do i really have to count those?

laura328
laura328 Posts: 136 Member
in Food and Nutrition
i've been bulking up my meals with raw veggies - snap peas, peppers, carrots, etc. i just don't wanna count those calories even though of course they have calories. what do you guys think?

Replies

  • CharityGC
    CharityGC Posts: 499 Member
    If it has calories, I count it.
  • rosy003
    rosy003 Posts: 251 Member
    I would just "quick add" a guess of the calories- maybe overestimate a bit just to be safe.
  • rsharper97
    rsharper97 Posts: 242 Member
    I would count them.
  • jriehl08
    jriehl08 Posts: 157 Member
    If I eat it it gets counted
  • MeMyCatsandI
    MeMyCatsandI Posts: 704 Member
    Count them.
  • woodwardtm
    woodwardtm Posts: 361 Member
    I count whatever I eat.
  • geckospot
    geckospot Posts: 56 Member
    Those are bulking up on the good side of nutrition. Of course you count them. Now that order of Wendy's french fries I had last night - no, I really didn't want to count those but if it goes in the mouth it gets counted.
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    you want to be accurate count them...if you don't care, don't count them.
  • BAFilek
    BAFilek Posts: 139 Member
    According to Weight Watchers, no one gets fat eating vegetables and fruits, therefore they have 0 points. It is completely up to you if you count them. I, personally, do not count my Crystal Light drinks that should be 10 calories per packet.
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member
    I count them. I really hate counting things that I shouldn't have had. (Hello peanut butter cookies!) But I like counting the healthy stuff. It makes me realize how far I have come in my progress of Healthy VS. Unhealthy.
  • LaurenEileen74
    LaurenEileen74 Posts: 142 Member
    count them ... no cheating :smile:
  • laura328
    laura328 Posts: 136 Member
    Thanks all! I know you're right and I have to count them. I just keep saying to myself (stupid I know) "but it's just raw veggies!!!!" it's not fair that I should have to count them. waaaah:sad:
  • laura328
    laura328 Posts: 136 Member
    According to Weight Watchers, no one gets fat eating vegetables and fruits, therefore they have 0 points. It is completely up to you if you count them. I, personally, do not count my Crystal Light drinks that should be 10 calories per packet.

    That's kinda where I'm coming from. I wonder what would happen if I ONLY ate fruits and veggies....
  • americangirlok
    americangirlok Posts: 228 Member
    If I have a cup of grapes or half cup of grapes or broccoli or garden tomatoes I count them. If I eat 5 or 6 while cooking dinner I don't. And I don't count coffee- I've seen it on people's diaries like "1 cup of coffee, dripped 2 calories." I burn more than 2 calories typing that so I don't. But I'd say if your eating it as a snack or with a meal I'd count it- also it will help your nutrient reports be more accurate and account for the iron and fiber and vitamin content- which when you are looking back at your progress will look really good and proably make you feel really good too.
  • JessicaRobin67
    JessicaRobin67 Posts: 275 Member
    count everything that goes into your mouth.
  • laura328
    laura328 Posts: 136 Member
    Those are bulking up on the good side of nutrition. Of course you count them. Now that order of Wendy's french fries I had last night - no, I really didn't want to count those but if it goes in the mouth it gets counted.


    hee hee:laugh: so I guess that means I have to count those nachos I had the other day...
  • essaryswife73
    essaryswife73 Posts: 81 Member
    If I eat it or drink it or chew it, I count it. Even the no calorie stuff. And especially the high calorie stuff.
  • nokanjaijo
    nokanjaijo Posts: 466 Member
    I wouldn't worry about it if you don't want to. Your calorie goal isn't written in stone by the prophet of God. If I were as worried about the accuracy of my calorie counting as you would have to be to count the carrots you add to your meal, I would have to weigh the ingredients for my own portion of food separately, cook it separate from my husband's portion and eat the entire thing I cooked for myself instead of stopping if I feel full.

    Do you see what I am saying.

    At a certain point, you have to realized that you ARE estimating. It's a close estimate but it is still an estimate.
  • skinnydreams19
    skinnydreams19 Posts: 282 Member
    You could count them for accuracy, but if you're just concerned with the weight loss, you don't NEED to. Thermogenetic studies show that (at least for mice and rats, but research on human ileostomy patients supports that it applies to us, too) that the SDA (specific dynamic action = cost of digestion) is high enough for those foods, especially raw, that the net energy gain is 0 on average.

    So, basically : not counting them isn't what's going to make you fat (or not lose) if you're counting your other food.
  • skinnydreams19
    skinnydreams19 Posts: 282 Member
    If you ONLY ate raw fruits and vegetables, you'd need to add in high calorie ones like nuts and seeds and avocados or you'd eventually die of starvation.
  • diaryofaskinnygirl
    diaryofaskinnygirl Posts: 146
    I personally don't count my veggies because they are so low in calories and nutrient dense, it seems silly to weigh out a portion of veggies. Also I think it's a bad idea to be too strict on yourself, because you could find yourself becoming obsessive.
  • da1128
    da1128 Posts: 212 Member
    If I bite it, I write it. Often, I don't get anywhere near 1200 calories even though I munch all day. I'm forever being warned that I'm eating too few calories, aka starvation mode, but the thing is, I'm not starving. I eat until I'm no longer hungry. I 'like' low cal, no cal foods and I never feel deprived.

    There are days when I really need to up my caloric intake though, but I find it hard to do when I'm full.
  • The1iceQueen
    The1iceQueen Posts: 119
    Count everything, even condiments.
  • CoraGregoryCPA
    CoraGregoryCPA Posts: 1,087 Member
    I believe in counting them
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    I would count them, not just for the calories but because I also look at the vitamins and fiber in my daily stats.

    There are things I don't count, though. Mustard. Salsa if it's less than a tablespoon. The single sugar cube I put in my tea 4 or 5 times a week. I'm usually 100-200 calories under at the end of the day, which more than covers little things like that.
  • rosiereally2
    rosiereally2 Posts: 539 Member
    Count them, but don't restrict them.
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    I log every sip and bite.
  • LozPenguin
    LozPenguin Posts: 139 Member
    I count them, but I just have 'mixed veges' saved in my recipes. I just added all the veges I usually throw together when I cook, and set it in cup portions; that way it's no big effort or drama to add them, I'm not ignoring the fact they do count as calories but I can raise or lower the amount (1/2, 3/4 cups etc) depending on what I eat. Sometimes it may be lower in cals (i.e if I've used slightly different veges) sometimes it may be higher. But I dont get hung up on the good stuff! The more veges I eat the better! Nom nom nom

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