How far in advance do you log your food?

Generally, on workdays I log in the morning. I do a little calorie calculation while I'm packing my breakfast/lunch/snacks & then log when I get to work. At some point during the day I figure out what I'm having for dinner & log it before I get home. I do a lot better when I know what I'm going to eat (and when I know that I actually have what I'm going to eat stocked in my kitchen). On weekends I generally log as I go (and I don't do as well). I log water as I go.

I just started. However yesterday and today I logged as I ate or drank. But tonight I sat down and planned out my meals and drinks so I knew exactly what I could have. The first day I did ok but today logging as I went was awful! I went way over on my carbs and fats even though I had plenty of calories left over.

So, since I want a more balanced day and know exactly what I have left over if I would like a treat I am going to prelog all of my meals and snacks atleast the day before. I think that it will help to keep me from just mindlessly snacking through the day and I will be more likely to stick with it if it is already written down. If I have to change something up I can always just go in and change my log.

i log my whole week in on sunday. i have found when you are in your first couple months there is a need for strict accountability. at least there was for me. i am super busy every day and if i didn't prohibit myself from eating more than i pre-logged i would cheat. my mom started mfp before i did and has lost 80 pounds. it is now a way of life for her so she has the mindset and training to log daily. as a newbie it has been really helpful for me to grocery shop and prepare in advance my meals for the week. i make up my meals and store them in tupper ware, enter them in and then grab them on the go. after awhile, when the weight starts coming off and you start to realize you love your new way of living better you will hold yourself accountable, at least that's what my mommy says!

I log my breakfast and lunches in the night before during the work week. I know what I am going to have and this keeps me honest when treats are passed around the lunch room at work. For the rest I log in right after I eat or as soon as I get to the computer. Good question.
Eat less, move more. :flowerforyou: :drinker:

I plan my meals and log them the night before based on what activities I have planned for the next day. I frequently travel and don't have a normal work day. I find that by planning my day out the night before, I can better balance when and what I can eat and make sure it falls into the appropriate calories. I fly small planes, and the schedules aren't always conducive to eating a real meal, so sometimes, it might make sense to eat my lunch at my morning snack time, and eat my snack for lunch so I stay on my diet, rather than grabbing something out on the go.

If I don't really have any major activities planned or it is a weekend I might log as I go.

If I plan on eating out anywhere, fast foods or restaurants I always check the website for the place and plan my meal out ahead, along with my days food choices, otherwise I would never be on track for my calories on days I ate out.

Best of luck. Most importantly find what works best for you to ensure you keep the log, that is the key. I do awful when I don't log.