the next day i will go ahead and log it for tomorrow so I don't forget something. If I am eating out I will browse and log before I order so that I stick to what I logged (ie. 1/2 and entree).

mfoy94

I normally figure out most of my food the night before. Sometimes I will have a few 100 that I need to allocate during the day, then I do it as I eat. But my main meals and most of my snacks are pre-planned. I find this extremely effective.

Edit:

Why is it effective? because it helps me get a good idea of what I will get to eat the next day, and I can time appropriately to minimize any hunger. Its also good at keeping me under my calorie goal because I will shift things around and make different choices when I see it all laid out at the same time.

sonhando

I log most of it the day before. It helps me plan the day and not stray from it. Dinner may be left blank but I find having breakfast and lunch and snacks logged and knowing what's left for dinner helps a lot. Especially in my office where daily temptations are ever present.

LittleMissNerdy

I log as I go!

joslin2005

I log it right before or right after I eat my food.

schondell

I log the night before based on what I have available in my mini fridge (I live on res at university)
It works for me and I've ended up making some pretty interesting food combos hahaha

zyxst

I log as I'm eating. If we've got a firm agreement on what to eat, then I'll log ahead of time but even that changes. Last night we were supposed to have meatloaf, but hubby wanted pizza.

frecklegrrl

I log food as I eat/make it. (:

MaggieSporleder

I try to plan out the next day, but it almost always gets changed, but I have at least an idea.

mrsburghart

I log in the mornings after I have packed my lunch and snacks for the day. I usually leave dinner blank unless I know what I'm eating (like leftovers). This helps me because I don't want to have to log back in, so I don't eat that late night snack, or that piece of cake in the kitchen at work!

katiewcurlz

If I'm cooking a lot and have recipes to add, or lots of ingredients to add, I'll do it the day before. If I'm not cooking, or eating lots of salads, etc. I just log as I go.

I've found (for myself anyway), that if I'm going to spend significant time on MFP logging stuff, I know I have to do it before. If I try to log as I go, I'll get behind and lose my will to keep logging.

agtitus

Logging the night before has done wonders for me!it keeps me from mindlessly snacking because I know what I have to look forward to each meal. My issue currently is getting enough cals.

operator646

I usually log my food as I go during the early part of the day. If I am eating at home I found that it helps if I log the latter part before I actually eat. That way I tend to stick to what I logged and not overeat or include extras.

ksemien

Throughout the day, as I eat. I eat quite a few meals, so it helps me to track as I go and not have to try and remember.

midnight333

I do pre logging. I try to pre log as much in advance as I can, usually a week. I'm glad to do it this way then my calories are planned at the amount I'm given. If I change anything that day I can keep it within the parameters already in the diary for that day. It has helped me loose weight at a steady rate more so then when I first started. Good luck with your logging. :happy:

trelm249

all day long in real time.

htimsm87

With the Windows Phone mobile app I have been logging as soon as I eat something. Makes me think about everything before you eat it. Had two peanut M&M's the other day and logged them as soon as they were gone.

samantha1242

I log while I am making it so I can use the bar code scanner on the app or enter my food scale weights. Sometimes I prelog because I eat the same thing normally every morning.

Mlkmaid

All day so I don't forget anything!

Bakkasan

I log around 9:30AM after my second cup of coffee

lilmisfit

I log my breakfast, lunch and snacks in the morning. At night, I log dinner as I'm making it.

PetulantOne

I pre-log.

I don't always stick to what I log 100%, but if I decide I want to have something else I can see right away if it will fit with my cals/macros for the day. If it will I eat it, if not I stick to the plan. It's helped tremendously. In the beginning I probably would have consumed all my cals by lunch if I hadn't tracked this way.

veggieshark

Before school I log my breakfast and all of the food I'm taking to school with me that day, so up through lunch. After that it's just whenever I get on a computer!

JaceyMarieS

I pre-log every morning. For the past year, I've repeated the mantra "Fail to plan - Plan to fail". Recently, I saw this comment on a friend's feed and it sums my philosophy up perfectly... "Pre-logging is looking at the price tag before you make the purchase"

I know instantly if that pat of butter and sprinkle of cheese or bacon (mmm...bacon) is going to be a good idea. No more "a Blooming Onion has HOW MANY calories and serves HOW MANY people? *&@%#^!*&!!" scenarios at 11 PM.

I don't complete my diary until evening just in case something changes, but this philosophy has been extremely helpful in keeping me on track.

KristysLosing

Sometimes in the morning, sometimes after I've eaten something. Every day is a little different.

Texafornia23

I try to log as much as possible the day before... and then I update throughout the day. If I at least know what my dinner will be I can make choices throughout the day based on what I know my calorie intake will look like at dinner.

Jaulen

I try to log the night before. That way I've planned out what I'm going to eat for the next day.

And try to leave a hundred calories or so in case I'm tempted by the candy dish at work.

Then at the end of the day before I eat dinner I adjust, and adjust again if I didn't stick to it.

onyxgirl17

after I eat

ryry_

During the week my menu stays relatively the same so I log everything at work in the morning and adjust if I need too later. During the weekend I mix it up more and log as I go.