eating more than you think....

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

crying over 1 calorie in diet soda... obsessive
reminding ourselves to accurately measure to avoid 200-400 a day calorie mistakes... responsible

But bringing a food scale out to a restaurant is perfectly normal?

yes, because mexi restaurants have different size baskets, and i wanted to know how many servings were in the baskets at my typical place. plus, i dont pretend to be normal... im a little outside the normal box... my response to you was in regards to those measuring everything... THATS NORMAL!

that being said, your the one who brought up that weighting food is obsessive... not me.

It's so true. I normally don't weigh foods like eggs. The other I did out of curiosity... My scale was right there so I thought why not? My large egg was 61g instead of 53 like the label said.

I just weighed my two eggs this morning. Normally I would have just logged as 2 large eggs which would have been 140 calories. But with weighing them its 173 calories

Not quite. In my experience, it doesn't matter that much for eggs, most of the extra weight is egg white, and it's really not enough calories to make a difference.

Another issue often is you don't know if the numbers include the skin or the pit for fruit...

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

The point is that if you can't measure accurately you can't just "eat at your calorie goal." Especially when people only have a small amount of weight to lose, there is a very small margin of error. Weighing food is another tool for people to learn to accurately log and achieve their goals. No one is crying here. They are learning.

I'm not talking about the issue of weighing foods vs. measuring with cups/tablespoons. I understand that those measurements are often wrong and can mean trouble when it comes to consuming on a regular basis as a part of a strict calorie goal. I am all for weighing meats or homemade meals. But someone here mentioned that they weigh mustard. You don't think that's gone a little too far?

Pfft I weigh mustard. It's 15 calories a serving. If you never weigh your condiments, you can go over by quite a bit at the end of the day.

And if you think it's obsessive... *shrug*. It's worked for me. My health matters more than whether people think I'm obsessive or not.

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

The point is that if you can't measure accurately you can't just "eat at your calorie goal." Especially when people only have a small amount of weight to lose, there is a very small margin of error. Weighing food is another tool for people to learn to accurately log and achieve their goals. No one is crying here. They are learning.

I'm not talking about the issue of weighing foods vs. measuring with cups/tablespoons. I understand that those measurements are often wrong and can mean trouble when it comes to consuming on a regular basis as a part of a strict calorie goal. I am all for weighing meats or homemade meals. But someone here mentioned that they weigh mustard. You don't think that's gone a little too far?

Pfft I weigh mustard. It's 15 calories a serving. If you never weigh your condiments, you can go over by quite a bit at the end of the day.

And if you think it's obsessive... *shrug*. It's worked for me. My health matters more than whether people think I'm obsessive or not.

A serving of mustard is 1 tsp. I'm sorry, but there are not 15 calories in a teaspoon of mustard. I don't know where you got that from. It's usually around 3-4 calories per teaspoon depending on the type, and those calories will not matter in the long run.

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

The point is that if you can't measure accurately you can't just "eat at your calorie goal." Especially when people only have a small amount of weight to lose, there is a very small margin of error. Weighing food is another tool for people to learn to accurately log and achieve their goals. No one is crying here. They are learning.

I'm not talking about the issue of weighing foods vs. measuring with cups/tablespoons. I understand that those measurements are often wrong and can mean trouble when it comes to consuming on a regular basis as a part of a strict calorie goal. I am all for weighing meats or homemade meals. But someone here mentioned that they weigh mustard. You don't think that's gone a little too far?

Pfft I weigh mustard. It's 15 calories a serving. If you never weigh your condiments, you can go over by quite a bit at the end of the day.

And if you think it's obsessive... *shrug*. It's worked for me. My health matters more than whether people think I'm obsessive or not.

A serving of mustard is 1 tsp. I'm sorry, but there are not 15 calories in a teaspoon of mustard. I don't know where you got that from. It's usually around 3-4 calories per teaspoon depending on the type, and those calories will not matter in the long run.

For me there's got to be balance. I don't weigh spinach or pre-packaged foods. I don't take my food scale to restaurants. But I do weigh my mayo and other condiments.

To me it's about realizing that there's some margin of error in the process, but still trying to minimize that margin as much as possible.

And I don't think everyone needs to weigh everything. Some people don't like the place it takes them mentally and that's fine. But if you have a small deficit and you're not losing, it's the first thing I'd suggest.

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

The point is that if you can't measure accurately you can't just "eat at your calorie goal." Especially when people only have a small amount of weight to lose, there is a very small margin of error. Weighing food is another tool for people to learn to accurately log and achieve their goals. No one is crying here. They are learning.

I'm not talking about the issue of weighing foods vs. measuring with cups/tablespoons. I understand that those measurements are often wrong and can mean trouble when it comes to consuming on a regular basis as a part of a strict calorie goal. I am all for weighing meats or homemade meals. But someone here mentioned that they weigh mustard. You don't think that's gone a little too far?

Pfft I weigh mustard. It's 15 calories a serving. If you never weigh your condiments, you can go over by quite a bit at the end of the day.

And if you think it's obsessive... *shrug*. It's worked for me. My health matters more than whether people think I'm obsessive or not.

A serving of mustard is 1 tsp. I'm sorry, but there are not 15 calories in a teaspoon of mustard. I don't know where you got that from. It's usually around 3-4 calories per teaspoon depending on the type, and those calories will not matter in the long run.

The one I use does. It's French. It's 15 calories for 10g and I like a lot of it, lol.

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

The point is that if you can't measure accurately you can't just "eat at your calorie goal." Especially when people only have a small amount of weight to lose, there is a very small margin of error. Weighing food is another tool for people to learn to accurately log and achieve their goals. No one is crying here. They are learning.

I'm not talking about the issue of weighing foods vs. measuring with cups/tablespoons. I understand that those measurements are often wrong and can mean trouble when it comes to consuming on a regular basis as a part of a strict calorie goal. I am all for weighing meats or homemade meals. But someone here mentioned that they weigh mustard. You don't think that's gone a little too far?

Pfft I weigh mustard. It's 15 calories a serving. If you never weigh your condiments, you can go over by quite a bit at the end of the day.

And if you think it's obsessive... *shrug*. It's worked for me. My health matters more than whether people think I'm obsessive or not.

A serving of mustard is 1 tsp. I'm sorry, but there are not 15 calories in a teaspoon of mustard. I don't know where you got that from. It's usually around 3-4 calories per teaspoon depending on the type, and those calories will not matter in the long run.

For me there's got to be balance. I don't weigh spinach or pre-packaged foods. I don't take my food scale to restaurants. But I do weigh my mayo and other condiments.

To me it's about realizing that there's some margin of error in the process, but still trying to minimize that margin as much as possible.

And I don't think everyone needs to weigh everything. Some people don't like the place it takes them mentally and that's fine. But if you have a small deficit and you're not losing, it's the first thing I'd suggest.

I think you have a healthy point of view on weighing food. I'm mainly concerned about the people here who are taking things to an extreme.

Honestly how other people choose to commit to their weight loss has nothing to do with you and for you to say we're obsessive is unnecessary. I do have a food scale, in fact I have 3 of them. 1 for home, 1 at work and 1 I keep in my purse.

For me it's what has helped me get to where I am now.

For you it may seem extreme and that's your prerogative but for me it's what works.

This is the definition of obsessive. Some packages overestimate calories, and some even underestimate calories. Calm down, eat at your calorie goal, and let the rest even out.

This reminds me of the time I cried for 2 hours when I found out diet coke as 1 calorie per 8 ounces.

The point is that if you can't measure accurately you can't just "eat at your calorie goal." Especially when people only have a small amount of weight to lose, there is a very small margin of error. Weighing food is another tool for people to learn to accurately log and achieve their goals. No one is crying here. They are learning.

I'm not talking about the issue of weighing foods vs. measuring with cups/tablespoons. I understand that those measurements are often wrong and can mean trouble when it comes to consuming on a regular basis as a part of a strict calorie goal. I am all for weighing meats or homemade meals. But someone here mentioned that they weigh mustard. You don't think that's gone a little too far?

Pfft I weigh mustard. It's 15 calories a serving. If you never weigh your condiments, you can go over by quite a bit at the end of the day.

And if you think it's obsessive... *shrug*. It's worked for me. My health matters more than whether people think I'm obsessive or not.

A serving of mustard is 1 tsp. I'm sorry, but there are not 15 calories in a teaspoon of mustard. I don't know where you got that from. It's usually around 3-4 calories per teaspoon depending on the type, and those calories will not matter in the long run.

For me there's got to be balance. I don't weigh spinach or pre-packaged foods. I don't take my food scale to restaurants. But I do weigh my mayo and other condiments.

To me it's about realizing that there's some margin of error in the process, but still trying to minimize that margin as much as possible.

And I don't think everyone needs to weigh everything. Some people don't like the place it takes them mentally and that's fine. But if you have a small deficit and you're not losing, it's the first thing I'd suggest.

I think you have a healthy point of view on weighing food. I'm mainly concerned about the people here who are taking things to an extreme.

I get your point but I think everyone's got to draw that line for themselves. There are people who think that what I do is extreme. *shrug*

I live in the UK so we don't really use cups and tend to weigh more, but it's scary that bought food in stated pack sizes can be so far over their stated weight. I never actually weigh stuff that's bought as a single serving. Oh no, something else to worry about :noway:

Exactly what I was thinking...

So I am guessing I have been eating 300-500 calories more a day than I logged. And yes that is why I haven't lost anymore.

I guess I am posting this because hopefully someone reads it and instead of insisting they are right and their body is playing games, they really look at what they are eating. I was really shocked. And now kind of sad because I have to eat less.

You rock. It takes courage to say "maybe the problem is at my end".

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Here's my question about this: I use spray for cooking. It has zero calories for 1/3 of a second of a spray. But, I assume after that, it has 1 calorie, and then 2 and on and on. However, zero times 1,000,000,000 is zero, so how do you calculate stuff like that? It says zero calories, but there is no easy way to actually measure.

You're talking about such miniscule amounts, that worrying about such calories is really pointless. You'll never have complete precision in your measuring, you should strive for the most precision attainable, but fractions of a calorie is going off the deep end.

That isn't an answer to the question. I'm probably not going to calculate it. However, I am interested if I use 50 calories or 5. I really have no idea. But, the question stems around the idea that anything times zero is zero, so effectively, it is impossible to calculate, even though it is documented that it does have calories, and significant calories, as I understand it. So, olive oil has about 120 cals per tablespoon, I think. The spray is the same. It is effectively, sprayable olive oil. So, I could effectively be using 100 calories, thinking I'm using zero. If I use it twice or three times a day, which I do at times, that could be 300 or so calories above what I thought.

This is an example of how calories just slip into the mix without you really knwoing. Until you know, don't dismiss it so quickly. If it turns out I use 5 calories, I will be the first one to ignore it. But, my question first is: How many do I use and how do I calculate it?

If the spray were 50 calories per use, it wouldn't be noted as "zero" for 1/3 of a second, so that concern isn't valid.

What are we talking about anyway? Cooking spray?

What are you going to do with it, that makes this a potential issue? Do you use it as a marinade? Drink it as a treat?

Every time I hear people say "eat more" to lose weight, I think of the things my father said.

He was a professional wrestler for 30 years and was a Greco-Roman wrestler before that, and made it to the Olympic finals, so he was a proper athlete. Coached football and wrestling at the university of Alabama and Chattanooga, and a couple of things stick in my mind:

I asked him what exercise to do to lose weight, and he said there was only one - stretch your arms out and push away from the table.

I also heard stories of him eating absolutely nothing for 2 days except a single piece of toast to qualify for a lower weight division. Apparently, if you eat less, you lose weight, starvation mode or not.

Also my sister has a ph. D in nursing and has taught nursing, pediatrics, and pharmaceuticals at universities across the country for 20 years, and she is always sending me medical studies from proper medical journals that show that when they underfed monkeys, they were much healthier than the ones who were even slightly overfed. Not that I agree with animal testing, mind you.

I think we have to be very careful and make sure to discourage people from eating disorders but we also don't need to be telling people who are chubby (like me!) to eat more. Nice story, but no.