Log food BEFORE you eat it?

2

Replies

  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    Wait, how far ahead of time are we talking? Because I imagine that pretty much everyone would log food before they actually consume it. I mean, what's the alternative? Blindly eating a plate of food with no idea what's in it and then regretting it afterward? Do people actually do that?

    But if you mean preplanning a whole day or something, then I guess that's different. I don't do that unless I plan on going out or having something calorie-heavy at night.
  • weeblex
    weeblex Posts: 412 Member
    Im doing that, I havent eaten lunch yet, but I logged it already. (My food diary is public btw)
    I think its a good idea, because it motivates me to eat only what I log, and stay on track better.

    But there is no barcode on the Big Mac to scan!! :smile:

    Seriously though I plan the meals for the day and log those, that lets me know exactly what I have left for the times I just want something to munch on.

    Coincidence yesterday that I had just enough space left for a Smirnoff Ice.... I don't think so!
  • LeeshaNichole
    LeeshaNichole Posts: 179 Member
    When I first started about 5 weeks ago, I was adding as I went and I noticed I kept going over something never calories but fat, sodium, or sugar. So the last two or three weeks I have been adding everything the night before, helps me from going over, plus also helps me from picking a unhealthy choices. Sometime I have to re-adjust but generally try to stick to it. It has really helped me to stay on track!
  • nasoj007
    nasoj007 Posts: 35 Member
    Different things work for different people, I tend to log my meals after I eat them. I try to plan out my meal and the rough calories it will contain I don't log it fully before I eat it, I don't want to spend my meal thinking "XXX Calories, I'm eating XXX calories" ... I want to enjoy what I do get to eat. If I end up eating a few extra calories I figure out how to trim it down for next time(if I go over my day it's added incentive to get in some exercise). Also I can be sure not to cheat myself, everything (down to toppings and what I cooked the meal in) gets logged. If I logged before I even started it could be very easy to convince myself that bit of butter I used won't make a difference I won't bother adding it. That's just me though, I've always been a bit odd :P
  • schtump
    schtump Posts: 71 Member
    I try to do that as much as I can, preparing my breakfast and lunch on work days ahead of time so I know exactly what I'll be having two meals a day so I know where I need to go for dinner.
  • mamasmaltz3
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
    I do that mostly if I have to eat out. I dont want surprise calorie bombs. I have also been logging my exercise before I do it so I don't give up early. Today I logged 45 minutes on the eliptical so I did 48. There is no way I am going to go back and decrease my exercise for all my friends to see me wimp out, lol.
  • phoenix8633
    phoenix8633 Posts: 137 Member
    Sometimes I will log everything I have planned to eat for the day in the morning, and sometimes I have to go back to it and delete or change things because of one thing or another, but then sometimes I log food as I eat.
  • StarvingDiva
    StarvingDiva Posts: 1,107 Member
    I tend to do this so I can plan out my day and especially when I am going out to a restaurant.
  • bellalee426
    bellalee426 Posts: 25 Member
    Works for me...it always helps me know if I should do extra time at the day and I'll plan for that :)
  • blonde71
    blonde71 Posts: 955 Member
    Definitely do this with small kids. If something changes, then I switch it when they go to bed and before I submit my entry for the day. It also takes the guesswork out of what I'm eating for the day too. Less stress all around.
  • anballew
    anballew Posts: 2 Member
    I always do this! Especially if i'm tempted to eat something I shouldn't. I don't know the calories of everything so if I enter it before I eat it and see how much it is I def won't let myself eat it then!
  • BryGuy2
    BryGuy2 Posts: 244
    I like to log mine right at the beginning of the day, that way i'm motivated to stick to that for the day. But i'm at a computer all day so I can change it anytime I need to haha!
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I 'pre-log' a lot!! I find it's really helpful for staying on track and avoiding 'surprises'. If I know how many calories I'm going to eat that day there's no guess work on if I can fit in that donut that somebody brought to work!!
  • Telugammayi87
    Telugammayi87 Posts: 170 Member
    I always plan out my day the night before (or at least try) because it helps me stay on track and I know where/if I can add a little "extra" :)
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    I do that too, and sometimes a day in advance. It helps me stay on track as far as my macros are concerned.
  • GeorgieLove708
    GeorgieLove708 Posts: 442 Member
    I do it, that way I know ahead of time how much I can eat and how many calories are in it. It's just easier that way.
  • SuffolkSally
    SuffolkSally Posts: 964 Member
    I sometimes do - mostly if I'm getting my evening meal or whatever prepared in advance
  • llpleslie
    llpleslie Posts: 53
    I'm right there with a lot of you, I log in my food the night before it keeps me on track and from cheating. How many people are as anal as I am. I break down my food , example if I eat a tuna melt I count everything seperately down to the TB of relish, mayo the half an egg, tuna, chz & bread. My husband thinks I am crazy.
  • davidr730
    davidr730 Posts: 126 Member
    Nutritionists will commonly tell you to log AFTER eating so you can log what you actually consumed. I think it's more accurate that way.
  • mielchat
    mielchat Posts: 41 Member
    I do this! I log my meals beforehand and add any extra's as I go, it helps to keep you on track like you said.
  • GeorgieLove708
    GeorgieLove708 Posts: 442 Member
    Nutritionists will commonly tell you to log AFTER eating so you can log what you actually consumed. I think it's more accurate that way.
    If you measure everything that you will eat and stick to that, it's a non-issue. Anyone counting calories should be measuring anyway so they can be sure it's accurate. If you decide you're hungry and go back for seconds you can easily add those in later.
    ETA: Unless you're talking about if you log more than you actually end up eating. In which case, if it's a big difference I go back and edit, if it's a little difference, I leave it and hope it balances out any accidental miscalculations on my part.
  • MoveTheMountain
    MoveTheMountain Posts: 764
    "Write it before you bite it" :)

    Definitely, I'm most successful when I do this.
  • MoveTheMountain
    MoveTheMountain Posts: 764
    Nutritionists will commonly tell you to log AFTER eating so you can log what you actually consumed. I think it's more accurate that way.

    If you log it, and measure the food you eat - and only eat that food - this is a non-issue.
  • 17ChargerGirl17
    17ChargerGirl17 Posts: 441
    I always do my diary in the morning and then I stick with it.
    Just easier for me.
  • Heather_Rider
    Heather_Rider Posts: 1,159 Member
    Im doing that, I havent eaten lunch yet, but I logged it already. (My food diary is public btw)
    I think its a good idea, because it motivates me to eat only what I log, and stay on track better.

    ALWAYS!!! I always do this! I know i can change it if i want to or need to, but having it logged REALLY helps me to stay on track! I also cook at home for my family, so meal planning is AWESOME! Keeps me from having that last minute "whats for supper" which will most likely make me go over calories!!
  • BigMech
    BigMech Posts: 472 Member
    Yep, I try to log everything that I know about at the beginning of my day. That includes the afternoon snacks I bring to work, the protein shake I have at night before bed, any lunch I bring to work. This way I know how many calories I have left for dinner and snacks, so that I can my goal and macros for the day.

    Doing this also helps you plan out serving sizes for food so it meets your calorie and macro goals.
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    I do this too. Usually when I log my lunch after I eat, I log dinner too. Then if something is different, I go back and change it :)
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    I do this too! I like to make sure I'm not going to go over my limit. I meal plan anyway so it really works for me.
  • MogwaisGrandma
    MogwaisGrandma Posts: 195 Member
    I try and log my Monday to Friday food on a Sunday evening as I do my shopping on a Monday and can write a list.
    My calories are usually over by about 100 but that is because I am training the 5 weekdays a week so I know I will get them back on the burn.


    Weekends I need to be a bit more fluid but I still log it in the morning
  • erikapereira
    erikapereira Posts: 196
    I do it too

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