Do you track before or after you eat?

13

Replies

  • ToughMudderAddict
    ToughMudderAddict Posts: 290 Member
    I usually log my food before and sometimes during...


    ^^^ I do this... if I am cooking something at home - i will scan bar-codes as i go.

    How are you scanning bar codes? thanks...

    There is an application on the smart phones that is free for myfitnesspal. It's amazing and free. I highly recommend to anyone who has the option to get it.. do it!
  • wells0707
    wells0707 Posts: 251 Member
    Since I pack my lunch and snacks, I log my breakfast, lunch and snacks before I eat them. I like it since that way I know exactly how many calories I have for dinner and can decide what to eat from there.

    That is what I do also :)
  • Aureilie
    Aureilie Posts: 213 Member
    Before, after and even during. Usually I'll log them before if my fiance is cooking dinner while I wait. Lunch I do after or as I go because it's usually one bigger item (like a greek yogurt) with smaller snack like items to supplement. I don't want to forget to log one so I log them as I eat them sometimes.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    I track before I eat (and exercise too). I find that doing this gives me a "plan or goal" for the day, and if "life" happens and things change, I just adjust the foods or add/delete the things I do or don't eat.

    Also, on exercising, it also gives me a kinda "push" to complete or try to exceed my goal for the day. If I do, as with the food I make the adjustment.

    This is working out really well for me. When I first started, I tracked after I ate something. I like doing it before much better. Makes me feel like I'm continually succeeding in my "mission" :smile:
  • ShalisaClam
    ShalisaClam Posts: 190
    I log while I'm eating breakfast and lunch. I pre-log dinner, since that's always my weakest time (more succeptible to eating poor choices) and that way I have to stick to my plan. It's out there in the cyberverse, and someone might have seen it already. Now I'm accountable! LOL

    :happy:
  • jiggy_gibby
    jiggy_gibby Posts: 197
    I log the night before but then make changes as necessary (ate more or less) the next day before I finalize it.
  • SuffolkSally
    SuffolkSally Posts: 964 Member
    Generally after - except if I'm taking something I've made, like a pasta and roast vegetable salad so I don't have to worry about takeout calories
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    Both...depends on my mood. If my husband is gone, I am more likely to track my meals before I eat so that I know how much I have for snacks and chocolate!

    But, if he's here, I tend to do my breakfast and lunch in the morning but my dinner either as I'm cooking it or after I eat..
  • Barbwhitmore
    Barbwhitmore Posts: 15
    always after
  • HSingMomto7Kids
    HSingMomto7Kids Posts: 345 Member
    I used to log before, and now that I get the idea of my calories for the day I check my calories after dinner to see if I have anymore to eat.
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    I track quite far in advance, or as i'm making it if I need to weigh stuff out. Both so I can see what the day looks like calorie wise, and so I can sit and enjoy my food instead of eating it while on MFP tracking it lol.
  • slimmergalpal
    slimmergalpal Posts: 235 Member
    after. and if I go over my calories, then I go exercise to make sure I am NEVER over my calorie goal.
  • minimetobe10
    minimetobe10 Posts: 15
    It varies. However, I am trying to do more before. Too easy to under estimate calories.
  • paignt
    paignt Posts: 15
    For the most part, I track before I eat. I normally plan what I eat for the whole day in the morning so I know what to stick to that would both complete my calorie goal, and to make sure that whatever I eat will work just fine with my macronutrients intake for the day.
  • ArtGeek22
    ArtGeek22 Posts: 1,429 Member
    I always track before I eat to make sure I don't eat unnecessary calories. Sometimes I will go ahead and plan my whole day. I personally find it easier :)


    Keep Calm and Carry On,
    Anna :)
  • AMS58
    AMS58 Posts: 183 Member
    I always track breakfast and lunch after (those meals are more structured) and then I know how much I have left for dinner and afternoon snacks (which is normally lots). I prefer not to use much of my exercise calories.
  • RobbieKCPhT
    RobbieKCPhT Posts: 42 Member
    I usually log my food before and sometimes during...



    I usually log while I'm eating (oh my phone, THANKS ANDROID & MFP!)...unless we are at dinner with guests, then I wait until afterwards, but I always have an idea of how many calories I'm putting in my mouth! :)
  • SLaw4215
    SLaw4215 Posts: 596 Member
    Since I pack my lunch and snacks, I log my breakfast, lunch and snacks before I eat them. I like it since that way I know exactly how many calories I have for dinner and can decide what to eat from there.
    I pack everything on my way out the door in the morning. I log everything and often end up deleting something because I wasn't hungry which just leaves me a few more calories at dinner time.
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    I always prelog. Otherwise I allocate my calories really retardedly, lol
  • Stefanie7125
    Stefanie7125 Posts: 462 Member
    Since I pack my lunch and snacks, I log my breakfast, lunch and snacks before I eat them. I like it since that way I know exactly how many calories I have for dinner and can decide what to eat from there.


    ^^this, exactly.
  • muwchck
    muwchck Posts: 261 Member
    I tend to log before I eat. Sometimes at the beginning of the day before even having anything other than a glass of water and then just tweak things as the day goes on. It also helps me to see if I need to do some extra exercise to allow for my choices if I need to. It also shows me if I need to add more to my diary for the day too. I do so much better when things are planned out in advance.
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    Before, almost all the time. Sometimes, though, things will change--I'll enter everything in the morning, then things will change during the day. But I think before keeps me better in line.
  • Happymom12
    Happymom12 Posts: 114 Member
    I track after I eat and adjust my work out daily depending on what I do and eat.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    lunch and breakfast before i eat , and dinner usually as i eat:) and then i munch on treats(pb and crackers, yogurt , and fruit ) right up till im out of calories or its bedtime:)
  • srenebailey
    srenebailey Posts: 39 Member
    I track afterwards. If I track before, I never seem to eat what I said I was going to eat!
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    Most days before, or I start the day eating my typical foods , log in/track around lunch and then use it to decide on dinner. Other days I may be out with friends and I just want to log/track in order to be accountable even though I know it's over. This is helpful because then I can plan for special treats if I know what the caloric price will be.
  • merlegirl88
    merlegirl88 Posts: 16
    I usually log while I am eating or after.....
  • JenS_1678
    JenS_1678 Posts: 27
    Whenever I can, before. But that's just because I've just started, and have no idea what will fill daily requirements.
  • opal24
    opal24 Posts: 205 Member
    I plan and track ahead. That way I adjust as necessary and then forget about counting. I do sometimes have to remind myself to eat my evening snacks though! If I didn't work this way, my calorie count would just be all over the place and I'd be constantly worrying about it.
  • JBsCrazyGirl
    JBsCrazyGirl Posts: 337
    Since I pack my lunch and snacks, I log my breakfast, lunch and snacks before I eat them. I like it since that way I know exactly how many calories I have for dinner and can decide what to eat from there.

    I also do this, so I know exactly how many calories I am going to consume and I can see if there are some things I may not want to include for one reason or another. You can always go back and tweak the logs if you need to. For example, I packe dmyself a sandwich, carrots, yogurt, applesauce, etc.. etc... today for lunch and snacks and I logged that all before I left the house for work. I only ate my sandwich and my carrots, I just came home and deleted those other things.

    I think it gives you more control and more room to make corrections, better choices, and a more accurate log :)
    Hope this helps!
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