How accurate is the MFP database when looking up local stuff?

srecupid

For example picked this up today http://imgur.com/LwE9H3i and had 250 calories or so left in my budget for the day. MFP gave me an entry from waitrose when i scanned the barcode but, of an awefully similar product for about 140 calories. Does that seem accurate? It's just that some other entries put me over for the day by a bit. Though I do have zero exercise recorded and i was on my feet for 7 hours at work today so it shouldn't matter too much. Just curious where they get their info from on stuff like this?

middlehaitch

Did you try putting your particle item in the data base to see if it was in there?
A few calories shouldn't make too much if a difference, but do be sure to weigh the amount you eat as a portion, or 1 item may
weigh less or more than what the package says.

Cheers, h.

nutmegoreo

A lot of the database is entered by users. So the accuracy is hit and miss. What was the serving size of the similar product? I would pull up the MFP website, rather than trying to log from the barcode. You might find the exact item that way, it should be more accurate than something similar. Even then, I still prefer to confirm the entries. I would prefer to pick something accurate as opposed to something that seems close but doesn't put me over. You are only fooling yourself, your body will keep an accurate count. As for the exercise calories, your job should be included as your daily activity level. If you are regularly moving around, then you shouldn't be set as sedentary (not saying you are) and that would be taken into account when the program figures out your target calories for the day. Hope something in here is helpful for you.

srecupid

Oh I move around quite a bit on days I work but, on days I don't it's way less. I used the whole food entry which put 2.5 oz as like 300 calories. Put me about 100 calories over for the day but, I'll have to accept that. I set it to sedentary to be on the safe side btw. Maybe I'll adjust it for days when i'm not working.

srecupid

middlehaitch wrote: »

Did you try putting your particle item in the data base to see if it was in there?
A few calories shouldn't make too much if a difference, but do be sure to weigh the amount you eat as a portion, or 1 item may
weigh less or more than what the package says.

Cheers, h.

Yep I tried looking it up manually and couldn't find it. Oh well guess I'll just need to try and do better tomorrow. Every day can't be perfect

nutmegoreo

I have mine set to sedentary because on my days off, I am a lump if I can be. Good call on the logging choice. I know those red numbers suck, but hey, at least you can look back on it and review what your choices have been and see if there are changes you want to make.

srecupid

Yeah if it was freezing cold and raining i would be tempted to go walk an extra mile or two just to burn it off. On payday this week I think I might pick up an exercise bike just so I have something I can do at home when I go on vacation next week without going outside in this crap fest.

nutmegoreo

Sounds like you have a plan

Francl27

You find an equivalent in the database, but for what it's worth, it looks closer to 250 than 140 calories to me.

Liftng4Lis

srecupid wrote: »

middlehaitch wrote: »

Did you try putting your particle item in the data base to see if it was in there?
A few calories shouldn't make too much if a difference, but do be sure to weigh the amount you eat as a portion, or 1 item may
weigh less or more than what the package says.

Cheers, h.

Yep I tried looking it up manually and couldn't find it. Oh well guess I'll just need to try and do better tomorrow. Every day can't be perfect

Great attitude. THIS is setting you up for success- Way to get it!