What is your general logging style?

khall86790
khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just curious as to what method people use for logging on MFP?
For example, do you log as you go (after every meal), log in the morning for your entire day or at the end of the day?
I am wondering what works best for people because I see pre-logging has it's advantages because it plans out your food for the day but logging as you go gives you more freedom and gives you a better idea of food mistakes you might be making.

For me, I log after every meal or at the end of the day if I don't have time. I prefer to log as I go because I can plan my next meal around how many calories I have left. The same with logging exercise.
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Replies

  • htimsm87
    htimsm87 Posts: 104 Member
    I log as I go. I try and log it immediatly after I eat it. The only time I might prelog is when I don't know what the numbers are going to be on something I am going to eat so will look it up and log it before.
  • tsikkz
    tsikkz Posts: 404 Member
    I try to log my whole day in the morning then tweak it based on what I actually eat
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I pre-log my entire day, either the night before or first thing in the morning. This way my day is completely mapped out...I don't have to go running to MFP to see if I can have something and I don't get stuck with having to just have a piece of broccoli for dinner because I over ate the rest of the day. It's just much easier for me to actually have a plan to go off of. I occasionally have to change something, but it's a rarity these days.
  • djshari
    djshari Posts: 513 Member
    I am pretty sporadic which is partly why my diary is closed... sometimes I am pretty good and log after every meal. Sometimes I do the past several meals and the day before. I also have a paper notebook I keep track of things so sometimes I just come on here to look up info.
  • Grognit
    Grognit Posts: 50
    I try to log my whole day in the morning then tweak it based on what I actually eat

    I do this as well. I like to know where I can move things around and what the day is going to look like.
  • ChristinaR720
    ChristinaR720 Posts: 1,186
    I try to log my whole day in the morning then tweak it based on what I actually eat

    This ^^^
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    I log for the day in the morning, at least all my meals up to dinner so that I know how much I can have then.
  • MrsRogers2010
    MrsRogers2010 Posts: 34
    I try to log my whole day in the morning then tweak it based on what I actually eat

    That's how I do it!
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I log things before I eat them, well, I try to! I like to log everything in the morning, but when I don't know what we're doing for supper, it's tricky.

    I wouldn't remember everything if I waited until later to log!
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    I usually log as I'm cooking something. I have a few things I eat pretty much everyday so I know exactly how many calories it has so I mentally plan out what I'll have but I log it right before I eat it. Yesterday I decided I wanted ice cream right before I went to bed so I leave room for random cravings like that.
  • wormy80
    wormy80 Posts: 64 Member
    bumping for later
  • magsxx
    magsxx Posts: 46 Member
    I sit on a saturday or sunday and plan my dinners for the week, i then put them into mfp and plan my breakfast and lunches around what calories i have left. I exercise most days and then i pick my snacks around what i have left :) I have only been on here for 5 weeks though but it has worked great so far. It means i know what i need when i go grocery shopping on monday morning so that everything is in the house so i am not tempted to go to the shops where sweets or buns tend to jump into my basket lol. but i suppose everyone has there own way that works for them :) if it ain't broke don't fix it
  • LemonMint6
    LemonMint6 Posts: 76
    I try to log my whole day in the morning then tweak it based on what I actually eat

    I do this as well. I like to know where I can move things around and what the day is going to look like.

    Yup me too. :)
  • kaylaawillis
    kaylaawillis Posts: 6 Member
    I log it all out in the morning (food and exercise), so I can better distribute my calories. Pre-logging also gives me daily goals for exercising. If I put down that I will do 30 minutes of cardio, I have more motivation to do it, then if I were to log in after exercising.
  • BlueObsidian
    BlueObsidian Posts: 297 Member
    I tend to pre-log all my main meals first thing in the morning. But, I still leave a couple hundred calories unaccounted for. That way, I can add in snacks as I feel hungry (or have some flexibility to have seconds at a meal).
  • rmcminn89
    rmcminn89 Posts: 37
    I log as I go, I found that if I waited until the end of the day, i had underestimated what I was taking in.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    I log as I go, also ....... helps to have the app on my phone ......

    If I try to remember everything at the end of the day ...... well, lots of times I just draw a blank :laugh:
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  • lilttlered
    lilttlered Posts: 11 Member
    I try to log everything in the morning but some mornings I run out of time so I pack various fresh fruit and veggie options to get me through the day and log it when I get home.
  • pinkgumdrop123
    pinkgumdrop123 Posts: 262 Member
    I log almost everything the night before. Its easier for me to stay accountable this way and to plan my day better.
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    I log as I go, also ....... helps to have the app on my phone ......

    If I try to remember everything at the end of the day ...... well, lots of times I just draw a blank :laugh:

    Lol me too! I struggle with quantities if I don't log as I go too, for example I will under estimate and think I have a 1 cup of something when I clearly had two or vice versa!
  • olDave
    olDave Posts: 557 Member
    I log as I go. The mobile app is GREAT for doing that. Besides, at this stage of life, if I wait too long I forget...LOL.

    Good luck!
  • DaniH826
    DaniH826 Posts: 1,335 Member
    I log as I go, both food and exercise. The first few days I kept running out of calories, but I'm learning to adjust. I'm using MFP to teach me how to gauge my intake as much as anything else. I'm not planning on having to use a tracking tool like this for the rest of my life, so I don't want to get too dependend on it.

    But, that's what's so great about MFP: It gives people enough room to create their own system. Whatever works for you. :smile:
  • kingofcrunk
    kingofcrunk Posts: 372 Member
    I try to pre log as much as I can but that isn't always possible.

    I always like to have my food logged before I eat it. It's very rare that I'll eat something before I log it. That way nothing can go in without me being 100% aware of it!
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    I log as I go, both food and exercise. The first few days I kept running out of calories, but I'm learning to adjust. I'm using MFP to teach me how to gauge my intake as much as anything else. I'm not planning on having to use a tracking tool like this for the rest of my life, so I don't want to get too dependend on it.

    But, that's what's so great about MFP: It gives people enough room to create their own system. Whatever works for you. :smile:

    This is exactly how I feel.
    The first week or two I used MFP, I realised a lot of bad eating habits I had developed but also a lot of good ones that I had. Now, I have tailored my diet so it is healthier without having to change too much (I just cut out a lot of crappy foods basically and forced myself to try new things that I have grown to love).
    I don't want to be using a tracking tool forever either, so I am allowing it to guide me through weight loss and teach me portion control. I think it's great for portion control, I finally don't over eat pasta until I am uncomfortably full, I have mastered the correct potion for it!
  • MartinaNYC
    MartinaNYC Posts: 190 Member
    I try to pre-log as much as I can to set a plan and avoid the risk to go over-board. Usually I log as I go though. Never at the end of the day! Too risky :tongue:
  • MyProgressISYour1Proof
    MyProgressISYour1Proof Posts: 376 Member
    Just curious as to what method people use for logging on MFP?
    For example, do you log as you go (after every meal), log in the morning for your entire day or at the end of the day?
    I am wondering what works best for people because I see pre-logging has it's advantages because it plans out your food for the day but logging as you go gives you more freedom and gives you a better idea of food mistakes you might be making.

    For me, I log after every meal or at the end of the day if I don't have time. I prefer to log as I go because I can plan my next meal around how many calories I have left. The same with logging exercise.

    I log before I even fix the food so I know exactly what I can have and if I can have more or less of a certain thing
  • Msjay2blue
    Msjay2blue Posts: 26 Member
    Dring the week, I log as I go during my work day, but after that I dont log until the next morning, so that is when I log my dinner and my workout from the night before. On the weekend, I do it, sporadically, but before I eat too many things that I forget.
  • mrsjas2000
    mrsjas2000 Posts: 908 Member
    I log after every meal but if I am going out I prelog so I have an idea of what I can have
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    I try to log my whole day in the morning then tweak it based on what I actually eat

    I do this too - minus snacks. Then I have an idea of what snacks I can take.

    It's good planning a whole day and knowing I'll come in on budget rather than getting to supper time and only have 150 calls left!

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