Guesstimating

rungosgirl1018
rungosgirl1018 Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
I would just like to ask... Am I the only one who guesstimates the amount of different things I eat or does everyone acctually easure out 1 cup or 1 tbsp?
I kind of feel like I am cheating myself because I really have no idea how much I am eating but I can usually visualize how much a cup or a tablespoon of something is.
If you do guesstimate or not what is your opinion on it?
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Replies

  • TurtleRunnerNC
    TurtleRunnerNC Posts: 751 Member
    Measure & weigh
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    I measure whenever feasible; the risk is that portion sizes are how I got here, and to keep the weight off I need to continue watching them.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    I measure.
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    Measuring cups and a food scale are your best friend.
  • johnsnana
    johnsnana Posts: 63
    I measure everything. I keep a teaspoon, tablespoon, 1/4 cup & cup right on the kitchen counter. I also take them with me when I travel. It is amazing how much more you eat when you guesstimate! I would strongly suggest using them if you are serious about tracking your weight. It is the only way to know EXACTLY what you are eating.
  • gaylynn35
    gaylynn35 Posts: 854 Member
    Measure it is the only way to know for sure! You may be eating twice as much as you think! :smile:
  • epmck11
    epmck11 Posts: 159 Member
    I weigh and measure just about everything I eat, except for maybe one meal per week when I eat out.
  • ejazzyjay
    ejazzyjay Posts: 3 Member
    I usually measure, but if it's something I've had before and don't have a lot of time I will guesstimate.
  • twelker878
    twelker878 Posts: 146 Member
    I measure out once in a while to make my guesstimates more precise. Today I measured my sour cream, my syrup, my yogurt, my pancake mix. The rest was guesstimate
  • semeyer
    semeyer Posts: 282 Member
    I usually measure out a few times until I really get a feel for something, and then I guesstimate. For instance, I always assumed my chicken breasts were 4oz.....turns out when I measured, they were actually 8!
  • PlunderBunneh
    PlunderBunneh Posts: 1,705 Member
    I used to very strictly weigh and measure everything, but after almost a year of doing that, I can guesstimate within a reasonable margin of error. Harder things, like rice or meat, I still bust out the scale and the spoons for. I also double check my measurements now and then, to make sure that what is a tablespoon in my head is still close to what it actually is.
    If you are just starting out, I highly recommend that you spend at least week measuring things out.
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    I guess. This morning I actually measured my milk and cereal and I was pretty spot on on my guessing on that. I cook a lot too, so it's easy for me to eyeball things like that.
    Now, "treat" things like ice cream I measure otherwise I know I'll go over and tell myself "yeah, that's a half cup..." when really it's one cup.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I weighed and measured things a few times. about 12 years ago.

    I guestimate pretty much everything except maybe wine and salad dressing.

    Once in a while I'll measure something.
  • maroonmango211
    maroonmango211 Posts: 908 Member
    I measure everything, at least at first, by now I can guess very close to the weight of a chicken breast i have, or know what a cup of mashed potatoes looks like, but it takes time. At first its a definite must if you want to be right about how much you are having. Especially when it comes to calorie dense foods like nuts, pasta, some fruits etc we tend to 'fib' to ourselves about how how much is in a serving.
  • Rambo313
    Rambo313 Posts: 179 Member
    I measure/weigh my food. You never really know how many extra calories you could consume. A little bit here, a little there, once you measure/weigh food you will see how much guesstimating can lead to a lot of excess calories.
  • Owlie45
    Owlie45 Posts: 806 Member
    I go back and forth. If I have the time I do but if I don't then I over estimate it a bit.
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    When I'm on a calorie deficit I weigh and measure everything. When I'm just maintaining, I am less vigilant.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I guess a lot of things. But then I am not looking to lose weight any more, so I don't want to obsess.
  • jd5351
    jd5351 Posts: 116 Member
    If I have to guesstimate, I will WAY overshoot it so I don't undercount it. I do measure as much as possible though.
  • GeorgieLove708
    GeorgieLove708 Posts: 442 Member
    I measure everything. I don't want to guess wrong.
  • golightlyphilosophy
    golightlyphilosophy Posts: 55
    I measure and weigh everything. I can't see a point in counting calories if you aren't going to. Unless like others here you've been doing it for a long time and can guess very accurately.
  • llstacy
    llstacy Posts: 91 Member
    I think as long as you're consistant what ever you do if fine. I mean if you're not losing weight lower your calories it really doesn't matter if the reason you're not losing weight is because you're really eating 2 tbs of peanut butter instead of 1...lower your calories and you'll just end up eating less than what you were before and lose weight.

    Not that there's anything wrong with measuring or using scales and all that mess if that's your thing but your best guess when it comes to calories is fine to as long as you're honest with yourself and aren't deliberately not measuring so you can eat more.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    Sorry, I measure and weigh my food unless I'm somewhere that I can't.
  • Plentiful_Tentacles
    Plentiful_Tentacles Posts: 115
    I usually measure, if it's something like rice. Although, after you measure it 5 times a day 7 days a week, you can probably guestimate close to the right amount. It's a good ability if you're out without any way to measure your food.
  • glenette1
    glenette1 Posts: 140 Member
    I make an educated guess but I measure my cereal as that tends to be the tricky one for me. I've actually found a bowl that's exactly 1 cup so when in doubt, I just eat out of that bowl. If I can count it (i.e. pretzels) I count it. I always give myself a buffer zone at the end of the day in case I've underestimated something.
  • habu68123
    habu68123 Posts: 74 Member
    I measure and weigh whenever possible. If I guess I tend to go higher on food and lower if I am guessing on calories burned.
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
    Starting out I measured everything. It was the key factor in losing the weight for me. My eyes are bigger then my belly so what I thought was a cup of cereal was like 2 cups.

    I still measure and weigh but not as much. If I am not sure about it, out comes the scale. My scale turned into my best friend.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I guestimate some, measure some. I have an uncanny eye for portions and proportions, though.
  • tlblood
    tlblood Posts: 473 Member
    At home I measure absolutely EVERYTHING! And not even my measuring cup, if at all possible I weigh by grams/oz. (Sadly I learned last week that the grams listed for a serving of peanut butter are less than 2 Tbs, so if I measure out 2 Tbs I'm actually eating more than a serving.

    I only guesstimate when I have to.
  • Celestialfairie
    Celestialfairie Posts: 134
    Unless something comes prepacked with the exact weight and measures, I generally just guess. I know that it's pretty easy to underestimate but I'm careful about it. And truth be told, I don't want to spend my life obsessing about it. I started my weight loss (this round - it's amazing how easy it is to never really get started) about one hundred days ago. I may only have lost twenty four pounds since then, but I've been living a nice comfortable life without worrying too too much.

    It really is just about your take on your weight loss, how much you want to lose and if you're ready to be that dedicated. I know personally I can't ever really be *that* dedicated. To those who are? I actually applaud you.

    Just do what works best for you. If you notice that you're not hitting your goals? Then perhaps it's time to re-evaluate.

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