Pre-filling the food diary

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Replies

  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    I usually log my entire day in the morning.
  • hansklamp2112
    hansklamp2112 Posts: 20 Member
    Helps a ton.

    Look ahead, see what fits where, what macros you're going to hit if you eat what.

    Especially if I typically eat the same meals daily, but one day I decide to switch up a meal for reward/"it's Friday!" (like today).

    Helps me see what I'll get to have later in the day.
  • hansklamp2112
    hansklamp2112 Posts: 20 Member
    P.s. It also helps deter me from foods I shouldn't eat... aka... I add a doughnut in before I eat it to see how it fits with the rest of my meals... clearly the doughnut just is putting me way over what I want to be, getting me little nutrition, so I get the guilt and remove and don't eat it. Don't get me wrong.. I still enjoy foods, but it's a good way to keep yourself honest to the diet if you're pushing a goal that day and all of the sudden a box of a dozen doughnuts shows up in the break room.
  • KassiesJourney
    KassiesJourney Posts: 306 Member
    I like to Prelog everything on Sunday for the week and know what I am having
  • frankiesgirlie
    frankiesgirlie Posts: 669 Member
    Yes. I find it helps me tremendously. Every morning when I'm having my coffee, I pre plan what I'll have that day and log it. Sometimes I'll just "quick add" a number and go back and correct later. Then as the day goes along I'll change it as necessary. I think it's always good to have a plan instead of just randomly eating. I don't go further ahead than that day though, since things are so subject to change.
  • LiftandSkate
    LiftandSkate Posts: 148 Member
    I meal prep on Sundays preparing and logging my breakfasts and lunches for M -F (I eat the same thing for both meals for one work week). At the suggestion of some brilliant MFP'er whose name I can't recall, I log today's dinner under tomorrow's date. My husband does most of the cooking, so that makes it easier for me to manage my daily calorie alotment than hoarding calories all day because I never know what we're having for dinner. On weekends, I typically only eat 2 meals per day and have no trouble staying at or under goal, so I just wing it. For snacks, I wing it using exercise calories and whatever calories have not been already used on B/L/D.
  • Will_Run_for_Food
    Will_Run_for_Food Posts: 561 Member
    I always do. Helps me determine if I can allow a treat later on if I have enough calories left :)
  • brittalexmoore
    brittalexmoore Posts: 15 Member
    Yes!!! I generally try to fill in my diary the day before, so that I don't have to figure it out as the day goes by and I don't risk going over my calorie goal. Of course sometimes I make minor changes but generally it's helpful for me.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    No. I don't trust myself yet lol. I log as I sit down to eat. I have a long way to go and I really want this to stick so to speak so I log what goes in my mouth when it goes in. Maybe this will change later but for now this is working.
  • Mom2Frankie
    Mom2Frankie Posts: 23 Member
    I usually fill it in the night before. If I work I have a shake and if I am home I have egg whites and turkey sausage. If I'm working the next day I log as I pack. It helps me not eat extra stuff while I am at work.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    Tomorrow's Popeyes dinner is being made possible by pre-logging, which I did on Monday.
  • pescetarian_love
    pescetarian_love Posts: 64 Member
    I will fill it in for tomorrow morning's breakfast if I have completed the day. Gives me something to focus on for the next day. I think it helps.
  • Mrsmonas
    Mrsmonas Posts: 37 Member
    I usually pre log dinner daily because I meal plan every dinner. It helps me stay on track for the day because I like to use most of my cals for then.
  • Bearbo27
    Bearbo27 Posts: 339 Member
    I am a creature of habit and I like to eat the same foods every day. I eat the exact same breakfast, usually a string cheese for lunch, and then I try to plan out dinner enough in advance and log as much as I can. Usually meats that I weigh get logged last. What left over calories I might have, get used for an evening snack.
  • RockinTerri
    RockinTerri Posts: 499 Member
    I tend to do best when I pre-plan at least part of my day. As others have said, breakfast is usually pretty easy as I rotate between the same foods typically. I also aim for a salad each day, so I'll plug that in for lunch or dinner (I alternate when I have my salad, and thus adjust the portions of vegetables). I also try to have an idea for how many calories/carbs/proteins I can have for my snacks.

    I've also started to look at my day as 3 hour chunks, instead of certain meals/snacks. Some days lunch may fall later than others (depending on what my co-workers may have planned/appointments), so then I may swap a snack for "lunchtime", and eat less lunch later.

    Whatever works best for you is what matters. Good luck!
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    I fill my food diary in the morning. Then I print it. I take the printed diary to the kitchen and start measuring and chopping. For each item, if the weight differs from the diary, I note that on the diary. If necessary, I note changes to the plan. At the end of the day I use the noted differences to update my food log.
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    I usually pre-log the night before, occasionally I log more than one day in advance.
  • bobbiebrooks1
    bobbiebrooks1 Posts: 2 Member
    I pre-fill my diary every day from breakfast to snacks, then a tentative dinner. If I decide I don't want a certain snack that I had planned I can see how many calories it is and swap it out for something with similar value. If I don't eat something that I had planned for the day I just simply delete it from the diary before I go to bed then I complete my diary for the day. When I didn't prefill my diary I ended up having like 200 calories remaining for dinner and that sucked!! Also I work a Monday-Friday day job and my rule is, if I don't bring it I don't eat it - so I pack my breakfast, lunch and snacks for the day everyday. This does take some planning but it is so worth it - I promise.
  • _piaffe
    _piaffe Posts: 163 Member
    I pre-log the morning of or evening before (if I'm super organized). It keeps me on track. Tonight and tomorrow night, I'm at dinner parties. Pre-logging - especially when I know the menu, more or less - enables me to do a better job of eating around and up to the event. Or not eating, as it were.
  • shinycrazy
    shinycrazy Posts: 1,081 Member
    I fill out my diary the night before. I tweak it lots the next day (updating grams, switching ingredients ). It helps give me an idea where and how I'm going to spend my calories so I don't over do a meal and end up over for the day.
  • kissedbythesunshine
    kissedbythesunshine Posts: 416 Member
    Yes I prelog a day in advance. I can't just log as I eat. I'm not disciplined enough for that yet.
  • lenoresdream
    lenoresdream Posts: 522 Member
    i prelog for the next day the night before. so like i'll pre-log tonight for tomorrow. I usually leave about 500-600 calories open for dinner since that's usually just decided after i get home from work. (too tired for this, etc).
  • Hungry_Shopgirl
    Hungry_Shopgirl Posts: 329 Member
    No. When I was prelogging I actually lost less weight than now, mainly because what I ate was dissasociated from my hunger cues. For example, if I had prelogged 1/2 cup of rice, I ate 1/2 cup of rice because I knew I could "afford to" within my calorie allotment. When I stopped prelogging I realized I'm actually satisfied with 1/3 or sometimes 1/4 cup of rice! That amazes me cause I never used to be someone who ate small portions, but now that's what my body needs. I guess my point is that I found it really beneficial to learn to listen to my body for when to eat and when to stop as opposed to a prelogged amount.
  • hollyvalli
    hollyvalli Posts: 52 Member
    I pre log.

    It helps me out if I crave something heavy in cals/fats, like chicken wings and beer. If it's the start of weekend and I know I'm going to splurge on beers, I pre log them and try and move my butt on that day drunk or not or even out the next day (or two) if I have to. Same thing with wings, I love Checkers haha.

    During the week when I work, I pre log and then check after each food to see how my nutrients are coming out as I try and hit the suggested goals for everything each day. I actually am more satisfied with less food this way. :smile: (I am actually debating on going premium for this reason).