Why do most hide their food diaries but boast their exercise logs?

meganridenour wrote: »

SomeGirlSomewhere wrote: »

meganridenour wrote: »

Hmm as far as I know, mine is open. At least I know my boyfriend can see it because he will copy meals to his sometimes if we have the same thing.
I rarely ever log my exercise on there. I log it separately in my notes on my phone, just easier for me that way and easier for me to see my progress.

Yours must be set to the MFP default setting of only being open to those who you are friends with on MFP...not to say that this bothers me or I think there's anything wrong with that!

Aha! Fixed it.
I think the only reason I would want to see other people's food diaries is to get ideas on different foods to eat. It's a shame so many people mention being judged for what they are tracking, on a site like this. I would hope for support rather than judgement.

When I look at other people's food diaries I am definitely only looking for new ideas for meals or snacks and not to pass judgement on their food choices. I have had my food diary open to the public since my first day on MFP and the only person who has ever "judged" me is someone who I am also friends with outside of MFP. And even that wasn't really a judgement; she just didn't (still doesn't!) understand why I choose to spend a few hundred of my calories on wine when I could have spent them on something like a slice of pizza instead. While there are definitely some judgemental people here on MFP (and everywhere else in the world) I do think that sometimes people can be a bit oversensitive and take an innocent comment or question out of context and perceive it as judgement or a criticism when it wasn't really intended that way!

My diary was private until recently because for one, I didn't even know you could make it accessible to others, and I had like one friend (my sister in law haha) I lost all my weight with just me, myself and I, and with the help of this app of course I still only have a few friends on here, but that's okay I'm 2 1/2 years maintenance. I have made my diary accessible for others to view now (honestly, I only realized you could do this when I saw the completed diary of someone else that said "view diary"), I get bored with the foods I eat and it's kind of nice to pull meal ideas/snacks from others diaries, so I figured maybe others can pull from mine! I don't judge, as I don't always eat the "best foods". I try to keep my breakfast, lunch and snacks healthy, but with dinner I'm a bit more lenient. I have 4 kids (and a husband who eats what he wants and never gains weight ) and don't have the time (or the energy haha) to cook separate meals for myself. I just try to use lean cuts of meat, incorporate fresh veggies, sub my sides for a healthier version (like a baked yam for me if the fam is having baked potatoes), etc. If it's an indulgent dinner, I just have small portion The other night my husband made bisquits and sausage gravy and eggs for dinner (love breakfast for dinner) and it was delish!

I feel you should share whatever you feel comfortable with. Its not mandatory to have an open diary. I had it open at one time and got a private message just nick picking my food choices and calories... Besides it's my weight loss and my journey and the only person I need to answer to is myself.

I could careless if someone wants to look at what I eat as long as their not looking through my window.. As for their pos or neg comment its just that pos or neg opinion.. Their will always be bully's in the world its how you let yourself react to them that affects your life..

Here's my lunch..lol




4 oz Chicken Breast - Chicken Breast - Grilled, 8 oz 298 0 6 50 0 0
Tomatoes - Red, ripe, cooked, 0.5 cup 22 5 0 1 1 3
Mushrooms - Raw, 2 oz(s) 12 2 0 2 1 1
Star - Sliced Jalopenos, 2 Tbsp (30g) 5 1 0 0 0 0
Barilla - Roasted Garlic Sause, 1/4 cup 30 6 1 1 0 0
Onions - Sweet, raw, 2 oz(s) 18 4 0 0 1 3
Beef - Ground, 90% lean meat / 10% fat, crumbles, cooked, pan-browned (hamburger), 5 oz(s) 326 0 17 40 0 0
Explore Asia - Organic Edamame & Mung Bean Fettuccini, 2 oz

OP,

Looks like you are new on MFP (conclusion from 25 post).

Regarding why you are seeing Exercise info in News status
If you navigate to Home -> Settings -> Automatic News Feed Update Settings
there are number of checkboxes and one of them is "I perform a cardio exercise".
If that check box is checked you'll see it in your news feed.

Regarding diary being closed
If you navigate to Food -> Settings at the bottom of the page you'll see Diary Sharing and that be set to Private and that's why you can't see their log.

A lot of people have this setting including me.

If you have any logging questions - ask. People will help.


EDTA : Read your response and you have different concerns. Not what I thought. Nevermind carry on. OHH!!Well!!! It's Friday.

It's funny cos I read the confessions thread and some who have an open diary are admitting to logging more exercise that they didn't do to be under cals or not logging certain cals because they're embarrassed at what they ate - now IDGAF what anyone chooses to do either way and no judgement but it belies the belief that an open diary is "more honest". Mine has been a mix of both open and closed simply to thwart any temptation to be less than honest. Plus I rarely look at others now and I don't want to feel the obligation to do likewise if someone comments on mine.

In fact I'd drive you crazy because I'm not doing diary at all! But I might log exercise sometimes. Just so you know I'm still pro-active.

There are lots of reasons people may choose to do what they do which is why there are options to do either/or.