Closed diary's

anon189

Interesting. I have mine open. I know I'm not the best eater but honestly couldn't care less what people think about what I eat. Honestly I think if people just sit around going through people's diaries to criticize what they eat they need to get a life. I wish I had that much free time.

JenNuma

Lots of good reasons, pro and con...

abbyrae1

i always used this as a personal tool until I recently went out on the msg boards to make some new buddies. Mine is open now, because through the boards I learned I could (always used the app on my phone prior, didn't know about this whole community). I think in some cases, people might not know

SlimsLiftingMoreThanLipstick

I've been extremely successful but I am successful because I do what works for me. If people need ideas or suggestions I will give them but I don't want anyone thinking they can eat exactly what I do and lose weight. I've tried a million combinations until I found the one that worked for me. It's just not for everyone. I don't need anyone telling me what I should change (that happened when it was open). I was already aware that some tweaks and changes might make me better or stronger, but then again after all the experimenting I've done with my diet and intake I also know that some of those suggestion don't work for me. If I ask for someones opinion I will open my diary for them, or if a friend wants to peek then I unlock it with a code and give them the code. I just didn't find anything beneficial to having it open, and I use this site to benefit me. Also, I am no longer trying to lose, just add muscle and maintain so I mostly use it to track macros anyway. People trying to lose aren't going to be ready for that.

krissy_krossy

What I eat isn't anyone else's business. If I had a question regarding my intake I would open it, but other than that I prefer to keep it private. I mean, just look at the number of posts talking about people eating "junk food" and how horrible it is. Lots of folks love to give unsolicited advice and I don't have time for that.

iamjude17

Just a quick observation , I love looking at the success stories . And the one thing that sticks out is 2/3 of the people have closed diary's ? Why is this ? Surely an open diary would help other MFP people ?
Is there a reason why ?

I actually agree....I also have mine open so I can be accountable as to what I'm eating, and get advice if I'm eating right or wrong etc.
So, I guess it's just a personal preference.

Smash323

When I joined last month, my intention was to keep my food diary closed. I opened it to friends, though, because I'm new and trying to make new friends on MFP. I noticed a lot of people saying that they prefer friends with open diaries, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I got a comment last night when I closed the day out that was toeing the line of being judgy. I drink wine. So there. I log it to show myself how many calories and sugars I'm spending, just like someone else's cupcake.

Last night's comment and this thread are helping me realize that I really don't want comments or advice unless I ask for it. But also, I realize that judgy comments aren't really going to affect me unless I let them. If I get to the point where comments do affect me, I'll have to shut it down.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

what works for one isn't always going to work for everyone else....

JessicaP327

I'm on here to help myself primary, not other people! Also, I don't track most days - because I'm in a good eating routine eating mainly cottage cheese, turkey and a variety of fruits and veggies. I know if I've eaten enough or too much. I also don't fancy smart alecs, people who don't know my training and eating schedule making comments about how I only track one or two days a week and that I'm wayy over my budget for the day - this is my higher calorie day, which I do track because it contains different foods each week.

The good thing about MFP is that you can use it how YOU want to, not how other people want you to.

ditto! even though mine is open now, (I did have it closed for a while for this exact reason)

CupcakesAndRazorblades

Nope, I'll never open mine. I'm a private person as is and I don't need to be judged by anyone else because I judge myself too hard already.

AmyRhubarb

Only time it bugs me is when people ask for specific help with their intake or whatever, but they have a closed diary.

Mine is open, and I log everything, the good, the bad and the ugly. I've never had anyone criticize me for my food choices, but I don't think it would bother me if they did. I like to leave it open for other people to get food ideas, and to see that I eat a lot of "normal" food and still lose the fat, even going over my calorie goal on a regular basis.

AmberLee2012

Because some people like to judge others and think that they are above people if their diary is cleaner. If someone is here and trying and they get negative feedback from a person like this, it might cause the person to go on a binge or quit trying completely. I've seen rude comments like that on a person's diary on here who was extremely overweight but was still losing weight and logging in everyday. Now they don't log in at all.

starfish1783

Mines closed and will stay that way ...3 reasons

1.... Judgemental people...and actually any form of commentary on my choices will irritate me because

2.... Keeping my ED in control means keeping my control and i feel that an open diary jeopardises that

3.... Noone else on here has my assortment of needs and tastes. i get sick of answering questions about food and drink habits

^^^ Ditto!

pastryari

Just a quick observation , I love looking at the success stories . And the one thing that sticks out is 2/3 of the people have closed diary's ? Why is this ? Surely an open diary would help other MFP people ?
Is there a reason why ?

Why is it my job to help other MFP people? Just because I'm using the site doesn't obligate me to help anyone.

sullus

When my diary is closed, I log /everything/ - even my binges. When it's open, I feel the need (not something I seem able to control) to make it look nice and presentable. If I'm to be successful, I need to be honest and so closed it is.

I find myself on the opposite end (somewhat) of this. If my diary is open, I wont tend to binge because I think .. oh man, I'm gonna have to log that. nope. can't eat it. someone will see!!

ZHawk1123

People don't like to be judged and often can't take criticism.

wikitbikit

Mine's open because I figure if I'm gonna participate in the message boards and I'm out here talking some talk, I should be willing to back it up... or at least allow people to see where I'm coming from, if they want to. I'm secure in my choices. I think it actually keeps me more honest than if it were closed. It's like... here, I've laid all out... Now come at me, bro! :laugh: If it were closed, I think I would be more inclined to skip logging something like 'a smidge of cooking oil' or whatever.

S'cool that we can all do it and use it in ways that work for us

KML617

My profile and diary is closed to the public, becuase I like to know who is checking out what I do... However, I'm pretty oepn to any friend requests and my friends can view everything. I'm pretty proud of the way I handle my food diary, I plan everything in advance and I'm good at eating A LOT for a low level of calories, I think my friends benefit from being able to view what Im doing, especially the people who find it hard to eat large quantities and stay low cal. But I don't think the general public needs to be poking around. If you're curious, feel free to add me!

HotrodsGirl0107

Just a quick observation , I love looking at the success stories . And the one thing that sticks out is 2/3 of the people have closed diary's ? Why is this ? Surely an open diary would help other MFP people ?
Is there a reason why ?

Why is it my job to help other MFP people? Just because I'm using the site doesn't obligate me to help anyone.

^^^this! I am not here to support, help or motivate anyone but myself. I use MFP in a way that benifits my lifestyle.

Strangelyinsane

To paraphrase a famous quote from Dr. Suess, "Eat what you want and log what you eat because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” I keep my log open. Who knows, someone might get something out of it. My MFP friends help me with encouragement and suggestions. Even though it is open, no one other than my friends have ever commented on it.

AuddAlise

because i don't want anyone to know about my addiction to eating chalk and laundry soap.

You jest sir!
I actually do eat paper and have been known to suck on rocks. I have PICA.

cwolfman13

OP...just because someone has had success losing weight doesn't mean they've made or make the best nutritional decisions. My diary is open now, but it didn't used to be...initially, I was losing a lot of weight, but I wasn't making the best decisions and I really didn't want people a.) judging me, or b.) using my diary as some great example of what to do to lose weight. I knew what I was doing wasn't healthy, even though I was having success losing weight and I didn't want anyone to see that.

Since then, I've come to realize that there's more to being healthy than just losing the weight. I still eat junk from time to time and I do enjoy my adult beverages, but I make much better nutritional decisions in general and I'm actually eating and getting my nutrients instead of eating just a bit and then rounding out the rest of the calories with Vodka and beer. While my weight loss has slowed a bit, I'm actually healthier now and my blood works shows that with about 180* difference from the work done in October. So now, I do leave mine open as I am aware of at least a couple of people that it has helped..though I do get my diary judged from time to time, I don't let it bother me.

At any rate, there are a lot of reasons why one would or would not leave their diary open.

ddewitt048

I am mainly only friends with people on here that I also know in my everyday life. So, I have my diary open, it helps us all hold each other accountable. But, I can also understand why other people don't. I log almost every day, good or bad because it helps me more than anything. I can understand why people go either way. This site is to help yourself, not necessarily put your eating habits on display to help others.

groovyfirechick

I had mine open when I first started here on MFP. I got too many emails and messages about what I should and shouldn't eat and what I was doing wrong. I am counting calories for ME not anyone else so I put my diary accessible with a password only.

ttiiggzz

My boring diary is open. No one really 'knows' me here, my friends and family don't know I have an account here, so it really doesn't matter if anyone sees my diary. It would be rather amusing if someone at work who knows my eating habits came across me here and realized it was me.

Sad that there are people here that spend their time criticizing others' food choices.

cschiff

I think it depends how you are using site. When I started, I had 0 friends and a closed diary! I lost 5 lbs and gained it right back. Now I have a bout 50 friends (most of whom I speak with regularly) and I have a diary that is open to them all but private for everyone else (for the same reason my profile is open to friends but not everyone else).

For me, this is working GREAT. I love that my friends can see my foods and comment and give advice etc and I can do the same for them. However, it seems unnecessary for the rest of MFP.

I do think that some people keep their diaries private if they are using the site for more of their own personal tracking and less interesting in talking with others.

Either way, I guess it's good enough for me to say that "to each his own." I love having my friends see mine and I love seeing theirs, but I also understand that for some people this might be more private and I respect that as well.

Deipneus

People don't like to be judged and often can't take criticism.

I can take being judged and can take criticism... just don't look at or talk about my food!

misspastry

Because it's nobody's business!:devil:

JohnMessmer

This topic should be banned. It comes up at least once a week, and you always get the same responses. On one side of the fence are the "it's none of your business what I eat" and on the other side of the fence it's "I have nothing to hide".

I delete any friend who does not have an open diary, not because I want to inspect every element of their progress and critique their food choices, but simply because this is a Fitness site (if you don't believe me look at the name of this site) and if we are "friends" here it is because we share the same aspiration for success. If I can not see what you are doing then I can not support your efforts or your success. What? Why Not? Well here is why..a closed diary statement of "JohnMessmer completed his food and exercise diary for 03/01/2013 and was under his calorie goal." Does not tell you anything useful. Did I eat a piece of cheese all day long and truly believe that success through starvation is the best method? Did I eat with balance and sustainability? Perhaps I don't know that potassium is the natural anti agent to sodium and when you look at my diary and see I eat a lot of processed high sodium food you could tell me that little tid bit of info? Perhaps not, who knows? What I do know is that I have friends on this site so that I can try to support their goals and they can try to support my goals, it is a mutually beneficial friendship by choice. If you can not see what I am eating, or the amount of Exercise I am accomplishing, then you can not help me at all and therefore there is no need for us to be friends on this site.

Now the type of "help" depends on the person and that is where choosing your friends becomes more of a personality choice then a random friend collector. Personally, I prefer honesty and bluntness. No, you don't have to tell me that eating that Double Meal from Wendy's is not good for me, but when I weigh in on Friday and I post that I am dissatisfied with the results for the week...You should tell me that the Double from Wendy's probably did not help matters. I prefer the friends that say what I already know, just try to make excuses for. I prefer friends that will say "Holy ****, Why Did you Eat so much?" not the BS friends that will say "It's ok, we all need a cheat day and tomorrow is a new start", I have had 43 Years of believing "it's only one meal, one day, one bad choice, and all that has gotten me is obese. Now I believe that it all counts, make no excuses and plan for the worst while hoping for the best, get up , get out, and move, and if you are going to have that birthday cake, ice cream, fast food crap that most of us love...then work harder to be able to fit that bad choice into your established goals for the day. This relatively new thinking has led to 94 pounds of weight loss in the past 6 months, I don't know everything and until I do...I will take the sarcasm, criticism, and at the very least listen to advice from anyone who wishes to offer it, simply because they may turn out to be right, or even better yet, they may inadvertently have led me to discover something I had not been aware of.

One last tidbit to think about; why is it that people that have been on this site for Years are generally the people that have no progress bar and a closed diary? For a year and a half, back in 95, I paid for Gym Membership and went to that gym, twice. Having your diary open, putting yourself out on display, being held accountable by others, it is one of the scariest and greatest motivators there are, and once you are ready to make a change and truly hold yourself accountable for what you do, I don't believe there is a viable reason not to have your diary open to your friends. So what if some ask you questions, or insist on telling you that liquor is drinking your calories away, or that your deep fried Oreo cookies are a terrible choice, "if" that is shocking and upsetting for you to hear then you may have bigger issues then your weight.

ktsmom430

JW, why do some people think a closed diary means lying about what you eat?
I am brutally honest on my closed diary. I have been here for almost a year, and every single day I have been at or under my calorie goal. Learning a lot about nutrition, making healthier choices. Choosing unprocessed foods, as much as possible, but not exclusively. I am lying to no one, especially not myself. I have never during this whole year looked to see what others eat, I really do not need to. We all have access to the same information via the internet. I am not qualified to judge anyone else about their choices, and do not invite anyone else to judge mine. Pretty simple.