Do you record your eating on your free day?

ZoeLifts · May 2011

Hey all!
If you are on a particular diet like mine where you get one free day (either a week, or a month or whenever) to eat whatever you want, are you recording that in mfp, or do you leave it blank because you would rather not know, since it is a free day? Just wondering. I know it may be a personal preference, but I was also wondering if there might be some sort of hidden benefit that I am not seeing.

Thanks! :flowerforyou:

fteale · May 2011

I log everything, even on the days I go over. I don't have totally free days as I know I could easily blow a whole week's good work in one meal!

Sh1tsRainbows · May 2011

no free days...i log EVERYTHING

julielynnc · May 2011

I log everything. It helps reign me in a little, even on a 'free day'.

ZoeLifts · May 2011

Well, I am on the Body for life/Eating for life plan, so it insists you do one free day a week. The thinking is that with that free day, 2 things happen: 1) you remind yourself what you used to feel like when you ate that sort of junk all of the time 2) you are telling your body "hey, I'm not starving here, see it's all ok, you can go ahead and release those fat stores!"

It really helps me to know that if I have cravings during the week, I can save it for that day, or if there is a special event I can plan that day to be free so I don't feel guilty. And I actually have been finding that I don't eat as much because I get full much quicker than I used to, so then I go back to eating the right stuff the very next day.

Gennawest · May 2011

log everything. even though my free days are not really free because my mind is telling me "you shouldnt eat that!... dont you know how much sodium you are taking in? you are going to be super upset at yourself when you weigh in! nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!...."

nerdyandilikeit · May 2011

i log everything, but i do have Fun Friday every week, where my roomie and i have a not so healthy meal for dinner (something we've been craving) and don't worry about going over just that night. we don't stuff ourselves, but there are some definite empty calories involved

it keeps our sanity, but logging it helps us keep from going too overboard.

Onesnap · May 2011

There are no free days on MFP. You log the good and the bad. That's how the program works.

getitoffhord · May 2011

As long as you are not eating a ton of food, I have always found a free day to be helpful. Our bodies get used to what we are doing, so one day a week where you eat a little extra will shock our system & keep it thinking. Regardless, always journal no matter what.

whateverdamnit · May 2011

I don't log cheat days.

talysshade · May 2011

To me it sounds like that wouldn't work. I take no free days, on top of that i've noticed that now i've started eating less and less junk, i'm disgusted by the big portions i used to eat, i wouldn't even want to do that one day!

As for those cravings, i just fit them in in my daily schedule, so i can have a little bit of a snack every day. So i don't have to crave them as bad ever and have no days where i blow an entire week of losing.

So yes, i log everything, every day. By not having a too big deficit, my body won't go into starvation mode anyway.

ladybg81 · May 2011

I generally do. I feel like it keeps me accountable.

If I am really wanting something particular that is not as healthy as it should be, I fit it in to my daily calorie intake.

LorinaLynn · May 2011

It depends. If I'm eating fairly normal meals at home or even at a restaurant, I'll log them.

If it's a day like tomorrow - my niece's bridal shower - there's no way I'm going to remember or log every little thing. Instead of a wishing well, she's asking guests to bring a bottle of wine, so it'll be a wine tasting and munchie food event. I'm going to have fun, not to think, "Well, I had one piece of buffalo chicken wrap, four cherry tomatoes, a meatball, a 2x3 inch slice of lasagna, and three baby carrots with ranch dip... I wonder if that's fat free, low fat or regular?! Ooh, and I better remember how many chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, and how big that slice of cake was."

Oh, hell yeah, I'm going to BINGE tomorrow! And enjoy every minute of it.

And in the grand scheme of things... it's not going to make a difference. It's just a day. Even if I go over by 3500 calories and legitimately gain a pound, big whoop. So it might take me one or two weeks longer to reach my ultimate goal. It'll be worth it.

As much as I love MPF and the friends I've made, I don't want to have to log calories the rest of my life.

heatherlh83 · May 2011

Well, I am on the Body for life/Eating for life plan, so it insists you do one free day a week. The thinking is that with that free day, 2 things happen: 1) you remind yourself what you used to feel like when you ate that sort of junk all of the time 2) you are telling your body "hey, I'm not starving here, see it's all ok, you can go ahead and release those fat stores!"

It really helps me to know that if I have cravings during the week, I can save it for that day, or if there is a special event I can plan that day to be free so I don't feel guilty. And I actually have been finding that I don't eat as much because I get full much quicker than I used to, so then I go back to eating the right stuff the very next day.

I'm not on that plan but I do the exact same thing, for the exact same reason and it works for me! I use Saturday as my day "off". Sometimes I log everything, sometimes I don't. It depends on how busy my weekend is.

ashleighasbury · May 2011

even when i dont eat the greatest, i log everything...becuase it is addicting!!! lol

happyhappyjoy72 · May 2011

log everything. even though my free days are not really free because my mind is telling me "you shouldnt eat that!... dont you know how much sodium you are taking in? you are going to be super upset at yourself when you weigh in! nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!...."

LMAO!! Love it!!!

karenjoy · May 2011

don't have free days, don't understand the concept, but even on days when I eat out or its a day I go over for what ever reason I LOG....LOG EVERYTHING, it is the thing that helps you the most to understand what this is all about x

bossymom · May 2011

I know the Body for Life insists on one free day per week. I don't do it that often, but I do allow myself a "cheat day" every 3 weeks or so. I do not log on that day. If the point of logging is to be aware of your calorie intake without going over, and you're on a cheat day where you KNOW you're going over....then what's the point of logging? If you're going to cheat, then ENJOY it, and eat well the next day. Stop the guilt, people! Love yourself!

cmriverside · May 2011

Bite it, write it.

It's good to be able to look back at trends. And I think it helps make the day "Free" but not free-for-all-day. On these days I usually have some sugar and go over by less than 500 cals.

AMBlass · May 2011

I log nearly everything. There have been some meals at restaurants that I haven't been able to log because they are not chains and so they aren't in the system. But I do my best. Sometimes I just guess and say "that meal was probably 900" and so I try to rein myself in the next day and make sure to stay really close to my limit. Obviously no one is going to be perfect every day! But I would not like to get in the habit of having regular cheat days. I find it a lot more satisfactory to build in my treats, like Starbucks frappuccinos, dark chocolate and cupcakes into my day-to-day meal plan. That way I never feel deprived and I'm less likely to want to binge on a cheat day.

ZoeLifts · May 2011

Thanks for your input, guys! I think I am going to go with not logging those days. I agree with a few of you that have said you don't want to tie yourself to the MFP for the rest of your life and logging forever. I really feel like this gives me a visual of my eating that helps me to keep it where it needs to be. If I am going to be making a lifestyle change, which is my goal, I will one day be able to recognize when I am going to go over or mess up my eating for that day after so much consistency for a long period of time.

The free day thing is, I guess, a hot topic. I find it necessary, almost essential, because I cannot imagine eating what I am eating on my diet days for the rest of my life without ever taking to a day to celebrate occasionally without feeling guilty and that is what my free day is, a guilt free day. So that is probably my biggest deciding factor for not recording it.

MarissaLK · May 2011

I saw someone say recently that while you may not keep an accurate diary, your body sure as heck does! No denying that

So I'd say you might as well have the entry as a reference if you ever decide to see how you were eating at that time.

amoffatt · May 2011

I log everything because I need the "visual" of what I am consuming, then the reality check of how much I just ate. I dont have a complete free day for I am like most, would splurge and over do myself and waste what I have completed at that point. I just dont deprive myself, eat smaller portions and not induldge. Good luck.

amoffatt · May 2011

Thanks for your input, guys! I think I am going to go with not logging those days. I agree with a few of you that have said you don't want to tie yourself to the MFP for the rest of your life and logging forever. I really feel like this gives me a visual of my eating that helps me to keep it where it needs to be. If I am going to be making a lifestyle change, which is my goal, I will one day be able to recognize when I am going to go over or mess up my eating for that day after so much consistency for a long period of time.

The free day thing is, I guess, a hot topic. I find it necessary, almost essential, because I cannot imagine eating what I am eating on my diet days for the rest of my life without ever taking to a day to celebrate occasionally without feeling guilty and that is what my free day is, a guilt free day. So that is probably my biggest deciding factor for not recording it.

Well said! I definately have to look at many issues brought up and yes, tying myself to MFP the rest of my life will make me go crazy and think I can never to it on my own, (which is a huge goal of mine). Having the ability to recognize what we eat and over eat is important without having to track it all the time, like teaching ourselves something. I also could not imagine never eating ice cream again or once in a while a fatty peice of pizza.

cmriverside · May 2011

The key here is to make it "once in a while".

To the OP: I had to examine my thoughts about food very closely. Celebrating/Rewarding myself with food is a very slippery slope. I know it comes from how I was raised, but I've self-reinforced this habit for years.

I'd say, find some other way to splurge, celebrate, reward or treat yourself. A manicure, a facial, a new purse, a movie out with friends. Plan a trip. Something other than food rewards.

ZoeLifts · May 2011

The free day thing is, I guess, a hot topic. I find it necessary, almost essential, because I cannot imagine eating what I am eating on my diet days for the rest of my life without ever taking to a day to celebrate occasionally without feeling guilty and that is what my free day is, a guilt free day. So that is probably my biggest deciding factor for not recording it.

To clarify, what I mean in regards to celebration is not to "reward" myself with food. What I mean is if there is a special event, anniversary, birthday party, wedding, graduation, etc, I would like to be able to work that into my scheduled free day so a) I don't feel guilty and b) I can enjoy myself with my friends and family without making them feel guilty for not providing me with an option to "stick to my plan"

On a side note, sort of a pet peeve of mine, and I truly mean not to offend, but when I originally posted, my question was posed to those that give themselves a free day, and how they do that with recording their food. I certainly did not think I was opening myself up for criticism of my diet plan and food choices. I also did not think I was opening myself up for unwarranted advice about my choice to have a free day and all of the counseling people seem to want to offer me on the topic. I didn't think I would have to become defensive regarding why I choose to have a free day and the health benefits I see from that.

I appreciate your concerns, they are noted, but quiet frankly, to be honest with you all, I have never struggled with my weight up until a few years ago. Yes, I have been lucky, I am not overweight, nor have I ever been, and I grew up being able to eat whatever I want and never gain a pound or to be able to spend a few weeks in the gym and get back to where I like to be. I have never gone to food for comfort or depression, I just enjoy good food and I let myself enjoy it a little too much these past few years as my metabolism has slowed down. My thoughts on food are just fine, thanks, however my thoughts about asking general advice on these discussion boards are very hesitant now. Perhaps I will just read from now on without asking any advice.

4theking · May 2011

I have free days following the spike diet. I have done it both ways......not logging and logging and I have noticed a big difference with my success when logging. Having free days are great but they need to be somewhat structured and controlled to work best.

shadow3829 · May 2011

I log, even when it hurts. It blows my mind and is a reminder exactly how many calories there are in the things I don't eat normally during the week.

halejr23 · May 2011

I log everything. It just makes it easier to be realistic about what is going on if/when you hit plateaus in weight loss or suddenly gain a few pounds "unexpectedly".

Plus, it is so easy to log, even on the go with the app, that I really have no excuse to not log.

didazzles · May 2011

I love this discussion - the diversity in preferences is great!! I used to think of eating whatever I wanted as a "treat" and then realized that eating that way, FOR ME, was not a treat, it actually was a "trick." It was hurting my goal and I realized that my thinking about food was so warped as to allow me to think that eating something unhealthy, because it tastes good, was a good thing. I have since revised my thinking to support the notion that there are really good tasting healthy foods that I can have and truly "treat" myself well! I also think that "cheating" myself and my health is not something that I want to do. Even if I decide to eat something that may not be the most healthy choice, I choose not to consider it "cheating," because this way of eating, for me, is for life (in a all senses of the word) and that choice was just part of the plan for that day. I am very cognizant that my thinking is not shared by everyone and my post in no way is meant to be disparging to anyone. I just wanted to share my thinking as part of the ongoing discussion. As for logging when I eat something that is not the healthiest choice, I have found that recording it is important as I am learning what might influence my ability to support healthier choices. You see, in addition to maintaining the food diary, I also journal what's going on in my life and can draw correlations between food choices, emotions, stress, etc. I wish you great success in whatever option you choose and encourage you to continue to do what works for you. This journey is so hard and requires such focus that we have to be kind to ourselves and support what works for us!!

Mad_Dog_Muscle · May 2011

I try to log everyday, regardless....... if its a "cheat day"...... I still log it.... what it does is prevents me from over doing it. If I want pizza, fine.... but it keeps me grounded so I dont eat 5 slices..... I may have just 2!

Do you record your eating on your free day?

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