Counting calories vs food scale

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theron12
theron12 Posts: 60 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
If I go by the amount of calories printed on the bag or package of things I buy, is this pretty accurate? Or is using a food scale more accurate?

Replies

  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
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    Unless it's a single serving package, use both.
  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
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    cmtigger wrote: »
    Unless it's a single serving package, use both.

    That's still not that accurate. I've had protein bars that said they were 200 calories per serving but, when weighed, were closer to 240. It all adds up.
  • theron12
    theron12 Posts: 60 Member
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    This all makes sense now! Thanks guys!
  • Momepro
    Momepro Posts: 1,509 Member
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    I also started "cheating" by not discounting leftovers. So if I measure 70 grams of crram cheese, but end up not using it all, I still count the entire amount as if I had eaten it. I figure it's better to overcount than undercount.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,014 Member
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    I've always just accepted the bar code scanning myself - but then, have never been a stickler for accuracy.

    As long as I lose ( now maintain ) weight as expected, then that's good enough for me.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
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    grmrsan wrote: »
    I also started "cheating" by not discounting leftovers. So if I measure 70 grams of crram cheese, but end up not using it all, I still count the entire amount as if I had eaten it. I figure it's better to overcount than undercount.

    If you do that, you can eat it "for free" later :D
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
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    A food scale will tell you how much something weighs, not how many calories it has. The weight listed on a package isn't always accurate. As for how many calories something has, you kind of have to trust the package, but the margin for error is pretty big.
  • sophie7591
    sophie7591 Posts: 78 Member
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    I don't have a scale yet so I just eat a few less calories every day. Works for me and consistently losing. I'll probably get a scale sooner or later but I'm in no rush.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,728 Member
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    paperpudding wrote: »
    I've always just accepted the bar code scanning myself - but then, have never been a stickler for accuracy.

    As long as I lose ( now maintain ) weight as expected, then that's good enough for me.

    I do it the same way, for the same reason, but I have a substantial amount of slack in my allowed calories.

    If I was in a situation where I was only running a 200 calorie a day deficit vs 1000 calorie a day.. .5 lb a week vs 2 lb a week then I'd have to worry about the precision more.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,014 Member
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    I did that for my entire journey stanmann - and I was always set at only 1/2 lb per week.
  • lmew91
    lmew91 Posts: 88 Member
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    I weigh out the amount of grams listed on the package per serving.

    For example:
    1 tbsp= 16g= 100 cal (just making this up.)

    I would weigh out 16g, versus using a tablespoon to measure it. So, sometimes my food log may show "1 tbsp" but really I weighed it.

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