Do you count every calorie?

Even though they seem like small amounts they do add up at the end of the day. Counting your veggies also keeps track of the nutrition from them so that is just as important.

Yes, if it goes in your mouth you should log it. Even low calorie veggies add up if you eat enough of them. You may find you are closer to your daily goal than you think if you truly log everything.

With things like Milk and cream, I think that it might be a good idea to count it.
They are rather calorie high and it may not seem like a lot right now, but later in the week you may be surprised how those little bits add up.

When I'm being VERY good about logging, I log EVERYTHING I eat or drink. Every single thing. Even the coffee I drink or the sugar free energy drinks. EVERYTHING. I count out serving sizes of baked chips or whatever. I think if you don't log everything, you COULD be consuming far more calories than you're aware of simply by the little things (2 cups of coffee is 5 calories, a sugar free energy drink is 10 calories -- there's 15 calories right there that wouldn't be accounted for if I didn't log them). It you bite it (or drink it), write it.

I try to count every calorie because when I get to the end of the day, and I have a couple hundred left over calories (like from excercise or something), I want to know that when it tells me what my weight will be in 5 weeks, that it's actually accurate. You might be surprised how many uncounted little calories add up! Some days my little piddly should I count those calories add up to over 100 calories!

Honestly, no. I don't count things like soy sauce, a piece of the children's pasta I am tasting to see if it's done, finishing off an apple slice. Then again, I also don't log my normal everyday walking around, only specific exercise, so it probably balances out.

I do, but everyone's different.

I have 20 pounds to lose and I'm finding it really really hard to shed. People with more weight to lose who aren't so crazy about tracking every calorie may still lose weight because they have more of it to lose. It really comes down to what works for you. I didn't always track every calorie, but I've found that the weight doesn't come off as quickly as I'd like it to unless I do.

I count everything except water, green/black/white tea, and coffee [black].

It's not something you have to absolutely do, but being lax about it is usually why people end up on MFP in the first place. As already stated, little things do add up. Vegetables still have calories in them. Milk is calorie-dense, so why you wouldn't count it, I'm not sure. But it's totally up to you. If you say you're having trouble with meeting your calorie goal [at your current method of counting], try counting them. See if it adds up to meet your goal.

Like the other posters, I count everything that I eat. It's the "forgetful eating" that gets me. Like others have said, those little calories (and carbs and sodium, etc.) add up. I also like to track my sodium (that crap is in everything!) and make sure I'm getting enough potassium, so yes, log those calories! However, since you have such a large calorie deficit, not logging to the exact calorie will not put the kibosh on your weight loss.

I log pretty much everything. I add the milk for my tea and if I have the tiniest bit of chocolate I add that.
It all adds up and if you don't log the milk in your tea but you have 10 cups in a day then that's quite a bit of milk.

I feel better knowing EVERYTHING is logged in my diary.
If I can't find the exact amount of something in the list (like lettuce for example) then I over estimate. Like if I have a few leaves of lettuce in a sandwich and all I can find is "1/2 cup lettuce" I add that. At least I know my calorie intake is the number or less rather than possibly being more.

On days when I don't know what the calorie intake is then I'm not that fussy but when I'm the one that's making the food then I log everything.

I pretty much log everything as well. I eat salads a lot and those fruits and veggies add up! I put low fat creamer in my coffee; about 2 tbsp and that is 70 calories. That can add up to 490 calories a week, about 500 calories which would take away from my calorie deficit. So logging in those little things can amount to bigger things.

It depends on how many times you consume a "little amount" of calories. It adds up! Sugar Free Jello cups are 10 calories each. I can easily eat 5 of them throughout the day, but that's 50 calories that it sums up to! I'd say logging it all just helps you to stay on top of everything.

i count everything but my husband cheats

i count every calorie! like. every. single. one. i measure and weigh everything. i also have a tendency to OVERestimate. i think it may be useful to count your calories from veggies and stuff, just so you can see the nutrients you are getting every day as well, even if you think the calories are not so significant, some things add up over time! so it may be better just to count 'em.

Hi Chris,
Your question reminds me of the joke that goes something like "how can I be out of money when I still have checks". My thought is that if you don't track the little things now, you'll probably start to convince yourself to ignore entering other things and eventually you will slip back into old habits. I don't suggest tracking to the point of making yourself a nut-case however, for something like your daily coffee, perhaps you could measure once, log the ingredients into a recipe builder or as individual items and use the copy feature to bring it over from day to day...for example: I use 2 K-cups + 7 mini moos just about every morning so they are on my frequent foods list. There are a few ingredients like cucumbers and celery that don't add up to a lot of calories on their own but take a look at how many calories there are in a restaurant salad and you can see how easily what looks like it should be nothing can turn into a 400 calorie salad. Feel free to add me. I'm no expert by any means but I'm trying to make the effort give support and know it will come back to me
Sharon