anyone else log their food before they eat it?

Silvercivic
Silvercivic Posts: 156 Member
edited October 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been trying to log most of what I eat before I eat it. I eat pretty much the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day, so it is easy for me to log it the night before. As soon as I have my dinner planned I log that as well. With whatever calories I have left I can determine when and what I will eat for a snack. This has really helped me with portion control and stress-eating. I've only been at this for a few weeks but it has been really easy so far. Does anyone else log this way? When do you log what you eat?

Replies

  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I pack my lunch while I'm making breakfast, so I often log my lunch calories when I log my breakfast calories since all the ingredients and quantities are still fresh in my mind.
  • kmcrey87
    kmcrey87 Posts: 422 Member
    I will on my rest day every week because I have a super hard time staying in the 1200-1300 range when I don't have exercise calories to eat!
  • kmcrey87
    kmcrey87 Posts: 422 Member
    I will on my rest day every week because I have a super hard time staying in the 1200-1300 range when I don't have exercise calories to eat!
  • Bluejay789
    Bluejay789 Posts: 176
    This is my number one rule.

    I found out the hard way my first week on MFP.


    Yes this is the best as you can plan and then eat accordingly.

    Then I feel great after dinner as I know I am at goal each night
  • haterhaze
    haterhaze Posts: 37 Member
    I log my meals and snacks the night before and try to pretty much stick with it. But I'm not afraid of making changes to accommodate what might happen in the day. Doing this has really helped me keep on track and have more balanced meals.
  • kittyblackstar
    kittyblackstar Posts: 12 Member
    I log that way too that way I know whether I need to modify anything or not. If I ate before I logged I'd probably go over my calorie count by a lot!
  • catshark209
    catshark209 Posts: 1,133 Member
    Yup. I do it all the time. Usually dinner is up in the air, so I log breakfast, AM snack, and lunch.
  • cmboze
    cmboze Posts: 2
    I always try to log before I eat then i know if I am at work or somewhere how many extra calories I might have if I want to snack. It is impossible for me to do this every day but I find it is helpful and my family loves it when we plan a menu for the week for dinner because they know what to expect! I have done this for about 3 weeks or so and have lost 4 pounds!
  • Silvercivic
    Silvercivic Posts: 156 Member
    I will on my rest day every week because I have a super hard time staying in the 1200-1300 range when I don't have exercise calories to eat!

    I also have a hard time on rest days- eating back my exercise calories has been a major motivation for me to workout! (that and getting an hour to myself without the kids... ok actually I think the hour to myself might be the biggest motivation!) :)
  • picinina
    picinina Posts: 76
    Always, it's like a morning ritual for me. I like to be organised with what I fuel my body up with.
  • astovey
    astovey Posts: 578 Member
    Alllll the time. And if I don't know what we are having for dinner I usually allot about 400-500 cals
  • astovey
    astovey Posts: 578 Member
    Whoops
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    look at my diary for tomorrow. it's all logged in right now. i know what i'm gonna have for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. the best way to stay focus and under calories. also, i have some room to play with with my calories too.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    I make a week's worth of meal plans, go shopping according to those lists, and then eat only what's on the lists. So basically, I log a whole week's worth of food a week before I eat those meals.

    If I logged after I ate, I would overeat, eat the wrong ratio of macros...and basically just be guessing all day long. I have very specific goals, and that just wouldn't do at all.
  • Kate6868
    Kate6868 Posts: 159 Member
    I log everything first thing in the morning and make adjustments if the day throws me a curve ball.
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    Yup. I do it all the time. Usually dinner is up in the air, so I log breakfast, AM snack, and lunch.

    Me too. It really helps me keep track and make better choices. Although sometimes I eat my exercise calories BEFORE I've exercised. ---ooops.
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
    I log in the morning. Breakfast and snacks are usually the same every day, I pack my lunch for work, so that's taken care of. Usually we have dinner planned out, so I have a pretty good idea what's in store there. Then I just eat what I logged. It keeps me on track and usually just under goal.
  • Lesliecs
    Lesliecs Posts: 930 Member
    Yup.... me too. I generally make my lunch to take to work the next day and go ahead and log it then. You can always change it if you decide to eat something else..... or add to it.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I do this every day. Meals go in first (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and if I don't know what's for dinner I will add in some quick calorie as a "placeholder". Then I can see how many cals are left for snacks and I pack/organise those for work.
    This way I come out pretty close to my calories every day.
    It doesn't mean that I don't change my mind but if I decide to have a piece of birthday cake or a milky coffee in the morning (like today) then I just adjust my snacks or meals accordingly.
    It's not really hard for me to do because I plan my meals the night before, even if I'm not counting calories.
  • maura5880
    maura5880 Posts: 346 Member
    Yup, I often log hours ahead of time. I always have the same breakfast, so I saved that as a meal I can add with one click. Lunch and dinner I usually rotate. I like logging everything in, so I know how many/which snacks I can incorporate throughout the day.
  • spunkysuzi
    spunkysuzi Posts: 4 Member
    Indeed I do!!
  • aleongal
    aleongal Posts: 1
    i do especially at dinner time because i have watched what i eat through out the day but at dinner i have only so many calories left so i put it in before i make it so i can know for sure how much of what i can eat and not to over eat
  • sandiburn
    sandiburn Posts: 149
    I log it right before I eat. It makes me think about eating something that I dont need. I see the cals just before I put it in my mouth.
  • it_be_asin
    it_be_asin Posts: 562 Member
    I log most of my day's calories at the start of the day if I know I am going to eat something or am pretty sure I will eat it. Things change a little through the day, but not much. And sometimes I have a play to work out what will make my macros work best, then lock it in as my food for the rest of the day (what I did today!).
  • Jennieam
    Jennieam Posts: 300 Member
    Yes - Unless I am going out for a meal, I always log them in advance.

    I have a few "standard" breakfasts, and most days I take lunch to work. I start preparing my salad the night before, so I already know what I am going to have. I just need to think about dinner.

    I also find that MFP helps me when planning my grocery list, as I have a fair idea as to what I will need for the week. I am hopeful that I will see the cost of groceries reduce as I spend less on "extras"!
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