Shocking first day of food tracking
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Whenever I fall off the wagon I lose all sense of how my little snacks and bites add up. A 6 pack of 80 calories yogurt in a day, plus meals and other bites of whatever? Easily 500 to 1000 over budget.
My first calorie counting experience was with books, pen, and paper for nutrition class in college. Over 3000 calories worth of Chinese food, Hagen Daaz, cheese crackers, Little Debbie. Much needed wake up call.3 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »
I use shredded cheese when possible instead of sliced cheese. Even in things like sandwiches sometimes. 1 oz of shredded cheese seems to go a lot further than 1 oz of sliced cheese so it's easier for me to put less on.
Of course that could just be all in my head.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »My rubbish bin mentality got to me yesterday. I have been doing really well, then, my older son left a piece of pizza on his plate. As it glistened and shone at me I thought what a waste. Then it was in my mouth. I have decided the best course of action is to ask him to through his leftovers in the bin.
If you look at it as "a waste" to eat it when you do not need it - that may help you overcome that. It is a waste to consume excess calories - it is a waste because it counters the work you've done to become healthy and creates more work for you to get rid of those excess calories and fat. It serves no nutritional purpose if it puts you over your daily calories - unless you plan on eating less the next day.
This is how I think of it. It's just as wasteful to eat something I don't need as it is to throw it away. Whether energy is put into the trash or stored as excess fat on my body, it's equally wasteful.
I'm used to cooking for a lot of people but now it's just me and my adult son. Needless to say, re-learning portions has been a long, slow process. My five dogs happily eat whatever leftovers they can safely consume (they're a healthy weight and quite active) and sometimes my cats will assist, as well.
OP, I don't know where you live, but if you travel to other countries and eat in places not geared towards those of us in the "supersized" US, you notice that portions do not seem very large at all. They are using correct portions, we're just used to 20 oz steaks and entire chickens made for one meal/one person(meat the size of a deck of cards? C'MON, I'll starve!)
It's so bad that we actually have TV shows geared towards watching supersized men eat heart-stopping amounts of food. That's considered entertainment in the US! I live in Las Vegas, we have the Heart Attack Grill. If you don't know what that is, look it up. Or don't . . . it's disgusting!!2 -
Very eye opening! There's a shredded chicken salad I adore at Cafe Rio,I was eyeballing it at around 400-500 calories cuz lean chicken,lettuce,pico,etc,,after I started tracking and realized it actually has 1200-1400 I was floored! Still eat it but have 1/2 for lunch then 1/2 for dinner
That salad killed me when I saw how many calories!! For years I ate it thinking it was all good. Now I realize it can use up my entire calories for the day. So disappointing haha!!2 -
I have never tracked food in any way. No calorie counting or macros. So today I started tracking and let me tell you. I set up my account and the app recommends me on a 1400 calorie diet. I think alright that’s do able for now. I grab my breakfast sandwich and bam 700 calories!
hahahahahahahahaha. we've all been there. welcome to the club. now get to work. try intermittent fasting too. some people love it.0 -
working fish or shrimp into the daily plan helps the total1
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I think the most shocking is when dining out. The calories can be crazy.0
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It’s very eye opening when you take that 500 calorie item, such a hot chocolate that doesn’t even count as a meal, and then you realize it’ll take Running a 10K to counterbalance it.2
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DancingMoosie wrote: »Jimmy Dean has some light breakfast sandwiches. Little changes add up!
Or, you can eat breakfast at home.0 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »Jimmy Dean has some light breakfast sandwiches. Little changes add up!
Or, you can eat breakfast at home.
Jimmy Dean are from the freezer at home are they not?3 -
Weekends kill me. I do pretty good during the week because everything is pretty much scheduled, breakfast and lunch are almost always the same, so I'll have a 200 to 400 calorie deficit a day. Eat out just once and blow 80% of my calories for the day. Sometimes I'm over by 2000 calories in a single day on the weekend and erase any progress I might have made during the week.2
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Most people have no clue - yet complain they are gaining or can't lose. Until you run the numbers as accurately and honestly as possible, the mystery will remain.2
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jamespatten3576 wrote: »Weekends kill me. I do pretty good during the week because everything is pretty much scheduled, breakfast and lunch are almost always the same, so I'll have a 200 to 400 calorie deficit a day. Eat out just once and blow 80% of my calories for the day. Sometimes I'm over by 2000 calories in a single day on the weekend and erase any progress I might have made during the week.
It's me when I eat with friends. Bit of food here, bit of food there... ugh.1 -
I have to agree with how mind blowing it is when you first track your food intake. My bootcamp trainer for YEARS asked me if I was keeping a food diary yet and I kept blowing him off. It does make it easier to have this site instead of having to do it in a book and find all the info. ALSO take your measurments! because if you are making changes to your eating and exercising often it doesn't show on the scale, and it can be discouraging, but your measurements can change A LOT! So at least you can realize that you are making progress.
Hang in there you are doing the right thing taking care of you.
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It is a crazy eye opener. If I don't track it's easy to plateau. Like other users posted a cheap food scale is an invaluable tool 1
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geordynkirsch wrote: »It's crazy isn't it!?! I've been on and off MFP for a few years and I've always thought I eat pretty decent. Never fast food, no pop or candy or sweets etc, but my 1400 cal goal is HARD sometimes! I always think "oh this can't be so bad" but even though it seems healthier it's still lots of calories... makes me sad Haha I love food!
It also doesn't help that I work out in the morning so I am CONSTANTLY hungry all throughout the day, anyone else have that problem???
Are you eating back your exercise calories? (Or some at least).0 -
In the past no matter what "program" I was using and had to track or journal my food...I hated doing it. Was such a pain in the butt! For some reason it has been very different this time around. I think I'm more serious about losing weight. It has really opened my eyes, measuring and weighing everything I eat. I have been making filling and yummy dinners with low calories and have been satisfied. It is such an eye opener. I've been doing it for almost a month and I'm so happy with my results. I even bought new measuring spoons and cups in bright colorful colors and have my scale right on the counter. Can't imagine not doing it now! I;m down almost nine pounds and my pants are looser! So worth it, in my opinion!
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