Diary. Public or Private?

2

Replies

  • littlewhittles
    littlewhittles Posts: 402 Member
    I kept mine private for a long time, but then decided to open it up. I'm honest about what I eat, and I find it motivates me to eat healthier/better. :)
  • FatIsNotGood4Me
    FatIsNotGood4Me Posts: 45 Member
    I have it private, for me it really doesn't matter public or private, at the end of the day I'm the one who chooses to open my mouth and eat whatever, and if I go over my limit I just say oh well, tomorrow is a new day :) I don't stress too much about it.
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
    Mine is friends only. I'm only cheating myself if I lie on the log so no point in not being accurate. Plus having others be able to view it does help me make better choices sometimes. If I have a particularly binge-like day I always have the option of not completing it. If it doesn't complete, no one is going to go hunt down my day just so they can tell me what they think of it. :smile:
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    Mine is open for ALL to see.

    I don't care who sees it, critiques it or otherwise wants to get ideas from it.

    If someone doesn't like what I eat, then don't look.

    If someone is gonna use an idea for a meal because of my diary, then good for them.

    I can not figure out WHY anyone would hide their diaries. It desn't make any sense to me. You eat, you log. People see it. Not really a big deal.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Mine is public because someone once asked to take a look at it. I don't think it makes me any more or less accountable though because honestly I don't care what strangers think of what I eat. I log for me.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I can not figure out WHY anyone would hide their diaries. It desn't make any sense to me. You eat, you log. People see it. Not really a big deal.

    I fully understand why some people keep theirs private. There are a lot of food nazis on MFP that are quick to criticize. Some people are more sensitive to criticism than others.
  • newjourney2015
    newjourney2015 Posts: 216 Member
    I have mine open to the public. No one bashes me b/c I go over or b/c I drink a few glasses of wine. Sometimes I get asked about something I ate. If I have a question about my marcronutrients or calories or foods, people can look at my diary and answer my question. Nothing worse than someone complaining that they can't lose weight, what am I doing wrong, and their diary is private. It's food for heavens sake - not your persnal life story.
  • aladams83
    aladams83 Posts: 47
    Just took the leap and made my open to friends only. It can be scary but if you REALLY want to be held accountable... it def helps.
  • Dyann_Alvarez
    Dyann_Alvarez Posts: 61 Member
    I find it to be helpful. I would recommend it 'cause it does keep you thinking.... Hummm... They're going to know I ate this! But definitely keep it honest. The only person you fool is yourself because it will show up somewhere on your body, right?! Good Luck!
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    Mine is public cause I enjoy looking at others diary for ideas so I don't hide mine and I don't worry about what others think when they see what I eat. The only person I'm accountable for is me. I never liked veggies so you will hardly see me eat them, I do sometimes have raw ones which I am trying to do more of but haven't been successful lol, I do however eat fruit twice a day most days.
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    Mine is public. It helps me to stay accountable if I know everyone can look. Also, I eat a plant based diet and friends sometimes have questions about what kind of stuff I am eating, so it is easier for them to just be able to take a look around. I see no reason (for me) to make it private.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    mines private, a lot of haters out there.
  • becky6m
    becky6m Posts: 108 Member
    My first round of MFP (Oct 2010 - July 2012 lost 100 lbs) I don't know why but I refused to open it up. This time around (gained 25 lbs back in 6 months life happened I got lazy) my MFP friends inspired me to open it up. It really does help keep you accountable. I know everyone is seeing everything. Keeps me in check. But then again I can also see what others are eating to get an idea of what has more fiber and so on. Gives me new things to try and switch up my own meals. I love it.
  • MelisaBegins
    MelisaBegins Posts: 161 Member
    I didn't know this was even an option, so I just set mine to friends only because it would be great to feel accountable. I love the idea of my friends encouraging me when things get rough.

    How do you actually see other peoples' diaries though??

    Hi there! Just thought I'd jump in to answer this question you have - when you click on one of your friends, if they have their diary open for view, there is a green button that says "View Diary". If you click on an MFP member that isn't your friend yet and they've made their diary public for anyone, you can also view theirs.
  • MelisaBegins
    MelisaBegins Posts: 161 Member
    My first round of MFP (Oct 2010 - July 2012 lost 100 lbs) I don't know why but I refused to open it up. This time around (gained 25 lbs back in 6 months life happened I got lazy) my MFP friends inspired me to open it up. It really does help keep you accountable. I know everyone is seeing everything. Keeps me in check. But then again I can also see what others are eating to get an idea of what has more fiber and so on. Gives me new things to try and switch up my own meals. I love it.

    I totally agree. I was just looking at your diary this morning as a matter of fact! :) And instead of judging you (or anyone else) for their choices, I was saying to myself, "Wow, Becky lost over 100 pounds and still allowed herself some sweets now and then? OK, maybe I can have some sweets sometimes too." I think it helps to see that we are all HUMAN and just doing this, every day, the best we can. And? Seeing results!
  • smh1067
    smh1067 Posts: 45 Member
    I have it open to my friends and I find it helps a lot. I vowed when I started to be honest about putting down what I eat, regardless of what it is, and it's actually helped stop me from making choices I knew I shouldn't, and kept me from going over calories several times just because I know other people are watching. If you get a lot of "haters" on your diary, let people know that's not what you're looking for, or nix them from your friends list. We're all here for different things so I'm sure they'll understand.

    If you think it might keep you from being honest, keep it to private. The important thing is that you're getting an honest picture of you input and output.
  • mrfrodogetdown
    mrfrodogetdown Posts: 54 Member
    I'm going to put it so that friends can view it, but I feel a bit weird doing it because I meal plan on it... And I just think it's weird that anyone can view what I'm going to eat next week :S
  • imtrinat
    imtrinat Posts: 153 Member
    I know myself well enough to know I won't be honest if make mine public. It helps some people stay on track, but I will just stop using it if I don't keep it private. It's really all a matter of what works best for you.
  • Daysednconfused
    Daysednconfused Posts: 975 Member
    I like having mine only open to friends. If you have it open to everyone, then you get too many opinions and people who disagree with your plan, without knowing anything about you. Having it open for friends, helps keep me accountable without fearing judgment from total strangers.

    Thanks! This is what I was worried about.... If i decide to have a Reese's cup one afternoon.... I didn't want to feel incredibly guilty when a million people tell me how awful my choice was lol

    Mine is public for two reasons - 1) it helps me stay on track and 2) because I like to see what others are eating, so I figure mine should be public as well. I have NEVER had anyone, friend or non friend, criticize my food diary. Supportive, yes, but never criticize. I'm sure I would if I posted a question like "why aren't I losing my weight?" in the forums, but that's not gonna happen!
  • JenniBaby85
    JenniBaby85 Posts: 855 Member
    Mine is set at friends only
  • happyheart15
    happyheart15 Posts: 383 Member
    Private. I don't want judgment about what I eat.
  • Juliechilli
    Juliechilli Posts: 123 Member
    I have my diary open to my friends. At the end of the day, most people comment on my good days and if I have some slip ups they are even more supportive. I have nothing to hide and it helps keep me accountable if I think people might be looking at it. I recently changed to an all clean diet and I'm happy to have my diary open for suggestions of meals for others who may be making the switch. Hope this helps!
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,629 Member
    Friends onlly ...... I hope :laugh:
  • Schmelvie
    Schmelvie Posts: 233 Member
    I made mine public months ago. I thought to myself: What do I care what other people think? You know what I found? Nobody really cares all that much. I haven't had one spontaneous comment about my diary from ANYONE outside of my friends list. So the fears of being "judged", I think it's mostly crap.

    I thought it might help me be more accountable. Maybe at first it did, but that wears off quickly. I track my stuff for me, and accountability is not really a problem. So it hasn't changed my habits one bit.
  • Juliechilli
    Juliechilli Posts: 123 Member
    : I don't get the notion that opening up a diary woudn't keep people honest? I've never been criticized by my food choices, and if I were, I would find new friends. :bigsmile:

    I look at my diary as accountability. You are only hurting yourself by making up foods for the benefit of others' so why not just be honest and accountable? To each is own. Just my opinion.
  • Lovebears99
    Lovebears99 Posts: 19 Member
    Mine is currently set so my friends can view it. I think it does hold me more accountable. At the same time i am still honest with what i consume. If i were to omit calories i've eaten just so others don't see, then in the end i would only be cheating myself when my numbers don't add up and the scale doesn't move. So far i haven't had anyone be judgemental or overly critical at all :flowerforyou:
  • Gramps251
    Gramps251 Posts: 738 Member
    I like having mine only open to friends. If you have it open to everyone, then you get too many opinions and people who disagree with your plan, without knowing anything about you. Having it open for friends, helps keep me accountable without fearing judgment from total strangers.

    Thanks! This is what I was worried about.... If i decide to have a Reese's cup one afternoon.... I didn't want to feel incredibly guilty when a million people tell me how awful my choice was lol

    I've never seen this as a problem and have mine open. Personally, I can't imagine anyone careing too much. I like getting food ideas from looking at others diaries and don't care if someone knows if I eat a Reese's cup. I've learned a lot from viewing other's diaries.
  • krissy_krossy
    krissy_krossy Posts: 307 Member
    Mine's private. I have some issues with food and I don't want people judging me based on the amount I eat some days. A lot of people will assume that if my calories are lower than they should be that I'm just trying to lose weight too quickly. They never stop to think that perhaps that's the best someone could do that day. What I eat is between me, my husband, and my doctors right now.
  • emilypink573
    emilypink573 Posts: 133 Member
    Friends Only for me.
  • lamby284
    lamby284 Posts: 167 Member
    I have mine public. If you are embarrassed to let other people know what youre eating, then you are defintely doing something wrong. The accountability is important to have, do make your diary public. As a side note, though, Im not sure that people actually check others' diaries. I never do

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