Prefilling MFP?

MrsJennaKwasniewski
MrsJennaKwasniewski Posts: 204 Member
in Getting Started
Does anyone prefill your food into MFP on a daily basis? Sort of like mapping out your caloric intake and trying to stick to it? I find myself doing this and then if something changes I just update it. I was wondeirng if anyone has any comments/concerns/advice on this?
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Replies

  • asciiqwerty
    asciiqwerty Posts: 565 Member
    sure

    i do this if I pack my lunch bag for the office the night before - i log as i weigh and prep

    the key is to remember to log back in and make appropriate changes
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I track for several days at a time and sometimes I do it for a week. I print and take to supermarket with me.
  • cnl91_W
    cnl91_W Posts: 89 Member
    I do this almost every day! It helps me turn down unplanned treats because I've already mapped my calories out for the day. So when a coworker asks if I want to grab a cookie in the kitchen, it's much easier for me to realize I can't fit it in rather than saying yes and trying not to consume many calories later on in the day. It's been working well for me :)
  • kmorgan221
    kmorgan221 Posts: 206 Member
    Yes, usually it's one of the first things I do at work. I log what I had for breakfast that morning and whatever I brought for lunch or snacks for that day.
  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
    I track for several days at a time and sometimes I do it for a week. I print and take to supermarket with me.

    Do the same thing...definitly helps with the planning and shopping
  • janicelo1971
    janicelo1971 Posts: 823 Member
    YUP! I do it for 3-4 days in a row and then update as needed..works well for me as I try to stay within my calories and macro's on a weekly basis....I think sometimes it CAN be harmful though...for me, living alone...I could go all day one day and only eat carbs, next day only do fat, next day only protein....as long as the weekly average is what my goals are....not so sure that is too healthy...
  • lavendy17
    lavendy17 Posts: 309 Member
    Yeah I have to pre-fill. I have some foods that I know that I will eat, and some that I don't. I put everything in there including exercise if applicable to see what is left for unknowns. Otherwise I will find myself at dinner with too few or too many calories, or drag a hunger because I'm afraid to eat.
  • Robin_Brown72
    Robin_Brown72 Posts: 104 Member
    I pre-log almost all of my food and just edit if something changes. I find helps me "plan" my meals better and for me the key to success is definitely planning.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    Yep! As often as possible. Typically, weekdays, I'm able to fill in the entire day either the night before or that morning. I try to leave myself a couple hundred extra calories to account for nibbles during the day and/or an evening snack (which I could pre-log but I'll never know if I feel like sweet or salty before bed, haha). Weekends are quite a bit more variable, but I still do try to fill in as much as I can ahead of time. The more I know about what I plan to eat, the better choices I can make at the times where I hadn't already decided and logged it. And it goes both ways - sometimes I know not to make the over-caloric choice because I don't have a lot of wiggle room, and sometimes I can see that I DO have room for a treat and I can go ahead and take it without feeling guilty or like I need to restrict later.
  • iTStaRTsN0W
    iTStaRTsN0W Posts: 106
    from time to time I do - and I have to say when I do I tend to stay on track better - it is a good habit to build
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    sure do..makes it easy to hit my macro goals because I can tweak as necessary.

    Allows me to prelog my treats and ensure they fit in my calorie and macro goals

    reminds me to take meat out of the freezer...

    Never thought about using it for grocery shopping as I usually do it after based on what we bought that was on sale.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    Yes. Planning ahead is one of the best ways to establish good habits - and stops stuff going off in the fridge I find.
  • cggrlsteph
    cggrlsteph Posts: 36 Member
    Yeah I do this all the time... lets me know what I need to add (protein/carbs/fat) before the day is over too
  • bradXdale
    bradXdale Posts: 399
    Yes, usually it's one of the first things I do at work. I log what I had for breakfast that morning and whatever I brought for lunch or snacks for that day.

    Yep. This ^
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    I plan my meals out for the week and then daily on here and go back and edit where needed. I feel it keeps me within my calorie ranges and I can map out my food and make sure I burn enough calories off each day.
  • crunchergirl
    crunchergirl Posts: 184 Member
    I will prefill for dinner so I have an idea of what I can do for lunch.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Every day where possible.

    I find it to be a little more difficult on the weekends.
  • Kargicq
    Kargicq Posts: 72 Member
    Yeah I have to pre-fill. I have some foods that I know that I will eat, and some that I don't. I put everything in there including exercise if applicable to see what is left for unknowns. Otherwise I will find myself at dinner with too few or too many calories, or drag a hunger because I'm afraid to eat.

    Exactly this! Everyone's different, but what works for me is to pre-log a treat (a nice dessert, or some beer/wine) with my dinner. Then if I'm hungry during the day, I tell myself -- "well, you COULD have that extra unplanned snack... or you could have the treat." Otherwise I'm far too likely to snack and not leave myself enough for a decent-sized dinner!
  • KaelaLee88
    KaelaLee88 Posts: 229 Member
    Yes, yes and yes again!

    Without Pre-logging, I could guarantee you that I would overeat on all Macros without even realising it.

    I was told at the beginning of our weight loss journey that it takes 12 weeks minimum to form a new habit and I would totally agree that this is definitely a new habit.

    I personally live by the Motto, "Fail to prepare, prepare to Fail" - which in regards to Pre-logging is definitely applicable :-)
  • Fit_Fox88
    Fit_Fox88 Posts: 410 Member
    Depends... today I did. I had gotten into a habit of eating my snacks that I brought to work even though I realized I wasn't hungry- I just ate them b/c the reminder popped up on my calendar. Now if I log it and look at it throughout the day, I seem to be less hungry knowing that if I don't eat that yogurt or banana with nutella, I can have dessert that night :bigsmile:

    It also helps me plan my dinner if I know how many calories I'm going to be eating throughout the day.
  • thesimsisters
    thesimsisters Posts: 73 Member
    I prefill out my MFP each evening for the next day. The only thing I do not plan out ahead are my snacks unless for some reason I know I want to have something for sure the next day. But usually, I just decided my snacks at the time of based on what I want to have and how many calories I have left.

    At work we only get paid twice a month, so I plan out our meals basically two weeks at at time when we go grocery shopping. So I already know what we are having each day for those weeks ahead of time. So it's easy to prefill as it is already preplanned out. If anything changes or I want something different, then I just adjust as I go.
  • dominoid747
    dominoid747 Posts: 33 Member
    I do it very often if I'm working. I know what I'll be eating as I've brough a packed lunch in so I add it on the bus on the way in to work to save time later. If I don't eat everything then I can always remove it later (it's rare I don't eat all my lunch though, I didn't get this size by accident!)
  • tomomatic
    tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
    Yep. Failing to plan is planning to fail. I do my best to stick to the script. I also enjoy looking at other people's diaries for meal ideas.
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    Every day where possible.

    I find it to be a little more difficult on the weekends.

    This is me, too, I think because I'm on my phone, and it's easier to see my macros laid out in front of me from the computer. I get everything as close as possible before my workout, because that will bring the numbers down a little.
  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    That's what I do...
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I do it the night before, unless I know we will be out for the day and not home.
  • montana_girl
    montana_girl Posts: 1,403 Member
    Does anyone prefill your food into MFP on a daily basis? Sort of like mapping out your caloric intake and trying to stick to it? I find myself doing this and then if something changes I just update it. I was wondeirng if anyone has any comments/concerns/advice on this?

    Yep, do this every day. Find that pre-tracking helps keep me on track, but it very easy to change/update if I decide to eat something else during the day. :smile:
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    Always! I usually log breakfast before I shower, then log lunch & dinner at work. Then I know what my snacking room is. And I'll pre-log foods when I'm going to a restaurant or doing fancy food with friends so that I don't get something TOO bad for me or massively overeat.
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
    I do this if I am expecting to eat something high-calorie...say, fast food or takeout pizza. I enter the amount I expect to eat and see how I need to plan the rest of the day accordingly to allow for my treat.

    But I don't do this every single day, no...there are others who swear by that method (pre-logging every meal)
  • MalS0906
    MalS0906 Posts: 6 Member
    haven't done it yet, but fantastic idea!

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