Do you Hide Your Diary???

I just made mine private. I got sick of being told in private messages by few folks I don't eat enough carbs. Heaven forbid I eat under 150 carbs or gasp even under 100 even though that is what keeps my BG in the correct range. .

I keep mine friends only, but I only have 2 friends, one of whom is my fiance. I log for myself, nobody is paying me to provide information. I understand why for some people having an open diary holds them more accountable, and allows them to have more social interaction and outside support, but I also understand people who don't want a social media platform, who would be more inclined to cheat if it was public, or who simply don't think it's anyone elses business. I really don't understand why that is such a big deal to some people? If I've been invited round someone's house, I don't take that as an open invite to look round all their rooms, regardless of whether their house was spotless and I wanted to congratulate them, or if they live in a hovel and I want to give them some helpful advice. If I eat out at a restaurant I don't check out what all the other diners are eating to help with my food choice, or inform them that instead of fries they should have had salad. Just because I registered for this site and use its database to keep track of my own personal intake doesn't mean I should automatically grant everyone access to examine everything I eat.

I'm not ashamed of my food diary, and I'm as honest as possible, even on my birthday when I purposefully didn't care at all about losing weight, and logged over 4000 calories. If people want to share, that's cool, whatever works for them, I don't really look at diaries unless it's someone asking for advice, and if I wanted advice I'd have no problem opening it up. Just don't tell me an open diary is the only valid way to use this site, and don't get grouchy because if I wanted to I could view your diary, but you can't view mine.

My sentiments exactly. But then what is amazing is when the hiders ask, why I not losing weight, and you are expected to give answers when the diary is closed.

I have no fear of hard, soft or whatever criticism, if it is means keeping me on track to reach my goal of being able to wear clothes that have been sitting in my closet for over 5 years. I am hoping this is the summer I can finally make a statement with my weight loss.

If you are eating crap what do you expect people to say, just try and do better tomorrow. I do not want anyone to tell me that, I know that already, give me the hard criticism so that I can pull my lazy butt back on track. Every day I have this weight on my body, is a day wasted and more dangerous to my health as far as I am concerned. I take one medication (for my thyroid which cannot be helped), and I do not want to have to take medication for things that I can prevented but are not prepared to act upon.

uh huh, if you're here asking people why your diet ain't working then it makes sense to show people your diet.

however, there's an assumption by some that those who stay private only do so because they nothing but eat crap and have something to hide. i find it rather bizzare! to my mind, that's like assuming i'm only wearing a skirt because my knickers are dirty.

:laugh: That's funny!

I keep mine private. It used to be open and I got a few people messaging me with rude comments about my food consumption.

I eat pretty clean and keep under my calorie goal and have lost a pretty good chunk of weight since I've been logging my food on MFP. I have a good idea of what's working for me. I don't need anyone to tell me I did a good job when I stay under my calories for the day. I don't need someone I only know through the internet trying to tell me how many calories I "should" be eating or what kinds of foods I "should" be eating.

And, the most important reason, I am more honest and log everything and don't worry about whether my food log "looks pretty." I log my calories here just to keep track of them. Using the calories I have logged on MFP, I can determine my actual TDEE and see what helps me feel the best, lose weight in the best way, and what my habits are especially things that could sabotage me once I hit maintenance.

Yes, I don't log every day so there isn't a whole lot to look at.

Diary is always open even when it is a trainwreck. There are days I would like to hide it but those are the days I need MFP the most. I don't have anyone judgey in my friends list mostly encouraging folk. I love to look at other peoples diaries for dinner and snack ideas.

Nope. It's open for the world to see my ridiculous ability to stuff myself silly when I'm off the rails. I wouldn't look at mine today if I were you, unless you like food porn.

My diary is proof that if I can lose weight anyone can. Perfection and even sanity not required.

When I first started I had it private but eventually opened it up. I get ideas from people's diaries and them from mine. Also because losing weight is mostly diet IMO I think it can be beneficial to having it open.

Nobody needs to see my diary but me. so...yes...I hide it.

I don't reveal mine because I know what I'm doing and don't want criticism. I log weird so it looks like I under eat some days, but I most certainly do not.

For me, un-hiding my diary makes me feel more accountable! If I cheat, i know my MFP friends will see so it makes me try harder. Plus, I love all my MFP friends and love their support so it doesn't matter to me that they see what I eat!!

I have to admit this whole thread has got me wondering. Do random people really make comments about your diary? Even if you're not asking for help? (I'm not).

I honestly don't care what people think. (Or do I?) I'm eating for myself, not someone else. (Or am I?) So as an experiment, I just opened my diary entirely. I want to see what happens.

Mine is open for people on my friends list to view, but I have turned off the automatic news feed section where it posts that I've closed my diary for the day. I'm not ashamed of it (I'm rarely ever over after I add my exercise calories), I just figure if people really want to see my diary, they know where to look for it.

I used to have mine so that only friends could see it, but some people were being kind of nosy about what I chose to eat. When other people can see my diary I feel like I have to eat to please them, when I need to eat what I want.

My diary is open to friends only. I have a very supportive but honest group of friends. There are some really snarky people in the community who do their best to hurt other people's feelings and make them feel stupid; I don't want to hear from them (as I have in the past) about my food choices.

Mine is private. And I'll tell you why. I've just started here and am trying to get the hang of things. So maybe once I see some good results that I'm happy with I'll open it to my friends and eventually the public. I do however look at other peoples diaries - not to criticize them but to get ideas of what they are eating to benefit me. Heck yea, I've got at least 50 lbs to lose to get to my goal weight and if I see someone whose lost a fair amount of weight - they must be doing something right. It might steer me in the right direction for my journey.