Prefilling MFP?

24

Replies

  • yayamom3
    yayamom3 Posts: 939 Member
    I do it most days. Dinner is the most important meal to me, and I have to have something delicious to look forward to. I go ahead and log my breakfast (which is the same thing most days) and dinner, then I know how many calories I have left over for lunch and snacks.
  • bobkat80
    bobkat80 Posts: 347 Member
    Yes I try to do this everyday to help me keep on track. Sometimes I do it the night before, and sometimes while I'm having my morning coffee. It has helped me with meal planning and with meeting my macros.
  • cserg1
    cserg1 Posts: 8
    I try to for weekdays since that gives me an idea of how many calories I can eat once I get home.
    On weekends it's impossible, too many variations.
  • bciloveme2014
    bciloveme2014 Posts: 213 Member
    I had been doing that since I started with MFP, except Saturdays and Sundays but It had been working just fine for me.
  • meganjcallaghan
    meganjcallaghan Posts: 949 Member
    i totally do that. makes it easier to eat during the day if i don't have to think about what i'm going to eat right at meal time.
  • MrsJennaKwasniewski
    MrsJennaKwasniewski Posts: 204 Member
    Yay! Thank you all for the feedback. Makes me feel good knowing I am doing something that alot of successful people are doing too!
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Sometimes.

    I have got quite good at wandering around a shop etc and thinking "ok, I need 30g more protein today and I've got 500 calories left, so I think I'll have 'x'" - however if I've got food around I'll often pre-plan a chunk of the day. I'll more likely pre-fill it if it's not food I'm used to, but that I've already got.

    Of course, doesn't mean you can't switch it around, but may make it easier to stick to plan.
  • Lifts4IceCream
    Lifts4IceCream Posts: 77 Member
    I typically do it first thing in the morning or the night before while preparing my meals for the day or next day. I try to have every meal in MFP at the start of the day so I know if I can fit in any energy-dense foods.
  • IIIIISerenityNowIIIII
    IIIIISerenityNowIIIII Posts: 425 Member
    I do on occasion, like when I plan to go to a Mexican restaurant that evening. I know I will want a serving of tortilla chips and an order of spinach quesadillas, so I will log it first thing in the morning so that I make sure to eat light throughout the day.

    I often pre-log a glass of red wine and a 100-150 calorie dessert :)
  • seashell709
    seashell709 Posts: 123 Member
    When I started MFP in Jan I did track all my food the day before. I did this the night before and packed my breakfast and lunch to work. I also plan my dinners for the week so I have some idea of how many calories I need. I love to be able to do it the night before because it takes out the guess work for myself and I know what I can eat with anywhere between 200-500 calories available to have treats at the end of the day.
  • redzgal
    redzgal Posts: 255 Member
    I also plan the day either the night before or that morning. That way I know exactly what I'm eating and what the calorie count is. I sometimes skip Saturday or Sunday planning, not both days. But I do still log what I eat, just don't plan. If something changes, I adjust my later meals and snacks to try to stay within my range :) I don't usually do the whole week...my schedule changes too much with my kids.

    Planning leads to success!!! For me anyway!
  • CookieNom
    CookieNom Posts: 19 Member
    I put in what I'm having for dinner whilst on my lunch at work! I like seeing what I'll have left for treats :)
  • gemmamummy
    gemmamummy Posts: 185 Member
    Always. I've got my 'treat' takeaway planned in already for Saturday night....ha ha.
  • leeshults
    leeshults Posts: 223 Member
    Yes I try to fill out my whole day for tomorrow the night before. It helps me to see what I need to pack for lunch and snacks and reminds me what I am going to do for dinner. and it's easy to change if I have to make other plans. It's the only thing that really keeps me on track!
  • luckypony71
    luckypony71 Posts: 399 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?

    I do the same, I usually know what I am going to eat because I bring my lunch to work. I will tweak it if I change something. It's been working for me so far.
  • yallllah
    yallllah Posts: 35 Member
    I do this for 2 ~ 4 days in advance.

    For the very first time I've set actual macro goals, and this really helps with seeing how to meet those goals within my calorie budget.

    Since I prelog/preweigh as much as possible, if I get the munchies at night I just dip into breakfast for tomorrow. (IE: have a bite of my pre-made smoothie, have half the cheese from my omelette, etc). That type of planning means my snack doesn't have any effect on my overall weekly averages. So no guilt :o) I'd say I do that once a week.

    Does anyone else do this?
  • beachylove
    beachylove Posts: 137 Member
    I log my entire day in the morning while making lunches and getting things prepped for dinner. I like to know what my day looks like and make sure that I balance out my macros. :smile:
    Plus I have found it lets me see if I can fit in a treat or extra snack which is always nice to look forward to maybe some Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt in the evening.
  • WaynesGurl
    WaynesGurl Posts: 44 Member
    Sometimes I see it on the screen and think oh hell no....and change what I was going to eat lol I sometimes put it what I know I am having tho so I can tell myself no I don't need that it isn't on list :)
  • WaynesGurl
    WaynesGurl Posts: 44 Member
    good idea using it to pack for next days lunch.
  • MelissaA007
    MelissaA007 Posts: 22 Member
    I will prefill for dinner so I have an idea of what I can do for lunch.
  • MelissaA007
    MelissaA007 Posts: 22 Member
    I will prefill for dinner so I have an idea of what I can do for lunch.

    Same here. I plan my dinner early so I know what I have to budget for the rest of the day. Keeps me from "falling off the wagon".
  • Peacockbutterfly
    Peacockbutterfly Posts: 90 Member
    I don't pre-log days in advance but by the time lunch comes around I usually log what I'm planning on having for the rest of my day to make sure I'm hitting my protein macro and not over doing my carb macro. I also make sure that I log food before I actually eat it to make sure I'm not blowing my day in 3 bites. This has saved me from making bad food choices over and over again!
  • alisonmarytuck
    alisonmarytuck Posts: 68 Member
    I do this to help me plan out my calorie intake. Also helps me to see whether it is ok for me to eat a particular treat occasionally within sticking to my calorie goals.
  • hscheuerman
    hscheuerman Posts: 15 Member
    YES! I have found it a great way to stick to my plan/goals. I have lost 18 pounds in 6-1/2 weeks and couldn't have done it without this tool. When I don't plan my meals for the day (i.e., weekends), I find myself nibbling and guessing. When I do plan for the day, I tend to stay on track and focused. Guess I should start doing this on the weekends, too.
  • TXRanchGirl
    TXRanchGirl Posts: 303
    When I first started, no I did not..but now I do. It helps me plan out my day. I already meal plan 2-3 weeks out, for dinners at least. so each morning I will pre-fill what I expect to eat that day..I can always change, take away or modify..but it helps me see where Im at and where I can adjust, if needed. I think, IMO, if you DONT do this..its easy to under or over eat.
  • xenoa
    xenoa Posts: 106 Member
    I do it at the beginning of each day while having my first cup of coffee, it helps me to stick with my daily goals. Sometimes few things change here and there but I have a big picture on how to fit it all in.
  • helloreenie
    helloreenie Posts: 25 Member
    yes! especially if i packed lunch or snacks for work ahead of time.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Sometimes, not always. If I know what I want to eat that day I plot a rough plan that is slightly lower in calories than my goal and make changes along the way as the day goes by, then treat myself at the end of the day if I have calories left.
  • KaleeCat
    KaleeCat Posts: 152 Member
    I try to do it everyday that I can, but especially on days I have to do lower calories to keep me on track!
  • Onedayslimmfp
    Onedayslimmfp Posts: 23 Member
    I pre-log my next day's diary the night before, always ensuring I build my snack in. I then tweak as and when I need to.

    Generally weekends are the most difficult for me as we're either out shopping or at home doing the house work and don't seem to have the time to plan ahead only for our evening meal. However I do like to stay within my calories :smile:

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