Wait? Am I Really Eating That?
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lucypstacy
Posts: 178 Member
Before I started on my journey, I would say that I didn't know why I had such issues with weight because I "...didn't eat much." I always thought I was some sort of big exception to the rules.
I was wrong.
Once I really started looking, I had to realize just what I was putting into my body. While I didn't eat much quantity wise, the foods I did eat added up quickly in terms of calories. Because I favored foods greasy and friend (raised on them!) I was getting a lot more calories than I had ever guessed. Plus, my love of Dr Pepper certainly wasn't helping matters.
So, being aware helped me to fix those trouble areas in my diet. Anyone else have the same issue? Was anyone else shocked by what they were actually eating?
I was wrong.
Once I really started looking, I had to realize just what I was putting into my body. While I didn't eat much quantity wise, the foods I did eat added up quickly in terms of calories. Because I favored foods greasy and friend (raised on them!) I was getting a lot more calories than I had ever guessed. Plus, my love of Dr Pepper certainly wasn't helping matters.
So, being aware helped me to fix those trouble areas in my diet. Anyone else have the same issue? Was anyone else shocked by what they were actually eating?
12
Replies
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@lucypstacy
Welcome to MFP. I found using a food scale with a tare button is invaluable in my weight management journey
I can not "eyeball" portions. I ended up eating almost twice the calories I had eyeballed. And then I was wondering why my weight kept increasing.
Utilizing a food scale can be an unpleasant surprise. I can not eat as much peanut butter like I used.
I love pasta, well my individual portion is now 2 oz dry.
Good luck in your healthy journey0 -
Not overly, except things like dips and sauces really surprised me. The amount of fat in some!2
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Muffins. They're like delicious cakey TARDIS's for calories.15
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I was kinda shocked by my portions. I was aware that I ate bigger portions than most women, but I believed they were eating small portions to show off how dainty and disciplined they were. I didn't realize my portions was part of why I never got to be dainty and often felt like a mess
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I remember the first time I logged a mince pie.
HoHoHo-No!
No wonder Santa is fat.7 -
When I was gaining weight, I didn't believe I was eating as much as I was. I just wasn't conscious of it. But when I got close to 200, I *realized* just how big my portions were.
I now have 3 food scales in my house so I have no excuse not to use one. Best thing I ever invested in.1 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »Muffins. They're like delicious cakey TARDIS's for calories.
There's a fancy supermarket here that sells amazing muffins.... They are stuffed full of choc and raspberries or blueberries... Delicious Crusty tops, soft fluffy middles and nearly the size of my head. No nutritional info, but I'd hate to imagine - I think even sharing would put me over my cals for a day 1 -
StealthHealth wrote: »I remember the first time I logged a mince pie.
HoHoHo-No!
No wonder Santa is fat.
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I definitely tend to overestimate my calories when I don't log!1
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I didn't eat much, but a lot of high calorie things too.
Amusingly... I did the math since and I was maintaining my 205lbs eating less than I eat now to maintain my 140lbs... but I would be hungry all the time with my old diet! Activity is everything.2 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Muffins. They're like delicious cakey TARDIS's for calories.
There's a fancy supermarket here that sells amazing muffins.... They are stuffed full of choc and raspberries or blueberries... Delicious Crusty tops, soft fluffy middles and nearly the size of my head. No nutritional info, but I'd hate to imagine - I think even sharing would put me over my cals for a day
HA! I small lemon poppyseed muffin from the gas station near me has ***680*** calories. I could easily eat 3 for breakfast... more calories than my whole day should have.
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For years I attributed the slow but steady weight gain to menopause. I would halfheartedly track on MFP but didn't seem to get anywhere - in fact, gained!!!
Then, in January of this year, I got fed up with myself and started weighing, measuring, and seriously logging food and beverages. HOLY CRAP - no wonder the weight was creeping on. The food was healthy but it was the quantities. And the wine. And the mindless munching. And so on!
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Muffins. They're like delicious cakey TARDIS's for calories.
There's a fancy supermarket here that sells amazing muffins.... They are stuffed full of choc and raspberries or blueberries... Delicious Crusty tops, soft fluffy middles and nearly the size of my head. No nutritional info, but I'd hate to imagine - I think even sharing would put me over my cals for a day
Back when I was doing Weight Watchers, I was told to use 'each oz of muffin=100 calories' as a rule of thumb. Most of those huge muffins? 6-8 oz minimum.
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estherdragonbat wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Muffins. They're like delicious cakey TARDIS's for calories.
There's a fancy supermarket here that sells amazing muffins.... They are stuffed full of choc and raspberries or blueberries... Delicious Crusty tops, soft fluffy middles and nearly the size of my head. No nutritional info, but I'd hate to imagine - I think even sharing would put me over my cals for a day
Back when I was doing Weight Watchers, I was told to use 'each oz of muffin=100 calories' as a rule of thumb. Most of those huge muffins? 6-8 oz minimum.
These would be 12-15 oz on guesstimation
hence why I don't eat them... 0 -
I wasn't aware how many calories are in coffee drinks from Starbucks. I didn't realize how much those drinks were setting me back.3
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Logging really made me realize what foods were just not worth the calories to me. Pre-packaged baked goods/cookies, creamy sauces and soups, fast food, etc. When I really looked at the calorie count, I decided I didn't really like these things enough to continue mindlessly eating them. I was shocked by the calories in most bread and pasta though. But I still eat both...gotta have my sandwiches and no way I'm giving up pasta.2
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SuzySunshine99 wrote: »Logging really made me realize what foods were just not worth the calories to me. Pre-packaged baked goods/cookies, creamy sauces and soups, fast food, etc. When I really looked at the calorie count, I decided I didn't really like these things enough to continue mindlessly eating them. I was shocked by the calories in most bread and pasta though. But I still eat both...gotta have my sandwiches and no way I'm giving up pasta.
I so agree with this - Cereal, packaged sweets (most of the time), soda... I used to drink a bottle of coke every day, now I have a few sips maybe once a week? Fast food (even the "healthier" kinds) makes me feel terrible now!
I definitely still have pasta though... but I try to go whole grain, so at least I'm getting some of the nutrients!0 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Muffins. They're like delicious cakey TARDIS's for calories.
There's a fancy supermarket here that sells amazing muffins.... They are stuffed full of choc and raspberries or blueberries... Delicious Crusty tops, soft fluffy middles and nearly the size of my head. No nutritional info, but I'd hate to imagine - I think even sharing would put me over my cals for a day
Back when I was doing Weight Watchers, I was told to use 'each oz of muffin=100 calories' as a rule of thumb. Most of those huge muffins? 6-8 oz minimum.
That is a great rule! I'm going to have to start using that if I get a muffin from a local bakery. I stay away from the muffins the size of my head, and generally only eat 1/2 muffin in a sitting, so I can usually squeeze it in for the day if I REALLY want one.
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I've been at this a long time, and sometimes it still shocks me how many calories I end up eating in junk food if I sit down with a box of cookies or bag of chips.1
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lucypstacy wrote: »Before I started on my journey, I would say that I didn't know why I had such issues with weight because I "...didn't eat much." I always thought I was some sort of big exception to the rules.
I was wrong.
Once I really started looking, I had to realize just what I was putting into my body. While I didn't eat much quantity wise, the foods I did eat added up quickly in terms of calories. Because I favored foods greasy and friend (raised on them!) I was getting a lot more calories than I had ever guessed. Plus, my love of Dr Pepper certainly wasn't helping matters.
So, being aware helped me to fix those trouble areas in my diet. Anyone else have the same issue? Was anyone else shocked by what they were actually eating?
I think you just described 90 percent of the population3
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