It was the coffee granules all along
tracengel
Posts: 28 Member
So my goal right now is to gain a bit of weight or at least maintain, or at the very least figure out what my maintenance range is. I'm not actively trying to change anything, just watching what effect my current eating is having, so can figure out where to next.
According to what I've been logging and weighing, I should be in a teeny deficit still on most days and still losing, when in fact I think I'm now maintaining (last 6 weeks or so) barring the daily fluctuations which at my current weight sometimes make a big difference to knowing whether it's a real scale number or a fluctuation. The fact that the numbers have not been adding up to what's actually happening annoyed me, because I like my calculations to be right, or at least not obviously wrong. Thought it was a combo of errors on the calories in side, as well as maybe an overestimation on calories out. I wanted to figure it out.
Unnecessary? Silly? A bit obsessive? Yup. But it's a data game for me right now.
So I went back and looked at the one thing I have consistently every day which is instant coffee made at home with milk and no sugar. A "meal" I created myself and have been using since I started logging (but before I learned to be really strict about choosing database entries). However.
This time instead of using the existing database entry for the coffee powder, I created my own food using the label on the tin (not the barcode scanner). My cup of coffee went from something like 30 calories to 60 calories. Weighing out my huge heaped teaspoon of granules was NOT the same as what the entry said
At 5 to 8 cups a day (yes I know that's a lot sssh), I was basically wiping out any deficit there was. So I went back to change all the entries for a few weeks and bam. Now all my predicted calculations match the actuals (as close as you're gonna get, I imagine)
This longwinded missive was just to say that the things that seem the most unlikely can sometimes make a difference. If something's not working, look again at the things you think you've already figured out.
According to what I've been logging and weighing, I should be in a teeny deficit still on most days and still losing, when in fact I think I'm now maintaining (last 6 weeks or so) barring the daily fluctuations which at my current weight sometimes make a big difference to knowing whether it's a real scale number or a fluctuation. The fact that the numbers have not been adding up to what's actually happening annoyed me, because I like my calculations to be right, or at least not obviously wrong. Thought it was a combo of errors on the calories in side, as well as maybe an overestimation on calories out. I wanted to figure it out.
Unnecessary? Silly? A bit obsessive? Yup. But it's a data game for me right now.
So I went back and looked at the one thing I have consistently every day which is instant coffee made at home with milk and no sugar. A "meal" I created myself and have been using since I started logging (but before I learned to be really strict about choosing database entries). However.
This time instead of using the existing database entry for the coffee powder, I created my own food using the label on the tin (not the barcode scanner). My cup of coffee went from something like 30 calories to 60 calories. Weighing out my huge heaped teaspoon of granules was NOT the same as what the entry said
At 5 to 8 cups a day (yes I know that's a lot sssh), I was basically wiping out any deficit there was. So I went back to change all the entries for a few weeks and bam. Now all my predicted calculations match the actuals (as close as you're gonna get, I imagine)
This longwinded missive was just to say that the things that seem the most unlikely can sometimes make a difference. If something's not working, look again at the things you think you've already figured out.
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Replies
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This is such a great example of how those things we think are "no big deal" can actually sometimes benefit from a double-check. I hope this helps turn the tide!10
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Unnecessary? Silly? A bit obsessive? Yup. But it's a data game for me right now.
You speak my language there! When I am closer to maintenance and the margin for error gets narrower, I imagine I will be playing with numbers. Good luck to you!5 -
Your sluthing abilities are admirable, and a good lesson for all.
But, unfortunately, I don't think it was the coffee granules that were affecting your numbers.
The MFP calorie count for instant coffee is off.
Here is the Nescafé listing.
https://www.madewithnestle.ca/nescafé/nescafé-rich-0
Unfortunately it is always good to check the mfg web listing, or packaging, against the MFP entry.
(Oops, just re-read and noted that that was the labling on the package. Could you share which instant coffee you are using please.)
In almost 10 years my instant coffee granules (Nescafé) have always been recorded as zero. I too have mine, with milk and sugar, listed as a meal, 2-3 cups a day.
Cheers, h.
(Left the post standing as it is relavent to the MFP cal count not aligning with mfg cal count, even though my reading abilities were less than stellar. I put it down to panic thinking my coffee had cals
). 9 -
middlehaitch wrote: »
(Oops, just re-read and noted that that was the labling on the package. Could you share which instant coffee you are using please.)
It's South African Ricoffy (Nestle) instant coffee. Barely even coffee, tbh. Coffee adjacent, maybe. Cheap and nasty, like me Sorry for the panic. If I recall the package said 1523kj per 100g. Converted to calories per gram. No more maths for me tonight.
9 -
Ouch! So for 8 cups that comes to about 250cals unaccounted for. Not very good news for you I imagine.
P.S. @middlehaitch I paniced for a moment too.6 -
gebeziseva wrote: »Ouch! So for 8 cups that comes to about 250cals unaccounted for. Not very good news for you I imagine.
Eh - I don't mind. All data is good data I think. Now I've eliminated one source of confusion hopefully, let's see what else comes up. I'm sure there's more.4 -
Ooh went on a search for the Ricoffy as I had never heard of it.
Here is the ingredient breakdown.
Ingredients
Chicory (6 Parts), Dextrins (6 Parts), Coffee (5 Parts), Maltose (1 Part), Dextrose (1 Part)
Yup, that would have cals, instant coffee, no addatives doesn't.
I've found this very interesting. And will have to try some Ricoffy one day- never been to SA.
Cheers, h.4 -
tracyengelbrecht wrote: »So my goal right now is to gain a bit of weight or at least maintain, or at the very least figure out what my maintenance range is. I'm not actively trying to change anything, just watching what effect my current eating is having, so can figure out where to next.
According to what I've been logging and weighing, I should be in a teeny deficit still on most days and still losing, when in fact I think I'm now maintaining (last 6 weeks or so) barring the daily fluctuations which at my current weight sometimes make a big difference to knowing whether it's a real scale number or a fluctuation. The fact that the numbers have not been adding up to what's actually happening annoyed me, because I like my calculations to be right, or at least not obviously wrong. Thought it was a combo of errors on the calories in side, as well as maybe an overestimation on calories out. I wanted to figure it out.
Unnecessary? Silly? A bit obsessive? Yup. But it's a data game for me right now.
So I went back and looked at the one thing I have consistently every day which is instant coffee made at home with milk and no sugar. A "meal" I created myself and have been using since I started logging (but before I learned to be really strict about choosing database entries). However.
This time instead of using the existing database entry for the coffee powder, I created my own food using the label on the tin (not the barcode scanner). My cup of coffee went from something like 30 calories to 60 calories. Weighing out my huge heaped teaspoon of granules was NOT the same as what the entry said
At 5 to 8 cups a day (yes I know that's a lot sssh), I was basically wiping out any deficit there was. So I went back to change all the entries for a few weeks and bam. Now all my predicted calculations match the actuals (as close as you're gonna get, I imagine)
This longwinded missive was just to say that the things that seem the most unlikely can sometimes make a difference. If something's not working, look again at the things you think you've already figured out.
Bravo. It's a continuous learning process. Also, I'm a single mom of a 16yr old, I'm returning to school full time (18 credit hours this semester), 5-8 cups of coffee a day sounds pretty normal to me.7 -
I am so sorry @middlehaitch
USDA #14214: 353 Cal per 100g
It is the usual "trick" where a less than 2g "portion" comes to 5.4 Cal or less, ergo can be named 0 Cal.
But my mugs are large and my coffee is strong... so I use closer to 7g and 25 Cal per cup.
And yes, MFP does list coffee as one of my top food sources!4 -
I am so sorry @middlehaitch
USDA #14214: 353 Cal per 100g
It is the usual "trick" where a less than 2g "portion" comes to 5.4 Cal or less, ergo can be named 0 Cal.
But my mugs are large and my coffee is strong... so I use closer to 7g and 25 Cal per cup.
And yes, MFP does list coffee as one of my top food sources!
Hahaha
Yeah I know about that quirky under so many g. or whatever thingy, never thought to apply it though.
I am just falling to pieces on this coffee thread.
Cheers, h.4 -
middlehaitch wrote: »I am so sorry @middlehaitch
USDA #14214: 353 Cal per 100g
It is the usual "trick" where a less than 2g "portion" comes to 5.4 Cal or less, ergo can be named 0 Cal.
But my mugs are large and my coffee is strong... so I use closer to 7g and 25 Cal per cup.
And yes, MFP does list coffee as one of my top food sources!
Hahaha
Yeah I know about that quirky under so many g. or whatever thingy, never thought to apply it though.
I am just falling to pieces on this coffee thread.
Cheers, h.
Beware of instant coffee portions above the 1.4g mark
That's when they magically acquire calories 
BTW: the extra caloric cost of my Nescafe Gold Espresso as compared to brewed coffee is what's finally convinced me to put up with the mess generated by filtered coffee.2 -
Nothing would get me to make filter coffee at home. Smells soooo good, tastes so-so.
Never knew Canadians drank instant. All my friends think I'm strange- Nescafé Rich all way.
(Yes I take it on cruises and travelling in case they run out.)
Cheers, h.
Apologies for slightly derailing your thread @tracyengelbrecht.4 -
middlehaitch wrote: »
Apologies for slightly derailing your thread @tracyengelbrecht.
Haha it's really quite fine. I'm not even the slightest bit embarrassed that my terrible taste in coffee is being expose d to the world so enthusiastically 5 -
Yup! Rediscovered this myself yesterday. I make the same recipe every other Tuesday. In the past, in a hurry, I just used MFP database entries for the ingredients. But, this month, I started entering my own listings consistently, based on packaging or USDA info.
So, I make this recipe that I have been making for months. Instead of going by package listed "servings" I weigh everything out in grams. My recipe goes from 241 calories/serving, to 304 calories/serving.
OMG! What a difference weighing the ingredients made. I thought back to all of the times I had 2 (or more) servings because, "It's so low in calories.4 -
Good job finding your discrepancy. I've done it, too. I make various versions of a coffee cake I eat just about every day. With almond meal instead of flour. I can't even blame my mistake on a generic entry for almond meal, as I was using one I apparently entered myself. I did change brands at one point along the way, but that could in no way account for how off the calories were. I discovered it by accident in my pantry one day. Some things are just a gradual fine tuning. Cheers!4
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