Is your food diary public or private?

2

Replies

  • rozarotti
    rozarotti Posts: 139
    I keep mine public. If you do that, just stay truthful for YOURSELF. Not because someone may be critical, but because this is for YOU and Your health! I personally like to read others diaries, it helps with new food and snack ideas.

    And if you find your friends questioning your foods based on your diaries, you need to remove them...

    Misty
  • LM_105
    LM_105 Posts: 515 Member
    What will 'public' give you that 'private' doesn't?

    Do you want comments on your food intake, on whether others could suggest healthy options? Then public may be the way to go.

    If you are pretty clued up regarding what is healthy and what is not, and occasionally indulge without feeling 'bad' then private might be the way to go.

    It depends what you want from sharing.

    I don't, I don't feel the need but it is a personal choice. Good luck!
  • ziggythecat
    ziggythecat Posts: 62 Member
    Mine is open to the public. No sense in trying to lie about what I eat just because everyone can see it. The only person I'd be cheating is me.
  • cbevan
    cbevan Posts: 31 Member
    Mine is public. Sometimes I don't fill it out because it's a pain, but not because I want to hide what I'm eating from anyone. I just documented a Quarter Pounder with cheese and a Med. Fries from McD's in there. Not my finest moment, but I'm not going to fool my waistline by not writing it down.
  • TaneeisFitforLife
    TaneeisFitforLife Posts: 433
    Mine is public....it gives people ideas & shows that I'm human :)

    No one has ever criticized it, at least not to my face :laugh:
  • aeryn69
    aeryn69 Posts: 35 Member
    I'm really torn on this actually.

    I can see the benefit to having it public, not so much in terms of comments on it but because it is interesting to view other's food diaries and try to get some inspiration from them.

    On the other hand, in general I'm a very private person. I wouldn't like it if there was someone in person watching every thing I put into my mouth, and I don't see the diary as being that much different. So while I can see the benefit to having it public, it still feels a little intrusive. Maybe I'll change my mind once I've been around here a little longer!
  • bekdavis
    bekdavis Posts: 290 Member
    I like to make my public. I feel it holds me more accountable for what I am eating. That too is why i display my weight. I am done hiding.
  • kateopotato
    kateopotato Posts: 215 Member
    mine is viewable to my friends only... I may change to public at some point, but I dont really see the need, unless I was to post a topic about suggestions about my food or something and open it up to people other than my friends. I am honest on it and I know that my friends wont judge me if I have a bad day, they are more motivational and understand that we've all been there and we all have those days....

    just a personal preference of mine though, I guess... I tend to be a rather private person in general, although I like to look at other people's... so like I said, it may switch to public at some point. who knows.
  • Bermudabarbie
    Bermudabarbie Posts: 568 Member
    I started with it private and opened it to friends only. It's really your call. I've always been 100% honest in my diaries. No one really cares but me. It's easy enough to stay under in calories. Just stop eating for the day. But getting the rest of the nutrients in balance, can be a real challenge. I like to be slightly under on calories, under on fats and sugars and sodium and on target or over on protein and fiber. It's not always easy but quite a daily challenge!
  • rockabyesarojane
    rockabyesarojane Posts: 471
    All I will say is that the entire time I've been on this site everyone has been super supportive and I have a public food diary (for those on my friends lis), occasionally i forget to log my food but most of the time i remember and i am brutally honest with myself. I have had really good and really bad days and I have yet to be criticised by anyone for it. So dont let the fear of being judged make the desicion for you.
  • skynyrdchick
    skynyrdchick Posts: 68
    I decided to make mine friend's only. For me it helps motivate me to try and eat what I should be eating. I am honest though and if I eat something bad, I add it. Not going to cheat myself because of what someone else might think :o)
  • Liz75
    Liz75 Posts: 80 Member
    Go with what works best for you. I'm getting back into logging after Christmas and so far stay under cals. I log everything I eat, despite what it is, if people want to comment then that's great/ helpful. I don't make comments about other people's food choices though. I have a day off once a week so that I can have a 'cheat' day. For example, this Friday I'm having a Chinese take out for someone's birthday, so I'm not going to stress out about logging on that day! Public accessibility makes you more responsible for your food choices. I know if I kept mine private I'd probably not be as truthful to myself, but that's just me! Best of luck ;-)
  • mrsewert
    mrsewert Posts: 430 Member
    Mine is public...you've got to be honest with yourself if you can't do that then public or private its not going to work. :) Just my opinion.
  • MOOOSEEE3
    MOOOSEEE3 Posts: 218 Member
    I just updated mine to be public to friends only. I like to view other's diaries, not to critique or criticize, but rather to gather different ideas for things to eat. I always input what I eat, and have since I started. No shame.
  • welly5
    welly5 Posts: 293 Member
    Mine is public, I really couldn't care less who sees that I have popcorn for dinner sometimes or that I often eat the same breakfast for weeks on end (hellooo soft boiled eggs)

    its probably looks strange when I log in stuff that I eat while I'm baking because I log the high fat stuff. My snacks will be a tbsp of chocolate mousse, tablespoon of whipped cream, tsp of icing etc.

    It never occurred to me to care about what other people thought, as long as I lose weight
  • TracieJ65
    TracieJ65 Posts: 645 Member
    Public to my friends only
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    I have almost anything and everything on the web private. I work in the legal field and you'd be amazed what I can find people having said and done online. Example - you add alcoholic beverage daily - I can turn you into an alcoholic in a court case because of that information. You not making healthy choices for yourself, I can make you look like a bad parent. You log too much exercise, I'm going to say you aren't spending enough time with your kids. I also look at your friends, and see what their activities are like.

    Bad Idea to have anything public on the web.
  • WildcatMom82
    WildcatMom82 Posts: 564 Member
    I have mine public to friends only, I don't care who sees what I eat. I like having friends who share theirs as well so I can get ideas for meals. I also would have no problem logging junk food, either, though. I've never had a desire to lie on my food log, it would only hurt me in the end!
  • CarolHudson11
    CarolHudson11 Posts: 372
    Mine is open to friends only I believe. I don't care if people see what I each, and if I have a bad day, so be it. But then again, I don't give two sh*ts what people think about me anyway haha.

    I'm with her ^. Mine is public to my friends, but not to everyone. I like it because I get great ideas from other people. And I'd like to think they get a few from me, as well. And I find I'm more honest if others are looking - and I get great feedback if I've had a bad day. :)
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I have almost anything and everything on the web private. I work in the legal field and you'd be amazed what I can find people having said and done online. Example - you add alcoholic beverage daily - I can turn you into an alcoholic in a court case because of that information. You not making healthy choices for yourself, I can make you look like a bad parent. You log too much exercise, I'm going to say you aren't spending enough time with your kids. I also look at your friends, and see what their activities are like.

    Bad Idea to have anything public on the web.
    Hey, dude, you're scary! But my diary is private just on GPs as well. It's disturbing how much information is out there about us already. . . and I'm not all that certain that somebody that really really really wanted to know couldn't crack this site too--if they were trying to find dirt on someone. . And besides, I feel that if I'm not honest about my food to myself, who the hell CAN I be honest with it about? It's my fat *kitten*--not everybody else's--that I'm here for.
  • Kalee34
    Kalee34 Posts: 674 Member
    My food diary is open to my friends only. I am just completely honest. It doesn't matter what kind of day I have I am honest. My friends on here are the greatest and they have all had bad does as well. So, they encourage me to do better the next day if I have a bad day and they congratulate me if I've had a good day! Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy!
  • BuceesNana
    BuceesNana Posts: 302 Member
    Mine is public and I am honest about my food choices and exercise. I feel like if I am not honest with myself and others, I can never truly change. So, read my food diary. Let me know when you think I have done well, suggest things that will help me do better, but always encourage me to do better. That is why I am here. I want to do better. I will do better.
  • nvkatie78
    nvkatie78 Posts: 49
    I Leave mine private-- I feel I will eat what I like within my calories (for the most part). I don't care to know what people eat-- I think that's a private thing. I figure if we are all losing weight then we all must be doing something right anyway.
  • Bermudabarbie
    Bermudabarbie Posts: 568 Member
    I have almost anything and everything on the web private. I work in the legal field and you'd be amazed what I can find people having said and done online. Example - you add alcoholic beverage daily - I can turn you into an alcoholic in a court case because of that information. You not making healthy choices for yourself, I can make you look like a bad parent. You log too much exercise, I'm going to say you aren't spending enough time with your kids. I also look at your friends, and see what their activities are like.

    Bad Idea to have anything public on the web.

    If you sincerely feel this way, any social networking site is not going to work for you. I have nothing to hide on my Fitness and Weight Loss journey. I have been motivated by so many wonderful, sincere people on MFP. I have been told that I have motivated others. I am happy to share my success and my challenges.

    Like anything in life: use your best judgment before you say/write anything.

    Good luck to you in reaching your goals.
  • bowserette
    bowserette Posts: 36 Member
    I think it really depends on your personality and what you're looking for in this site. I have no interest in others critiquing my food choices -- I'm focusing mainly on calories right now, and gradually trying to introduce more healthy foods into my diet. But sometimes I'm completely full one day yet still need more calories, so I'll go ahead and have that piece of chocolate. I don't need others criticizing my choices when there are different factors involved. I'm pretty self-disciplined so I'm not going to cheat just because people can't see.

    However, I know there are those out there who are really looking for guidance in healthy eating, and if that works for them, that's great. If keeping an open diary keeps you accountable, then by all means, do it. I don't think either way is necessarily "better," but there may be a way that is "better for you."
  • littlemissunderstood
    littlemissunderstood Posts: 50
    Mine is public. That was the one of my prime motivators for joining this site. I'm fine with being honest except when I "complete" it and then get really hungry and go back to eat more. I'm comfortable with eating junk - I just hate going over my calories. I am very interested to see what people who successfully lose weight eat.

    People generally don't criticize, in my experience. But you know they're watching hehehehe.
  • smae1980
    smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
    I keep mine public mostly because I'm comfortable with my choices and I really don't care if people want to judge me one way or another. Also, it drives me crazy when a person starts a thread asking for help, why haven't they lost weight, what are they doing wrong etc... and I go to view their diary to try to help and it's private.
  • jbug100
    jbug100 Posts: 406 Member
    Mine is public, but I know the only person I have to answer to is myself. I made it public because I found myself looking at what others ate out of curiosity, or looking for ideas and inspiration. I felt like if I'm gonna look, mine should be open too. If people criticize my diary without me asking for input, I ignore it
  • anovasjo
    anovasjo Posts: 382 Member
    Mine's public. I don't care if anybody thinks poorly of me because of what I eat, and I appreciate the openness when other people share as well :)
  • Jaedynmoon
    Jaedynmoon Posts: 280 Member
    Mine is public and I put every little thing I eat/drink in mine. I don't really care if someone wants to scrutinize my food diary because I think I do pretty dang good!! I just like looking at everyone's to get ideas I normally wouldn't have had :)
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