Guesstimating

RhonndaJ

About half and half because I tend to eat the same things a lot. It helps to have a husband with a good eye as well.

taylor5877

I HAVE measured most things I track, but I guesstimate most of the time. I do actually measure from time to time to make sure I'm still estimating correctly (like the 1 tbls I cooked the salmon filet in that I just ate).

I also will purposely overestimate if there's a question.

rungosgirl1018

Thank you all so much. I appreciate the support and your knowledge.
Add me if you like I am always looking for support and advise from people who are just starting like me and people who have been doing this for awhile.

sleonardbranson

I measure, it really helps me...it takes more time, but at least I know exactly what I'm eating and how much!

TravisBurns

I do both. If I guesstimate I always put a exceedingly high number.

realia

I'm pretty good at eyeballing. I started measuring things like peanut butter, cereal, rice, etc. I've actually been pretty close when I used to guesstimate. I measure things for the most part if I'm unsure of the quantity. If I need to measure it using a scale (things like meat and pasta), I guesstimate because I don't have one.

Sharbear6936

I measure as much as I can. Sometimes it isn't possible so I will guess a little high...better high than too low is my thinking.

Lovestoscrapbook

Always measure, count, etc because I want an accurate total as much as possible.

davisrl0

I do weigh and measure a lot. However, I tend to eat the same things a lot of the time, so if its something Im really used to eating, and I know what a cup of it looks like, then I dont measure it. But its been my experience that we over estimate portion sizes when we just guess. I think if you really want to get calorie counts under control and accurate, you have to weigh and measure.

lilmisfit

I measure and weigh everything, unless I'm eating out or at a friend/family member's house (like yesterday and today).

Krisstah

i measure and weigh everything.

suzesymon

I weigh and measure most things, particularly high calorie foods. I do guess with vegetables a bit, but never things like yoghurt, cheese, etc.

crystaltate4

i recommend measure and weighing girl it help u get all of it but not over it every little cal can add up if ur over, i use to guess but i didnt lose weight and it was because i was guessing wrong.

lovesdarkchocolate

Measure / food scale. When I began weighing foods I learned that several of my portions were badly off...

RuthSweetTooth

I think that with the amount of weight you have to lose, that weighing will help you become more aware of portion size creep. Eventually, you may be able to stop. I don't weigh foods that have few calories like green beans, salad, and 0 calorie foods. You have to measure oil, of course, that's a biggie.

verbalriot

I measure whenever I can but if I'm out at a restaurant, I obviously guesstimate...I tend to inflate my estimates though, which probably gets me about right

davidjulian

I guess but I always err on the high side rather than the low (so, if i'm not sure if it's like, 1/3 cup or 1/2 cup, I always go for the 1/2). I'm sure I (like many people here it seems) would underestimate everything naturally, so I just make a concerted effort to overestimate. Way easier than measuring everything. I'm not gonna keep measuring cups at my desk and bring them to my work cafeteria.

runlaugheatpie

pretty much weigh and measure everything, except when out, obviously.

owyn999

An alternative is to use a point system with ranges to change your behavior. I use something like this:
3 points for fresh food, meat on the bone, fermented/ sprouted foods or organ meats.
1 point if it's good
-1 point if it's bad
-3 if it's full of vegetable oil or sugar
-5 if it's maccas/KFC/etc.

Benefit of this is you can guesstimate scores and tracking is much easier. You can also easily add exercise, sleep, sunshine, tobacco/alcohol, etc to the scoring which also have an effect on your health.

I actually think this is more productive then calorie counting, but if you've never done it I would measure initially, especially with things such as rice, choloate, juices, etc. You might be surprised how many calories they add up to very quickly.

pg3ibew

I would like to know this.

People who do NOT measure: How much weight have you lost? And how long did it take you?

People who DO measure and weigh: How much weight have you lost and how much? And how long did it take?


Me, I measure everything and lost 73 pounds over 8 months.

JustJennie1

I measure and weigh but when I'm eating out I guesstimate, especially when it comes to things like pizza. I have no clue how big the pieces are in most of the MFP suggestions for pizza.

Mommahatch

A good way to do this without it becoming overburdensome is to do it right after you get home from the grocery. Measure out 1 serving size (according to the package) and put into a container/baggie/whatever. Then it also helps you control portion sizes. I do guesstimate when it is out to eat at a non chain restaurant or dining at a friends house though. It doesn't have to be an exact science. What I find most helpful is the awareness of what I am eating, and what a "portion size" REALLY is.

airangel59

I weigh & measure, have a few sets of cups, spoons and glass pyrex in diffferent sizes. Got Biggest Loser digital food scale as well.
It only takes a few seconds to weight & measure and I know I'm not cheating myself in over or under eating food.

LinaBo

I try to weigh everything (in metric), whenever possible. Volume measures are really only a decent equivalent for water, and liquids with similar density (such as milk, juices, etc). Even then, 1 ml = 1 g, so I just weigh everything because measuring cups tend to vary in accuracy. This is just how I learned to do things in culinary school.

Occasionally, I come upon times where I can't measure so precisely. Such as a cheat meal, planned or not. That's when I take my best guess. I'm not going to turn down the occasional awesome dinner out, or other special occasion feast, because I'm hung up on exact measurements. I often guess the weight of an item before I actually measure it, and I'm often pretty close. Years of experience definitely helps with that.

peachyxoxoxo

I guesstimate most of my portions and I don't count calories either. I've lost 9 lbs in the last 7 weeks... hoping to lose another 17 lbs by November I do measure out things like dry oatmeal that require specific proportions to cook right.

cbevan1229

I measure pretty much everything I make in my own kitchen. My food scale stays on the counter for quick access, and my measuring cups get used every day.

juliekaiser1988

Unless you have calibrated eyeballs, you really need measuring spoons, cups, and a digital scale.

Tedebearduff

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?

I measure some times it really depends on what I am eating, I can guesstimate pretty well I was in the restaurant business for 3 years, and would cook for fun at least a few days of the week. I took advantage of my role and would learn as much as I could when ever I could from the head chef (I was the GM).

I almost always weigh my meats even though I can eyeball most of them... I like to know exactly how much protein I am having. Things like Greek yogurt I measure but something like mixed greens I would eyeball ..... or the size of a banana, avocado, kale ect ect.

fteale

I would like to know this.

People who do NOT measure: How much weight have you lost? And how long did it take you?

People who DO measure and weigh: How much weight have you lost and how much? And how long did it take?


Me, I measure everything and lost 73 pounds over 8 months.

Surely that entirely depends on how much weight you had to lose in the first place, and how small/big you are? I lost 30 lbs in 6 months, from 155 - 125 lbs. In that time friends of mine who started out at 250 lost twice as much as I did while not measuring a thing. It's hard to lose weight once you are 120 ish lbs, no matter how you are doing it.

AlabasterVerve

I would like to know this.

People who do NOT measure: How much weight have you lost? And how long did it take you?

People who DO measure and weigh: How much weight have you lost and how much? And how long did it take?


Me, I measure everything and lost 73 pounds over 8 months.

Get over yourself. Your way doesn't have to be everyone else's way.

I don't own a scale, I don't want a scale and my weight loss is not going to depend on whether or not my steak was 8 oz or 12oz. I use measuring cups occasionally when it makes sense to but more often than not I just best-guess it. I'm consistent and honest with myself and I've lost 50 pounds in the last 30 weeks -- 2.6 pounds just last week in fact.

Scales and measuring cups are simply tools -- that most dieters find value in using -- but they're not must haves.