What to so when stats dont add up?

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Replies

  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    edited October 2014
    1. Inaccurate logging from not weighing food
    2. Inaccurate calories just based on the fact that nutrition labels can even be 10% off
    3. Inaccurate calories burned from exercise (no one can do this perfectly, even with a HRM)
    4. Inconsistent daily energy expenditure (everyone varies how much they move day to day)
    5. Water weight fluctuations

    And seriously, you're complaining about 2-3 lbs difference from your calculation? Seriously? As scientific as weight loss is (CICO, meaning you'll lose if you create a deficit), its really not THAT exact over the long term. Hence why most people won't hit the "in 5 weeks you'd weigh" mark spot on.

    It's all estimates. Even people who are as precise as possible are still just using best estimates. That's not an argument to not be precise, but just the reality of what weight management is.

    ETA:
    6. Inaccurate BMR (BMR for online calculators are based on averages, its not specifically tailored to you)
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    thedarkwombat wrote: »
    not gonna use a food scale, ever.

    Then eat less because you're eating more than you think.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Please listen to the people here who say you are eating mire than you realize, otherwise you would be losing weight.

    A food scale is simply a tool to ensure accuracy because our eyes, hands, and measuring spoons/cups are bigger than the actual portions. Also, keep in mind that food databases contain generic portion descriptions, and that a tablespoon of peanut butter is more than 16 grams and not all medium bananas have the same calories.

    Lots of hip people, young and old and middle aged, have food scales in their kitchens. It's pretty much the "in" thing now. I urge you to give it a try, and then if you don't like it, give it to you grandmother.
  • thedarkwombat
    thedarkwombat Posts: 123 Member
    I dont get food scales. So instead of counting calories I am counting pounds? If I use cups, 1/2 cups, teaspoons, etc isn't that measuring my food?
  • s_pekz
    s_pekz Posts: 340 Member
    You are still counting calories. A food scale just helps you determine what an actual serving of something is. Example, my granola says 1/2 (55g) but using a food scale I have noticed that 55g is actually more like 1/3 of a cup. If I use the 1/2 cup measurement I am going to be eating more calories than I log and therefore am eating more than I think I am calorie wise.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    No, you'd still be counting calories. Weighing is more accurate than measuring because what the manufacturer says should be a 1-cup serving size could be closer to 3/4 of a cup when it's weighed out. By going by the grams listed for the serving, you're more likely to be eating that much.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    thedarkwombat wrote: »
    I dont get food scales. So instead of counting calories I am counting pounds? If I use cups, 1/2 cups, teaspoons, etc isn't that measuring my food?

    You're counting grams/ounces of your food and then logging those weights of food in your diary for the calorie counts. It's just a math equation.

    For example, you have 100 grams of carrots. You go to the database, type "Carrots Raw", select the entry without the * and put in that you have 100g of carrots. It'll show up as 41 calories. Congrats, you consumed 100g of carrots that account for 41 calories of your day. Boom, logged. Now do that for the rest of your food.

    Math! YAY! Finally putting those skills to use! ;)
  • thedarkwombat
    thedarkwombat Posts: 123 Member
    thank you guys, very helpful.
  • tracie_minus100
    tracie_minus100 Posts: 465 Member
    Food scales will give you an much more accurate reading of how much you are eating. Measuring cups/spoons are great and absolutely better than not measuring at all, but they are not as accurate when it comes to solid foods.
  • kendalslimmer
    kendalslimmer Posts: 579 Member
    A lot of people have 'kicked' their weight loss back on track by trying the 5:2 diet for a while. It could be an interesting approach to try, if you have been logging accurately. :smile:
  • thedarkwombat
    thedarkwombat Posts: 123 Member
    kendalslimmer wrote: »
    A lot of people have 'kicked' their weight loss back on track by trying the 5:2 diet for a while. It could be an interesting approach to try, if you have been logging accurately. :smile:

    When I was having good success in late 2013, I was doing IF, skipping breakfast, because breakfast makes me hungry all day long. I have been slipping a bit lately on that :(

  • A_Dabauer
    A_Dabauer Posts: 212 Member
    IF all else fails, (I'm not discounting the inaccurate measuring thing, it happens) if you have the resources to do so, go see a Doctor and get a full panel of blood work done. A simple vitamin deficiency or being pre-diabetic can stall your weight loss. Fat can be a "symptom" of something deeper as well as a "cause" of symptoms. But, before you do that make sure your logging properly, add a touch of exercise and see how it goes.

    Good luck!
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    edited October 2014
    thedarkwombat wrote: »
    I dont get food scales. So instead of counting calories I am counting pounds? If I use cups, 1/2 cups, teaspoons, etc isn't that measuring my food?

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

    A food scale could actually help you eat more in some cases. When I first started to weigh my chicken was I was like, nuh-uh. Better double up that puppy. And guess what protein can be more satisfying so overall it really helped my day to day diet. Read those posts for some excellent information on how logging could affect our progress

  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    thedarkwombat wrote: »
    I dont get food scales. So instead of counting calories I am counting pounds? If I use cups, 1/2 cups, teaspoons, etc isn't that measuring my food?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1296011-calorie-counting-101

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    A food scale could actually help you eat more in some cases. When I first started to weigh my chicken was I was like, nuh-uh. Better double up that puppy. And guess what protein can be more satisfying so overall it really helped my day to day diet. Read those posts for some excellent information on how logging could affect our progress

    How do we fix the links? I need help being more accurate, too

  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    edited October 2014
    thedarkwombat wrote: »
    not gonna use a food scale, ever.

    Now you are just being stubborn. You know your so called guesstimates are not working.

    I get that though. I do not count calories either. If you are going to make a thread about not losing and not take the steps that you know will give you results then what. What are you going to do?

    Now if you are doing everything correct then ok something is wrong. You eye balling serving sizes clearly shows it does not work.

    Sounds mean but I do not have sympathy when you are not giving weight loss your all. Weight loss is not easy or there would be no point to all of this.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    edited October 2014
    lorib642 wrote: »

    How do we fix the links? I need help being more accurate, too

    Sorry I was actually looking into that. I've fixed one, I'll get the other soon


    Edit they should both be fixed now
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    lorib642 wrote: »

    How do we fix the links? I need help being more accurate, too

    Sorry I was actually looking into that. I've fixed one, I'll get the other soon

    Oh, thank you. I didn't mean to put you to work.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    lorib642 wrote: »
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    lorib642 wrote: »

    How do we fix the links? I need help being more accurate, too

    Sorry I was actually looking into that. I've fixed one, I'll get the other soon

    Oh, thank you. I didn't mean to put you to work.

    Hahah it needed to be done. I have to go fix my iPhone shortcuts but I think I see the formatting now. I wish MFP would somehow recognize the topic number and redirect the post appropriately? There are so many referenced links in useful threads, be a shame for them all to be broken

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