any one pre plan their food journals?

TammyLynne71
TammyLynne71 Posts: 184 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I am going to start this week pre planning my food journals. Does anyone else do that? Does it help more to do what your calories are before hand? Are you able to post them before hand so otherrs can see and give you their input?
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Replies

  • HannahMarieMcDougald
    HannahMarieMcDougald Posts: 544
    I do pre-plan my days...........It helps me out so much and I dont over eat :-)
  • rosieflo
    rosieflo Posts: 218
    I preplan mine all the time! Usually I can only do one day in advance though. I find it to be the only way I am truly successful! I think people can just flip through your menus. Good luck! Have fun!
  • tai_jeffries
    tai_jeffries Posts: 14
    I haven't done that but I will try it out and see how it works for me. Great idea!
  • luvmybaby333
    luvmybaby333 Posts: 241
    I have been doing this a lot. It kinda lets me know what I have to work with, and it also helps me not have those low blood sugar "What the heck am I going to eat?" moments. I did make my diary private, though... Because I didn't want people seeing it and thinking that I'd eaten all of my calories at 1am in the morning. LOL
  • Diary_Queen
    Diary_Queen Posts: 1,314 Member
    i preplan each night for the next day or two in a row since i take breakfast and lunch with me to work and i do a lot of crockpot cooking for dinner or have to thaw stuff for dinner. I'm doing the spike diet and i have to plan a lot ahead so i can stay on track for my lower calorie days.
  • michbe
    michbe Posts: 17 Member
    What kinds of foods are you eating to lose and stay in the 1500. I find it hard to find diet foods that don't kill you in other ways.
    If i eat veggies all day I am bloated. You try to make the right choices but I am finding it hard to pick the right foods.
  • hillbillyannie
    hillbillyannie Posts: 139 Member
    I usually sit down and put in what I think I'm going to eat especially for dinner to see if it will fit into my calorie count and then make any changes needed. It seems to work better than eating and then trying to add it up. The important thing for me is to be honest. If it goes in my mouth it goes on the computer no matter how bad it is. I've managed to lose 70 pounds since last May 1st.
  • thenance007
    thenance007 Posts: 35 Member
    Each evening I try to log my entire next day's eating plan. Then I package whatever I'm taking to work, i.e. tuna salad, baked beans, or whatever, in their little containers and put them in the fridge ready to go. That way, I know I have enough calories left for a larger evening meal and about 200 calories for my evening snack. If I don't plan ahead, I feel lost and spend much more time trying to figure out what I want to eat instead of what I should eat. I also plan breakfast to include complex carbs on mornings I'm going to work out, and low/no carb meals at least once a day.
  • KellyBgetsfit
    KellyBgetsfit Posts: 1,713 Member
    I do! I almost always fill it out in the am while I drink my coffee. That way I always know I'm staying in my calorie range.
  • kd_mazur
    kd_mazur Posts: 569 Member
    I usually go in first thing in the morning and plan my food journal for the day and my exercise. I think it helps me to know what I'm working with each day so I don't go over or way under. If things change thru the day I just go in and make adjustments.
  • christina0089
    christina0089 Posts: 709 Member
    I work nights so my food is backwards. I have to pre log or it would never balance. But even when I was not working nights I always pre planned. It kept me from impulsively grabbing food that might not be the best option. It also helps me find a good balance for what I intend to eat. :)

    I do mine usually the night before or in the morning when I get home before crawling in bed.
  • angiek941
    angiek941 Posts: 97 Member
    Yep! Usually just for the day, but I like knowing exactly what I have to work with.
  • Katetmay
    Katetmay Posts: 54 Member
    I try to plan it out for a couple days, it helps me stay on track. I have planned Monday and Tuesday but I am in a session on both those days in which lunch is being provided so I have left myself just over 500cals in case there are not many healthy options.
  • regions02
    regions02 Posts: 154 Member
    I pre-plan all my days - otherwise, I'd either go over my calories or end up with way too many at the end of the day. I usually figure 250-300 for breakfast; 250 for lunch and the remainder for dinner and snacks. This just works best for me.
  • TriciaAllen7251
    TriciaAllen7251 Posts: 283 Member
    I plan my meals the night before. This keeps me from trying to wing it and then finding out that 1/2 of a KFC pot pie is almost 800 cals. That only had to happen one time. I log all my food but not my exercise. If I want more or am over cals I know what exercise I need to do or that I need to cut something. It's also much easier to pack my food in the am if I don't have to think about it. I print it out and stick it on the fridge. Then in the am I just grab and start packing the cooler.
  • Kymmy81
    Kymmy81 Posts: 168 Member
    I think pre-logging helps a lot. It makes sure I reach my macro targets, and provides certainty of what I am eating so I am not making rushed choices (and possibly bad choices!).
  • ErynnBaby
    ErynnBaby Posts: 15
    It works for me especially if I am going to be eating out at a resturant with friends or family. Also, I love Sweet Tomatoes (an awesome salad bar place!) and before I walk in I log exactly what I'm going to eat so that when I'm in there I'm not tempted to go hog wild and eat everything in site!
  • vguynes
    vguynes Posts: 753 Member
    Yes, I pre-plan my meals. I make changes as needed if I decide not to eat a certain item or if I decide to eat an item that is not already included for the day. Pre-planning gives me an idea of what I should eat so I won't overeat.
  • swimmchick87
    swimmchick87 Posts: 458 Member
    I plan for Monday-Thursday (and lunch on Friday). I put it in to make sure all of my foods fit within my limits and then I go shopping on Sunday for just what I need. Friday night is my cheat meal, so I usually end up getting something out or buying whatever sounds good. I get that the day of because even if it's something store bought, I don't want it sitting in the house tempting me! Weekends tend to be a little more up in the air so I don't plan saturday or sunday until the day of.
  • MariaAlbinaxoxo
    MariaAlbinaxoxo Posts: 290 Member
    I do! Sometimes even plan my whole week. haha Helps a lot though!
  • issyfit
    issyfit Posts: 1,077 Member
    I was just about to ask the same question. I'm thinking I should do that, might help to keep from grabbing something I haven't logged.
  • misscfe
    misscfe Posts: 295 Member
    I do all the time for the work week. Like today I spent most the afternoon making my breakfast and lunches for the week. I don't have the time to do it during the week so I do it on sundays. Plus it helps me stick to my healthy eating. If I leave my meal prep to during the work week I am more likely to say forget it I will go out to eat tomorrow. Or I will grab breakfast on the way to work. As long as it is easily available for me then I am more likely to eat it.
  • fusagirl308
    fusagirl308 Posts: 12 Member
    I meal plan for two weeks and use that list to go shopping with.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    I plan the whole week everyweek. Otherwise when I get hungry I eat whatever is in front of me.
  • mamitosami
    mamitosami Posts: 531 Member
    I do. I like to snack a lot (like, on healthy things), I don't eat big meals, so this keeps me on track. I know exactly what I have left for the day. I also do well when I save some calories for the evening, so I have to plan carefully for that so I hit all my macros. My athletic abilities depend heavily on my nutrition, so I really pay attention to what I'm eating. When I want to exercise heavily I have to eat for it, so I have to plan...
  • Allie_71
    Allie_71 Posts: 1,063 Member
    I do sometimes. It keeps me accountable and especially with my exercise, I can plan my day a little. :)
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    Yep. But I've learned not to obsess over it. It's too much stress, especially knowing how many things can change or go wrong in a day. :wink:

    It definitely helps to give yourself an idea of what you can / should be eating throughout the day though, and even leave room for treats at the end of the day if you want. Good luck! :heart:
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    I do sometime and to an extent. I'm a preplanner anyway, and I cook most of my meals at home, so I generally have an idea of what I'm having for dinner the next few days regardless. Usually when I eat breakfast I go ahead and put in lunch and dinner as well, so then I see how much I have left for snacks.
  • 40forYear40
    40forYear40 Posts: 2 Member
    I do- especially when I know I'm facing a potential diet buster...like meeting another family at a pizza joint to get the kids together...I know how weak I am in the face of temptation, so I check out the menu options ahead of time and plug in my "budget" for the event and then use that to help me focus the rest of the day!
  • sizzlinoverthefat
    sizzlinoverthefat Posts: 136 Member
    I do! I almost always fill it out in the am while I drink my coffee. That way I always know I'm staying in my calorie range.

    ^^^i do this too^^^
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