I found the culprit!!

jesikalovesyou

I've been measuring my foods for a while now (on a scale), but my scale is a dial scale so I thought I would get more precise and buy a digital one.

I was so excited yesterday when it came in that I was measuring everything I had. (Even packaged meals, and they were like 10 grams over what the package said they should be!)

This morning, I was making a cup of coffee, like normal, and I had a wild hair to measure my creamer. (I use black coffee, Splenda, and non-fat powder creamer.) I usually don't measure it because I figure there are about 20 calories and those are few enough to just forget about. Much to my surprise, when I put in my regular amount it was 14g (2g per serving, 10 kcal each). That was a whopping 70 calories that I wasn't measuring!!!!

I drink a cup of coffee 2, sometimes 3 times a day! Hundreds of calories that I wasn't logging!!

This tells me that all you guys are right and I can't lose weight by guessing what I'm eating. I have to weigh, measure, and log EVERYTHING!!

bluefish86

I've totally done this.

Ninkyou

Good for you. I'm glad you found out what was going on!

Weighing food has been one of the single most eye opening experiences I've had. Even with packaged foods, it's amazing how off the weights can be.

whatatime2befit

I've done that with milk. I use 2% milk in my coffees, and have 2-3 cups a day. Over a week that can definitely add up. Even though I had been so diligent tracking what I "eat", I forgot to track that liquid.

Kudos on realizing the mistake, and starting tracking it properly

cat_lady77

I measure mine by tablespoons (15 cal per tbsp, according to the label) would this be fairly accurate? I didn't think you were supposed to weigh liquids!!! D'oh.

mbaker566

i just drink mine black

DuckReconMajor

moyer566 wrote: »

i just drink mine black

Me too. It's nice not having to log it. Though if i drank like 10 cups in a day I might try to log the minimal calories there.

But in any case, great job OP! Anytime i read a thread like this I get worried what is hiding in my foods

whmscll

I have nonfat milk in my coffee and it ends up being almost a cup of milk and about 86 calories every morning. You bet your bippy that I log this.

slaite1

karla24687 wrote: »

I measure mine by tablespoons (15 cal per tbsp, according to the label) would this be fairly accurate? I didn't think you were supposed to weigh liquids!!! D'oh.

Plenty of people measure liquids rather than weigh. I'm actually still not clear which is more accurate! As long as your accounting for it in some manner-and weighing eventing else-I would think it's fine

DuckReconMajor

I think the issue is that most liquids don't list their servings in grams, so unless it's a liquid where liquid measure -> grams conversion is known, you're not going to be able to measure it that way.

Of course there is a chance your measuring cup is a bit off. The only way to be more sure is just buying multiple measuring cups and comparing. A tad bit obsessive, but if you want to be sure I don't know of another way.

MommyL2015

I used to log my coffee & milk at 19 calories but since actually measuring out my milk, it's 37 calories per mug, so even that "splash" of milk adds up, especially on my binge coffee drinking days. I now weigh everything. Even if I log it as a cup or one package due to being lazy and not wanting to make a new database entry, I sure do weigh it beforehand.

kristinels

karla24687 wrote: »

I measure mine by tablespoons (15 cal per tbsp, according to the label) would this be fairly accurate? I didn't think you were supposed to weigh liquids!!! D'oh.

I believe the OP stated she uses a powder creamer - so that is why she weighed it. Weigh solids, measure liquids is what I had always heard.

jesikalovesyou

DuckReconMajor wrote: »

I think the issue is that most liquids don't list their servings in grams, so unless it's a liquid where liquid measure -> grams conversion is known, you're not going to be able to measure it that way.

Of course there is a chance your measuring cup is a bit off. The only way to be more sure is just buying multiple measuring cups and comparing. A tad bit obsessive, but if you want to be sure I don't know of another way.

My powder creamer is not a liquid, but I understand how that would be aggravating.

kristinels wrote: »

karla24687 wrote: »

I measure mine by tablespoons (15 cal per tbsp, according to the label) would this be fairly accurate? I didn't think you were supposed to weigh liquids!!! D'oh.

I believe the OP stated she uses a powder creamer - so that is why she weighed it. Weigh solids, measure liquids is what I had always heard.

^Yes! I still measure the liquids in measuring cups.

DuckReconMajor

jesikalovesyou wrote: »

DuckReconMajor wrote: »

I think the issue is that most liquids don't list their servings in grams, so unless it's a liquid where liquid measure -> grams conversion is known, you're not going to be able to measure it that way.

Of course there is a chance your measuring cup is a bit off. The only way to be more sure is just buying multiple measuring cups and comparing. A tad bit obsessive, but if you want to be sure I don't know of another way.

My powder creamer is not a liquid, but I understand how that would be aggravating.

Yeah I was among those who misread. Apologies.

EmmaFitzwilliam

Congratulations! Portion awareness is a *huge* part of the success path.

pmm3437

The accuracy difference when using small amounts like this ( typically ) isn't the major factor. Its the idea that it is inconsequential, and not bothering to log it. This tends to happen a lot with condiments/additives to the main item. Cream/sugar in coffee or tea, catsup on french fries ( 15 cal/tbs. ), etc.

The OP just realized it in a big way .... it may be next to nothing per serving, but those servings add up.

You wouldn't skip logging a cup of steamed brocolli, for example ( the same 30 calories ).

I drink ~ half a gallon of artificially sweetened drink mix each day ( crystal light, etc ) to get my water intake in. And I log the 5 cals for every serving.

mistikal13

Glad you found this out.

Kalikel

You learn a lot when you start weighing.