Logging accurately

dagrees

I have had good success thus far.
25 pounds since Jan 8.
Things have stalled for the last few weeks.
I inderstand this is typical as one gets nearer to goal weight .
I have 13-14 lbs to get to goal of 140.
I know the advice is to tighten my logging, make sure I weigh everything( which I do). However how do I handle the inaccurate data base?
For example ground beef 95% lean has many entries, all varied, without verification.
Yes, I have managed well this far, but will need to be more accurate in order to continue to lose.
After 6 months I still don't know how to find the accurate entries!
Thanks for any help

L1zardQueen

Try the USDA website.

RelCanonical

L1zardQueen wrote: »

Try the USDA website.

Yep, they have a database: https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

kimny72

In short, you are looking for entries that either match the info on the package, or if there is no package, match it to the USDA published info. Avoid "generic" or "homemade" as those were created by other users and who knows what they used. Find the actual brand name whenever possible (if there is one).

This thread may help:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10621050/how-to-use-the-usda-food-database-mfp-food-database-for-accurate-logging/p1

Just to add, once you're under 15 lbs, the small amounts of weight you will be losing per week can easily hide behind natural weight fluctuations (especially if you have a hormonal cycle). For my last 10 lbs I could go 3-4 weeks of bouncing around the same one or two lbs, and then all of a sudden see 1 or 1.5 lbs drop off and then go through the whole cycle again. so keep that in mind too

GaleHawkins

dagrees wrote: »

I have had good success thus far.
25 pounds since Jan 8.
Things have stalled for the last few weeks.
I inderstand this is typical as one gets nearer to goal weight .
I have 13-14 lbs to get to goal of 140.
I know the advice is to tighten my logging, make sure I weigh everything( which I do). However how do I handle the inaccurate data base?
For example ground beef 95% lean has many entries, all varied, without verification.
Yes, I have managed well this far, but will need to be more accurate in order to continue to lose.
After 6 months I still don't know how to find the accurate entries!
Thanks for any help

That is an awesome success story. At this point in your success a "stall" of 6-12 months is to be normal. Keep up your good work and give the last 10% some time perhaps.

As to accurate entry numbers they just do not exist the research on the subject identicate. They are ball park figures and are very helpful as you know.

https://berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/nutrition/article/can-you-trust-calorie-counts

dagrees

Thanks for the replies and well wishes.
Regarding the usda site that was copied and pasted above; lol I must be missing something, as I could not find calorie info.
I do look up calories on a lot of my foods as I don't trust mfp data base,
Guess this journey is not an exact science
and I will come to to terms with that .

RelCanonical

dagrees wrote: »

Thanks for the replies and well wishes.
Regarding the usda site that was copied and pasted above; lol I must be missing something, as I could not find calorie info.
I do look up calories on a lot of my foods as I don't trust mfp data base,
Guess this journey is not an exact science
and I will come to to terms with that .

They have a ground beef calculator. https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/beef/show

Also, make sure to click on the entry to get detailed info. It is listed as kcal.

lynn_glenmont

dagrees wrote: »

Thanks for the replies and well wishes.
Regarding the usda site that was copied and pasted above; lol I must be missing something, as I could not find calorie info.
I do look up calories on a lot of my foods as I don't trust mfp data base,
Guess this journey is not an exact science
and I will come to to terms with that .

https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

If you're not searching for a brand-name item, select "standard reference" from the drop-down menu in the "filter on database" field. Then type what you're looking for in the "enter one or more keywords" field. When you get a list of results, click on the one that describes the food you're looking for. You'll generally see columns for nutritional information based on different serving units (e.g., per 100 g., per 1 cup, per piece for fruits and veg, etc.). The first row will generally tell you the mass of water in each of those serving sizes. The second row will generally tell you the kilocalories for each of those serving sizes.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Staying patient and consistent is the key. Consider only your weight averaged over several days (at least 4, but 7 is more accurate). It's best to weigh in the morning after the toilet in the same level of dress. Daily fluctuations can be as big as 2 pounds or more and it can be disconcerting. Just keep trucking on and you will be in control of your weight!

Best of luck.

NovusDies

dagrees wrote: »

Thanks for the replies and well wishes.
Regarding the usda site that was copied and pasted above; lol I must be missing something, as I could not find calorie info.
I do look up calories on a lot of my foods as I don't trust mfp data base,
Guess this journey is not an exact science
and I will come to to terms with that .

It is not an exact science. Pretty much all of weight loss comes down to hitting the mark of "good enough". I try to be as accurate as possible in my logging for all the times it is impossible or ridiculous to do so. Impossible is a restaurant meal that you have to match to another restaurant and hope it is close enough. Ridiculous is spending too much time worrying about measuring how many calories are transferred from bones and vegetables into homemade stock or broth.

corinasue1143

The line that says energy= calories

349 = calories for 4 oz
312 = calories for 100 grams

corinasue1143

I also like to use this site, but haven’t seen it discussed on mfp

I like all the extra information it gives you. I used it when I first found out I had some vitamin deficiencies to make sure I was getting more of those particular vitamins.

apullum

GaleHawkins wrote: »

dagrees wrote: »

I have had good success thus far.
25 pounds since Jan 8.
Things have stalled for the last few weeks.
I inderstand this is typical as one gets nearer to goal weight .
I have 13-14 lbs to get to goal of 140.
I know the advice is to tighten my logging, make sure I weigh everything( which I do). However how do I handle the inaccurate data base?
For example ground beef 95% lean has many entries, all varied, without verification.
Yes, I have managed well this far, but will need to be more accurate in order to continue to lose.
After 6 months I still don't know how to find the accurate entries!
Thanks for any help

That is an awesome success story. At this point in your success a "stall" of 6-12 months is to be normal. Keep up your good work and give the last 10% some time perhaps.

As to accurate entry numbers they just do not exist the research on the subject identicate. They are ball park figures and are very helpful as you know.

https://berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/nutrition/article/can-you-trust-calorie-counts

A 6-12 month "stall" is not a normal part of weight loss. It's common for people who are close to their goal to go several *weeks*--say, 4-6 weeks--without seeing the scale go down, but not several *months.* If someone's weight has not changed in 6-12 months, they are not in a deficit.

dagrees

^^^I took it as a stall occurring after losing for 6-12 months(which I am in ); not a stall that is lasting 6-12 months😳

sefajane1

apullum wrote: »

GaleHawkins wrote: »

dagrees wrote: »

I have had good success thus far.
25 pounds since Jan 8.
Things have stalled for the last few weeks.
I inderstand this is typical as one gets nearer to goal weight .
I have 13-14 lbs to get to goal of 140.
I know the advice is to tighten my logging, make sure I weigh everything( which I do). However how do I handle the inaccurate data base?
For example ground beef 95% lean has many entries, all varied, without verification.
Yes, I have managed well this far, but will need to be more accurate in order to continue to lose.
After 6 months I still don't know how to find the accurate entries!
Thanks for any help

That is an awesome success story. At this point in your success a "stall" of 6-12 months is to be normal. Keep up your good work and give the last 10% some time perhaps.

As to accurate entry numbers they just do not exist the research on the subject identicate. They are ball park figures and are very helpful as you know.

https://berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/nutrition/article/can-you-trust-calorie-counts

A 6-12 month "stall" is not a normal part of weight loss. It's common for people who are close to their goal to go several *weeks*--say, 4-6 weeks--without seeing the scale go down, but not several *months.* If someone's weight has not changed in 6-12 months, they are not in a deficit.

I think you may have misunderstood. I'm sure that @GaleHawkins meant that a stall AFTER 6-12 months is normal. The OP states that it's been a few weeks.

nooboots

corinasue1143 wrote: »

The line that says energy= calories

349 = calories for 4 oz
312 = calories for 100 grams

How much fat is in that though, is it 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%?? That will affect the calories a lot.

RelCanonical

nooboots wrote: »

corinasue1143 wrote: »

The line that says energy= calories

349 = calories for 4 oz
312 = calories for 100 grams

How much fat is in that though, is it 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%?? That will affect the calories a lot.

There's a ground beef calculator two tabs over. It let's you enter the fat%.

DaintyWhisper

Does the meat you eat have a nutrition label on it? That's usually where I start. For example, if I eat Laura's 96% ground beef I will search for that specifically in the food database. I also have the nutrition label on hand to compare. If I find an entry that doesn't match exactly, I will edit the entry with the information I have on hand. Either that or create a new entry completely.

dagrees

Have used labels, yes.

Thanks to all for the information, advice, and encouragement!

lynn_glenmont

nooboots wrote: »

corinasue1143 wrote: »

The line that says energy= calories

349 = calories for 4 oz
312 = calories for 100 grams

How much fat is in that though, is it 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%?? That will affect the calories a lot.

30/112 = about 27%

PAV8888

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

30/112 = about 27%

OK @lynn_glenmont , as long as you promise not to hate me in the morning!

Or 26.79g per 100g which at a guess would tend to be close to 27%

lynn_glenmont

PAV8888 wrote: »

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

30/112 = about 27%

OK @lynn_glenmont , as long as you promise not to hate me in the morning!

Or 26.79g per 100g which at a guess would tend to be close to 27%

No hate, @PAV8888 .

samuelgina91

PAV8888 wrote: »

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

30/112 = about 27%

OK @lynn_glenmont , as long as you promise not to hate me in the morning!

Or 26.79g per 100g which at a guess would tend to be close to 27%

Oh, you are answering the question of the leanness of the ground meat. When I first read the response I was thinking OPs body fat %, and all the great answers I read before. And then this thought occurred:

At OP-what is your body fat percentage? If you are a woman (which I suspect) the aim is to be 18-24%, you can be lower as an athlete and but lower ranges can come with a host of other complications. Online calculators are available. The reason why I am asking is that you may have hit your goal 'size' instead of hitting your goal 'weight', and the excess might be the difference of the lean muscle mass weighing more than your original muscle at the start of January. Best do a comparison of your physical waist measurements vs. hip measurements because you may have lost inches instead of weight.

Also the number portion of the goal 'weight' and obsession with the accurateness of calories is a precursor to an unhealthy mindset towards weight loss, especially after you have been chasing it for 6-12 months (I think this is for another commenter), it might be time to change your exercise regime to hit the 'size' you want vs. the 'weight' you want. The only reason why I am labelling this as unhealthy practice, not you, is that even food labels aren't very accurate, so no matter what you are going to be dealing with a range including the solutions that were suggested here. For instance, a normal egg is 60 cal, then as you increase in size to a large this increases to 72 cal; however, for someone else, a normal egg might be the large egg, and the large egg might be the extra-large version and it varies between people and nations. Same goes with fruit, individual chips/nuts etc. It's all an approximation because no two will be identical unless it's like a manufactured cookie/gummy bear and if you are 15 lbs away I suspect you might be against that type of eating.

Personally dropped 10 lbs out of 40 lbs, but dropped close to 10 inches even when the scale fluctuated everywhere under the sun, and body fat percentage from 32% to 27%. I fit a smaller size, but I weigh more now because I have more lean muscle mass.

dagrees

@samuelgina91 My body fat percentage is still in the 30’s as I was very heavy through my middle. I am still in the overweight BMI range as well. So I have some work to do!
I do strength training 2x a week and walk every day. I don't plan to change that, other than perhaps adding another day of strength.
I consider myself a light to moderate intensity exerciser. That will not change.
I feel that I still need to lose some pounds, and know it will be a very slow process.
Thanks!

samuelgina91

@dagrees Wonderful! Keep up the good work and congratulations on how far you have come. All the best.