Confusing Calorie numbers? Oh and Hi

sweetooth123

This is my first time on the forum and I just wanted to say HI. By my username you can probably tell I love anything sweet. However, I'm eating healthier and working out 6-7 times a week to lose weight for the summer with the help of MFP. Speaking of which, are any of you lovely people as confused by the way MFP calculates things as I am? I've been drinking smoothies and I figured I'd start adding them to my diary but it seems like MFP is calculating based on the amount and not the actual ingredients. For example: my smoothie this morning consisted of 5 strawberries, 4 cubes of pineapple, a few grapes, a splash of o.j. & ice. My blender's cup holds 24 oz. and it was obviously full with all those chunky ingredients...Based on the mfp database I believe this was something like 2400 calories based on the cuz/oz??? HOW SWAY?????

mgdnutty

sometimes you have to create your own foods and info and add it to your foods

futuremanda

sweetooth123 wrote: »

For example: my smoothie this morning consisted of 5 strawberries, 4 cubes of pineapple, a few grapes, a splash of o.j. & ice. My blender's cup holds 24 oz. and it was obviously full with all those chunky ingredients...Based on the mfp database I believe this was something like 2400 calories based on the cuz/oz??? HOW SWAY?????

So... no. Did you use like, some generic entry called Smoothie or something? (Because that's like saying "pizza". What is on the pizza matters.)

You would input something more like:

Strawberries, 5
Pineapple, 1/4 cup
Grapes, green, 5
Tropicana orange juice, 1/2 cup

(No "a splash of" -- measure that. And search your actual brand of OJ for use.)

Ideally, you will buy a kitchen scale and actually weigh the fruits. But if not, count/measure them carefully. Because "a few grapes" or "5 strawberries" really could vary quite a lot. It matters a bit less with fruit (although it still matters with fruit, especially the more you eat) but a LOT with things like cheese, peanut butter, etc.

ETA: And I didn't mean to sound abrupt at the beginning there. Learning how to log accurately actually takes a long time and a lot of practice, so don't feel bad!

sweetooth123

Thanks mgdnutty, I've been having to do that but it is a little discouraging that it sooo off based the cups/oz

sweetooth123

futuremanda wrote: »

sweetooth123 wrote: »

For example: my smoothie this morning consisted of 5 strawberries, 4 cubes of pineapple, a few grapes, a splash of o.j. & ice. My blender's cup holds 24 oz. and it was obviously full with all those chunky ingredients...Based on the mfp database I believe this was something like 2400 calories based on the cuz/oz??? HOW SWAY?????

So... no. Did you use like, some generic entry called Smoothie or something? (Because that's like saying "pizza". What is on the pizza matters.)

You would input something more like:

Strawberries, 5
Pineapple, 1/4 cup
Grapes, green, 5
Tropicana orange juice, 1/2 cup

(No "a splash of" -- measure that. And search your actual brand of OJ for use.)

Ideally, you will buy a kitchen scale and actually weigh the fruits. But if not, count/measure them carefully. Because "a few grapes" or "5 strawberries" really could vary quite a lot. It matters a bit less with fruit (although it still matters with fruit, especially the more you eat) but a LOT with things like cheese, peanut butter, etc.

ETA: And I didn't mean to sound abrupt at the beginning there. Learning how to log accurately actually takes a long time and a lot of practice, so don't feel bad!

I searched the smoothie based off of description and found one with calories/nutrition similar to what I had actually measured. When I changed the amount to match what I had consumed it gave me absolutely ridiculous numbers. I'm new to mfp but not new to counting calories which I usually just do manually by looking on labels, counting and googling... but thanks for your concern. I realize the mfp smoothie had higher calories per serving size and that it's impossible for my smoothie to be 2000+ calories, but I was a little thrown off looking at my food diary and seeing that I had consumed the equivalent to a basket of chicken wings covered in whipped cream. and it's all good tell it