How do you use your food diary?

I tend to just add it as and when, but I've been here since early March so I'm used to pre-planning in my head!

I think if I was cooking a dinner that was quite high in calories (as a treat .... yumm) then I might add it earlier in the day so I could account for it properly!

On week days, I add my whole plan for the day the night before or the morning of. On the weekends I add stuff as I go along.
I also have to do everything online, I suppose if I had an i-phone, I would do it differently.

When I first started I would plan it because I wasn't sure what measurements equaled what, but now I'm 5 months into this its really easy to determine size and quantity of what I eat so I add as I go. If I want to eat something special I will plan it especially if I'm going out to eat but pretty much I do it as I go along.

I plan the day out in advance so I know I'll hit my calories and ratios as close as possible by the end of the day. I typically eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day so not sure I really need to do that anymore but that's the routine I got into when I started and I'm sticking with it.

I add things in as soon as they're planned. Like, as soon as I figure out what I'm making for dinner, I add it in. It helps me plan my snacks better for the day.

Also, if I don't work out in the morning, I'll add in my workout early as well. If I'm already planning on having those extra calories, it motivates me to make sure I get my workout in

I add as I go. I never plan because for me, it feels like when I have to "follow" anything (even something I made myself) that I'm on a "diet." If I eat whatever I want, whenever I want, it only feels like I'm "tracking" my food. That way, I only have to exercise self control once -- at the end of the day when I hit my calorie budget's end point. If I pre-plan, I have to have self control all day long and for me that feels like a "diet."

This is something I figured out about myself about four years ago when I finally changed from "dieting" to an honest and full-blown lifestyle change. I went from the "wagon" being all about being good (e.g., when I deviated, I had fallen off the wagon), to my "wagon" being the "fat wagon." The difference? For me, I would ride the wagon for awhile, but then revert back to my "normal". Now that the wagon is the FAT wagon, it's THAT ride (eating too much or eating badly) that I only rarely do for a short period of time then fall off into my normal -- staying healthy and eating well.

Everyone's different. This is just my way of thinking ....

Usually I pre plan. I usually have an idea of what I'm going to be eating and because a fair bit of it is home made I need to check calorie content. I do this especially when eating at a friends or family members. This is my downfall, in a restaurant you can pick and choose what you want and at home I can decide how to cook something.
I do tweak during course of the day. Thankfully its taking things out rather than putting them in.

I put my basic framework in the night before or the morning of and then modify as necessary....

Same here

I just started, but I plan in the morning and fill in my breakfast, lunch & snacks. I leave supper open because I don't always know what I'm going to make. Atleast this way I know how many calories I have left for it. I seem to do better this way (partially planned out) than on the fly.

During the week, I pre-plan my whole day the night before. Sometimes I leave calories for snacks because I am not sure what I will want but for the most part, I plan out everything. I find that this helps me stay on track and also I find that it helps me figure out what I am going to cook for dinner that night. I think that you should do whatever works for you. I find that pre-planning the night before or the morning of helps me stay on track for the whole day!

I add in advance, I'm afraid I'd overdo it on the calorie front otherwise!

I do a combination. I generally eat more or less the same few things for breakfast, so I add breakfast after I've had it, and then at around mid-morning, I'll add lunch and dinner to see how many calories I'll have left over for snacks. I used to plan more at the beginning because I wasn't sure about portions and fat/protein grams, but now that I've been doing it for longer, it's easier to estimate without having to log it beforehand. If I'm having a special treat meal, I'll log it before to make sure I'm not going over (or too much over). But even when I log beforehand, I don't necessarily adhere to it *strictly*. It's more of a guideline. If I log it and it put me over my calories or fat or carbs, I know I should cut back on the portion or exchange it for something healthier.

Right now as I am getting a feel for portions, calories, ratios etal, I generally plan the day, also taking into account any exercise i will be doing during the day. I find that if I don't pay attention right now the day slip can away from me. Also it is a matter of experimenting with ratios for Protein, carbs, Fat and Fiber. I do use my droid app when the day changes, and I love the app when I am out, because it tends to help me make smarter choices.

I normally log everything in the morning. I pack my lunch each day so I know that and I also preplan my dinner so I know that as well. It gives me a way to either increase what I have to eat for the day or change things around if I'm over. I use it like I use my financial budget.

I normally log everything in the morning. I pack my lunch each day so I know that and I also preplan my dinner so I know that as well. It gives me a way to either increase what I have to eat for the day or change things around if I'm over. I use it like I use my financial budget.

Well said!