Erm, depending when you last saved with a caught pokemon the journal will pop up with or without the caught/defeated. If it doesn't say caught/defeated then you are on frame 0/1?(I think) and any other frame means the NPCs have increased it. You also have to flip it every time.
For example, I just started my game, I know from calibration I will land on frame whatever say frame 4. I'm aiming for frame 8 so I will flip the journal twice on caught/defeated page which SHOULD advance to frame 8, or rather advance it to frame 4 then the extra 4 will be advanced during the step you take the egg from the day-care man.
Then obviously check your time/delay by doing the flips