Logging before you eat?

Pearsquared
Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Keeping up with my weight loss requires me to plan my meals. I've started logging parts of my day before I've eaten just because I know that's what I'm going to eat. Does anyone else do this? Would there be any reasons that this wouldn't be a good idea?

I always update if something changes, but generally, it doesn't.
«13

Replies

  • frugalafterfifty
    frugalafterfifty Posts: 240 Member
    Going to follow this post. I don't log before I eat. I've often wondered if some of my MFP friends do this.
  • socajam
    socajam Posts: 2,530 Member
    I do this all the time, sometime I log days in advance as it helps me to stay focus.
  • natmadc
    natmadc Posts: 116 Member
    I log sometimes two or three days in advance. And like you said, adjust if there are any changes. Planning is key, I dont see any downside to it.
  • macaelaf
    macaelaf Posts: 3
    I do this too because I usually forget to add in what I've eaten that day, i think it's a great idea. as long as you're eating exactly what you logged and remember to add anything else you might've eaten
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I almost always log before I eat. If I can, I plan out the whole day. It keeps me accountable, and then I can eat everything in my diary without even worrying that I'm going to go over. I'm one of those people that just worries about anything, and worrying that I might go way over tends to ruin the meal a bit for me when I'm trying to lose.
  • crissyniko
    crissyniko Posts: 47 Member
    I do! Especially if I am going out for dinner at a restaurant! Lets me know what I can eat before the "dinner" . I also log as I am cooking to help me measure and weigh the food before I eat it, that way I can make adjustments if needed.
  • imophlebam
    imophlebam Posts: 10
    I do this especially if I'm planning on going out for dinner or something, so I can plan the rest of the day accordingly.
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
    I do this usually daily. It keeps me honest and keeps me from straying since I don't feel like re-logging.
  • drefaw
    drefaw Posts: 739
    I do every day. Have since the day I joined. Easy to make sure I am going to meet my goals for the day. And plan my intake based on macros easier.
  • JenCatwalk
    JenCatwalk Posts: 285 Member
    I do it to see if something fits within my marcos, if so thats what im gonna eat. Nothing wrong with plannin your meals out.
  • Ashshell
    Ashshell Posts: 185
    I log the night before during the weekdays. I work full-time so I am away from home from 7:30-5ish. I plan what I'm going to bring to work, pack it and plan a dinner that will fit in. It really works for me. I wing it a bit more on weekends because we never know what we are going to be doing. I do make changes, usually just subtracting a snack that I didn't end up eating or adding a coffee (creamer).

    I can't imagine why it wouldn't be a good idea. Whatever keeps you on track is a GREAT idea!
  • Rissy3636
    Rissy3636 Posts: 11 Member
    I often will log lunch or dinner for the day in advance. I eat a lot of the same things every day because I like to and I know how much I can eat, etc. I switch it up sometimes, but for the most part I eat a lot of the same things.
  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member
    Yes I try to pre-log as much as possible!
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    I do this most days at least up until my afternoon snack so I know what to pack in my cooler to take with me to work. Otherwise I would severely underestimate what I can eat and then be left with way too many cals to eat at dinner and possibly sabotage myself. That, or I'd be starving at work and raid the vending machines or buy the nasty food they make in the cafe here. eewwwww
  • SamDanielleB
    SamDanielleB Posts: 71
    When I pack my lunch in the morning, I go ahead and log it... It helps me have a good idea of what my dinner allowance will be. Very helpful.
  • mattschwartz01
    mattschwartz01 Posts: 566 Member
    Absolutely! Logging before eating was some of the best advice I've ever received from a dietitian. Logging before you consume anything and sometimes just glancing at your food log forces you to stop, think, and chose! I've lost track of the number of times it has saved me from making a poor decision. I'm a big proponent of this kind of skill power.
  • kpick41
    kpick41 Posts: 81 Member
    I usually log my food in the morning on days I go to work. I add in everything so I know how many calories I have left for dinner.
  • vstraughan
    vstraughan Posts: 163 Member
    I do that too! I use the food & exercise trackers as a planner and log anywhere from a day to a week in advance. I still go back in a check either what I'm supposed to have/do and check that my log is correct ... adjusting where necessary, but I find it really helpful doing it that way!
  • xprplstardust
    xprplstardust Posts: 105 Member
    i do it everday, it's easy because i work in an office & my lunch is pre-made & i already know what snacks i am going to eat during my time at work so i just pre-log everything in the morning. it's the weekends & dinner that i don't prelog cuz they are usually up in the air. plus i eat a lot of the same things anyway.
  • cazzamartinek
    cazzamartinek Posts: 123 Member
    I do this to i find that it encourages me to eat healthy that day if i have already put it in my diary although if i do eat something different i will go back in and change it :smile: :smile: sometimes in do it for a couple of days in advance if i have the time :heart:
  • 8snowwhite8
    8snowwhite8 Posts: 14
    I do this as well. It really helps me stick to plan. I can switch it up if I need to but generally stay the course. I've got a long way to go (current goal is 190 but I'm thinking that will lower as I get closer to that goal). Having a routine of planning ahead helps me so much. I'm going on vacation in a months time though, that's the true test of meal planning. I still think I will log meals every day but they may not be made to plan as they are now. I keep telling myself I'll make the healthy choices but allow in some treat days. I plan to be pretty active during the holiday at least so I won't be just sitting around for the 2 weeks. Good luck to all on their journey!
  • cals83
    cals83 Posts: 131
    I usually log things as soon as they are planned. It really helps me to hit my macros. I usually add in my breakfast after I eat it. Then usually when I am making my lunch, I plan dinner as well and log that along with my lunch. Then I can pick my after lunch snack and after dinner snack. Usually cottage cheese if I need more protein, almonds if I need more fat, fruit if I have already met fat and protein goals, or some combination of all 3 if everything is already pretty well balanced.
  • LindseySprake
    LindseySprake Posts: 333 Member
    I do this too because I usually forget to add in what I've eaten that day, i think it's a great idea. as long as you're eating exactly what you logged and remember to add anything else you might've eaten

    This :-)
  • MeghanMorrical
    MeghanMorrical Posts: 7 Member
    I plan out everything I eat, I log it before I eat it and I always leave about 200-300 calories open for the unexpected treat. (like if someone brings cookies to work). If I don't end up eating anything bad i sill it with a low sugar snack at 6pm. I think if you log it before you eat You are more likely to stick to what you log and if You end up over on calories or anything but you really want that one snack, you can rearrange the rest of the day to fit around that one item.
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    I've done it before....I find if I pre-log, especially on days where I have "alot" going on, I tend to remember that hey I was only suppose to eat x amount of x.....

    Generally, I log after I've eaten however.
  • wtref
    wtref Posts: 3
    I've been logging the day in advance. It helps with having that "day's goal" all day.
    Also, if you know you're going into a danger zone (out to dinner or a nice brunch)... if you have the rest of the day tailored to that, you don't feel bad about splurging (in moderation of course) and you can still come in under for the day's calories. it is all about choices. it is good to know them beforehand. good luck!
  • anyamb
    anyamb Posts: 52 Member
    I've been doing this for about 2 weeks (this week is my third). Usually about a week in advance -- I figure that since I'm already planning a menu for my weekly grocery shopping, I may as well plan it out on MFP and make a grocery list while I'm doing it. I tend to make extra for dinner to eat for lunch the next day, so that simplifies the process. I don't plan snacks, so I usually end up with 100-300 calories left each day to "play with". And I make sure to alter anything I've changed or added, which isn't much since I've only bought what I planned to eat. The only meals I don't plan in advance in the food diary are meals out, which I'm trying not to have as often anyway.

    It takes a little bit of extra time, but it's worked really well for the last few weeks. I'm planning to continue.

    Edit: To clarify, I plan WHEN I'm going to have a meal out, but I don't plan WHAT I'm having at that meal.
  • Illona88
    Illona88 Posts: 903 Member
    When I lived on my own I planned my meals weeks ahead. Saves a lot on groceries and with all my allergies you kind of have to plan ahead.
    Seemed to work quite well in terms of weight loss as well.
  • angdpowers
    angdpowers Posts: 311 Member
    I literally do this everyday!!! Sometimes I don't log EVERY meal beforehand, but it helps me see what I'm going to consume beforehand and make changes where needed. Sometimes I can say, do I really need 2T of peanut butter, or is 1T enough? I like doing this, I see not harm in all, and have only see good things come from it. When you are prepared ... have a game plan ... you succeed! :)
  • lisahewitt22
    lisahewitt22 Posts: 102
    I always do this and I don't think it's a bad thing, just a bit annoying if I decide to have something else and have to change it haha

Categories