Pre-log, or log as you go?

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  • TheArmadillo
    TheArmadillo Posts: 299 Member
    I pre-log during the week. Meals first, then snacks to use the leftover calories. Sometimes things change but it's easy enough to delete stuff. Weekends aren't as planned (i do mealplan during the week) so I don't tend to pre-log.

    I do pre-log exercise that is going to make a big difference to my calorie allowance (such as my cycle commute) so I can plan my food accordingly. Otherwise I was not eating enough and getting shaky and faint. Smaller amounts I only log after.
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
    During the week, I generally pre-log my breakfast
    ...
    that gives me a general sense of what wiggle room I have for dinner. I think pre-logging food helps me - I've got a plan and you know already what I'm going to eat and stops me from making not great choices throughout the day. However, I *never* pre-log exercise. I only log it after I'm done and actually earned it.

    ^^^THIS!
    On the 3 days a week I work from home, I prelog as much as I can before eating anything. It's not etched in stone, but when I sub/swap, I try to swap out for similar macros.
    On the 2 days that I work onsite, I prelog b'fast and the work cafe lunch (so grateful most of their stuff is already in MFP DB; they are how I heard of MFP in the first place!) Dinner is sometimes a wild card, but I will prelog if I'm eating leftovers.
    Weekends are anything goes... some pre-logging, some retro-logging, but the latter usually screws me up.
  • afgrpa
    afgrpa Posts: 10 Member
    I have been pre-logging, I find when I 'wing it' I am way off track. Usually end up making bad choices. Pre-logging I can see my intake and see if I should alter one food for something different. I can't track that in my brain as I go. I've also found it helps me from cheating because I plan out three meals and two snacks.

    I also track my exercise for the day in the morning so I'm sure to calculate in those calories too. Plus...then I feel obligated to do my evening workout because I've already ate the calories!! Sometimes I have to trick myself into these things ;)
  • dym123
    dym123 Posts: 1,670 Member
    During the week I tend to eat the same things, so it is easier for me to pre-log. I try to make sure I have pre-portioned meals for dinner, so I don't have to worry about that either. Weekends are a little different, because I usually have more time to cook.
  • Yeller_Sensation
    Yeller_Sensation Posts: 373 Member
    I log my meals during the work week in advance because I prep and cook them every Sat and/or Sun, divide them into portion sizes per my recipes, then refrigerate. Planning my meals ahead of time also helps me decide what needs to be taken out of the freezer to thaw in the refrigerator for cooking.

    Meal planning for the weekends is more flexible now that the weather is warmer (mountain bike rides occur more frequently). Sometimes I cook ahead of time, sometimes I don't.
  • Cyclingbonnie
    Cyclingbonnie Posts: 413 Member
    I pretty much log as I go. However, if I'm going out to dinner, I will research the restaurant and plan my meal. Then I will adjust for the calories I will be eating in the evening.
  • tanyadolan1
    tanyadolan1 Posts: 55 Member
    I normally log after every meal and if I have a snack. That way I remember to log it all incase I forget
  • peachstategal
    peachstategal Posts: 398 Member
    I have a set amount of calories in mind for each meal so I plan as I go and try to keep within my limit. Save more for dinner and wine.
  • Livdoesketo
    Livdoesketo Posts: 38 Member
    I prelog my breakfast/lunch/dinner but it's very rough and changes throughout the day depending on how hungry I am. It lets me know that if I have a snack I need to get rid of x/y/z from my dinner or I can't have it.
  • mamosh81
    mamosh81 Posts: 409 Member
    i pre log in the mornings and change it according to what i actually eat during the day but this way i have an easier time planning my snacking
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    I pre-log every morning as I comment on my friends status. I then read my daily diary as I eat, that way I remember what I have planned. Sometimes the day doesn't go as planned and I have to change my diary, but it helps me to have a plan.
  • helloheatherbray
    helloheatherbray Posts: 12 Member
    I meal prep every Sunday, which includes my breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week...so I log everything on the corresponding days so I 1. know what to grab the night before to take to work and 2. so I know if I have any wiggle room, which I almost never do.
  • chrisloveslife
    chrisloveslife Posts: 180 Member
    During the weekday, I usually log my breakfast and lunch while I'm eating breakfast. This way I know how much wiggle room I have for dinner or if I can grab a pretzel to snack on at work during the afternoon. During the weekend, I log as I go but try to be realistic about how many carlories I'll need for dinner, depending on if my family goes out or not. I always log exercise after I do it.
  • clobern
    clobern Posts: 341 Member
    I pre-log every day in the morning. That way I know exactly what I can or can't have "extra" and if I need to tweak anything.
  • JessHealthKick
    JessHealthKick Posts: 800 Member
    I always pre log! Helps with grocery shopping too :)
  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    Monday to Friday I log/build my day from the middle out, ending with breakfast because I eat pretty close to the same thing every morning. So, I make my lunch, log it. Then my morning and afternoon snacks, then I plan and log dinner as I take the meat out of the freezer. Then, as I'm eating my breakfast I log it in.


    On the week-ends, I tend to log as I go - but the days aren't as "structured" because I never really know what we will be up to, and, sometimes I skip a snack, or a meal, especially if we are planning a pizza night, or having dinner with friends.

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