Successful dieters log minor calories?

stormieweather

I weigh, measure, and log everything (except spices). I use a Fitbit to measure activity level. I eat part of my exercise calories and I graph my progress in order to be able to see what I need to change/correct.

rc630

I don't log things that are less than 10 calories (drink mixes, coffee, gum, etc.) but I also have my calories set to only 1200 and I lowball my exercise calories. I don't weigh my food, but I use measuring cups for volume and look at several estimates for things like vegetables before choosing how many calories to log for it. I have gone from ~145 to ~117 lbs and have maintained under 125 for well over a year, so I would consider myself successful.

Dauntlessness

OK. I can see the need to weigh food to be accurate. I'm also working out 5 days a week. To be successful is a food scale or HRM more important?

Both.
I tell people all the time that an HRM is so important because MFP and the machines at the gym are usually way off!!! MFP and the machines tell me I burn 1000 calories for every 500-700 I actually burn with an HRM. The machines were the worst.

The food scale is HUGE too. Some food, especially red meat can be pretty high cal and if you don't measure it you can be consuming alot of extra calories that you didn't know about. Even for a couple extra ounces can be like 100-250 calories.

I suggest a Polar ft4 http://www.amazon.com/Polar-FT4F-Heart-Monitor-Watch/dp/B0031ZK84E

I have the girl version of it and I love it! Its easy to program and works amazing!

jlr_12

I don't log the oil I add to cook foods, ketchup (though I log bbq sauce if something is covered in it), or if I'm having a bite of something (i.e. a handful of my boyfriend's popcorn or three chips). I weigh everything else and wear a HRM for exercise.

I am exactly the same. I also don't log little amounts of exercise, like cleaning, running upstairs, carrying heavy loads...that way I figure it all evens out. I've been losing just fine...just see what works for you! If you don't want to log everything, don't...after a few weeks if your loss is slow, try logging it all.

MumOfGirlsOnly

I log everything, I'm currently sucking on a mini candy cane for 12 calories and it's logged. I do this to keep myself honest and accountable.

I have a HRM and food scale, I weigh everything I eat wear my HRM all day although I only log actual work outs.

rebyekah

This is really just a personal choice. You have to do what works best for you. Either way can be successful. I knew going into this that I didn't want to do anything that I wasn't willing to do for the rest of my life. So I chose not to weigh or measure anything and to not enter all the little things: ketchup and mustard on my veggie burger, gum, mints, samples at the grocery store, etc. I don't log little bits of exercise either. I figure it all evens out. The minutia of it all would have made me crazy. Over a year and a half I lost 90 lbs. and am now just maintaining. I plateaued a few times, but I never gained.

tuffytuffy1

I have to say I don't log a lot of extremely low-cal veggies 100% of the time. Like if I have a slice of red onion, I may not bother trying to search it out and figure out exactly how many grams it was, etc. But on the other hand, I do use a digital scale for my proteins. I also have the Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. I got both from Amazon, I can't remember the scale brand, but it was $20 and it is great. My HRM was $63 with free shipping.

it_be_asin

I log everything - my water, my gum, my vitamins, my herbal teas, the cooking spray I use to grease my pans and baking trays... If I have a taste test of something I log it too. And all my fruit and vegetables of course, but I eat a decent amount of them so they do contribute to my calorie intake.

I weigh and measure as much as possible also.

But then again, I'm a trained scientist and I dig precision.

oldale40

log it all. that way you can pinpoint the extra calories you can do without. not only that olive is good for you so dont try to hide it