Poll: YES or NO? Saying "Great Job!" On Your Diary

Personally for me, when I throw out a generic great job -- it's for actually logging, especially when I can't see the diary. When I first started, it was soooo hard for me to consistently log, so (to me) logging in itself is worthy of support. It's a start, especially for those at the very beginning. Besides, who am I to judge the quality of the food they are eating...I am certainly not perfect in my own choices.

On the other hand, once I have a friend that I know well and who is consistently logging, I'll be sure to give more specific praise when they deserve it. If they have a crappy food day, I'll be sure to give them a "tomorrow is a new day" or something like that. Personally, I never critique unless specifically asked ... because we are all here for the same reason because we've had the same struggle. And I absolutely hate getting that PM that says ... "Whoa! A little too much wine today." or "You went way over on sodium today good luck ever having abs." <--(it happened) ....I logged it, so trust me, I know :drinker:

I agree, I actually am commenting on the fact that they logged their food and completed a diary...I do not judge others, I offer support for their daily activities. I am not a nutritionist and even though I know what is good for me, I am not qualified to give opinions on others diaries.

I don't get why people even have that in their feeds. I never comment on food. Rarely comment on exercise.

But then I have super smart friends who know exactly what they are doing, and who rarely complain or seek validation.

I never comment on the diary because I don't look at them. I comment on the exercises and updates only.

I prefer a WTG and imagine my mfp friends doing this when they write it.

I don't comment on people's diaries unless I actually open them up and read the food/calorie intake. I hate when people comment on my diary when it wasn't good.

I personally think it's fine. I do appreciate when people look and offer advice. But really, even logging in is a challenge some days so doing so every day is something to be proud of be it whether you go over or under.

Since I rarely have time to read people's diary I try to only comment if they have an explanatory statement in their comments. That way I know I'm not congratulating someone on eating crap! However, I feel weight loss (if intended) is worth congratulating on, even if sick.

I dont have my diary open cause Im just not ready to be that open but I sometimes make a note about what exercise I specifically did, or if my eating was good or bad. I need to do it more often as a compromise

I guess I'm a positive kind of person but I like to compliment everyone. If you read their diary and it's nearly empty, it doesn't mean that is all they ate. Or maybe they had a bad day like I did while my hubby was in the hospital the other day. I could NOT leave his side to go eat. Period. I also didn't log some stuff that I eventually got to eat. Encouragement and feeling like you're doing a good job towards your goals is important, even on bad days. However, being a recovered anorexic, I would not encourage or cheer someone on if they were purposely eating way too little or too much and proud of it. I'd probably stop commenting after saying I don't think they are eating enough.

And I absolutely hate getting that PM that says ... "Whoa! A little too much wine today." or "You went way over on sodium today good luck ever having abs." <--(it happened) ....I logged it, so trust me, I know

Oh I know! I was in my first week of logging and I got some of those critical comments and I'm thinking, who asked you to be my police? And I wanted to ask some questions on the forums, but I saw how people jumped so harshly on others and decided to stay away.

I like straight shooting, but I'm making good progress and am in good shape so anyone who is consistently critical without either a) being a good friend already or b) my asking their opinion gets X'ed off the friends list.

So, what do you want from your friends? No, GREAT JOB, when your diary looks like crappy but you managed to stay under or at goal. And NO, pointing out the BAD things you should be doing in moderation, that caused you to be over goal. If your MFP friends never commented, what then? Would there be a post to whine about that?

I am thankful for all of my friends and there comments, regardless if they have read my diary or not. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, or wanting to be supportive but unable to read everyone's diaries. We have all have a life outside of MFP.

Not angry, just confused about what is wanted here?

My entire post (the original PM comment was taken from me) was not really about people supporting me, but rather how I support others. I think everyone starts somewhere and it's certainly not a bad thing to encourage those who take positive steps in the right direction. Some have said, why say good job for someone eating 4 donuts and a big mac (paraphrase...can't remember the actual quote)... well, maybe they started eating 6 donuts and a big mac and fries...THAT'S PROGRESS!!! I think sometimes people forget that this is a journey and we are all at different points in it. I personally would never give criticism to what someone else ate unless someone specifically asks for it or I know them well....that being said, I don't freak out when I get someone telling me everything I'm doing wrong. I find it annoying and irritating, but I don't get hurt or upset by it.

My diary is open, so feel free to tell me that I'm over in sodium and fat today and that I didn't eat enough carbs. I logged these things and I realize that. The reason I'm logging is to help better understand what I'm eating and to make positive, sustainable changes. Maybe once I know everything there is to know about healthy eating, I'll feel differently ...but for now, I think a person who logs their food (even "diaries that look like crappy") deserves a little encouragement!