Why consistency matters more than accuracy (to me)
Replies
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nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
^This. We often see posts from people who swear to their consistency but say they aren't losing weight as expected, so likely they are lacking in accuracy to a degree that negates their consistency. A food scale will usually clear that up pretty quickly. Or they can use trial and error and "eat less" until the data matches their expected results. The food scale route route may not be necessary, but is much more efficient.8 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
^This. We often see posts from people who swear to their consistency but say they aren't losing weight as expected, so likely they are lacking in accuracy to a degree that negates their consistency. A food scale will usually clear that up pretty quickly. Or they can use trial and error and "eat less" until the data matches their expected results. The food scale route route may not be necessary, but is much more efficient.
I think many people can do it without a scale, but for those who are struggling (or a numbers nerd like me) the scale adds a level of accuracy that is needed. Otherwise we end up with people who swear they can't lose a single ounce unless they eating sub 1000 cals/day. For those who are seeing the results (or only off a little bit), the OP is absolutely correct.5 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
This is how I use my food scale as well. You'd better believe I'm weighing my peanut butter and cheese every time! Spinach and tomatoes? Ehhh, depends what kind of mood I'm in. But when it's time to have a meal out, I'm not going to obsess over whether the chicken I ordered is 6 ounces or 8. It's all a wash in the end.
Results tell the tale, regardless of how lax or stringent you are with your logging. I just want to be consistent enough to stay on the track I've chosen and not feel like my life is on hold (i.e. OMG I can't go out, how will I measure my foodz?! ) 11 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
This is how I use my food scale as well. You'd better believe I'm weighing my peanut butter and cheese every time! Spinach and tomatoes? Ehhh, depends what kind of mood I'm in. But when it's time to have a meal out, I'm not going to obsess over whether the chicken I ordered is 6 ounces or 8. It's all a wash in the end.
Results tell the tale, regardless of how lax or stringent you are with your logging. I just want to be consistent enough to stay on the track I've chosen and not feel like my life is on hold (i.e. OMG I can't go out, how will I measure my foodz?! )
Agreed. I've never worried about eating out either. I just log to the best of my abilities and move on. I'm accurate enough the rest of the time. No need to drive myself batty on those occassions.9 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
This is how I use my food scale as well. You'd better believe I'm weighing my peanut butter and cheese every time! Spinach and tomatoes? Ehhh, depends what kind of mood I'm in. But when it's time to have a meal out, I'm not going to obsess over whether the chicken I ordered is 6 ounces or 8. It's all a wash in the end.
Results tell the tale, regardless of how lax or stringent you are with your logging. I just want to be consistent enough to stay on the track I've chosen and not feel like my life is on hold (i.e. OMG I can't go out, how will I measure my foodz?! )
Agreed. I've never worried about eating out either. I just log to the best of my abilities and move on. I'm accurate enough the rest of the time. No need to drive myself batty on those occassions.
You mean battier, right?9 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
This is how I use my food scale as well. You'd better believe I'm weighing my peanut butter and cheese every time! Spinach and tomatoes? Ehhh, depends what kind of mood I'm in. But when it's time to have a meal out, I'm not going to obsess over whether the chicken I ordered is 6 ounces or 8. It's all a wash in the end.
Results tell the tale, regardless of how lax or stringent you are with your logging. I just want to be consistent enough to stay on the track I've chosen and not feel like my life is on hold (i.e. OMG I can't go out, how will I measure my foodz?! )
Agreed. I've never worried about eating out either. I just log to the best of my abilities and move on. I'm accurate enough the rest of the time. No need to drive myself batty on those occassions.
You mean battier, right?
Hey!!! It's too early in the morning to be poking the Nutty :grumble:it may also be too early for truthiness7 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »But, but, but...FOOD SCALE!!!
Great post.
You mean one of these? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Mine still gets plenty of use!
I use the food scale because it is one of the ways I'm as accurate as possible in controlling the few factors I can control. The numbers over time do tell the tale though and to do that, be persistent and consistent.
This is how I use my food scale as well. You'd better believe I'm weighing my peanut butter and cheese every time! Spinach and tomatoes? Ehhh, depends what kind of mood I'm in. But when it's time to have a meal out, I'm not going to obsess over whether the chicken I ordered is 6 ounces or 8. It's all a wash in the end.
Results tell the tale, regardless of how lax or stringent you are with your logging. I just want to be consistent enough to stay on the track I've chosen and not feel like my life is on hold (i.e. OMG I can't go out, how will I measure my foodz?! )
Agreed. I've never worried about eating out either. I just log to the best of my abilities and move on. I'm accurate enough the rest of the time. No need to drive myself batty on those occassions.
You mean battier, right?
Hey!!! It's too early in the morning to be poking the Nutty :grumble:it may also be too early for truthiness
But I'm off work for the rest of the week so free to harass people (uhhh I mean drop some knowledge) all day!6 -
I did something similar in my 98,000 Calorie Diet. Over the course of 8 weeks, I planned on eating 1,750 calories per day (on average). Based on my beginning TDEE of around 2,850, I figured I should lose (on average) around 2 pounds per week (or a total of 16lbs).
My results: I actually ate right at 98,000 calories and lost 15.7 pounds. Obviously, the calories could be off a little, but I did track everything and figure I'm +\- maybe 5% either way. Bottom line, counting calories works. My current calculated TDEE has decrease to around 2,700.14 -
@patrickaa5 That's a great result! I'd say 15.7 vs 16 is really spot-on
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It's really so weird how it works if you work it.
And I hate that little ditty.
But truthiness.6 -
Truthiness is the word of the day!4
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Have I managed to sufficiently derail my own thread yet?
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whoa..that one was too neurotic...
edit!
Yeah, like that's better.
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I gotta start more threads. Enough to get drunk on power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqBR8knRM2w 4 -
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hobbitses333 wrote: »Wonderful post. Makes soo much sense. I have had a number of higher calorie days but sticking with it and keeping to my calorie goals most of the time means I am almost 50 lbs lighter than when I started with MFP and I know I will lose more...aint it great!?
It is indeed great 4 -
money?3
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psychod787 wrote: »
Glad you approve.1 -
Bump.3
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Great post!0
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Sorry - serious post ahead
Yes I so agree with your OP - many times on here I have preached lazy logging - should of copyrighted the term, I use it so much
But I dont think accurate logging and exact numbers are a goal in themselves -and I have never strived to acheive them.
find the easiest quickest way that works for you and go by results. Results over time.
Me personally - I weigh some things - things I am likely to go over on if I dont - cheese, dried apricots, nuts etc.
and I weigh my dinner components ( eg meat x grams, mashed potato x grams etc) most of the time - because I am home anyway and scale is right there and it keeps me from portion creep.
But have never followed the 'take the banana peel home and weigh the difference before and after' strategy - every banana, mandarine, carrot, cappacino, piece of cake in cafe, slice of bought pizza, slice of bread, is considered the same and law of averages evens them out, every museli bar or biscuit is what the label says it is, I dont weigh to check, I guestimate meals out etc etc
Doing this I successfully lost on 1460 and maintain on 1710.
Do I really average 1710 over time? Do I really burn as many exercise calories as I think? Is my activity level actually lightly active? Am I really 5 ft 3 in tall? Am I really female? Am I really 54 years old?
Well, the last 3 probably are accurate - the others not so much.
But who cares?
The scale reality is that my weight hovers between 60 and 63.5 kg (target is 62) so all is good.
When some people say calorie counting is too hard - I think what they mean is calorie counting to the nth degree is too hard.
Dont do it to the nth degree then - do it just as accurately as you need for it to work
TLDR - yes I agree with OP
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sorry about the novel
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paperpudding wrote: »
sorry about the novel
Yer an amateur at MFP novels, just sayin'. And yours was a good'un, anyway. 5 -
paperpudding wrote: »
sorry about the novel
It was worth the read! I'm another fan of lazy logging.2
This discussion has been closed.
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