Over/underestimating calories

I usually go with the middle ground option or if one caloric number is used more often for a certain food I go with it. If I'm totally at a loss I'll aim for the higher end...never the lower.

This is what I do. Or I go for the one with the most people contributing to it.

I google.

I don't want to be too far under either, so I don't want to pick something that seems ridiculous.

I know "they" say that most people grossly underestimate the number of calories they take in, which I completely agree with. My question is, as a rule, if you are trying to track something on MFP that is not entered onto this site, do you find yourself choosing the option that is probably greater than the calories you consumed, or less than?

For me personally, I've been choosing the greater option. I figure I'd rather overestimate and have a few hundred calorie deficit built in, than underestimate and think I'm doing better for the day that I really am.

I go with what suits so I can eat more lol no just jokes. I choose the greater option, just to make sure.

I refuse to obsess about such things, and I pick whatever makes the most sense to me, based on what I've eaten before. I tend to eat a lot of the same foods, so it's not that difficult.

How much can it be? We're not talking hundreds of calories in most cases, so the ups and downs are not that critical.

This is a journey, and there are no absolutes, for me.

If the amount on MFP seems ridiculous, then I check my calorie reference book that I have. Then I enter he food as a quick add calories. Most of the MFP counts seem accurate, but a few have been off. When I am at home, I have several sets of measuring cups and a scale that I use, but if I am out, I have to guess-timate portion sizes. I try to be accurate, but I know if I underestimate too much, I won't be losing weight.

If it's not in the database I enter the information from the packaging (or scan the barcode). If, for instance we have homemade pizza I just enter all of the ingredients individually. Seems to be pretty accurate so far for me!

...but I on the other hand have nothing better to do with my time... :bigsmile:

When I find something it isn't listed on MFP I either (in lazy mood) pick something similar and adjust the portion size eg the rice crackers I ate earlier had higher calories than the brands already on MFP so I multipled the prtions until the calories consumed you were right. Or in more committed mood I take the time to enter the food and all its details on the database.

I get annoyed if people enter a new food on the database but only bother to list the calories and not the nutritional information; I think it's bad manners. I'm not trying to track sodium, but a lot of people are, and I AM tracking fibre, calcium, and protein. I can log all my food for the day and then think "hang on something doesn't look right!" and spend ages googling and editing the database, just when I thought I was done for the day... minor I know, but irritating all the same.

I weigh everything, normally in advance for the week. I don't want any surprises, if I don't know I don't eat it. I'm not good at guessing:) I'm working way to hard for a extra calories to sneak in and sabotage my work.

I refuse to obsess about such things, and I pick whatever makes the most sense to me, based on what I've eaten before. I tend to eat a lot of the same foods, so it's not that difficult.

How much can it be? We're not talking hundreds of calories in most cases, so the ups and downs are not that critical.

This is a journey, and there are no absolutes, for me.

Same here!