Do you underestimate or overestimate your food?

quiksandy

One of my MFP friends says that whenever she goes to log food and finds multiple listings of something, she always picks the one that has the least amount of calories. This struck me as funny because when that happens to me, I always do the opposite and pick the one with the most amount of calories. I guess I want to "err on the side of caution". That way I don't accidentally eat over my calories and gain. So what do you do? Be honest.

shutterbug282

I would pick the most amount of calories if I wasn't sure. If I was putting the least amount I'm sure I'd over eat.

alyson820

definitely the most!

I also leave 150-200 calories in my log at the end of the day to account for mismeasuring and other mistakes.

sharonfincher1

I pick the higher calories for food, the lower calories for exercised calories burned

RunDottyRun

General rule of thumb is overestimate calories in (food), underestimate calories out (exercise). For example, when I train whatever my HRM tells me I deduct at least 10% off it to be safe.

TIFFANYPLUS3

I also tend to overestimate, but I have to measure out the actual food - I underestimate how much I'm physically eating if I just "eyeball" it

militarydreams

Whats wrong with middle ground?

NaomiWhite77

I pick the middle.

NicoleMarie0409

Overestimate

geezer99

I generally search around on the web for confirmation. A bigger issue for me -- portion size. The scale now lives permanently on the counter.

EQHanks

I don't over estimate or under estimate..I just log as is

KrazyAsianNic

I always choose the higher amount when logging food. I figure I rather say I ate more than I really did.

darstus

I pretty much figure the calories myself or use the package information. Of course it is nice when the database has the item and correct information. But if I had to pick, I would just slightly overestimate.

Moonbeamlissie

definitely the most!

I also leave 150-200 calories in my log at the end of the day to account for mismeasuring and other mistakes.

This is what I do. I will also log less calories than my HRM or the machines tell me... I don't want to put myself over calories at all.

HeidiRene

I pick the higher calories for food, the lower calories for exercised calories burned

this

lukeout007

I use my best judgement. Generally the highest but if I'm eating a donut and the highest is 800 cals and the lowest is 100 cals I'm going to assume both are BS and find something in between...probably in the 300 cal range.

lilojoke

definitely the most!

I also leave 150-200 calories in my log at the end of the day to account for mismeasuring and other mistakes.

I agree with this whole heartedly. I always measure a little less food also just to be sure I am not ovorr doing the portion. If my calorie goal is 2100 I will be sure to eat 2000 just to be sure!

dixiecup19

I definitely overestimate my food calories.

FitnessKing8

Over estimate because even if you do under estimate on your plan for myfitnesspal, just to get below your calorie its gonna have no effect on what the scale says. You would be cheating youself and if you over estimate a little bit then it will motivate you to keep going to work off those extra calorie


Dominic Capron- Fitness helper

IronmanPanda

I have a food scale.

ltosoni

I always over estimate my food and under estimate my exercise, not sure why but it works for me!

privatetime

From personal experience over several months of dieting now, it is clear I OVERestimate my food quantities.

This first came to my attention when my husband asked me what I was having for lunch. I'd already started a weight loss regimen , including keeping a food diary, after I developed a metabolic problem which led to weight gain.

I told him, "...One cup of lentil soup." It was the same amount I always pour, being one of my favourite meals, so I eat it semi-frequently.

He snorted back, "There's no way that's a cup of soup!" I was sure it was, so I proved it to him by pouring it into a measuring cup. Lo and behold...a half a cup. If my life depended on it, I would have promised you it was 1 cup.

There are lots of other examples I could give. Then again, an old friend once told me, after I gave him detailed directions to someplace and he later went there, "You're the only person I know who overestimates how long it takes to get somewhere." So, it comes to me honestly.

taso42

I aim for getting as close as possible. This is easy enough when preparing my own food. When eating out, it's pure voodoo. I don't really go for the highest cal or lowest cal entry... i skim through and try to find the one that seems most believable. Or I close my eyes and invoke my special calorie estimation-fu and quick-add it.