Do you Hide Your Diary???

WIChelle

I just made mine private. I got sick of being told in private messages by few folks I don't eat enough carbs. Heaven forbid I eat under 150 carbs or gasp even under 100 even though that is what keeps my BG in the correct range. .

glovepuppet

My sentiments exactly. But then what is amazing is when the hiders ask, why I not losing weight, and you are expected to give answers when the diary is closed.

I have no fear of hard, soft or whatever criticism, if it is means keeping me on track to reach my goal of being able to wear clothes that have been sitting in my closet for over 5 years. I am hoping this is the summer I can finally make a statement with my weight loss.

If you are eating crap what do you expect people to say, just try and do better tomorrow. I do not want anyone to tell me that, I know that already, give me the hard criticism so that I can pull my lazy butt back on track. Every day I have this weight on my body, is a day wasted and more dangerous to my health as far as I am concerned. I take one medication (for my thyroid which cannot be helped), and I do not want to have to take medication for things that I can prevented but are not prepared to act upon.

uh huh, if you're here asking people why your diet ain't working then it makes sense to show people your diet.

however, there's an assumption by some that those who stay private only do so because they nothing but eat crap and have something to hide. i find it rather bizzare! to my mind, that's like assuming i'm only wearing a skirt because my knickers are dirty.

purple_furry_aubergine

I keep mine friends only, but I only have 2 friends, one of whom is my fiance. I log for myself, nobody is paying me to provide information. I understand why for some people having an open diary holds them more accountable, and allows them to have more social interaction and outside support, but I also understand people who don't want a social media platform, who would be more inclined to cheat if it was public, or who simply don't think it's anyone elses business. I really don't understand why that is such a big deal to some people? If I've been invited round someone's house, I don't take that as an open invite to look round all their rooms, regardless of whether their house was spotless and I wanted to congratulate them, or if they live in a hovel and I want to give them some helpful advice. If I eat out at a restaurant I don't check out what all the other diners are eating to help with my food choice, or inform them that instead of fries they should have had salad. Just because I registered for this site and use its database to keep track of my own personal intake doesn't mean I should automatically grant everyone access to examine everything I eat.

I'm not ashamed of my food diary, and I'm as honest as possible, even on my birthday when I purposefully didn't care at all about losing weight, and logged over 4000 calories. If people want to share, that's cool, whatever works for them, I don't really look at diaries unless it's someone asking for advice, and if I wanted advice I'd have no problem opening it up. Just don't tell me an open diary is the only valid way to use this site, and don't get grouchy because if I wanted to I could view your diary, but you can't view mine.

lifestruggle

I wouldnt hide my diary. But its totally up to you if you want to on a bad day.

CristinaL1983

My sentiments exactly. But then what is amazing is when the hiders ask, why I not losing weight, and you are expected to give answers when the diary is closed.

I have no fear of hard, soft or whatever criticism, if it is means keeping me on track to reach my goal of being able to wear clothes that have been sitting in my closet for over 5 years. I am hoping this is the summer I can finally make a statement with my weight loss.

If you are eating crap what do you expect people to say, just try and do better tomorrow. I do not want anyone to tell me that, I know that already, give me the hard criticism so that I can pull my lazy butt back on track. Every day I have this weight on my body, is a day wasted and more dangerous to my health as far as I am concerned. I take one medication (for my thyroid which cannot be helped), and I do not want to have to take medication for things that I can prevented but are not prepared to act upon.

uh huh, if you're here asking people why your diet ain't working then it makes sense to show people your diet.

however, there's an assumption by some that those who stay private only do so because they nothing but eat crap and have something to hide. i find it rather bizzare! to my mind, that's like assuming i'm only wearing a skirt because my knickers are dirty.

:laugh: That's funny!

I keep mine private. It used to be open and I got a few people messaging me with rude comments about my food consumption.

I eat pretty clean and keep under my calorie goal and have lost a pretty good chunk of weight since I've been logging my food on MFP. I have a good idea of what's working for me. I don't need anyone to tell me I did a good job when I stay under my calories for the day. I don't need someone I only know through the internet trying to tell me how many calories I "should" be eating or what kinds of foods I "should" be eating.

And, the most important reason, I am more honest and log everything and don't worry about whether my food log "looks pretty." I log my calories here just to keep track of them. Using the calories I have logged on MFP, I can determine my actual TDEE and see what helps me feel the best, lose weight in the best way, and what my habits are especially things that could sabotage me once I hit maintenance.

doriharrell

I have mine open, too. I wondered what to do, because some days, like others, I totally blow it. But, that diary has shown me a lot about my eating, and maybe it can help someone, too. I lost 40 pounds five years ago and am only going for five right now. A medical condition causes my right leg to swell, and at the end of the day, my pants on that leg can be a little tight. I though, 5 pounds will take care of that. That diary showed me how much I really eat - and I'm able to maintain my weight! Even on days I blow it, I don't gain weight. My body has redefined it's set point, and I love that! I want my diary to encourage others, to show that when you lose weight, you won't starve. You'll be able to eat good, if you've done it right (I lost my weight really slowly - seldom more than a pound a week). No matter how much you have to lose, work to meet your goal. It's still amazing, five years later, to put on smaller sizes.

Good question. Thanks for asking.

djshari

Yes, I don't log every day so there isn't a whole lot to look at.

Fvaisey

I keep my diary open for my friends, there are times I don't want them to see it, because I'm pigging out or gluing my fanny to the couch.. I'll try to make that into an incentive to eat better or get some exercise. However, that's what works for me. I think it's a choice everyone should be able to make without pressure. That feeling of pressure, scrutiny, the need for approval is what makes some of us eat/not eat,

I just have to look at all of the different answers and I know that we all have our own reasons for what we are doing.

Amy106Days

Diary is always open even when it is a trainwreck. There are days I would like to hide it but those are the days I need MFP the most. I don't have anyone judgey in my friends list mostly encouraging folk. I love to look at other peoples diaries for dinner and snack ideas.

Amyy1982

I find keeping mine open helps me stay on track and it might help give people ideas which I don't mind :happy:

MaraDiaz

Nope. It's open for the world to see my ridiculous ability to stuff myself silly when I'm off the rails. I wouldn't look at mine today if I were you, unless you like food porn.

My diary is proof that if I can lose weight anyone can. Perfection and even sanity not required.

bookworm_847

haha, i had mine hidden for awhile, but i felt like it was easier to cheat. So I re opened it and I feel it makes me more accountable for what i eat. If im embrassed, it means i probably shouldn't have eaten it lol.

This is pretty much what I was going to say. I figured if I'm going to do this, I need to own my choices... good or bad.

My diary is only open to my friends though. I don't handle non-constructive criticism well (part of why I should own stock in Tillamook!), and some people eat differently than I do. What I'm doing now works for me and is something I can maintain. If I stall and need to make changes, so be it. I'll figure that out when and if the time comes!

Seaglass1123

When I first started I had it private but eventually opened it up. I get ideas from people's diaries and them from mine. Also because losing weight is mostly diet IMO I think it can be beneficial to having it open.

neacail

My diary is private. I get so much grief from a couple of my colleagues about the way I eat that I prefer it to be private. While the vast majority of you would not find my diary controversial, I don't want to deal with the couple of people who might.

olDave

Nobody needs to see my diary but me. so...yes...I hide it.

MSeel1984

It's not like it's my PERSONAL diary...it's food. And open for anyone to see.

Yes, I eat peanut butter daily. DAILY. SO sue me.

SoDamnHungry

I don't reveal mine because I know what I'm doing and don't want criticism. I log weird so it looks like I under eat some days, but I most certainly do not.

HotrodsGirl0107

Mine is private (it was private on my old profile too). I have weird dietary restictions and I got tired of having to explain to people via PM why I ate the way I did. I didn't want to be on medication the rest of my life so if I could control some of my problems with diet and exercise why not? I went from taking 5 RX meds a day to 1 RX and the occasional over the counter allergy medication. I also lost 125+ pounds and went from 45% bf to just over 18%! All of this was done without having a public diary. I guess I should have just stopped logging when I made it private. Having an open diary is clearly the only way to become a success.

Roderunr

For me, un-hiding my diary makes me feel more accountable! If I cheat, i know my MFP friends will see so it makes me try harder. Plus, I love all my MFP friends and love their support so it doesn't matter to me that they see what I eat!!

ldrosophila

I'm coming at mine from a different perspective. I have re-opened it up because I in my past I was always very secretive and hidden about my food addictions and binges. I opened it up to come at this now with honesty and putting it all out there on the table.

HOWEVER, I dont want feedback because so far what I'm doing is working. I waffle between closing and opening. Someone made the comment to hide the finished diary posts and although I think it's a good idea I have friends on FB who like to look at it. So I dont know guess I'll go back to public and take advice like I do most advice in one ear out the other.

DavidC1857

I have to admit this whole thread has got me wondering. Do random people really make comments about your diary? Even if you're not asking for help? (I'm not).

I honestly don't care what people think. (Or do I?) I'm eating for myself, not someone else. (Or am I?) So as an experiment, I just opened my diary entirely. I want to see what happens.

RunHardBeStrong

If you hide it, you may as well not even log it.

Wow. I guess the 107 lbs I lost wasn't worth logging either? Everyone has their reasons for keeping it private or public. It doesn't give others the right to form judgemental opinions. FYI: I eat very well and clean 90% of the time. I'm not embarrassed of my choices, I do however keep personal notes in mine, it is a diary after all. And those notes are no one's business but mine.

ItsCasey

Mine is open for people on my friends list to view, but I have turned off the automatic news feed section where it posts that I've closed my diary for the day. I'm not ashamed of it (I'm rarely ever over after I add my exercise calories), I just figure if people really want to see my diary, they know where to look for it.

fatfriendonadiet

I'm too shy to make mine public. Hopefully, as I become more confident in what I'm doing here, I'll find that confidence.

XxfitforeverxX

I used to have mine so that only friends could see it, but some people were being kind of nosy about what I chose to eat. When other people can see my diary I feel like I have to eat to please them, when I need to eat what I want.

Misssynth

I have mine for friends only, because theyre the people that support me and I'm more motivated not to binge if I know other people will know. I'm one of those 'secret' bingers so it really helps. I also like looking at others diaries so I can get some ideas of healthy lo cal snacks and things.

KenosFeoh

My diary is open to friends only. I have a very supportive but honest group of friends. There are some really snarky people in the community who do their best to hurt other people's feelings and make them feel stupid; I don't want to hear from them (as I have in the past) about my food choices.

raspberryblonde

Hide? No. Not make it public? Yes.

Diaries (whether for food or for feelings) are supposed to be private!

queenbea77

Mine is private. And I'll tell you why. I've just started here and am trying to get the hang of things. So maybe once I see some good results that I'm happy with I'll open it to my friends and eventually the public. I do however look at other peoples diaries - not to criticize them but to get ideas of what they are eating to benefit me. Heck yea, I've got at least 50 lbs to lose to get to my goal weight and if I see someone whose lost a fair amount of weight - they must be doing something right. It might steer me in the right direction for my journey.

sarah12277

I'm a private person in general so I don't share much to people in general, let alone random strangers on a website.

I log for myself. That keeps me accountable. I know myself well enough that if others could see it I wouldn't log my binges or planned indulgences. If someone specifically asks to see mine, with stipulations of where I am in my journey, I would share it if it were to help them. For right now it's no one else's business but my own.

If I asked for help or had a question, I would open it for that advice only - for me it's very doubtful that I will ask.