Food Diary ??

[Grammabear]

Can anyone share their experience at keeping a food diary?  The APN (advance practice nurse) I saw yesterday suggested that I keep one so I can get a better overall picture of where my carbs, calories etc. are influencing my blood sugar and my weight.  She isn't unhappy with my blood sugar but like everything else in life, there is always room for improvement and in my case it is my weight.  Thank you in advance.

[Shanny]

I'm no good at sticking with the diary, but I will say that the easiest place I found to keep one is at MyFitnessPal. You can set your goals exactly the way you want them, as well as breaking it all down into how much calories/carbs/fat/protein you choose. Of course there's an option to let their software set it automatically, but for us diabetics, their settings aren't terribly healthy.

[bigskygal]

I've used MyFitnessPal for at least 3 years.  I love it and it does keep me honest.  I still log everything, it is just habit at this point. I don't pay any attention to the calorie counts, but do watch the carbs/protein/fat to keep in a 5/15/80 ratio.  I stray up to 10g carbs occasionally but not often.

[skb]

As a part of my Nutrition course, I had to maintain a Food Diary for a couple of weeks in excel. The exercise is important in many areas as a tool for self-realisation. But as a diet & exercise controlled diabetic, my intake & outputs are so much standardised & routine that doing it for 2 weeks is more than sufficient for me. Now, by routine, I know where I'm at.

[Grammabear]

I'm no good at sticking with the diary, but I will say that the easiest place I found to keep one is at MyFitnessPal. You can set your goals exactly the way you want them, as well as breaking it all down into how much calories/carbs/fat/protein you choose. Of course there's an option to let their software set it automatically, but for us diabetics, their settings aren't terribly healthy.

I have to do some more reading on this website as their automatic setup had me eating some 253 carbs per day.   

[walkerwally1]

I know there are several apps for keeping a food diary but because I already had a Fitbit I use their app which keeps a log of all of your activity but also has a food diary.  It's pretty good at having many foods with nutrition info in it's data bank but anything it doesn't have you can enter along with the nutrition info.  By making a food a favorite then from then on all you have to do is click on it and enter the amount you ate for that meal.  Makes it pretty easy after a while, at least for me , as I eat much of the same things.
When I first started LCHF it was really helpful to keep a log and test often.  Then you have a good idea of how different foods affect your bg.
  I really don't think it is that useful now, three years later, but I still keep the food log mainly out of habit.

[Shanny]

At MyFitnessPal, you'll have to go to 'Home', and then go to 'Goals'. It will ask you if you'd like help setting up, but ignore that. Just go to each section and use the edit function to enter your own numbers.

[Sweety]

This I certainly need. I'll have a look at that App/site. Maybe, I will need a manual system because with all the Indian cooking, there'll be a lot of ingredients not listed there.

[Grammabear]

At MyFitnessPal, you'll have to go to 'Home', and then go to 'Goals'. It will ask you if you'd like help setting up, but ignore that. Just go to each section and use the edit function to enter your own numbers.

I am told the only dumb question is the one that is not asked, and I'm having a little trouble with the 'goal' setting.  Trouble is I don't have a clue what my ratio's should be since I am on insulin and my carb consumption is different than a person with T2.  If I have a "low" for whatever reason, I have to eat carbs in the form of glucose tablets or juice in order to raise my blood sugar.  How does that figure in the goal setting?

[Grammabear]

This I certainly need. I'll have a look at that App/site. Maybe, I will need a manual system because with all the Indian cooking, there'll be a lot of ingredients not listed there.

This app/site is most interesting and challenging at the same time.  I wish you good luck and hope you find it helpful.

[bigskygal]

This I certainly need. I'll have a look at that App/site. Maybe, I will need a manual system because with all the Indian cooking, there'll be a lot of ingredients not listed there.

Anything that isn't already in the huge database of foods can be added by you.  When I make a recipe I calculate the nutrients and divide by the serving number to get individual counts.  Then I enter the recipe, say chili or crack slaw and enter the data according to my recipe. This way you don't have to enter each ingredient individually.  Since I seldom make things the same twice, I date the recipes so I don't pick the wrong one later on.  I have my MFP set on private so no one can see what I have posted, just my preference. 

I once checked out the forum there and boy are they a rabid bunch!!  I happen to use net carbs as it works for me.  They were ranting on and on that we were ruining "their" database yada, yada, yada... Never went back.  Nevertheless, it is a great app.

[rocky]

i think i need one too, maybe excel is a good idea
skb i might need yr help on this one
will ask if i need any help

[skb]

skb i might need yr help on this one
will ask if i need any help

Anytime rocky. You can attach your sheet here or PM me if you like.

[Sweety]

This app/site is most interesting and challenging at the same time.  I wish you good luck and hope you find it helpful.

Thanks. I will have a look and if it doesn't suit me then maybe I'll go with the manual system for the time being.

Anything that isn't already in the huge database of foods can be added by you.  When I make a recipe I calculate the nutrients and divide by the serving number to get individual counts.  Then I enter the recipe, say chili or crack slaw and enter the data according to my recipe. This way you don't have to enter each ingredient individually.  Since I seldom make things the same twice, I date the recipes so I don't pick the wrong one later on.  I have my MFP set on private so no one can see what I have posted, just my preference. 

I once checked out the forum there and boy are they a rabid bunch!!  I happen to use net carbs as it works for me.  They were ranting on and on that we were ruining "their" database yada, yada, yada... Never went back.  Nevertheless, it is a great app.

Well, then thye may curse me a lot more, but it does need a closer look.

[skb]

I am told the only dumb question is the one that is not asked, and I'm having a little trouble with the 'goal' setting.  Trouble is I don't have a clue what my ratio's should be since I am on insulin and my carb consumption is different than a person with T2.  If I have a "low" for whatever reason, I have to eat carbs in the form of glucose tablets or juice in order to raise my blood sugar.  How does that figure in the goal setting?

I haven't used that, so I'm not certain. I'm sure Goals can be revised/updated from time to time. It would be best to add for the amount of carbs (in the glucose tabs) and enter it based on the number of low episodes that you might expect, say in a week or month.