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Public vs private food diaries on MFP
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RockingWithLJ
Posts: 243 Member
in Debate Club
I would like to know what your food diary is set to. Tell us if you have your setting to public, shared with friends or private, and why.
1
Replies
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I guess I'll go first. I have mine set to share with friends. I also prefer to have friends who have it set to share. I do this because I want to inspire people by what I eat and the activities that I do. I also like to see them so I'm inspired to eat certain things or try new activities. I don't understand the point of a private diary5
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I keep my diary private because it's no one's business but my own what I eat.
The point of a private diary is to keep track of what we're eating, and in particular the number of calories we're consuming.
I also don't look at other people's diaries. I'm not inspired by what other people eat. We eat what we can get ahold of in our own areas. I know in my area, I eat differently now than I did in pre-2020 times.
I think the exercise is a different setting. If you set your diary to private, I think it only makes the food private.18 -
I have mine set to private as I use MFP to ensure I eat the right foods to fuel my sport. I totally understand the benefit of motivation, but I’m not trying to lose weight or inspire others - I’m just trying to make sure I eat enough protein and don’t exist solely on fruit and chocolate (which I would totally do, with some cheese).12
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I have mine set to private for the same reason I don't share any given information that day. It's not something I find interesting to share.
If you do, that's cool, but I don't feel any need to inspire anyone with how I eat, and I have exactly ZERO interest in anyone's feedback on it either.
I share what I find interesting, and I don't find that interesting.
Also, I only log what I eat periodically when I change my diet for some reason. Otherwise, tracking loosely in my head works perfectly well for me.7 -
Mine is open to friends. I don't consider what I eat secret (just boring), and do log some (relatively few) days that are kind of scary-looking in one way or another (calories, alcohol, seriously nutritionally imbalanced, whatever).
I'm not ashamed about those rare excessive/extreme days, it's - for me - part of a happy and balanced life. I have no impulse to lie or hide because of thinking people are watching. I do skip logging the occasional day, now that I've been in maintenance so long, mostly because it would be tedious (long list of nonusual things), involve a silly amount of estimating (potluck dinner, say), having an unusually busy/frantic day, or something like that.
I'm not really out to be a model, but I do put a priority on good overall nutrition (on average for sure, and on most individual days). I'm not prideful about my eating, that would be as alien as being ashamed of it, for me.
Sometimes, there are threads here asking about how to get enough protein as a vegetarian, or something similar. I usually offer suggestions in the thread, but sometimes say "if you want to see what I eat, send me a FR, my diary is open to friends, and I'll answer questions if you have any". It's just easier than yammering on about options for meals.
I also do ask someone in the Community to open their diary, even just temporarily, when they're asking for specific types of advice. They can do that or not, but for some things it's easier to help if one can see the food log. If they prefer not to, that's fine, but it affects advice they'll get - their choice.
There have been a few times - very few, truly! fingers of one hand? - when someone wanted to give me unsolicited advice on my food choices. If they're polite, I'm polite . . . but it's not usually well-received, on my part. I know how I want to eat, at this point. If someone looked at my food log, taunted me about it in the Community in some way - which has never happened, that I know of - I'm full-on flag/reporting that, even though I don't think I've ever flag/reported any other post criticizing me in other against-rules ways (which has happened once in a while). That potential is probably why I don't have my diary full-on public, though I haven't given it a lot of thought, TBH.
Questions on my profile page or via PM about my eating are totally fine, even specific ones: How did you like brand Y food X? How did you cook the ABC that you ate? Etc.
I'm not saying that others should do what I do, or look at it the way I do. We all have different histories with food, emotional responses about food or about food questions/comments, general ego strength, and more. Like so many things, I support other people doing what works best for them, irrespective of what works best for me.10 -
I'm just not into public sharing of any kind, so mine has always been private.
I have no "friends". I just interact with people on the message boards because it's a controlled environment and I don't need to share any personal information.
I'm not vain enough to think that what I eat or do is exciting enough to "inspire" people. If people ask for advice on the boards, I'll share my experience and opinions.
While I was actively losing weight, I did it very privately. I didn't seek out motivation (which in my opinion is fleeting and fizzles out too quickly).
So, the "point" of a closed diary is to log food and activity for yourself, not necessarily for other people. I was successful at losing the weight I wanted to lose, so for me, the diary was definitely not pointless.15 -
Another thing is that I eat basically the same things each day with only slight variations. I can pre-log my week days weeks in advance with what I eat between 11:30 am (when I start eating) and 6 pm (just before dinner) because 90% of the time, it will be the same. Dinner may vary slightly.
I'm pretty sure that wouldn't inspire anyone but it works for me.
And pre-logging my food, for my own personal viewing helps me determine if I've got room to add something if I'm feeling hungry one evening, or not.4 -
A little of what everyone else said along with, while I'm pretty open about saying/typing the words of what I eat, people would probably have heart attacks actually seeing it logged.
I don't think I've ever looked at someone else's diary unless they asked people to look at it.2 -
I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".11
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RockingWithLJ wrote: »I guess I'll go first. I have mine set to share with friends. I also prefer to have friends who have it set to share. I do this because I want to inspire people by what I eat and the activities that I do. I also like to see them so I'm inspired to eat certain things or try new activities. I don't understand the point of a private diary
I have mine set to private
I don't care about the "friend" feature here on this site. I interact in the forums, but the few "friends" I do have I don't interact with outside the forums, other than a couple people I talk to in private messages. I don't even look at the Home page newsfeed. I lost all my weight (80-ish pounds) in 2007 and I've kept it off without sharing my food diary. Heck, I don't even discuss weight or food with people in real life. I learned that lesson!
I don't really believe that having my food and/or exercise diary public would "inspire" anyone, and any feedback anyone offered would not be something I'd like.
I don't understand the point of a public diary.
To each their own, I guess.
6 -
cmriverside wrote: »RockingWithLJ wrote: »I guess I'll go first. I have mine set to share with friends. I also prefer to have friends who have it set to share. I do this because I want to inspire people by what I eat and the activities that I do. I also like to see them so I'm inspired to eat certain things or try new activities. I don't understand the point of a private diary
I have mine set to private
I don't care about the "friend" feature here on this site. I interact in the forums, but the few "friends" I do have I don't interact with outside the forums, other than a couple people I talk to in private messages. I don't even look at the Home page newsfeed. I lost all my weight (80-ish pounds) in 2007 and I've kept it off without sharing my food diary. Heck, I don't even discuss weight or food with people in real life. I learned that lesson!
I don't really believe that having my food and/or exercise diary public would "inspire" anyone, and any feedback anyone offered would not be something I'd like.
I don't understand the point of a public diary.
To each their own, I guess.
I agree with you. The idea of "inspiring" people by the way you eat just seems......well,.....a little,......8 -
snowflake954 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »RockingWithLJ wrote: »I guess I'll go first. I have mine set to share with friends. I also prefer to have friends who have it set to share. I do this because I want to inspire people by what I eat and the activities that I do. I also like to see them so I'm inspired to eat certain things or try new activities. I don't understand the point of a private diary
I have mine set to private
I don't care about the "friend" feature here on this site. I interact in the forums, but the few "friends" I do have I don't interact with outside the forums, other than a couple people I talk to in private messages. I don't even look at the Home page newsfeed. I lost all my weight (80-ish pounds) in 2007 and I've kept it off without sharing my food diary. Heck, I don't even discuss weight or food with people in real life. I learned that lesson!
I don't really believe that having my food and/or exercise diary public would "inspire" anyone, and any feedback anyone offered would not be something I'd like.
I don't understand the point of a public diary.
To each their own, I guess.
I agree with you. The idea of "inspiring" people by the way you eat just seems......well,.....a little,......
But, you inspire me to eat more pizza and pasta.8 -
snowflake954 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »RockingWithLJ wrote: »I guess I'll go first. I have mine set to share with friends. I also prefer to have friends who have it set to share. I do this because I want to inspire people by what I eat and the activities that I do. I also like to see them so I'm inspired to eat certain things or try new activities. I don't understand the point of a private diary
I have mine set to private
I don't care about the "friend" feature here on this site. I interact in the forums, but the few "friends" I do have I don't interact with outside the forums, other than a couple people I talk to in private messages. I don't even look at the Home page newsfeed. I lost all my weight (80-ish pounds) in 2007 and I've kept it off without sharing my food diary. Heck, I don't even discuss weight or food with people in real life. I learned that lesson!
I don't really believe that having my food and/or exercise diary public would "inspire" anyone, and any feedback anyone offered would not be something I'd like.
I don't understand the point of a public diary.
To each their own, I guess.
I agree with you. The idea of "inspiring" people by the way you eat just seems......well,.....a little,......
Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's a little.... 😀7 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »RockingWithLJ wrote: »I guess I'll go first. I have mine set to share with friends. I also prefer to have friends who have it set to share. I do this because I want to inspire people by what I eat and the activities that I do. I also like to see them so I'm inspired to eat certain things or try new activities. I don't understand the point of a private diary
I have mine set to private
I don't care about the "friend" feature here on this site. I interact in the forums, but the few "friends" I do have I don't interact with outside the forums, other than a couple people I talk to in private messages. I don't even look at the Home page newsfeed. I lost all my weight (80-ish pounds) in 2007 and I've kept it off without sharing my food diary. Heck, I don't even discuss weight or food with people in real life. I learned that lesson!
I don't really believe that having my food and/or exercise diary public would "inspire" anyone, and any feedback anyone offered would not be something I'd like.
I don't understand the point of a public diary.
To each their own, I guess.
I agree with you. The idea of "inspiring" people by the way you eat just seems......well,.....a little,......
But, you inspire me to eat more pizza and pasta.
I...cannot...moderate...pasta.
Or else I'd move to Italy.
Or, at least, visit. 😀3 -
snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.2 -
claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.7 -
My diary is public. I don't think anyone really looks at my diary, but I see no reason to keep it private. To fully understand what I eat, you'd have to be trilingual anyway 😁 (Dutch, French and English).
I doubt anyone would find it 'inspirational' except perhaps to see it is possible to lose weight while eating fairly high carb and regularly eating treat foods, or perhaps my exercise/activity consistency (for people just starting out, who don't realize I didn't get here overnight, it's been a journey of 2.5 years so far).6 -
claireychn074 wrote: »I have mine set to private as I use MFP to ensure I eat the right foods to fuel my sport. I totally understand the benefit of motivation, but I’m not trying to lose weight or inspire others - I’m just trying to make sure I eat enough protein and don’t exist solely on fruit and chocolate (which I would totally do, with some cheese).
^^ this
The only people who would potentially be "inspired" by my diary are other high protein, sodium-restricted pescetarians who live in Canada (because I tend to use a lot of products that are exclusive to a Canadian grocery chain) and aren't trying to lose weight.
I haven't added a ton of friends on here and most of us are middle-aged-ish women who are more interested in one another's workouts than eating habits.3 -
snowflake954 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.
OMG - that sounds amazing! Oh wow, I need to try that 🤤1 -
claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.
OMG - that sounds amazing! Oh wow, I need to try that 🤤
Every time I make it, there is nothing left. I don't make it often. Let me know if it works out for you.2
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