Are there any foods that you don't count?

theseus82

I used to be a member of WeightWatchers online. Back in 2006 they had 0 point foods. Things like carrots and celery.

I have adapted MFP to resemble WeightWatchers in many respects. I keep a running tally on how over-calories I am day-to-day on the notes section. I find it helps me to keep track of how I'm doing with my calorie allotment if I keep track of the overage calories in the "notes section".

Up until 2 weeks ago, I used to not count calories for certain foods. Things like sugar free Jello, a little dallop of soy milk in my coffee or tea, or celery or carrots. . .

I recently realized that these things were adding up. So I decided to start counting them. So now, I calorie count everything I eat. It's been working great so far.

Since I make use of the "notes section" in the food journal, I added another notation today that I'll use for a while:

Crypto calorie: a calorie that I previously wouldn't have counted. Today's total for crypto calories was 505. The highest yet. It's usually around 200 or so. But it is still significant because it adds up over the week.

Does anybody else have a "free" food that they use in moderation? If so, you may want to consider counting it if you end up hitting a plateau.

spaghetti93

If I add a very small amount of vegetable to something like a slice of cucumber to my water I won't always add it. But if I add some cucumber, onions, pepper, and a slice of tomato all in one day to something, these start to add up so I make sure I count them.

JeneticTraining

Pills.
A baby carrot.

Guillotined

Pills.
A baby carrot.

A baby carrot? Lol.

Guillotined

Sorry, I just got a really funny visual of you placing a single baby carrot on a plate and going to town on it with a fork and knife.

VanessaHeartsMasr

I don't count my fish oil pills. Or diet soda. That's about it. I used to not count cough drops until I found out they had 15 calories apiece. That adds up!

GnomeLover1984

I had one M&M today. I did not count that.

Also, yesterday I stole a tiny bit of shredded cheese from someone. Didn't count that.

annepage

No. I count everything.

VegetarianGoddess

gum and coffee.

OneEyeUp

I don't usually count natural lemon juice or raw honey, because honey metabolizes VERY differently than sugar.. It actually eats away fat, rather than stores it, so it doesn't make sense to count it.

AskTheStorm

I rarely count my veggies unless I have a ton of one kind (like carrots) and sometimes I don't count ketchup

goodgirlguns

I don't count herbs/spices that I put in my food. Nor do I count plain tea or coffee or diet soda (however I don't have any of it as much, so it doesn't really matter.) Also gum and if I have one chewy sweet during the day.

Lifting_Knitter

I don't count it if I taste my food while cooking or snag a little bite of something to try as long as I am not going crazy.

OneEyeUp

I rarely count my veggies unless I have a ton of one kind (like carrots) and sometimes I don't count ketchup

You should definitely count ketchup, as that is just empty, unhealthy calories which do add up and work against your deficit.

BrendaLee

Sorry, I just got a really funny visual of you placing a single baby carrot on a plate and going to town on it with a fork and knife.

That made me lol.

The only thing I don't log is sugar-free gum.

Dunkirk

Herbal teas, zero calories, vitamins

spamantha57

The past month I've tried to count pretty much everything I can. I used to not count pills & tea, but I do want to see how much I'm getting of a certain nutrient, & those can have iron, potassium, sodium, etc. in them.

I used to not count garlic, but do now too. I don't count water because I know I don't drink enough & I'm always trying to consciously drink (not a naturally thirsty person, possibly due to low sodium intake.) Some days I try really hard for my 8 glasses so I'll count (usually can only make it to 6 or 7.)

If I grab a few peanuts or a bite off someone's food, sometimes I don't log, sometimes I'll guesstimate quick add calories if it might be significant (50+.)

linsey0689

I log everything no matter if it has 0 calories or even a small amount. Diet pop that only has a little bit of sodium gets logged, salt, pepper just everything for me it is just easier that way if I just always log everything. Plus normally those low calories thing I eat a lot so they are near the top of my recent anyway.

k_saenz

I usually count everything. Especially the bites of food my bf gives me. They add up if you're not careful

RingSize8

Lemons. I drink hot water with lemon every morning and every night. ...and I frequently get lemon in my water at restaurants and stuff. It's the only thing I don't count.

lady_bug_canada

I'll have 1 packet of crystal light in a day and I don't count it. I'll count the milk in my tea but not the sweetener.

Mr_Bad_Example

Are there foods I don't count? Sure - the ones I don't eat.

tanashai

Herbs-unless they're already pre-factored into a recipe
Slivers of occasional cheese

I pretty much count everything else though, lol

Cait_Sidhe

If it has no nutritional value, then yes, it doesn't count.

But if it does have nurtritional value, it sure as hell does count. Little bits add up to become big bits.

mrsmcline

I do not count vlasic dill pickles, they have no calories. Anything that has zero calories I do not count.

JJordon

Hot sauce.

Paganrosemama

Vitamin D, non salt based spices or seasonings, herbal teas without sweeteners, small tasting foods while cooking.

starfinale

hot sauce

Cait_Sidhe

I don't usually count natural lemon juice or raw honey, because honey metabolizes VERY differently than sugar.. It actually eats away fat, rather than stores it, so it doesn't make sense to count it.

Um, what? Your body doesn't care where the sugar came from and it is not metabolized different if it comes from honey.

Debbe2

I even count the amount of water I drink. :drinker:

vtmoon

Ice cubes.