How nit-picky are you about calorie counting?

I log everything, and weigh everything! I stopped doing it for awhile, 5 months....while I didn't gain any weight (just yo-yo-ed a few lbs)...I thought I was savy enough to eyeball a 1/2 cup of this or that. Or not log the extra bite of pb on a knife while making my kids lunch...etc. Even though I was eating healthy foods, I wasn't counting or weighing everything and I stopped losing.
Just started back at it last month and I've finally starting losing again after a few months.

Only thing I don't weigh is lettuce while making a salad.

I started out logging most things but guessing weights and measurements and I lost weight just fine. I usually was under my calorie goal but I figured I was probably underestimating some amounts.

I have started to weigh things more and find it really interesting. E.g. 10g of butter/spread is quite a big blob! A "serving" of peanut butter goes a long way etc etc. I was actually pretty close with my weight guesstimates- it helps I work on a deli as a student.

Still, I do a lot of guessing becuase I eat out or at my mums house quite a bit and I don't want to seem obsessive by asking how much each thing weighs.

I would never log spices, salt, pepper etc. I would never measure the amount of semi-skimmed milk in my tea.

It works for me, the weight is coming off steadily. If that stops being the case then I will review my policy

I try to remember to track everything, including the 10 calories from the fish oil pill I take once or twice a day. However, with salads and other raw veggies, I'm pretty general with my logging. I don't weigh my food, so it's kind of difficult to put every single thing down to the exact gram. If you look at my food log for today, you'll see I had a salad and I estimated some of the veggies I put in there. On the other hand, if I eat one m 'n m, I'll log it simply to hold myself accountable for every bite.

I track everything. I try to do it while I'm cooking so I don't forget anything and I weigh all my foods. I can't stand eating somewhere where I can't count things now =( I feel like a total youknowwhat because of it too but I am super dedicated to what I'm doing and that's why I'm successful!

Im ridiculous...I even track breathmints if im offered one and I weigh EVERYTHING. It's quite annoying!

This, except I don't find it annoying at all. It's a fun game for me that leaves me feeling empowered and very in control of my life. And any SAHM can relate to what a great feeling that is!

I don't log sugar-free gum, my vitamins or the fat free half and half in my morning coffee. I have those things every day, so I figure they're a constant. I weigh meat, and measure most other things.

I try to add everything but if I use some olive oil spray and herbs I just quick add as around 30-50 calories to account for it. I can't be bothered with every single little morsel :P

Thanks for creating this thread, it reminded me that I forgot to track a piece of sugarless gum earlier.

And if anyone looks at what I ate today they'll see it's even more ridiculous than it sounds because I'm so far over on calories that it doesn't even matter at this point. But I still went back and added it.

Meticulous tracking has helped me figure things out though. When my cravings overrode my low carb diet a few weeks ago I went back and looked at what I was eating this time last year, and sure enough I was struggling then, too. An accurate accounting from a year ago helped me realize that my Spring allergies have a major effect on my appetite, both on how much I eat and on what I eat.

I'm in the minority here. I am obsessive and have made a conscious decision to not be obsessive about this. So I track my calories but I don't stress out if I am not exactly accurate, if I lick the remained for PB off the knife after I make my kids PB&J, etc.

My calorie setting is set a little lower than it should be to lose the 1lb a week I am hoping for right now, and part of the reason is because I feel like it gives me a little wiggle room if my measurements are not exact (I don't own an electronic scale yet) or I nibble here or there. When I'm estimating food for some reason, I always estimate high, and on exercise I estimate calories burned low.

Also, I'm a stay at home mom with a 5 year old and a 6 year old. They see Mommy weighing and logging food, and I don't want them seeing me frantically logging food because I'm chewing gum or eating 2 M&Ms my son gives me.

This way won't work for everyone, and when I get closer to my goal I understand I will probably need to tighten it up, but for now it is working for me. I'm losing 1-2lbs/week, tracking 95% and not stressing out about it.

I have been tracking everything. I just bought a food scale for $20 at walmart that I love. I also use measuring cups and spoons all the time.