How strictly do you calorie count?

parkscs

I weigh the "big" items and measure what I can. I generally eat pretty simple meals (meat + 1-2 veggies) so it's not that difficult for me to log things. I do my best to ballpark it when I'm eating out but weighing isn't really an option at that point. That said, if we're talking trivial amounts of calories (e.g., mirepoix for a soup), I will just ballpark the ingredients. Other items (herbs and seasonings) I don't bother logging whatsoever.

sunshinenjjr

I log anything over 50 calories. So if I had a single Lifesaver, I'm not going to bother. If you aren't seeing weight loss in several weeks, 50 calories/day isn't going to be the culprit, so that's why I don't bother.

Some people log everything, some people measure everything, and others may log only occasionally or only most things and eyeball all the food portions. The key is to find the system that works best for you, helps you lose weight, and is something you'll stick with.

This

Kevalicious99

I weigh everything .. and yes I am a nut. I don't deny it .. but some OCD is a good thing in this regard. Keeps me moving forward and successful.

lyndor90

I will log and weigh everything.... I will also underestimate calories burnt on exercise so I'm not tempted to overeat..


I may not put my tomatoe sauce on it though...

bumblebreezy91

I log every bite. I once spent twenty minutes trying to figure out the calories in ONE sour cream & onion potato chip. I was a woman on a mission and my fiance thought I was being ridiculous.

It's six, if anyone wants to know.

thesimsisters

I log every single thing. I hate logging and going over, but it keeps me honest and let's me know what extra I need to do to make up for it. I do not weigh anything. But I do measure out for my recipes and portion it out evenly.

970Mikaela1

I weigh and measure everything except coffee .

YvonneBerdkan

I usually log everything I eat, but I always over estimate and end up putting in more than I actually ate just in case as a safety net.

MinMin97

On that note, I just bought a food scale. Used a BedBathBeyond coupon too:)

paperpudding

I log everything I eat. But I have gone over my calories today so will go for a long walk tomorrow. Btw does a day log go from Midnight to Midnight?

I thought it went from when you click 'finish logging for today' and clicked on to next day.

In practice, for most people unless they work night shift, going to bed at end of day is end of that day, when you wake up next morning is start of next day.

Op, I have loosened my calorie counting now that Ive been doing it for almost a year.

I do weigh vegetables, cheese, dried fruit, meat - but things like eggs or bananas I just log as the same each time - I don't measure them, I just take it on a 'law of averages' - where I have recorded 1 egg or banana, I take it every other one will average out to about the same.

If I am going out and eating, I just estimate the portion and take the closest thing in MFP data base.

OMGeeeHorses

I log everything that hits my mouth or try to log it before it even hits my mouth. So say I am going out with friends and we are going to eat at Olive Garden. I menu surf on MFP to see what is going to keep me in my calories and keep me losing weight . It is all about Calories In and Calories Out.

sarafischbach9

I've counted calories for years... Became very obsessive int the past, even when I wanted to maintain.

However, I will say this: Once I stopped calorie counting in 2011, I started to gradually and slowly put on weight to where I am at now, or where I was nearly a month ago, i should say.

I think calorie counting is a very good tool. It can help you lose weight, maintain, and even gain. I've used calorie counting to gain as well at one point.

If you do not wish to lose weight, I found that at least being MINDFUL of the calories you are eating helps. You don't have to strictly count them but at least be mindful and know where you are in the ballpark.

I didn't start gaining until I completely stopped and not even being mindful

jbug5j

I'm not an expert by any means, but I lost 35lbs in 2012 before baby number 2 but counting calories. I never weighed my food, I just estimated what I ate but almost always had 100-150 left at the end of the day just in case I under estimated. I tried to log everything but some times I missed things but I was still successful. Of course there were some days that I would eat half a pizza and be way over in calories, but what's life without pizza haha. Everything in moderation. Don't stress out about it. Not logging a piece of gum, or a bite of something isn't going to sabotage your diet.

minus the weight loss and the baby (for me) THIS! i get as accurate as i can without being too obsessive. if i were to cound every tiny calorie i put into my mouth (gum, sips of drinks, bites of food) i would go insane and quit within the week. i REFUSE to be miserable when it comes to food. i love food and personally believe that the food part dosent have to feel like a second job.

heybales

Don't want to calorie count and get obsessed?

Mindful eating.

Learn what eating heavy carbs can make you feel like in a few hours, even though you may not really need food.
Know what you may feel like after heavy cardio, and while not hungry realize you need to eat.
Any other little gotcha's that mess with the body's normal response of hunger.

And then never eat over the point of being hungry. Don't eat when not hungry just for taste, or emotion, or anger, ect.

Focus the energy needed to count calories to learning to read the body really well, and having good self-control.
Learn perhaps for you the need to always mix protein with carbs so no low blood sugar, or no high simple carbs to get hyperactive, ect. Some may not even apply.

Eat slow a few times to learn how long it takes you to feel full, compared to eating fast.

And then you have to keep in mind these things learned, and be able to read them well.

Most of the above doesn't work well at all if already in a diet sadly with big deficits, as that mere act can mess with good signals.

RelevantKnowledge

I weigh every solid food and measure every liquid I intake ~somewhat obsessively~. A couple of days ago, after some suspicion, I found out that my scale was way off, I was eating more than I intended, and was frustrated my weight loss had stalled. :noway:
I immediately bought a new scale and realized I had been eating about 1/3 more than I'd thought I was.
I have no advice for not getting obsessive about counting, but if you find anything let me know.

Skarlet13

I actually don't count calories absolutely, but I do count servings. Of course I do pay attention to the calories in foods, but I'm not counting my daily caloric intake. So far, so good. I'm trying to eat like a "naturally thin" person eats. LOL.

oboeadam

I definitely track everything that I'm eating. I think there's a danger (for me) in leaving things off, even if they are small, because small things add up. Different things work for different people though, so you have to figure out what works best for you!

heybales

I weigh every solid food and measure every liquid I intake ~somewhat obsessively~. A couple of days ago, after some suspicion, I found out that my scale was way off, I was eating more than I intended, and was frustrated my weight loss had stalled. :noway:
I immediately bought a new scale and realized I had been eating about 1/3 more than I'd thought I was.
I have no advice for not getting obsessive about counting, but if you find anything let me know.

Unless you hit it with a sledgehammer out of frustration or went over it's weight limit - I think it would be mighty useful to know what scale brand and model it was that went so far off accuracy.

Sometimes that bad experience will keep others from buying the same sad piece of ......

And if you like the current one, what is it (realizing long term testing isn't finished yet)?