The Joy of Calorie Counting

Myra73
Myra73 Posts: 54 Member
edited September 30 in Food and Nutrition
"Honey, does this look like 1/7th of the box of pasta to you?"

In other words, it's alot of guesstimating.

Replies

  • wellnesscoachmegg
    wellnesscoachmegg Posts: 68 Member
    Well, I personally don't find that I do a lot of guesstimating, simply because I try and make all my meals at home. I have my trusty food scale, and any number of websites where I can get the calories per oz or gram of any food I want! Just takes some getting used to. The only time I guesstimate is when I eat out. Even if I know what the calories are--or I should say, what the calorie count is according to the website, I still have to use my brain and decide if the portion they gave me really reflects the supposed calorie count.

    Are you new to calorie counting? It does get easier...
  • seriousaboutlife
    seriousaboutlife Posts: 177 Member
    Food scale = awesome!!!
  • funkyspunky871
    funkyspunky871 Posts: 1,675 Member
    My first thought: There is NO joy to calorie counting.
  • crazymama2two
    crazymama2two Posts: 867
    the 20 bucks i spent on my digital scale was worth every penny!!!
  • crazymama2two
    crazymama2two Posts: 867
    My first thought: There is NO joy to calorie counting.

    and THIS is exactly waht i thought as well :)
  • HazelAngelstar
    HazelAngelstar Posts: 54
    i couldnt do this without my food scales ... I never appreciated the need to weigh out portion sizes before now, and always thought I ate a reasonable portion for meals ... however, I have realised that for some foods I was eating double what a portion is (especially when it came to pasta).

    Although I have now decided that the days I want to have pasta, I will just watch what else I am eating that day - so I can have a double portion (then I wont be finished just as i'm beginning to enjoy it
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    The best decision I have ever made was to stop calorie counting
  • Kichelchen
    Kichelchen Posts: 79 Member
    For me it's a mixture between my beloved scales and guesstimating^^ And yes, definitely the JOY of calorie counting, I absolutely love it, it's like a game. Sometimes I eat things just to be able to put them into my diary *haha*
  • funkyspunky871
    funkyspunky871 Posts: 1,675 Member
    The best decision I have ever made was to stop calorie counting

    I wish more than anything that I could stop. But, you know, when you've done it for so long, it's just about impossible. An apple is no longer an apple. It's 80-120 calories, depending on the size.
  • Jade_Butterfly
    Jade_Butterfly Posts: 2,963 Member
    Food scale = awesome!!!

    Absolutely. . . agree 100% My food scale is my best friend. . . Now as far as pasta. . I usually buy whole grain and measure out my 2ounces on the scale. . .

    Or within the database you will find 1 cup cooked whole wheat pasta. . Hope this helps.:smile:
  • astrosnider
    astrosnider Posts: 151 Member
    For me, guesstimating just doesn't work. I use my digital scale and my measuring cups. I was really surprised to find out how small one-fourth cup of Trader Joe's chocolate-covered ginger really is. As far as whether counting calories can be fun, I think it's actually more enjoyable if you become sort of obsessive about it. It's probably not much fun for anybody that has to cook or eat with you, but like tracking your spending or the number of steps you take each day, there's a certain satisfaction in documenting a part of your life down to the last penny or calorie.
  • juicygurl1
    juicygurl1 Posts: 195 Member
    with all my wisdom, i should have accepted that calories in add up, unless you expend calories out. I since i have dedicated my self to measuring and counting calories, wow, no wonder I rose up to some unspeakable numbers, as well as size!!! i like that i can work out and eat few more items than planned, makes me want to workout everyday so i can enjoy eating. best of all i think my stomach is happier not being over stuffed with food i really didn't need to eat. it's just my experience hope i didn't bore you.
  • theprettyone1010
    theprettyone1010 Posts: 408 Member
    I have a set list of meals that I can eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kind of like a menu. So initially I had to calorie count in order to know what to log in. But now I just have all of my meals programmed into MFP.
  • knowmydestiny
    knowmydestiny Posts: 104 Member
    lol, scale, measuring cups and time pre-cutting & measuring for the week. i'm having fun but the rest of the family thinks i'm obsessing :wink:
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    The best decision I have ever made was to stop calorie counting

    I wish more than anything that I could stop. But, you know, when you've done it for so long, it's just about impossible. An apple is no longer an apple. It's 80-120 calories, depending on the size.

    I was becoming way obbsesive about it,its been about a week now and I still lost a pound.My biggest problem is going to be when it comes time to mantain eating enough. so i might have to start back up then
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I measure quite a lot, but in all honesty, 1/7 of a box of pasta really isn't enough for me! So for example, I almost always make spaghetti the same way. I entered it in my recipes on here and determined that we get 6 servings out of it, so I guess technically I am eating 1/6 of the box of pasta, still less than I ever was, because we used to only get 3 or 4 servings out of the same recipe :)
  • Myra73
    Myra73 Posts: 54 Member
    The best decision I have ever made was to stop calorie counting

    This was kind of my goal when I started, so I could see and understand how I was overeating. just sometimes it feels like such a chore, and I want to just be able to make healthier lifestyle choices without nickle and diming myself to distraction.
  • Myra73
    Myra73 Posts: 54 Member
    I have a set list of meals that I can eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kind of like a menu. So initially I had to calorie count in order to know what to log in. But now I just have all of my meals programmed into MFP.
    [/quote

    I make at least 3 different and new recipes a week. It keeps things interesting. It's just alot of typing (unless someone has already gotten into their own Cooking Light magazine and entered it here). Breakfast is usually a same meal, though.
  • CharlieBarleyMom
    CharlieBarleyMom Posts: 727 Member
    I weigh everything! Even things that say 1/4 cup... I'm looking for that gram weight so I can be exact. I have 3 different sets of measuring cups, some flare out at the top and I don't know if the measurement is to the top top or to where the flare starts... weight is always right.

    Even when I have snacks that say 1 oz (14 chips), I measure it out on the weight scale. Chips break but weight is always right.

    And I make new recipes as they strike my fancy.

    It's hard when you're at a friends house and they have a spread of food out... which happened to me today. For dessert there was this Friendly's chocolate log ice cream cake... I was able to sneak a peak at the nutrition panel to see that the serving size was 1/11th of the cake. I couldn't weigh, but I saw that she cut it into about 6 slices which means almost double on the calories... I could've eat just half I suppose, but that didn't happen!
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    I thoroughly enjoy calorie counting because its like a game every day. Some days I am shocked by how much food I can consume with only 1670 calories a day.

    Also, I totally guesstimate at times because my food scale is packed in a box somewhere until I move.
  • princesstoadstool82
    princesstoadstool82 Posts: 371 Member
    i couldnt do this without my food scales ... I never appreciated the need to weigh out portion sizes before now, and always thought I ate a reasonable portion for meals ... however, I have realised that for some foods I was eating double what a portion is (especially when it came to pasta).

    Although I have now decided that the days I want to have pasta, I will just watch what else I am eating that day - so I can have a double portion (then I wont be finished just as i'm beginning to enjoy it

    love pasta, realised, on MFP - fresh pasta has lower cals :)
  • princesstoadstool82
    princesstoadstool82 Posts: 371 Member
    i didnt realises how much more i was eating with portion sizes.. i eat generally healthy, and whole foods, no processed stuff if i can help it, like pizza bases from scratch, and pasta sauce from scratch (no added sugar i use basil) ect, so for me, having the scales shows me what one portion is, and thats all i need, i'm not like totally strict, and i will have a tim tam, or an alcohol drink, evey now and then, but most of it, i know what i am eating. i was eating the same porion sizes as my boyfriend, and now that i have cut back alot.. i dont feel like i am missing out, or hungry... cause i eat slower, and enjoy my food, and when i am done,... my tummy is done too. i loook at food, not only as enjoyment of flavours, but also as fuel for my body, so its not just about the calories, its about what is good for me. i wont lose weight using the shakes, i refuse. i wanna do this the old school way, eating small healthy meals :) so far i feel great about me and my choices :)
  • ShellyMacchi
    ShellyMacchi Posts: 975 Member
    My first thought: There is NO joy to calorie counting.

    *L*
    i actually do enjoy it *S*.. makes me feel empowered.
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    For me it's a mixture between my beloved scales and guesstimating^^ And yes, definitely the JOY of calorie counting, I absolutely love it, it's like a game. Sometimes I eat things just to be able to put them into my diary *haha*

    This is the way I feel, too! I enjoy plugging in my food diary entries and making sure I come in under-goal!

    Really, the only way it works is to either measure what you eat, or eat pre-packaged food.

    The good news is once you measure it every time you prepare it if you prepare the same amount you are already golden.
  • nerdyandilikeit
    nerdyandilikeit Posts: 2,185 Member
    I have a set list of meals that I can eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kind of like a menu. So initially I had to calorie count in order to know what to log in. But now I just have all of my meals programmed into MFP.

    I do this too! I've learned how much approximately I can eat of certain things and at least when I'm at home I can kind of go on auto pilot. It's much less fussy, and I find it easier to not get sick of doing it.
  • winodini
    winodini Posts: 135 Member
    I have been good the past couple of weeks with tracking, until I realized that even though I am under my calorie count I was massively going over my alotted sugar and sodium intakes. I'm working on better nutrition now. It's a learning process. I am going to get a food scale.
  • atucker_mom
    atucker_mom Posts: 88 Member
    I measure quite a lot, but in all honesty, 1/7 of a box of pasta really isn't enough for me! So for example, I almost always make spaghetti the same way. I entered it in my recipes on here and determined that we get 6 servings out of it, so I guess technically I am eating 1/6 of the box of pasta, still less than I ever was, because we used to only get 3 or 4 servings out of the same recipe :)

    This is so true. I just divide the box up evenly and then split the calories by 6. We used to have to have 2 boxes of pasta, and now we just use the one. You get a serving and then that is it. If there are extra's at my house, we can't just leave them be, somebody will eat them! I have discovered that if there are going to be "leftovers" I box them up as I serve plates, so it isn't tempting anyone to eat more than they need!
  • MiladyMetal
    MiladyMetal Posts: 184 Member
    I LOVE my food scale and seriously would be lost without it, it truly has helped me to see why I got to be such a fatty! *tongue in cheek* Seriously though the thing I hate is my battery just died and I hate guessing. I get excited like a kid when I make things and have to measure it out. I am always curious what it'll be. God I am so simple. haha It doesn't take much to keep me busy! ;p However, I really hate when some places don't have nutritional facts to help figure what we ate like for instance I only give myself soft serve on occasion and everything else is healthy, no juunk food nadda, but some places don't tell you how much a specific flavored soft serve flavor like my fave Peanut Butter on a cone with jimmies(chocolate sprinkles for those of you not in New England) is.
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