If you're looking for weight loss help read this..

I can't remember what it was set to when I started the site, but I think the diary is set to private? Maybe people don't know how to change it to public, or even realize it is an option.

Mine is public, as I have nothing to hide...good or bad days! :drinker:

I do seriously want to lose weight. But I don't need my journal to be completely public for me to become serious about it. I am facing the problem and dealing with it, you really have no idea how each person decides to go about their weight loss.

I used to just carry a notebook around in my purse for me to track my calories and exercise, and that helped me quite a bit. What I like a lot about this site is how it calculate your carbs and fiber and sodium and stuff for you. It's much easier for me to upload my food into here, than look up all the food labels of everything I eat on my own.

I think this post was very unnecessary.

And BTW, I don't LIE on here. I use my food journal for my own use. I don't need other ppl to see it and give feedback. And I listen to what the scale tells me, whether I like it or not. I have been sucessful in my weight loss, this past year especially. I don't need someone who doesn't know me to generalize me as someone that does not take it seriously.

This post has really really irritated me.

wow. this was a dissapointing post! i thought i might get a useful tip or info that might actually help in my weight loss journey. some of us are not as technologically advanced as you, apparently. i do not have access to a digital camera to upload a picture from, i do not have a web cam, i do not have a scanner. that makes it fairly hard to upload a picture. its not that i'm hiding anything. i mean, i weigh 255 pounds.... there's really no point in hiding! i did not even know making the food diaries public was an option. i use mfp as a food and exercise diary. i read some of the (helpful) posts. so far, i have been successful. even though i have only lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks, i have a lot more energy, i feel better, and i am making healthy food and life style choices. i think this site is a VERY helpful tool and i am very happy that i found this site, as i do not have much of a support system in "real life". but reading offensive posts like yours, makes me even more thankful for the supportive people there is on this site.

It's more like I'm NOSY, and that's why I'm sad when people don't have it public.

And when I see people who are very successful at weight loss, I wish theirs were private so I could see how often they eat their exercise calories and what not.

I thought I was going to read a helpful tip..... I guess not.
I do the food log on my i phone and I cant be bothered to sync with my computer...that would take me hours of time I don't have. My food is my business anyway...must be doing something right...lost 20 lbs so far.

I am not too sure why there is a desire to look at what others are eating.

I come here to use the diary as a TOOL for my PERSONAL goals....

Also I have used this site for some time....when I first signed up viewing others' food journal was not even an option. Therefore I am not sure why you are so aggravated over something most people don't even think about......

And BTW, I don't LIE on here. I use my food journal for my own use. I don't need other ppl to see it and give feedback. And I listen to what the scale tells me, whether I like it or not. I have been sucessful in my weight loss, this past year especially. I don't need someone who doesn't know me to generalize me as someone that does not take it seriously.

This post has really really irritated me.

A++ on this post and your previous. I use MFP for its calculator properties. I'm only here to loose 8 lbs and have never had poor eating habits (my favourite food in the world is All Bran - I like to think that says a lot about me) so I'm not in it for the support but for those who need it, by all means this is the place for it.

I don’t think opening up your diary for others to critique is warranted or helpful unless you are looking for help b/c you can’t balance proper nutrition. I’ve eaten 960 calories a day for 3 days now so if I opened up my diary I’d get belittled on how unhealthy that is. I’m getting all my nutrients and I only intend to eat that way for 5 days so that’s justification that wouldn’t be required if my diary was private (which it is).

I see from your profile that you lack self confidence and that’s huge part in loving your self regardless of size. Work on that with friends, family and even strangers - be the social person on the bus it will help and you won't feel stupid if its people you don't know.

Oh this topic is great! I just read through some of the other posts and am so refreshed to see some angry opinions out there on MFP. Every other topic is so super nice and I love how people are being real here

Wow! I read you as a positive and upbeat person but you are seriously bent on reading other people's diaries. Is that why you are here? Is that the only way you can find success here is by reading what other people are doing? You see, I have a mother who is my best friend and I completely adore. But she is pushy and bossy and CRITICAL. Always has been. I grew up with her criticizing everything that went in my mouth and every decision I made. I know she was trying in her own way to protect me. But it had terrible effects on me emotionally. I was skinny until high school when I gained a little bit but was still small. When I got out of high school and out on my own I absolutely rebelled and started doing things the way I wanted to. The results were disastrous as I made many mistakes in life and also gained a lot of weight. Do I blame my mom for my weight gain? Nope. I am responsible for my decisions. But I'm bearing this part of my soul so that you can see that in some (but not all) areas of my life I shrink in light of criticism. Especially when it comes to food. This is deep-seeded in me.

Originally my diary was public. But I saw someone get very critical about the choices in the diary of a friend of mine one day. My friend didn't ask for opinions that day. So I made my diary private. If I have a question, I'll post it and take the criticism that comes. I'm here for support, not for someone to critique my food choices. I post on various topics because I am educated in nutrition and I try to put the facts out there to help others. If someone wants ideas for things to eat they can ask and I'll share! There is no need for me to share my diary. I never read other people's diary. Unless they specifically ask for help.

I came to this site because I could log my food and exercise. I find it a very helpful tool and the support I have received here has been an added bonus. No one is going to push me into doing something I don't want to do. You can say I'm not serious about my weight loss. My numbers speak otherwise. And as the weeks and months tick by my numbers will be an even bigger voice as to my seriousness.

Everyone is entitled to their choice and to choose a level of privacy they are comfortable with. Shame on you for trying to make others feel guilty. Haven't we had enough of that? Do you really think that helps?

To quote you: "You can lie all day long on here, but the scale will tell the truth."

I'd also like to point out that if people are here to lie then they could easily do so by filling in false information into their food and exercise diary. They could also fill in false numbers for their weight every week. I mean really. How would seeing other people's diary assure you they are being honest? This is the internet, for pete's sake.

To attack others for their personal choices in this manner was completely senseless. Uncalled for. And very uncool.

So there's the end of MY rant. BOOYAH!

Honestly, I can see the original posters point in posting this, but the way it was brought up, to me was a bit rude. If the person really wants help with their journey, they would have things open for people to see, so that they could get help. It's almost like if you go to a doctor for a drug overdose, and won't tell them what you overdosed on, they can't help you and you're screwed. But that is that person's choice, and it should be left at that.

I truely hope she comes back to read the responses and considers changing her attitude.

Honestly, when people see that no one agrees with their opinion, they either get a thorn in their *kitten* and rage or they bolt instead of facing the music. Usually, anyway.

Honestly, I can see the original posters point in posting this, but the way it was brought up, to me was a bit rude. If the person really wants help with their journey, they would have things open for people to see, so that they could get help. It's almost like if you go to a doctor for a drug overdose, and won't tell them what you overdosed on, they can't help you and you're screwed. But that is that person's choice, and it should be left at that.

I agree that if someone is here to seek help for how to make the right choices in a day, they might consider making their diary public. Or they could post a thread and ask for specific help.

But the point of my long post up there is to help the original poster and anyone else realize that not everyone is here for that type of help and to get ugly or pushy about it is not necessary. I shared my story so that others can see, we all have a reason for the choices we make. Not everyone wants to have to share the reason for why they are private. And they shouldn't have to.

I totally agree, and that was the point of MY post. lol I just have poor delivery sometimes. :blushing:

Honestly, I can see the original posters point in posting this, but the way it was brought up, to me was a bit rude. If the person really wants help with their journey, they would have things open for people to see, so that they could get help. It's almost like if you go to a doctor for a drug overdose, and won't tell them what you overdosed on, they can't help you and you're screwed. But that is that person's choice, and it should be left at that.

I agree that if someone is here to seek help for how to make the right choices in a day, they might consider making their diary public. Or they could post a thread and ask for specific help.

But the point of my long post up there is to help the original poster and anyone else realize that not everyone is here for that type of help and to get ugly or pushy about it is not necessary. I shared my story so that others can see, we all have a reason for the choices we make. Not everyone wants to have to share the reason for why they are private. And they shouldn't have to.

I totally agree, and that was the point of MY post. lol I just have poor delivery sometimes. :blushing:

I got what you were saying. I was agreeing with you. And I didn't think you had poor delivery.