To share, or not to share the food diary....

jeannine71
jeannine71 Posts: 66 Member
edited October 4 in Motivation and Support
Has anyone noticed a difference or benefit to sharing your diary? Does it keep you more honest? Or responsible? I haven't shared mine yet...not sure if I really want to! Just curious...

Replies

  • Jeff92se
    Jeff92se Posts: 3,369 Member
    Honest? No. I don't know if anyone would care to read mine if I had it public.

    But if you are asking about your weight loss or etc.... it helps to have it public
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    it helps with accountability....and, to the extent you have questions about why you are not achieving the success you hoped to achieve, it helps others give you advice when they can read your food diary.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Mine is public but I'm not sure anyone looks at it. It doesn't keep more or less "honest". I eat healthy most of the time and know what works for me so I just stick tot that. I really can't remember why I made it public.
  • supaflyjoy
    supaflyjoy Posts: 20 Member
    I share mine with friends who I've asked to keep my accountable. It WORKS! With the public, I don't really see it being helpful.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    mine is public. not sure why anyone would prefer it being private.
  • KimertRuns13_1
    KimertRuns13_1 Posts: 702 Member
    it helps with accountability....and, to the extent you have questions about why you are not achieving the success you hoped to achieve, it helps others give you advice when they can read your food diary.
    This.

    I feel like it helps me especially if I complain about not losing weight. Also having it opens makes me realize that people might be reading it and I am more likely to stay away from certain foods because I don't want people thinking, "OMG no wonder she's still fat she ate xyz." lol
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    Mine is friends only. I'm glad I did. While at first I was way under calorie, my friend Sarah pointed out that I was way under protein, too, and that was bad for me in the long run.
    I think it helps. If I had a bad day, friends can say "Hey, you are still under cholesterol..." or whatever.
  • adk88
    adk88 Posts: 143 Member
    I had mine private, but then one of my friends asked if I could share it. And it made me realize that I don't know why I wasn't sharing it to begin with. I have nothing to hide!
  • mandemonious
    mandemonious Posts: 217 Member
    Mine isn't public, just because I don't share much information with just every ole body in the "public."

    But it is open to my friends. It does keep me more accountable and more conscious of some decisions I make. But, like most things, everyone is different. Do what works for you :happy:
  • lucylue21
    lucylue21 Posts: 214
    honestly, i notice some people just say good job and never read it. i did an experiment witht hat once. like logging the craziest randomes stuff that is soo not healthy (i.e. coke, cotton candy, for breakfast two servings of jelly for lunch and a nice scoop of icecream for supper but it didnt go over my calories) i still got lots of "good jobs" but i have found a few, not many, but a few will say " oh that yogurt sounds yummy" aka they read my diary. i do like it when people read my diary and help critic it.
  • betzeross
    betzeross Posts: 161 Member
    I just recently made my open to my friends because they asked.
    I hope it will help them help me with advice on eating suggesions etc...
    But I was hesitant because I know I still don't eat overly healthy (yet)
  • MusicKeepsMeSane
    MusicKeepsMeSane Posts: 309
    I used to have mine set at private but then a friend asked me if she could take a look at my food diary. I have it set to friends only. I have it like that so friends can give me some advice, like I need to eat more protein, etc. If you want people's opinions or advice about what to do that could better help you then it would be a good idea to open your food diary.
  • Amber82479
    Amber82479 Posts: 629 Member
    Sharing my diary keeps me honest. Also, I can't expect anyone to offer input or advice on my diary if it isn't available to them. Who knows when someone might take a look and offer up a really valuable tip or suggestion? The other thing I like about being able to see someones diary is knowing how to respond when it says they've completed their daily logging. If it just says they're under calorie goal, I have a hard time congratulating them without seeing their diary, because maybe they only ate 500 calories and that's not healthy. I try to offer my friends true support in whatever form they may need, and I'm better able to do that if I can see what they're eating. I would expect the same feedback from people who look at my diary. I suppose this could leave me open to ridicule if I have a very unhealthy day/week/month, but I think the people who are truly here to support others and be supported would only offer constructive criticism or motiviation to do better. At least, that's what I'd hope for! This is, of course, a very personal choice and I can understand why others might not feel comfortable with people seeing the food that they've logged. It does leave you very "exposed"!
  • 1HappyRosie
    1HappyRosie Posts: 80 Member
    How do you share your information. I am trying to keep my two aunts going and we thought this would help us all but we are not able to figure out the settings to share each others information. Thanks for your help.
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    honestly, i notice some people just say good job and never read it. i did an experiment witht hat once. like logging the craziest randomes stuff that is soo not healthy (i.e. coke, cotton candy, for breakfast two servings of jelly for lunch and a nice scoop of icecream for supper but it didnt go over my calories) i still got lots of "good jobs" but i have found a few, not many, but a few will say " oh that yogurt sounds yummy" aka they read my diary. i do like it when people read my diary and help critic it.
    :laugh: I LOVE your experiment! I always assumed that people were just being nice when they overlooked the chocolate chip cookie or the kolacky. I find the coke and cotton candy for breakfast HYSTERICAL! The two servings of jelly is sort of funny... Ice cream for dinner sounds like something I MAY or MAY NOT of done once upon a time ago :sad: , so not as funny as the others!
    You made my day. I'm still laughing!
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    How do you share your information. I am trying to keep my two aunts going and we thought this would help us all but we are not able to figure out the settings to share each others information. Thanks for your help.

    at the top of your food diary page, under the "My Home, Food. Exercise, Report, Tools, Community" tabs are a second set of tabs. Click on "settings". There you can add nutrients to track, add snacks, vitamins, change meal names, whatever, and set your diary to "Private". "Friends Only", or "Public". There is also a way to share it with password only, but I don't know how to do that. The choice is given on the same page, so I hope that if you want that, the mfp directions will be clear.

    Good look to you and your aunts!
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    Just my friends, so they can see the awesome stuff I eat! :smokin:
  • Allie_71
    Allie_71 Posts: 1,063 Member
    Mine is open, cuz I'm open to suggestions and I'm always curious about what other people are eating. They often have great ideas and combinations that I would never think of :)
  • youcandoitjess
    youcandoitjess Posts: 58
    Just my friends, so they can see the awesome stuff I eat! :smokin:

    Your meals always do look delicious!
  • cherridawnn
    cherridawnn Posts: 53
    I have mine open to friends. As far as honesty, it didn't change much. But I feel like I really got away with something when no one comments on my bad days!! :wink:
  • rosalieharris
    rosalieharris Posts: 33 Member
    How do you make it public?
  • Sweet_Potato
    Sweet_Potato Posts: 1,119 Member
    Mine's public because I think I eat pretty well (both in terms of nutrition and in terms of indulging in delicious foods) and I want to inspire people.
  • jillica
    jillica Posts: 554 Member
    It depends on your personality and what motiviates you.

    If it will motivate you to eat better, then do it. If you want diary advice, do it.

    If it will make you NOT enter into your diary when you eat poorly, then don't do it.

    If you're not sure, test it out as public and see how you do.
  • rhouser9021
    rhouser9021 Posts: 26
    I would, but I add a lot of quick adds most of the time, so no one would really know what I was eating haha
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