WHY keep your food diary hidden?

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Replies

  • kardowling
    kardowling Posts: 221 Member
    I had mine hidden, but I eat much better when I have to "fess-up" in public. Silly yes, but works for me. Also I'm always curious about how others are eating. Gives me new ideas.
  • leanne1973
    leanne1973 Posts: 8 Member
    I haven't read everyone's replys to this thread, my answer is in reply to the original poster - I keep my diary hidden because it really is no one else's business what I eat or drink. It's my diary and I don't need other people being nosy to validate me or criticise me.

    Why would you want everyone seeing what you eat? Why would you need the validation of others or, dare I say it, the attention? If you turn the question around, the answers become far more interesting...
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    For a few reasons.

    #1) everyone on the internet is a phD and an expert. And will let you know.

    #2) I eat a lot of carbs

    #3) I work out a lot and am only 15 lbs overweight.

    Add them all together and ... I really don't need to hear that I'm eating a lot of carbs. I already know this. That's why I bust my *kitten* working out. So to keep the "thank you captain obvious" comments to a minimum I usually keep mine private.

    If I were gaining weight and not understanding why, that would be an entirely different story.

    Support and all is great, but as I'm only 15 lbs overweight and I work out, play sports, etc... I don't need my every move meticulated by the general public. Or in summary: I don't care what you think, when I want your advice or opinion I will ask you.

    =)
  • dana01996
    dana01996 Posts: 15 Member
    I'm an open book...so to speak. :smile:
  • JizWiz
    JizWiz Posts: 57
    I think your absolutely right. I just can't figure out how to change it....
  • Brittypop
    Brittypop Posts: 67
    I think disclosing your daily food intake to your friends is a fabulous idea! If we're taking the time to log it, might as well share it with the people in our support group.
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member
    I have no idea if mine is public or private. I don't even know if my profile is public or private. It never occurred to me to manage those settings.
  • AdenaJ
    AdenaJ Posts: 58 Member
    I'm accountable to myself.

    Exactly. Maybe it's my Type-A personality, but I don't avoid logging junk food just because no one's looking.
  • PokerChris
    PokerChris Posts: 120 Member
    I just joined this week. My diary is set to friends only. I can't imagine going into strangers' food diaries and criticizing them! I have looked at a few strangers' diaries just for ideas, like "Oh, I didn't know about that." Certainly not to judge, either silently or by comment!
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    I have mine open to my friends. I appreciate that my friends have their diaries open, as a result, I've been introduced to new foods that I may have never otherwise tried.

    Thank you, friends!!! :wink:
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Mine is public but I don't feel accountable because if it. I don't really care what others think of what I eat.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    My intake is hardly an example of healthy eating, but I'm working on it. Showing it to the world is just a little too much exposure =)

    That said, I do share it with the folks in my friends group.
  • sandy2006
    sandy2006 Posts: 483 Member
    I find that when I have mine open, if I over eat I won't be honest and put everything I eat in the diary, fear of embarrasment. If its private I log EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth! So I made a choice to keep myself honest and if it has to be private for me to be honest than its private.
  • Sd0510
    Sd0510 Posts: 295 Member
    I am already completely honest when I log my foods, and that's good enough for me. I would rather be honest and have no one know what I eat than lie to sastify others.
  • AdenaJ
    AdenaJ Posts: 58 Member
    Just because I make decision A for reasons B, it does not mean that someone making the opposite of decision A doesn't agree with or subscribe to reasons B.

    If someone chooses to keep her diary open for accountability, it does not mean that someone else who chooses to keep his diary closed means the decision has anything to do with accountability. I know it's easy to fall into the thinking-pit of "I think this way, everyone else surely must think this way too" but it usually results in miscommunication, myopia and murt feelings.

    Well said.
  • peacestar84
    peacestar84 Posts: 100
    I keep mine private because I have been harassed and criticized my whole life for eating and the choices I make. I have no interest in other people's opinions of my nutritional choices. Plus I never check my friends food diary's cause frankly I don't care what they eat. I find I am the only person who is able to hold myself accountable and logging my food and being on the site does that for me.
  • juliesummers
    juliesummers Posts: 738 Member
    a) As someone with a history of eating disorders, I find it very triggering to have an open diary for everyone to see. It makes it much harder for me to watch those calories go up.

    b) What I put into my body (or not) is no one's business but my own, and I don't care to hear the ignorant, rude, inappropriate or simply uncalled for opinions and "advice" from strangers.


    edit: Mine is private, but any of my friends with the key (which they ask me for in personal messages) can see inside. I like being able to monitor who sees it or not, and if I get uncomfortable with that, I can always change my key or make it private for a bit.
  • dollienj
    dollienj Posts: 49
    I so agree with you! It makes me want to be good since everyone will see it. I love that it is an option to let my friends see it! Everyone should put their big girl/boy pants on and share with friends and let them either support your good decisions or give motivation with bad ones to make better ones. Why hide????

    Why is keeping the food diary private equal to being childish or "not wearing their big girl/boy pants"? It's a choice, pure and simple. Everyone has the right to choose what they want to reveal or not - and to not be judged for those choices. If you keep it public, great. If not, great.

    To quote another fine MFP'er here on this thread: "I'm a grown-*kitten* woman." I'm wearing my big girl pants every day of my life. Privacy does not equal hiding - it's a right.
  • Sd0510
    Sd0510 Posts: 295 Member
    I find that when I have mine open, if I over eat I won't be honest and put everything I eat in the diary, fear of embarrasment. If its private I log EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth! So I made a choice to keep myself honest and if it has to be private for me to be honest than its private.

    That is exactly what I just put. Lol
  • Gilliamzoo
    Gilliamzoo Posts: 72 Member
    MIne's open, although I don't remember if its just for friends or everyone. Obviously, I'm super concerned about it. :tongue: Although I have noticed on the days that I don't do that great and go way over on my calories I don't usually finalize it, so then it doesn't post to my news feed. I don't think I was doing it intentionally at first, but I didn't want to be judged for going over. Lame I know.
  • Bermudabarbie
    Bermudabarbie Posts: 568 Member
    I've gone back and forth keeping them private and then open to friends only. Currently, they are private.

    I do this because I am working on staying "under" in fats and sugars, but trying to achieve my maintenance calories of almost 1800 a day. This relatively "high" calorie count that I am allowed is because I am on maintenance now. I had, in fact, gone a little too far and lost 4 or more pounds that I am trying to regain.

    Whatever works for you is just fine. If your diary is private you may find that your own focus is improved. Really an individual choice.

    Recommendation? Try it both ways and see where you feel most comfortable.
  • nyprdiva
    nyprdiva Posts: 76 Member
    I think some people don't like the idea of disclosing something so personal; it's a way to avoid judgement (which of course wouldn't happen here, but it's a valid concern). Some people probably don't know how to make their diary public.

    Sometimes people aren't ready to share that much of themselves yet. Even in our tickers some of us (myself included) hide a bit from the world. I wouldn't be so quick to assume that it is an accountability issue. It might be a case of needing to become a little more comfortable with themselves and MFP in general. Some have dealt with some heartbreaking situations like bullying and the like that can be very hard to get over....just a thought.
  • disciplineisgood
    disciplineisgood Posts: 36 Member
    Who in the world has the time to read or really cares what others eat for every meal anyway??? Just seems a bit odd to me.
  • Strobins05
    Strobins05 Posts: 716
    I'm accountable to myself.
    ^^^^ LOVE THIS! Really do not log all my food because I do not have the time too. So that is at my discretion. I have opened to my pals. I do not read or comment on other diaries unless I'm asked too by them.
  • nanmosta1
    nanmosta1 Posts: 55
    MIne's open but I do like to read others diary. II don't do it t to critize or stalk anyone but to get ideas on other foods or meals I could eat. We all get caught in the eating the same thing trap and it's nice to see someones who successful and what they eat.
    :love: :flowerforyou:
  • fitchic_76
    fitchic_76 Posts: 8
    I keep my diary private....I am honest about what I put down, but this is a hard enough process for me without public scrutiny and comments about what I eat. I am held accountable by turning in a written journal to my weight loss coach and would like to keep it that way. Weight loss is also a very emotional process and I just dont want to invite anyone to look at me and what I am doing.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    I'm just curious.....I understand if you want your page to be private. However, why keep your food diary private???? Do you do this....if so what's your reasoning? I personally think by making it viewable to friends that it hold you accountable. ;)

    I dont need to be held accountable by anyone but myself
  • Tori_356
    Tori_356 Posts: 510 Member
    I don't do this but why does it have to be everyone's business?
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Frankly - I could care less what anyone thinks about what I've eaten. Mine is open - and open to anyone on MFP. I hide nothing. I think people don't want others to see what they've eaten for several reasons - they're hiding stuff, not "really" working to lose weight, eat junk, and dont' want comments
    Why do I look at other people's diaries? For one reason - I'm curious. I want to know what people are eating. Give me ideas on things I'm not eating - and could try something new. Especially desserts/late night stuff that's healthy. Vege's, too - love new ideas.
    It's pretty much a given that when your actions and words are heard and seen by others - they're different than if you were alone or with close/personal friends. When you know others see what you're doing and eating - it helps keep you on track.
    We're all here to lose/maintain or get in better shape. Having others watch and see us in our progress - encourages and supports, and occasionally gets us back on track and out of the mud. Accountability is a good thing for a lot of people - which is why the most successful programs have group meetings, group weigh ins. Another way of accountability. You may not like it, but it is successful enough that programs use it.
    If you don't like that aspect - then why bother posting anthing on this site? Close your diary, keep your info private
    Oh - and someone commented about nasty or hurtful comments - this site shouldn't be for INTENTIONAL comments designed to hurt someone. That being said - when you're NOT eating right, when you're SLACKING and making EXCUSES - you will hear about it. Tough nuts - get over it. If you don't want to hear about it - then stop posting stuff, keep your info closed. We're also here to encourage and get all of us on the right track. Sometimes you need a head thump to get back on track.
    I offer head thumps at a very reasonable rate. Free. lol

    Not everyone is looking to lose weight. Some are here to maintain or even gain weight.

    I am not hiding anything with my private diary, I am on a specific diet for a specific goal under the guidence of someone who knows what they are doing and don't want feedback. I am working my *ss off literally. The fact I keep my diary private does not change that.
    Not everyone has the same motivations. I don't need someone kicking my *kitten* about what I am eating because, I can hide my diary all I want, not log food, whatever, but at the end of the day, I am the one getting on stage. My results will show there, whether I was honest in my diary or not, whether it was open or not. I know that. I don't need someone else to tell me that. I have never complained about lack of results, nor would I. I know where to look when they don't come.

    I am not here to share meal ideas, not that anyone would be interested in the boring meals I am eating right now.
    For those saying people with a private diary are hiding something, an open diary =/= being honest. It is just as easy to not log a cheat as it is to log it in a private diary.
    .
    As for the group support, most of those weekly meetings are for weigh ins, not to share what you ate all week. Since I log my weightloss, can I still stick around or should I still pack it up because I won't share my food diary?
    My friends still support me, with every workout I do, every pound I lose.
  • untilthesun
    untilthesun Posts: 30 Member
    mine was open, then i had ONE people trying to tell me exactly what to do and exactly what to eat etc. i felt judged so i removed them and have closed it for a while. but ill open it when i feel confident that im not going to suffer the same stint again,

    i wont name and shame becuase i dont hold grudges and i guess they were just trying to help, but im losing sticking to my own, so what if i eat a peice of chocolate every day. im weaning myself off of it and stayed under my calorie goal!

    and it wasnt just oh you shouldnt eat the chocolate it was eat nothing but this this and this. and im not here for that, im here to adjust my way.
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