Do you "lie" on your food diary?

xXxHBICxXx

No, well not on purpose anyway. I want to lose weight too badly to put on a show for people on the internet, if I eat it, I log it (unless it's gum, I figure I burn those calories walking the wrapper to the trash can) but I have forgotten to log something before, I usually go back the day after and add it though.

meidie1980

No, i would then only lie to myself so there is no point to lie.

stephaniemejia1671

Nope. I'm honest enough with myself to say "yeah.. you ate that, and THAT much of it." As long as you stick to YOUR goal, no big deal.

Kayla_292to165

I would never lie. What's the point? I am doing this for me and what good does it do to lie about what I really did? That won't change the end result....

Benji49

I'm a big person eating a steady 800 calories a day because I had weight loss surgery - these people may have had the same and are not sharing that aspect of their weight loss so I wouldnt be so fast to say that they are lying.

You are right. I have a friend who had the surgery and he eats very little before he is stuffed and really has to watch what he eats/drinks because he can't overeat. I was amazed the first time I sat down to a meal with him after his surgery and thought he was starving himself - I've learned. It's just amazing to watch a 6'7" man eat a starter salad and stuggle to finish it, or drink a glass of water too soon before a meal and then have no room for food.

You do what you need to do and don't worry about everyone else's opinions. Just stay healthy.:flowerforyou:

PRMinx

When I track, it's accurate. Even down to the third glass of wine.

Sometimes I get lazy though and don't track. For example, when I'm in class from 7:30am - 7pm every other weekend I'm too crazed to sit down and log calories. I would guess those are the days I tend to go over, but I try to be pretty careful about what I eat.

sunshine421969

I know mine was real low yesterday,but I just wasn't hungry.Supper wasn't cooked until late and I didn't want to go to bed after eating that late..So I know I didn't get my calorie intake in yesterday..I am honest on my diary , I log everything that goes in my mouth down to a small piece of hard candy...oops I lied..I haven't logged my gum I chew during my workouts..But thats it..Some may lie, but if they do..they are only hurting themselves..

Zekela

And chances are, even if you 'lie' subconciously I think you are making better choices than before since youve made the step to log things....

MichelleF115

I'm new - could you please explain what 'Insanity' is?

ktsmom430

I don't understand why people would want to lie on their food diary. You are only cheating yourself.

^^This
I think it was about the second day I was here, probably about 3/13/12, that I had my epiphany that really woke me up to what I had to do to succeed. Log everything. If I didn't, I would only be "cheating" myself, who else would ultimately, really care. This and another epiphany at the same moment, "you are 60 years old, if you don't do it now, just when are you going to do it. Almost a year later, and these two things are still keeping me focused on my ultimate goal, except I am a year older.

wannalose25

Two years ago I lost 15-20 lbs using My Fitness Pal. It helped me then, and it's helping me now, only because I log in my calories. Knowing that i have to write it down is what keeps me from over eating. But, I'll admit that on days when I over eat, I don't log-in.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

It happens.

I didn't finish a beer last night, but I logged the whole 12 ounces. This happens a lot with me because carbonated beverages make me feel full. Or I am just too tired to drink the beer that was opened for me.

But I am sure there are small things here and there that don't get counted or that I underestimated (like ice cream, which can vary greatly with just a few spoonfuls, and the single goldfish cracker my 2-year old makes me eat or she'll cry).

It all evens out in the wash for me.

Yes, there are lots of people who lie to themselves. All you can do is worry about you and not lie to yourself. Too much worry about the masses will only make you depressed.

(edited for typos because I'm not fully awake today.)

fitnessjoes

Honestly I forget to log stuf sometimes but sometimes I will log a walk that I did just to eat something else...

fitnessjoes

Honestly I forget to log stuff sometimes but sometimes I will log a walk that I did just to eat something else...

wannalose25

your progress is awesome...

JoanB5

I log everything, even my "spike" days. I like to see trends. I think it's really more important to look at the week's averages on the bar graph than picking apart each individual day calorie-wise (but making the best choices you can for each day).

To leave room for celebrations or break days, I try not to overeat on days when I am not hungry, and let myself eat more on days when I feel ravenous. Irregardless, to make healthy-ish choices (controlled portions).

I do not think a large person will last long on those calories. You certainly can't exercise and build lean body mass that will support great metabolism based on so few calories. I wonder if this is their net calories or their total calories.

Calviar2

I am one that posts daily and my calories are right at 900 consistantly, but I'm post VSG as many other MFP are, so this limits your consumption. If you're seeing low cal logging daily chances they are also post bariatric surgery.

aliciagetshealthy

Purposely lie? No. Guesstimate occasionally or forget something? It's happened. When I first started, I was incredibly ocd about tracking every single spice, mint, etc....I drove myself crazy. I don't have a food scale, so darn near everything I eat is an approximation. I don't have a heart rate monitor, so my exercise is also just an estimate. So long as I still make positive progress, I'm not going to worry about it.

wantingmeback

What's the point, who would you be lying to? I do know when I first started here I was averaging 900 calories a day thinking I was doing a good thing, maybe the people who log 1000 don't realize the harm they are doing :flowerforyou:

THIS!!
I find it so dang hard to hit the right amount of calories...... and I try really hard but I can not and wont force myself to eat when I am not hungry. I drink a lot of water all day and just don't get hungry....... what do i need to do?? I am loosing weight but I don't want to hurt myself in the long run. I have always been a picky eater and don't really like the taste or texture of meat.

Phrick

I sometimes didn't log zero calorie things at first- if I had more than one diet soda in a day I'd log one but sometimes not the second one. Although that has recently changed since I've been thinking of looking for input on my diet and I figure I need to be honest if I'm going to get helpful advice.

rfsatar

Nope it all goes in... the good, the extra treats and the endless carbs, full fat cans of coke/ginger beer, alcohol... who would it benefit if I cheated?

Now if you're asking if I am always 100% accurate... at home I measure as reasonably as I can (Dig scales)... and out and about I try and find the actual, or the nextr best thing on the database.

But in the grand scheme of things - I am still losing so... I must be doing something right!

wbfd22

I just started MFP this week, and although I have yet to meet my calorie goal it's set out for me, I record EVERYTHING that touches my lips. Even spices, oils, butter and wine!! I find I'm not hungry, I'm always eating or munching and drinking lots of extra water. I don't see the point in lying to myself or anyone else who reads my diary. I'm the only one it hurts in the end!!

scadgirl20

Except for something extremely small in calorie, I log everything even usually the small small things. I'll only be hurting myself if I don't. I do not care what everyone else thinks of what Im eating. Its my body and in the end I'll be the one screwing up if I fudge it

amandaecee

They may be exercising regularly, and maybe they aren't eating back the calories they burn...or maybe they are really eating that little calories. I know i try to eat at least 1500 calories but sometimes i eat less and sometimes i eat more, i usually dont update when i binge just because i dont want a reminder of it. but maybe they arent lying they may just really be eating that little or burning a lot of calories and cant eat them all back.

5hellz

I log everything I eat, no matter what it is and I have been regularly logging less than 1000 calories per day. But good or bad, I do not lie about what I am taking in because I really need to know what my pattern is. I know it's hurting me and I need to change it but I am not hungry and don't know what to do.

I posted a topic on it and have gotten a lot of good advice on how to fill the void of those extra calories.

mallen404

I record everything even if it looks bad and keep my diary open to friends so I stay accountable!

neandermagnon

no. lying on my food diary would defeat the object of keeping it. It on occasion does not reflect reality, e.g. sometimes I forget to log the last meal of the day, this is because I eat that meal, know I've had my calories for the day, and stop eating, but forget to log it. What counts is what goes in my body. My food diary is a tool to let me know when I've put enough food in my body, and whether I'm not eating enough protein. It won't give me that information if I lie to it.

People who are eating too few calories probably really are eating only that many calories, and my advice to them would be to eat more, but it seems there are a lot of people who want to be hungry and miserable in spite of the fact that they can lose without putting themselves through that. There's an "in place of a road map" thread for anyone who wants to know how much they should eat to lose weight while still feeding their body properly.

Justamom410

I'm a big person eating a steady 800 calories a day because I had weight loss surgery - these people may have had the same and are not sharing that aspect of their weight loss so I wouldnt be so fast to say that they are lying.

I put "lie" in quotes for that very reason...I don't actually know if they are lying or not. And you're right, I don't know everything about them and whether they had surgery.

LGrill27

I have to admit I don't lie about my food, I get lazy tracking it. I have a genral idea of how many calories I've consumed. On the weekends when I'm out and about with friends I just skip that day.

trb85

It's one thing to "forget" to log a meal. But I see breakfast, lunch and dinner...and each meal is like 300 calories.

I use other people's food diaries to get ideas for new meals. So it's frustrating when all I see is "2 saltine crackers" or something.

I'm just getting back on the wagon after over a year of being off. And I'm determined to get the weight off and keep it off.

Get new friends.

Seriously.

If you're not on a similar diet, then ditch those folks and move on. Let them enjoy their two little crackers.

There are other people you can follow who 1.) actually eat and 2.) eat reasonably and to their goal.