Tracking is a Pain in the @$$

SummerLovesPhil
SummerLovesPhil Posts: 242 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, it's rant time. For those of us who stay away from packaged foods and make a variety of recipes, tracking on MFP is a total pain in the butt! Entering the whole recipe (and remembering what you put in it) every time you make dinner? Especially if I measured in cups and whoever else measured in grams, or vice versa? Blergh. Okay, I'm done now.
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Replies

  • Alexandra289
    Alexandra289 Posts: 330 Member
    Haha know the feeling - tend to just make educated guesses a lot of the time as I don't always want to weigh EVERYTHING.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    It's a pain, and I'm very half-@$$ed myself. You could develop six to eight meals of known calories and alternate them.
  • taidasrictar
    taidasrictar Posts: 100 Member
    yah annoying to break out the spreadsheet to calculate the meal but i made a spreadsheet that does all the adding for me and i put in the servings and divides it accordingly

    but i know it is for the greater good of my waistline so i keep up with it :smile:
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I found being fat more of a pain in the @$$.

    Did you notice the recipe tab?
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    yeah... even if it's homemade I just grab a processed food for my food diary, at least it has the macros and sometimes micros listed. :)
  • MexicanOsmosis
    MexicanOsmosis Posts: 382 Member
    Did you notice the recipe tab?

    ^This. I've used it a few times. Definitely comes in handy.
  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    This is just one of the reasons that I am now focusing more on intuitive eating than counting calories. Eating whole foods shouldn't be stressful! (Plus, this better addresses the reason I overeat in the first place.)
  • Underworld_Dandy
    Underworld_Dandy Posts: 22 Member
    You could always save yer own recipes
  • socajam
    socajam Posts: 2,530 Member
    I found being fat more of a pain in the @$$.

    Did you notice the recipe tab?


    A bit pain in the @$$ you mean. I'll take the recipe tab every time, people want things too easy.
  • a_vettestingray
    a_vettestingray Posts: 654 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant
  • SleeplessinBerlin
    SleeplessinBerlin Posts: 513 Member
    Use the recipe tab. Unless you cook something new every single evening, you will find it really useful. The more recipes you enter, the easier it gets with time.

    I tend to print my recipes, weigh everything, write it directly on the recipe while cooking (it takes just a few seconds) and save the print in a folder I keep in my kitchen. This way, I always know how to cook next time. If I change something in the recipe - no problem, I change it on MPF as well.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Haha yeah. Finding a good entry for potato was the worst pain in the butt. I honestly don't really make fancy meals anymore, just separate things I can weigh separately.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Not exactly that difficult add things as you go along (or write them down) then make them a recipe so you can use it again. Doesn't really add much time and you get used to weighing everything. Personally I think your making a fuss over nothing. If you were able to overeat a cople of minutes on your meal prepe to help you get healthy is no bother.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    Okay, it's rant time. For those of us who stay away from packaged foods and make a variety of recipes, tracking on MFP is a total pain in the butt! Entering the whole recipe (and remembering what you put in it) every time you make dinner? Especially if I measured in cups and whoever else measured in grams, or vice versa? Blergh. Okay, I'm done now.

    When is it not on MFP?
  • SleeplessinBerlin
    SleeplessinBerlin Posts: 513 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant

    Agree! And why are there 50 different entries for a potato? 1 for 50g, one for 75g, one for a cup, another for half a cup, yet another for a slice, etc etc etc. I'd love them all to be in one place called raw potato.
  • CrankMeUp
    CrankMeUp Posts: 2,860 Member
    Being tired when I got to the top of the stairs was a pain in the butt...tracking is well worth it...and like others said, use the recipe tab! once you enter it in and how may servings it is there for you.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    I found being fat more of a pain in the @$$.

    Did you notice the recipe tab?

    KmE27SP.gif

    tumblr_inline_mi1743mPJB1qz4rgp.gif
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    You realise this site is free, right?

    It's not perfect, but considering it's free it gives a lot.
  • strongmindstrongbody
    strongmindstrongbody Posts: 315 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant

    I think the trick is to put the whole food in plural, like instead of "potato" type in "potatoes." I typed in "banana" today and found about 20 foods containing bananas, but not the actual fruit. Then I typed in "bananas" and it finally showed up.
  • jmbond06
    jmbond06 Posts: 90 Member
    It can be frustrating. I save a lot of my recipes but even then I don't always follow them exactly so I have to change things a lot. I've just kind of gotten over it. I'm quite quick at logging all my food now.
  • TheDarlingOne
    TheDarlingOne Posts: 255 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant

    Agree! And why are there 50 different entries for a potato? 1 for 50g, one for 75g, one for a cup, another for half a cup, yet another for a slice, etc etc etc. I'd love them all to be in one place called raw potato.

    joining in the rant! this is my 1st one yall. lol.
    I agree w/ this ranting here - which goes with kinda the op rant.
    that's the one off-putting thing of the website - is that there are 50 different versions of the ONE thing i need to register. pineapple, potatoes, etc.
    or even for the fast food listings - there are at least 7 different zaxby's fries on the list...different grams...different oz...etc. how does this data base get 'made' anyways?

    arrrrg!

    okay rant over :) lol
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Think of using the recipe builder as an investment. You invest a lot of time in it in the beginning, but once you've got all your recipes in there it's really quick and easy to log. The only thing I need to change are the exact grams of the veggies. Other things (like how to search for potato to get the right one to come up) just come with practice. Usually adding "raw" narrows it down a lot and then for most whole foods you just choose the one with no asterisk.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I found being fat more of a pain in the @$$.

    Did you notice the recipe tab?

    :laugh:

    Yeah, I make simple dinners with a half dozen or so ingredients (I don't count spices) so it's not a big deal for me. A lot of the stuff is already in my "Most Used" section. Plus, I've already entered most of the regular meals that I cook in the recipe section. Super easy after you do it the first time...
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    The recipe section is my favorite part - takes the guesswork out of it! Yeah, it's tedious to enter recipes at first, but I do it all the time, and with 650 straight days logged at MFP, I can say I don't have to do it as often now - most of what I make on a regular basis is already in my recipe section, so it's easy peasy to log it. And if I change an ingredient, I just edit the recipe to delete or add whatever I've changed.

    It takes a little effort, but then, so does weight loss. And it's worth it. :bigsmile:
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant

    Agree! And why are there 50 different entries for a potato? 1 for 50g, one for 75g, one for a cup, another for half a cup, yet another for a slice, etc etc etc. I'd love them all to be in one place called raw potato.

    joining in the rant! this is my 1st one yall. lol.
    I agree w/ this ranting here - which goes with kinda the op rant.
    that's the one off-putting thing of the website - is that there are 50 different versions of the ONE thing i need to register. pineapple, potatoes, etc.
    or even for the fast food listings - there are at least 7 different zaxby's fries on the list...different grams...different oz...etc. how does this data base get 'made' anyways?

    arrrrg!

    okay rant over :) lol

    Adding raw helps. Like if I was going to put in an egg, I'd search for "whole egg, raw." Choose the one with no asterisk that has options for cups and grams. That's the one that is not user entered and has been checked against the USDA database.
  • pinkly14fun2
    pinkly14fun2 Posts: 55
    I found being fat more of a pain in the @$$.



    ^^^^Love this!
  • angelcurry130
    angelcurry130 Posts: 265 Member
    regarding your rant over different ingredient options, consider how many people struggled to find the correct portion and nutritional info. i have seen multiple database entries that are flat out wrong or appear to be fudging the facts to justify a splurge. entering your own info is sometimes easier that searching, so the database grows.

    as for the recipe bit, idk how inventive you are with your cooking, but if you like something, you will make it again, right? having it stored in the recipe list is great for remembering how you made it. i make fritattas in muffin pans. your head would spin from all the varieties i make from eggs, proteins, veggies, and whatever additional leftovers i happen to have on hand. having a base recipe on file makes it easier to calculate instead of tagging a new recipe every single time i make it. there IS an edit option, and you can always rename the recipe as well as add or remove an ingredient as needed.

    in summary, i think the recipe tool (and the database, when used with patience) is a total life saver!
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant

    Agree! And why are there 50 different entries for a potato? 1 for 50g, one for 75g, one for a cup, another for half a cup, yet another for a slice, etc etc etc. I'd love them all to be in one place called raw potato.

    joining in the rant! this is my 1st one yall. lol.
    I agree w/ this ranting here - which goes with kinda the op rant.
    that's the one off-putting thing of the website - is that there are 50 different versions of the ONE thing i need to register. pineapple, potatoes, etc.
    or even for the fast food listings - there are at least 7 different zaxby's fries on the list...different grams...different oz...etc. how does this data base get 'made' anyways?

    arrrrg!

    okay rant over :) lol

    Look for the entries with out asterisks. These are USDA values I believe. Problem solved.
  • InspiredbyDolce
    InspiredbyDolce Posts: 1
    After you create your meal here in MyFitnessPal, you can save it, and then if you eat it again, you can pull it up, place a check mark by it to enter in easier.
    I do find if the ingredients change just slightly, I will just use the closest recipe that I have saved. It might not be 100% correct but enough where I can figure out what I am high or low on for the day in the categories.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I am curious why it is so hard in MFP to find raw, whole food. Like potato, put that in and you have to search for potato. Same with pineapple of other fruits, etc. The whole, raw version of the food should be the first thing that comes up, not a bunch of other crap that might have a potato in it. /rant

    This is something I'd like to see. Maybe just a little check box that only shows the original entries and can weed out all the * items. Other than that, I love this FREE website and if I weren't logging it here, I'd be doing the same thing with a nutrition book and a notebook. I find this method FAR EASIER than that (what I was doing before I knew this place existed).

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