Why do people hide their diaries?

"Just wondering why people don't publicly share their food diaries on here or even lock them with passwords? "

Same reason people cover their windows, to keep voyeurs from peeping.

OK so there are people who hide their diaries. I have seen their stated reasons, but I still don't understand why:


probably 99% of people on this site have user names and personal details that don't give the first clue as to who they actually are anyway. LOL

That's because you are assuming they have something to hide.

I don't want people to use my diary as weight loss advice, because they would assume wrong things from it, especially as gluten free is a fad. Also I make gluten mistakes and my diary is the way I figure them out. I would hate someone to make the same gluten mistake I did by looking at my diary!

I didn't assume anything, I was using the title of this topic. I was merely pointing out that as we don't know who the member is in reality, it wouldn't matter what information it contained. Everyone has their own personal views and like everyone else on this thread, I was just expressing my thoughts.

It really doesnt matter who I am in reality, if someone thought by looking at my diary, oh, gluten free must be a great weight loss diet. (and I have heard it over and over when out shopping and talking to salespeople and customers in shops) Just because I have lost almost 40 pounds eating one... of course I gained over 100 lbs eating one too, but that's a tidbit of info you could not get from the diary, now could you?

I understand where you're coming from. I believe that most people, including myself, don't go peeking into other people's diaries for no reason. As other posters have said, there are times when someone has asked a question on the forum but their diary is closed so it's impossible to give constructive advice or if someone replies with something that you are struggling with yourself you can look to see how they do it. Also as there is so much talk on forums as to whether you should eat 800/1200/1600/2000 or whatever calories, it is good for people to check out how many calories people who have lost certain amounts of weight are eating for instance.

I do understand that some people are bashed by others for their food choices and as with yourself some people eat a certain way for good reason. I just personally have my diary open and if people want to look at it for whatever reason, they can make of it whatever they want.

I understand where you're coming from. I believe that most people, including myself, don't go peeking into other people's diaries for no reason. As other posters have said, there are times when someone has asked a question on the forum but their diary is closed so it's impossible to give constructive advice or if someone replies with something that you are struggling with yourself you can look to see how they do it. Also as there is so much talk on forums as to whether you should eat 800/1200/1600/2000 or whatever calories, it is good for people to check out how many calories people who have lost certain amounts of weight are eating for instance.

I do understand that some people are bashed by others for their food choices and as with yourself some people eat a certain way for good reason. I just personally have my diary open and if people want to look at it for whatever reason, they can make of it whatever they want.

Thanks. Yea, I hear you when people ask for advice and have a closed diary. It's hard then.

I really don't care if someone has an open diary or closed, whatever works for them. A closed diary works for me, but it may not for someone else. I understand its how some folks get support, and from others who have normal diets with no restrictions - that works for them.

I simply have a bunch of restrictions and I am still experimenting. But my diet plan is working... and its really very easy to sum up and I don't think its really obvious by looking at the diary by food choices (gluten free can really sidetrack you as I said)

More calories out than coming in, and getting regular workouts nearly every day. I think anyone can lose weight this way. The best purchase I ever made was a food scale. If I have a calorie dense food (like anything sweet) I log it religiously and measure it by weight. The food scale keeps my logging honest.

You quoted:

Thanks. Yea, I hear you when people ask for advice and have a closed diary. It's hard then.

I really don't care if someone has an open diary or closed, whatever works for them. A closed diary works for me, but it may not for someone else. I understand its how some folks get support, and from others who have normal diets with no restrictions - that works for them.

I simply have a bunch of restrictions and I am still experimenting. But my diet plan is working... and its really very easy to sum up and I don't think its really obvious by looking at the diary by food choices (gluten free can really sidetrack you as I said)

More calories out than coming in, and getting regular workouts nearly every day. I think anyone can lose weight this way. The best purchase I ever made was a food scale. If I have a calorie dense food (like anything sweet) I log it religiously and measure it by weight. The food scale keeps my logging honest.
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I suppose that's it in a nutshell, we are all unique with different views, but all have the same goal of being healthy, - whatever that might mean for us.

Good debating with you and wish you success for the rest of your journey on MFP

Absolutely amazing conclusion youve made here .... That statement was intended to convey a security concern. Please, dont bother apologizing, I will try to find a way to get through my angst by inner reflection and a peanut butter sammich..... LMBO

By insinuating they have no business logging at all if they don't have an open diary. Where's the security concern?

Enjoy your sandwich, and I'm not in the least bit apologetic.

I like logging. I don't mind that MFP sees everything I log. I don't log for other people, for reasons I made abundantly clear. There's a lot of people who have similar views. Why is it so hard to respect that others use the site in different ways?

- Not everyone wants or needs advice and/or opinions.
- Recovering from an eating disorder
- Fear of judgment - they are more honest with themselves if closed
And there could be other reasons I haven't mentioned.

If they have a legit reason to keep it closed then I support that, otherwise I like to see friends with open diaries. Open to friends is good enough, I don't believe it is necessary to open to public unless they are asking a question on the forums.

Absolutely amazing conclusion youve made here .... That statement was intended to convey a security concern. Please, dont bother apologizing, I will try to find a way to get through my angst by inner reflection and a peanut butter sammich..... LMBO

By insinuating they have no business logging at all if they don't have an open diary. Where's the security concern?

Enjoy your sandwich, and I'm not in the least bit apologetic.

I like logging. I don't mind that MFP sees everything I log. I don't log for other people, for reasons I made abundantly clear. There's a lot of people who have similar views. Why is it so hard to respect that others use the site in different ways?

You have attacked many on this thread. You need to control yourself and try to express yourself in a less offensive manner. ..and dont try to "hide it", I know you would love to apologize....




let me see your diary?

Mine is open to my friends, because that's my personal choice. I don't have it post on my wall when I complete my day, because I never look at anyone else's diary unless asked, and I figure if my friends really want to know, they will go look. *shrug* It's just not that big of a concern to me. I don't need to police other people's food choices, or even give my opinion unless they ask for it, and I don't much care what anyone thinks of my diary, because I log to be accountable to myself, not anyone else.

If someone really just wants to look for ideas, I wouldn't have a problem with that. Whatever floats your boat...me personally I don't have time to go looking at random diaries unless one of my friends or even someone in a forum specifically asks for advice and I want to help. I don't ask for anyone else's advice on my diet though cause I've figured out what works for me and I'm sticking with it no matter what so-called "experts" and well-meaning people say. But if they'd stick to being looky loos, I wouldn't mind. It's all the unsolicited advice from strangers that I feel no compulsion or obligation or necessity to be accountable to. I'll be accountable to myself, my friends that I ACTUALLY KNOW in person and my doctor. No offense but why would I give a complete stranger any say or influence over my life in any way? Y'all may be the nicest people in the world (at least some of you) but if I don't know you, I don't know anything about you or whether you are a trustworthy or reliable source or a serial stalker or worse ..... so why in heaven's name would I give you a voice in determining anything in my life? To be completely blunt I REALLY don't care about strangers' opinions of me so I don't ask or give the opportunity to provide one.

Because I'm very private about what I eat and how I exercise. I'm also satisfied with my weight loss, and don't tend to ask for advice, so there's no need to open it.

Your curiosity is not a compelling reason for me to put personal information out there.

People make assumptions based on tickers and diaries, which are only snippets of information and not the whole story. It gets tiresome to hear people criticize or judge based on 1/2 the story.

This is the main reason I keep mine private. I tried it public and got tired of explaining "i'm under a doctor's care, we're trying something new, I have severe hormonal imablance, I had a hysterectomy at 23, it's screwed everything over, etc.etc.etc."

Hmm i dont mind sharing with the world i dont eat clean i still eat out like all the time i just cut down alot and work out even harder......I'M LOVING IT!!!

because carrying around paper and pencil is not very comfortable and not everyone is eating at home. This is why I prefer my iphone and MFP to paper and pencil. I can look up the database and bang I see everything I need to know at a glance, before I even eat it.

Bingo. I used to have a Google doc that tracked the exact same information. MFP is easier, and free -- and i don't have to clear out entries every week to make room for new ones.

Just because I like the tool doesn't mean that I want everyone on the site to see how I use it.

I keep mine private. It keeps me honest with myself and I find that I can be my biggest critic. When others call out my mistakes (and believe me, I make many) I am much more likely to binge. I am aware of my own mistakes, even when I am under my calories my meals are not necessarily healthy. Pressure from my friends on MFP would not help me, it would simply make me anxious. I have no issue sharing my exercises, but food has always been a huge issue.

Think of it like this, I'm a binge eater who used to hide food from her parents in her room. The idea of sharing my journey with anyone is scary and embarrassing to me, no mater how AMAZING this community is. Just joining was a huge step.