Planned entry - Anyone else tried this with success?
bjwoodzy
Posts: 593 Member
So as usual, I just track what I eat, but the other day I did something different... Has anyone else ever done this? Did you have more success with it? Or do you prefer to just use MFP after the fact (day's end, after a meal/snack)?
I found out that MFP will let me enter in a plan for my daily menu in advance. So last night, I sat there and entered in what I planned to eat, much like a busy mom might plan the menu for the entire family's meals for a day or whatever, and you know what? Aside from a couple tiny slip-ups (I drank half & half in my coffee in the morning instead of heavy cream as planned, and sneaked in some extra cheese into my evening snack), I was actually closer to hitting my macros than ever before, because I planned out my meals to fit my daily macro goals and only went over a tiny bit on my calories for the day.
I don't really need hardcore accountability, as I'm really feeling positive about this WOL, but I find that it sort of does help because I made promises/goals and now I have to keep them - I mean, I guess I could change my mind at lunch time and switch from beef and cabbage stir fry to taco salad without it making a huge difference, but for the most part, I'm liking this. Maybe it helps me because I work at home and prepare/eat all my meals here, too. But I just thought I'd post about it, in case it works for someone else.
I didn't really search on here to see if anyone else tried this yet :P I'm silly.
I found out that MFP will let me enter in a plan for my daily menu in advance. So last night, I sat there and entered in what I planned to eat, much like a busy mom might plan the menu for the entire family's meals for a day or whatever, and you know what? Aside from a couple tiny slip-ups (I drank half & half in my coffee in the morning instead of heavy cream as planned, and sneaked in some extra cheese into my evening snack), I was actually closer to hitting my macros than ever before, because I planned out my meals to fit my daily macro goals and only went over a tiny bit on my calories for the day.
I don't really need hardcore accountability, as I'm really feeling positive about this WOL, but I find that it sort of does help because I made promises/goals and now I have to keep them - I mean, I guess I could change my mind at lunch time and switch from beef and cabbage stir fry to taco salad without it making a huge difference, but for the most part, I'm liking this. Maybe it helps me because I work at home and prepare/eat all my meals here, too. But I just thought I'd post about it, in case it works for someone else.
I didn't really search on here to see if anyone else tried this yet :P I'm silly.
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I quite often put everything in for the day before I eat it. Far better than adding as I go and running out of calories.2
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I track as I go and am often over and also deliberately accidentally omit things I maybe don't want to own up to
I think I will give this a try too to see if it helps me - thanks for the idea2 -
I pre-log a lot, mostly the night before or the morning before eating anything. I find it helps me stay on plan and accountable.3
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I usually log my lunch as I'm packing it up. Don't always get a link to the Internet from work.0
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Yes, pre-logging helps me stay on track2
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Pre-logging my breakfast and lunch helps me a lot. It also tells me how much of what macros I have left for dinner. It is a big thing for me and has helped me tremendously2
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I must admit I tend to log as I eat things, never know exactly what I am going to have from day to day which is not good really - but always ensure there is a good selection in my freezer for days when I can't be bothered like low carb chilli - have never been good at planning but it might be something I should try to change in my new lifestyle1
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So as usual, I just track what I eat, but the other day I did something different... Has anyone else ever done this? Did you have more success with it? Or do you prefer to just use MFP after the fact (day's end, after a meal/snack)?
I found out that MFP will let me enter in a plan for my daily menu in advance. So last night, I sat there and entered in what I planned to eat, much like a busy mom might plan the menu for the entire family's meals for a day or whatever, and you know what? Aside from a couple tiny slip-ups (I drank half & half in my coffee in the morning instead of heavy cream as planned, and sneaked in some extra cheese into my evening snack), I was actually closer to hitting my macros than ever before, because I planned out my meals to fit my daily macro goals and only went over a tiny bit on my calories for the day.
I don't really need hardcore accountability, as I'm really feeling positive about this WOL, but I find that it sort of does help because I made promises/goals and now I have to keep them - I mean, I guess I could change my mind at lunch time and switch from beef and cabbage stir fry to taco salad without it making a huge difference, but for the most part, I'm liking this. Maybe it helps me because I work at home and prepare/eat all my meals here, too. But I just thought I'd post about it, in case it works for someone else.
I didn't really search on here to see if anyone else tried this yet :P I'm silly.
Yesyesyes. I prelog every day. Essential IMO. Once you have all your regulars entered, it takes less than two min to log the whole day. I have an easy plan there for me. I don't need to make decisions when hungry. It's there and done. All I have to do is enter exact amounts if the grams change because I put less on my plate.5 -
every single day. I sit down in the morning and log in all the food I intend to eat in a day. Then if minor tweaks need to happen during the day I change or add later on but it really helps me to have a plan going into each day.3
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Most nights when I close out the day's log, I pre-plan the next day's food intake. While I make some changes based on my mood, having planned ahead generally keeps me from grabbing whatever I see when hunger strikes. I find that I have greater success staying within my calories and macros by pre-planning.1
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I have been keeping a writing pad in the kitchen to write down whatever I eat, then when i log it, I see where I am up to that point. I have found it helps me choose what to eat for the next meal, according to my macros.1
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I typically pre log dinner. I often have a good idea of what I'm going to make so I'll input it earlier in the day so I know where I stand for the rest of my intake. Last night I actually carried my BPC over to this a.m. so I didn't have to keep logging it. I've changed my BPC recipe a few times now and I hate adding a new recipe every time and I hate inputting each component every time so the carry over works nicely for me.1
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I usually do this if I'm planning on going out to eat. I'll look up their menu and plug it in so I know what to order and I know what to budget for for the rest of the day.1
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Yes! I knew this was a great idea! This is proof : )1
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My inner rebel would leap off the deep end of my plan if I did this. It's just like she goes, "HA! That's what you think... Nope, let's do THIS instead." It's almost always fully on plan, so that's not the problem for me. Luckily, I repeat most of my foods/meals, so it's not much of an issue. I just learned that my annoying inner self does better with LOOSE plans than tight ones. SMDH at myself. LOL1
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I think planning is everything. I've actually gone a small step further. With little exception, I eat the same breakfast and lunch every single day. I like them, they are good, I know where I stand, and I don' that to think about them at all.
I only think about and plan 1 meal/day. That is way easier then 3. Might sound boring to many of you, but it makes managing the macros really easy.
It's worked really really well for me.4 -
I don't pre-log a whole day but often will enter lunch ahead of time as insurance against ending up at 3:00 in the afternoon with no room in my macros for another bite until the next day. Depending on where I stand in the late afternoon, I may pre-enter dinner plans, again, to make certain what I'm planning on will actually fit.1
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Pre-planning is a good way to stay on-track!0
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Yes, I pre-plan and log all my meals except when on vacation where what I'm able to eat is more up in the air and unknown in advance. I usually sit down a couple of times a week and plan out 2-3 days of meals / menus and plug the info into MFP on my phone. This is how I ht my macro % goals every friggin single day!! lol (160 pounds gone can't be wrong!!)5
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Think of it as like running a budget. No point entering in all your spending after you've maxxed out your credit card and still haven't paid your electricity bill.
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always pre-plan or else I find myself going over budget!1
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I may be a tiny bit OCD, but I sometimes plan two or three days in advance. It's like a psychological trick for me. If it's written, I don't want to have to go back and change it. As with everything, life happens, and sometimes it doesn't work, but for the most part it keeps me on track.1
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every single day. I sit down in the morning and log in all the food I intend to eat in a day. Then if minor tweaks need to happen during the day I change or add later on but it really helps me to have a plan going into each day.
This! I even do it the night before if I know I'm having leftovers. I love the quick add features where you can add the same meal from the day before. Major time saver!1 -
Many weeks I will cook up a big batch of "lunch", then package 5, freeze, and eat the same lunch all week. I add a can of sardines, smoked oysters, clams, or tuna each day just for variety.
Recently I discovered Oberto Bacon Jerky in 50 gr bags. A fat bomb!!! Some days I will add one of them instead of the seafood.1 -
Midnightgypsy0 wrote: »Many weeks I will cook up a big batch of "lunch", then package 5, freeze, and eat the same lunch all week. I add a can of sardines, smoked oysters, clams, or tuna each day just for variety.
Recently I discovered Oberto Bacon Jerky in 50 gr bags. A fat bomb!!! Some days I will add one of them instead of the seafood.
Yep, I do this. This week it was beef and mushroom hot pot (in the slow cooker) in a container on top of cauliflower/broccoli mash (with butter and parmesan, just blitzed with the stick blender). I usually make a big pot, then hubby can take it for lunch for a couple of days also. He's ever so grateful, especially this time of year when it's so cold. He makes himself a sandwich or something on the other days (yes, he makes his own, we both work full time and I'm not his mother :P)0 -
I don't pre-plan my whole day, but I often pre-plan a meal when I'm deciding what to eat. I log in my next meal and if I don't like my macros that I see, I delete and tweak it or start again planning something completely different.0
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EbonyDahlia wrote: »Think of it as like running a budget. No point entering in all your spending after you've maxxed out your credit card and still haven't paid your electricity bill.
But I can't be out of money I still have checks!
or 
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I prelog my breakfast and dinners a month in advance, keeps it simple and easy.0
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