Pre logging ahead to plan out day.

I do it when I know what I'm going to have for dinner, for example, so I know what kind of snacks to eat in the meantime. It's very handy. I just usually don't know what I'm going to have for dinner depending at what time hubby gets home and whatnot...

I don't do it for lunch though. I never know when I'm going to be hungry for it, and it can change what I feel like eating too.

It's great motivation for grinding out a few more minutes on the cardio machine or few more reps (sets?) if you're craving a particular meal that won't otherwise fit your calorie budget. If you pre-log a meal that's putting you over, then you give 105% at the gym.

I have been pre-logging my day to help me stay on track and its been great so far. I don't do it everyday, but i believe this helps me plan out my day and sort of time out my meals to be spread out every few hours. I feel it also helps me get the macros right where i want them. Does anyone else do this? What are some pros and cons? If you've experiment with this, what was your result?

This is the way I've been doing it since the beginning. Pre log my day while I"m in bed lounging and when I get up pack according to my logging like following a recipe. Works easier, meet my macros and it keeps me from falling victim of failing to plan and impulsively grabbing something in a fit of hunger/craving.

I pre log, then its completely changed by the end of the day.

I log all my food in the mornings, starting with what we will have for supper that night, working backwards to breakfast.

This helps me because A) I commit to actually taking something out for supper and planning sides etc. so I'm not left feeding the family really late or else settling for a less than wonderful alternative meal. I tend to eat most of my protein at lunch and supper, so, by prelogging this then I can fill in any gaps missing with the right kind of snacks.

I never really know what I want for breakfast most days, so, seeing everything laid out in front of me in terms of calories left and macros, helps me decide between cold cereal, toast, eggs, etc.

I don't do this on the week-ends...unless I am planning a big supper or we are having a special occasion...and not surprisingly I have a harder time hitting my macros on the week-ends.

I definitely do, it really helps me stay on track with my macros, not just calories. I usually pre-plan a day ahead based on what I feel like having. It also helps me control cravings, because if I really want something I can plan it into my diary and I am more mindful of the nutritional and caloric content of my food. I update as the day goes by, so it's not cast in stone. I don't really see a downside to it.

I pretty much have the same thing for breakfast every day so that's no big deal. Lunch is kind of hit or miss. But I find myself taking a few minutes in the afternoon to see where I'm at and see how many calories I have left for the day and that helps me plan what to have for dinner.

I do the best when I pre-plan my day...if I have a seriously busy work schedule that week, I'll even pre-plan the whole damn week and get the majority of it ready Sunday.

Sometimes I have to make adjustments as I go, which is fine...but having it planned definitely helps keep me calm.

I do it! I find it really helps me too. I pre plan, pack snacks and lunches, and it helps me stay within my calorie goals. I don't pay as much attention as i should to my macros though.

I do it, it tells me where I am at. I wait until the end of the day to complete the diary, because sometimes I make a change. I am a planner, so I know what I will be having for meals.

My workday breakfast and and snacks are pretty much the same so I prelog them. Then dinner because I know what that meal will be. That lets me know how many calories I have left for lunch. If I have exercise calories or leftover calories, I increase dinner portions if I want, or left them for an evening snack. Logging my day first thing keeps me on track for the rest of the day. No surprises.

I pre log my food for breakfast and lunch because they are the same each day. If I have free time during the day and I know what I'm having for dinner then I'll log it before I go home. That way I know how many extra calories I have left and I can tweak the menu. At the beginning of the week I bring several pieces of fruit & veggies with me to work so I can swap those around if I'm hungry or just not in the mood for something. Today for example - I brought a dish of grapes to work on Monday but didn't feel like eating them until today. Same for my string cheese - it was sitting in the fridge all week but I didn't eat it until today. This weekend I am going to plan out my dinner menus for the coming week so I can start pre logging those as well.

I don't like doing this. I'd rather be spontaneous and a bit intuitive. Sometimes I don't want a yogurt, I'd rather have a pudding or a banana. Or maybe I'm not hungry for lunch after eating an indulgent breakfast and I'd rather enjoy a very large dinner. I just keep in mind my calorie goal for the day and know I can't go over it or eat too much at any one meal or I'll be pissed at myself/starving the rest of the day...and make my choices based on that.

Just started doing this.....it actually helps! if it weren't for all of the comments on this subject, i would not have considered it. My weekest time is at night when I come inside from work (I am outside from early in a.m. till past 8:00 at night usuall most of my days)
I start by filling in what I want for my night time snacking, especially my red wine and cheese. Then I go backwards through the day adding what I am planning on eating. This way I always have enough calories left to have my favorite goodies at night w/out going over

I do this also and it really helps keep me on track. I typically take my breakfast, lunch and snacks to work every day so I have healthy things on hand and do not fall temptation to the vending machine. And log all my meals as long as I know what I'm preparing for dinner. With coming home from the office and having a hubby and two boys to feed, I try and pre-plan dinner for most of the week so have the ingredients on hand or prepped the night before to make cooking dinner more efficient. My hubby has lost over 18 lbs with MFP in the last 2 ½ months so this helps keep both of us on track and not grabbing too many convenience foods.