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When do you log your food?

PcolaKB
PcolaKB Posts: 6
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I think if I start doing it 1st thing I would comply better than if I just chart what I ate at the end of the day, thoughts?
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Replies

  • chrisc31
    chrisc31 Posts: 137 Member
    I log it right before I eat whatever it is I'm eating....with the exception of breakfast: I log that when I get to work just because I'm always rushing to get out the door on time! I use the app on my phone so it's pretty convenient.
  • reneelee
    reneelee Posts: 877 Member
    On most days I eat the same thing in the morning and at lunch. The thing I found that works best for me is adding my night time snack first thing and changing my calorie count around to fit my snack. I find if I get my treat at night while my husban has his treat I dont feel like I'm on a diet at all.
  • sunleigh
    sunleigh Posts: 84 Member
    i log breakfast and lunch after i eat and then plan dinner and my snacks around what i have left for the day. seems to be working for me and i can also then see what kind of exercise i am going to do that day(burning a lot of calories or not so many)
  • toxicat
    toxicat Posts: 79
    I use the app on my phone, so I typically do it throughout the day. Otherwise at night- I've been doing it for awhile, so I remember what I eat throughout the day. It also keeps me from overeating because I know I will have to remember what I ate! :)
  • achbarrow
    achbarrow Posts: 325 Member
    Before bed or a little after I get up I plan out my day here on the site. I find it easier to stick to it that way. It doesn't always work (things happen) but it seems to be helping.
  • reese66
    reese66 Posts: 2,920 Member
    Log breakfast and lunch the night before as well as my snacks and sometimes dinner, but generally I log dinner when I get home from work and start preparing the meal.
  • denise309
    denise309 Posts: 39
    I start it the night before to get a general idea of what I will eat...but then I sometimes change up meals, for instance last nite I had egg beaters asparagus laughing cow cheese for breakfast this am, but when I woke up I wanted peanut butter and jelly, so I did that on a sandwich thin with strawberry preserves, so I just edited what I had. I find that if I plan I stick to my calories better
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    i log breakfast and lunch after i eat and then plan dinner and my snacks around what i have left for the day. seems to be working for me and i can also then see what kind of exercise i am going to do that day(burning a lot of calories or not so many)

    This is basically what I do. I like to log through out the day so I'm never surprised at the end of the day. I also plan my higher calorie dinners like today's on a heavy cardio day and lighter dinners on yoga and strength training days. I'm still working on keeping my saturated fats low though.
  • swiftgirls2
    swiftgirls2 Posts: 59
    I always log my food in right after I eat it.
  • bryanbolick
    bryanbolick Posts: 11 Member
    I've been doing breakfast actually as I eat it, and lunch as soon as I get back to my desk at work. Dinner...well whenever I get ahold of my laptop afterwords. I'm really looking forward to the Blackberry app getting rolled out somewhat soon---all the Appleheads are lucky to have it already (along with a lot of other things lol).
  • Dafrog
    Dafrog Posts: 353
    i log mine in advance. somedays the night before, if i already know what i will be eating. at the latest after breakfast. helps me stay on track for the day, if i already have it planned. not all days go as planned, therefore, i just delete what i didnt eat, add or change as needed. also i try to keep a 33 oz water bottle filled, so i constanly have it handy. i strive for over 100 oz a day tho.
  • Dom80
    Dom80 Posts: 146 Member
    I log my food as I am preparing it. That way I wont forget any ingredients.
  • Lisa__Michelle
    Lisa__Michelle Posts: 845 Member
    I log right before or after I eat something.
  • pjames22
    pjames22 Posts: 13
    I log mine the night before. That way I know what I am going to have the next day and already know how many calories. This is also helpful because I can add things that I already have in the house. Sometimes I stray from the plan, but not very often. I have only went over my calories once. Hope this is helpful.:smile:
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    I try to do it as I go. Today I forgot, but it was easy to remember what I ate because I didn't eat very much. :-/ I wasn't feeling well. But usually I enter it right after I eat, or while I'm cooking it.
  • misterpiano
    misterpiano Posts: 14
    I use the iPhone app and it makes it easy to log in as I go through the day. I don't eat anything at work that I don't bring with me....my breakfast, my lunch, and my snacks. I log those in as soon as I can in the morning on my work computer. I log in water as I drink it throughout the day. I usually walk a few miles at lunchtime...then log that in too. This way I know what I have left for dinner. If we go out to eat I usually make my selections based on what fit into what I have left for the day. I log that in while waiting for my order.

    I tried logging everything at the end of the day but it didn't work for me...I was usually over my budget or I couldn't remember something.

    But that does not mean it will not work for you!

    Also I tend to look up foods when I know what I have left to see what I might make for dinner. I am building a database of my own recipes to make it easier and less time consuming.

    I also checked and noted the calories of things like donuts, cookies, etc that other people put out at work...I know what it "costs" me if I have one...it makes it so much easier to walk on by!

    Good luck however you proceed. Remember, this is up to you. If something doesn't work, change it!
  • kmahly
    kmahly Posts: 39 Member
    It depends. I try to always log food right after I eat it, but sometimes, I will try logging things in advance for planning purposes, or to double check something and ensure that I am on track. Occasionally, though, I'll do it all at the end of the day if I had a busy day and didn't have a chance to enter things- this is not ideal, though. I find I tend to overeat or forget things if I wait till the end of the day.
  • Dom82
    Dom82 Posts: 235
    I log mine every morning when i get to work while i have my breakfast. By that time i know what I'm cooking for dinner and I bring lunch to work as well as all my snacks.
  • nextstepsailing
    nextstepsailing Posts: 17
    I do it as I go because the calories in many items may surprise you and at the end of the day Wam! This has happened more than once. This way, I do not have to plan my day and eating/tracking is kind of fun. I had a Carmel Machiato today. I wanted sugar and caffein in a moderate does. It was 160 calories. Off I went...
  • MelissaL582
    MelissaL582 Posts: 1,422 Member
    I log mine in right away (while I'm eating it or just after I'm done). If I wait to do it, I'll forget everything. Plus, this way helps me to see where I'm at so I don't over eat.
  • CarolHudson11
    CarolHudson11 Posts: 372
    I always log my food right before I eat it. I started doing that because the first day I ate my usual foods and it was a HUGE eye-opener about how many calories (not to mention carbs, sugar and fat!) I was putting in my mouth. And I wasn't good with measurements at all - so I would put my food in, adjust the measurements if needed, and then go eat it. That was I wasn't surprised. But, I think whatever way works for you is the best way. :)
  • arfdemob5
    arfdemob5 Posts: 109 Member
    I am trying to log as I go (using laptop, work computer and app). But, worst case if I get behind I log before dinner so I am certain I don't go over!!! hth!
  • ChristineM1953
    ChristineM1953 Posts: 135 Member
    I have been using the phone app and log it after I eat it, but I sometimes enter foods and exercise early - then I know if I need to eat more or less, depending on my exercise for the day.
  • pamelasaulters
    pamelasaulters Posts: 5
    I put my menus in for the week on the weekend. That way, I'm planning ahead, know what I need to prepare, and shop for!
  • katherines2230
    katherines2230 Posts: 276 Member
    I log my food while I'm eating or immediately after. Its easy to "forget" what I ate if I wait too long afterwards.
  • har114
    har114 Posts: 10
    I log it the day before, so I know what to eat next day
  • Kristina0202
    Kristina0202 Posts: 188 Member
    I log everything right before I eat it to make sure it's not too many calories.
  • brandygburke
    brandygburke Posts: 48 Member
    I log right before I eat - that way if I finish eating and I'm tempted to engorge in something yummy, I can easily tell myself "No Brandy, you've already spent what you had for lunch" -- then at night I final it, because I'm never sure if I may want a late night snack (which so far, I haven't) but its nice to not feel deprived!
  • shadiel
    shadiel Posts: 59 Member
    I log as I eat!!
  • Pattilynne
    Pattilynne Posts: 61
    i log as i eat, and since i have the android app, it makes it a lot easier, especially when it comes to looking a lot of things up, i just scan the barcode if it is something that has one. i don't close out till the very end of the day, since i am still running around the house late at night trying to get stuff done, as anyone with kids knows, a lot of the time nothing gets done until they are asleep
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