What is advantage of keeping diary private?

BARBnKS wrote: »

I have noticed that some people keep their food diaries private & curious if there is an advantage to doing so? Personally I keep mine open so that it might help others to get ideas for different types of food to eat to help them stay within their calorie goal. Sometimes I go over but I think I'd be worse about eating more than I should if I didn't know people were noticing what I eat.

I have mine to friends only. Not that I care if other people see what I eat, but it would annoy me to get unsolicited advice. So, I minimize the chance.

Mine is private. I thought I would eventually change it over to open at some point but I don't think I will anymore. In the beginning when I was trying to figure out nutritional values of everything and trying different foods and healthier options- I wasn't ready for anyone to critique me or judge me. Now I've kept it private because in the end this is my journey and I don't want to feel pressure from anyone to eat differently. (Not that all the response would be negative but I don't want advice unless I ask for it) I don't worry about skimming on the logging if I go over my calorie goal just to keep face. My logging is true to my knowledge. If anyone has questions about what I'm eating they are definitely welcome to ask me.
Some people feel the opposite and feel it keeps them accountable to keep it open because someone could see it.
I do read my friends diaries from time to time just to see how they eat compared to me. I never comment on it though. I appreciate their sharing and would never want them to become selfconscious about it. Losing weight and being healthy are hard enough I think to have to hear it from everyone else that you're doing it wrong.

I leave mine private because I see no reason why internet strangers need to see my logging. If I screw up, I'm well aware of it.

pincushion14 wrote: »

Mine is just for me. It's a mess, but it makes sense to me. Since I calorie cycle naturally, I don't want people seeing that some days yes I do only eat 800 calories (gasp!) and judging me for that. Or seeing that the next day I had 2300 and asking me if I enjoyed that triple serving of ice cream. I eat when I'm hungry, bank my calories if I'm not, and it all comes out in the wash at the end of the week. If I stall out I might try a "conventional" diet and open my diary for suggestions then, but other than that it's my business and mine alone. Good for you for thinking about others though and keeping yours open! Some people need to see that from others and it helps them.

I also cycle diet 5:2 alternate day fasting protocol...only 500 cals on those two days, and maintenance on the other 5. But i keep mine open. IDGAF what people think, and most of my friends understand what my gig is by now...when I get a new 'friend' I have to explain it all over again, but it's a learning tool for them. Different things work for different people. But I COMPLETELY understand why you keep it closed!!!

The advantage is that it prevents other people from seeing it.

Two words. Food Nazis.

I set mine to private to avoid any people commenting on my potato chips or beer that I might log. I eat what I like if it fits into my calorie goal. I work out to add extra food calories if I desire. Most days I am under my goal and what I am doing works for me. The day that I go over, I usually make up for it the next day. What works for me, may not work for someone else and I don't want the drama of people telling me I should do this or I should do that. It works the way I am doing it. Just be happy that I am under my calorie goal, whatever that is.

I keep mine closed because I'm tall, I train hard, and I have a relatively high calorie goal compared to many of the people I've met on MFP. I have never, not once, had anyone comment negatively on my diary, but even a "great job!" gave me the willies because I didn't like the idea of other people looking through what I'd eaten that day. I also agree with those who say it actually keeps you MORE honest because you don't have anyone to impress. And I turned off the notification that tells my friends list whether or not I was under for the day. And I've still done ok :shrug:

My diary is closed because I already have accountability outside of MFP from people who care about me and know my lifestyle. I am also starting slowly - working on keeping within goal first and learning about the foods I eat currently before cutting down on processed foods, so on and so forth. I don't need random people commenting on what they think I'm doing wrong just because I'm not "there" yet (but still losing nevertheless). Besides, tracking is a tool for ME only to know what I am eating and what I need to change if I am not getting the desired results, and I feel I can be more honest if I don't have an audience.

Mine is set to private, but I have a key that can be given to someone who I want to be able to look at it.

I set up my diary to track a whole lot more than my food intake With that, there is a lot of personal medical type stuff that's part of the entries I make. So ... it's very private and it's for my my own purposes. I do share it with my doctor ... just print it out.