Log Foods Before you Eat Them

mjg08060
mjg08060 Posts: 104 Member
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello guys, I just wanted to state I have a helpful tip for logging food. What i find to work really well is logging all of your daily food in the morning even if you have not eaten it yet so you can plan how much you will eat today. If you do this, you can not only change something you dont like on your food blog, but you can also see how many calories etc. you are planned to eat all day. When I do this and log my exercise before I do any of it, it keeps me on a schedule thats harder to go away from. This may help you as well. So tomorrow, or even today is you want, log your breakfast, lunch, dinner and exercise before you do it. It will help you stay on track and know what your about to weigh in 5 weeks if you stick to it. Its motivational.
:] Good luck!

Replies

  • ashley0616
    ashley0616 Posts: 579 Member
    I do this some times and it REALLY helps me stay on track. I think it's a great idea!
  • Angierae75
    Angierae75 Posts: 417 Member
    This is what I do, too. I log my breakfast, then I log what I brought for lunch, then I log what I'm planning to make for dinner, then I figure my snacks around that. I will also plug in my nightly work out ahead of time so that I can plan my meals around those extra calories (and then I have to do it! Built-in motivation!)
  • angela828
    angela828 Posts: 498 Member
    I do this everyday! Even if I can just get breakfast and lunch scheduled, it helps me to keep an eye on it and what I should be doing for dinner to stay under calories. I also do this so I can check and double check my sodium.
  • rngreen
    rngreen Posts: 16 Member
    I plan the day like this too, but I do NOT log in my exercise calories ahead of time. I find that the only accurate way to calculate your actual burn is to use a HRM. I found that some of the exercises in the database calculate my calories burned at close to 100 over what I am actually doing. Therefore, I would not want to go over my calories by relying on the database info. I hope this makes sense...
  • craftylatvian
    craftylatvian Posts: 599 Member
    That is what I do to see where I am and to keep me on track. It also helps me to know what is for dinner. I add a recipe then add it to my diary.
  • amberaz
    amberaz Posts: 328 Member
    I always log my food and workouts ahead of time. I log on my Ipod, so anytime I am waiting for something or just standing around, I play with my food :tongue: I always know what I am eating at least 24 hours in advance and I hardly ever change it.
  • CARNAT22
    CARNAT22 Posts: 764 Member
    I log days in advance (up to a week if I can) that not only helps with what I eat but also with what I buy?

    Also it gives you the opportunity to choose healthier options and really make the most of your calories.

    There is no way I'd blow 600 cals on MacDonlads when I know I can get a lovely, healthy, home-made meal, plus a glass of wine for the same calories!
  • rizorw
    rizorw Posts: 67 Member
    You are so right! i don't do mine quite that far ahead of time, but I try to log them before I eat them. This has saved me so many times! It also helps me to keep portions under controll. If I see that I can save _calories by eating half of what ever or making a different choice, I am more likely to stay on track. I log my breakfast right when I get to work and try to log what I plan to eat for lunch, then when I get home I log as I plan what i want for dinner. If It is to many calories I make adjustments or know I have to do a workout to make up for it.
    I did not really count calories before MFP and I often wonder how many times I ate something that i thought was healthy and was filled with sugars and calories.

    logging before eating is the best advice ever!
  • tellybelle
    tellybelle Posts: 144
    I find this helps me a lot too! I really try and do this to keep me balanced and on track!
  • Syreeta6
    Syreeta6 Posts: 377 Member
    This is a great tip. I have my log completed up to Saturday lol
  • mjg08060
    mjg08060 Posts: 104 Member
    I am so glad this works for you guys as well. I encourage everyone to do it especially beginners.
  • JellyPrz619
    JellyPrz619 Posts: 172
    This is a great idea!! IDK why i didnt think of doing this! Thanks!
  • LindseyC87
    LindseyC87 Posts: 178 Member
    I just started MFP yesterday morning.. I do log my food in the morning for the whole day. Its really easy for me since I meal plan anyways. It stops me from "impulse" eating...
  • bmontgomery87
    bmontgomery87 Posts: 1,260 Member
    I do this for the most part.
    I'll sometimes log all of my normal food that I'm gonna eat every day.
    Breakfast is the same 5 days a week, and my pre and post workout snacks are the same.

    But I get hungry for different things and add some stuff in there.

    I do check where I'm at for the day before I eat a food. I always plug it in to see what it does to my macros and make sure i can hit my goals or be close
  • bmontgomery87
    bmontgomery87 Posts: 1,260 Member
    I do this for the most part.
    I'll sometimes log all of my normal food that I'm gonna eat every day.
    Breakfast is the same 5 days a week, and my pre and post workout snacks are the same.

    But I get hungry for different things and add some stuff in there.
  • Syreeta6
    Syreeta6 Posts: 377 Member
    I find this helps me a lot too! I really try and do this to keep me balanced and on track!

    Hey our tickers are exactly the same! :bigsmile:
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