Guesstimating

2

Replies

  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    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
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    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
    rungosgirl1018 Posts: 6
    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
    sleonardbranson Posts: 161
    I measure, it really helps me...it takes more time, but at least I know exactly what I'm eating and how much!
  • TravisBurns
    TravisBurns Posts: 353 Member
    I do both. If I guesstimate I always put a exceedingly high number.
  • realia
    realia Posts: 169 Member
    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
    Sharbear6936 Posts: 7
    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
    Lovestoscrapbook Posts: 295 Member
    Always measure, count, etc because I want an accurate total as much as possible.
  • davisrl0
    davisrl0 Posts: 93 Member
    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
    lilmisfit Posts: 860 Member
    I measure and weigh everything, unless I'm eating out or at a friend/family member's house (like yesterday and today).
  • Krisstah
    Krisstah Posts: 136 Member
    i measure and weigh everything.
  • suzesymon
    suzesymon Posts: 10 Member
    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
    crystaltate4 Posts: 48
    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
    lovesdarkchocolate Posts: 10
    Measure / food scale. When I began weighing foods I learned that several of my portions were badly off...
  • RuthSweetTooth
    RuthSweetTooth Posts: 461 Member
    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
    verbalriot Posts: 90
    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
    davidjulian Posts: 24 Member
    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
    runlaugheatpie Posts: 376 Member
    pretty much weigh and measure everything, except when out, obviously.
  • owyn999
    owyn999 Posts: 12 Member
    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
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    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
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    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
    Mommahatch Posts: 8
    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
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    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
    LinaBo Posts: 342 Member
    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
    peachyxoxoxo Posts: 1,178 Member
    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
    cbevan1229 Posts: 326 Member
    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
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    Unless you have calibrated eyeballs, you really need measuring spoons, cups, and a digital scale.
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    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
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    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
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    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.

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