do you log everything?

jamaljohar
jamaljohar Posts: 55
in Food and Nutrition
Hey MFP community,
So i eat alot of salads and vegetable throughout the day, for example at lunch time i would eat some grilled chicken ontop of a bed of greens and vegetables. but i would only log in the chicken and salad dressings, only because i dont feel like weighing the leafs that i eat . do you think this is detrimental to my weight loss?
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Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    For all the time it takes, I log everything, rather than have to consider - should I log this? Or Not? What about potatoes? And sweet potaotes? And then I wont know if its detrimental or not....

    Once you've logged it a few times, it's there in your recent foods, so it's not a chore.

    But there are plenty of users on here who don't log their veggies, so if you dont want to, it's not compulsory
  • emily2tx
    emily2tx Posts: 77
    It depends on if you leave yourself some room for extra calories AND what your other calories are that you eat each day. Say you eat 2000 calories of junk food, then try to eat a load of veggies on top of that, you are going over the 2000 calories. Veggies are very low in calories and I log them with a "cup" measurement to the best of my ability. I don't think you would have to weigh the veggies. Since they are already so low cal, I log up. I also would not count if you put a slice of tomato and a slice of lettuce on your sandwich.
  • goodmans90
    goodmans90 Posts: 45 Member
    I log everything that goes in my mouth! If you are eating it, it counts!! :happy:
  • jamaljohar
    jamaljohar Posts: 55
    thanks guys,
    im going to start logging everything even the greens, ill just estimate them i guess since they are so low in calories. especially since i never eat up all my calories available, and i only log a portion of my daily exercises
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    I log everything, even the gum!! :smile:
  • AmyS1975
    AmyS1975 Posts: 143
    I log everything that goes in my mouth! If you are eating it, it counts!! :happy:

    Same here! Except for sugar free gum or mints. :-)
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Everything you swallow needs to be logged either aa liquid or food least you cheat yourself.
    Why even bother keeping a log otherwise?
    And forget weighing it - just take your best guess.:bigsmile:
    Good Luck
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    I logged everything for months....when I stopped I starting gaining...I am back to logging everything.
  • jtjunkie
    jtjunkie Posts: 59 Member
    I log everything. Basically it was explained to me that a handful of salad greens is about 1/2 cup so I go by that.
  • frando
    frando Posts: 583 Member
    Everything that passes my lips goes on here, normally as soon as I make/eat it to make sure I don't forget it!
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    If I eat it, I log it. Now that I'm counting carbs too, it's even more vital. My exception used to be my gummy multivitamin and the calcium vitamin D one I take sometimes, now I even have to log those.
  • StarvingDiva
    StarvingDiva Posts: 1,107 Member
    Yes I ate an entire bag of pop corners yesterday and I logged every embarrassing 650 calories of it. GAG
  • garita93
    garita93 Posts: 267 Member
    I log everything that goes in my mouth! If you are eating it, it counts!! :happy:

    Ditto! Same here, even if it is sugar free gum or a cough drop, that baby gets logged!
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I log everything!
  • JenMull44
    JenMull44 Posts: 226 Member
    I log everything, even the gum!! :smile:


    WOW ! you are truly committed and I commend you.
    I try to track everything. Sometimes I have to go back the next day and
    add something I forgot, like a condiment or and extra beer.
    My advice is LOG EVERYTHING, otherwise you are cheating yourself.
  • linochka1969
    linochka1969 Posts: 136 Member
    Log everything down to a bite of whatever I take
    Bought a small kitchen scales, turning into obsession now :grumble: :sad: :laugh:
  • shesquats
    shesquats Posts: 91 Member
    Agreed; I log everything I eat. If not, you're "cheating" yourself. :)
  • linochka1969
    linochka1969 Posts: 136 Member
    I log everything, even the gum!! :smile:


    WOW ! you are truly committed and I commend you.
    I try to track everything. Sometimes I have to go back the next day and
    add something I forgot, like a condiment or and extra beer.
    My advice is LOG EVERYTHING, otherwise you are cheating yourself.

    The gum is the only thing I did not log in :embarassed:
  • lsjd2000
    lsjd2000 Posts: 287 Member
    I log everything = I feel like its easier to not log something unhealthy if I start a habit of selecting what I do and dont log
  • tasiamere
    tasiamere Posts: 233
    I log everything that goes in my mouth! If you are eating it, it counts!! :happy:

    ME TOO! Down to the 5 Calorie stick of Extra Fruit Sensations I eat almost every day.:smile:
  • ErinBeth7
    ErinBeth7 Posts: 1,625 Member
    I've found it is easiest for me to lose weight by logging everything I eat, except for spices. If I start skipping foods, then I start lagging on my log saying "oh yea...this isn't much I dont need to log." When in reality, it does matter. You could try logging every thing to see if it works or if that makes you batty over calories then stick with what you're doing now.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    Just weigh it the first 2-3 times and you will get an idea of your portion sizes. Remember that if you're eating salads regularly throughout the day, they will add up!
  • Minner_Tinner
    Minner_Tinner Posts: 81
    I log everything and if I can't get the exact amount I log it a little bit higher than it actually is. I'd rather be wrong with higher numbers then lower and ruin everything.
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.
    Lettuce and other leafy salad greens contain sodium, sugar and carbs. By adding everything you eat, you will be able to examine your over-all nutritional intake, not just the things you consider "important".
  • Saiklor
    Saiklor Posts: 183
    I log everything and if I can't get the exact amount I log it a little bit higher than it actually is. I'd rather be wrong with higher numbers then lower and ruin everything.

    ^ what they said!

    I always guess higher, and I always track everything. If I had been doing so great with guestimating I wouldn't have a weight problem!
  • JenMull44
    JenMull44 Posts: 226 Member
    I log everything = I feel like its easier to not log something unhealthy if I start a habit of selecting what I do and dont log

    I agree !
  • new_blossom
    new_blossom Posts: 111 Member
    I know myself, and for me, it is a big YES to measure everything I eat! Since starting 11 days ago, I did not realize the "extra" amounts I was eating. For example, 1 cup of cooked brown rice was most likely 2 cups before. I was shocked to see a normal size 3oz piece of meat. 3oz was definitely not my typical serving before I started this. 1 TABLESPOON of a salad dressing that has a lot of fat (I really cannot stand fat free dressings), is detrimental for me if I go over that. IT DOES HELP!
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Try your best to guesstimate and find "cup" measurements in the database rather than "ounces or grams" to make it a bit easier to eyeball. I would definitely worry less about going over with leafy greens than other veggies like corn, peas or root veggies but still, as someone else said, it can be a slippery slope, especially if portion control is your downfall.
  • Alluring72
    Alluring72 Posts: 50 Member
    I do log everything (not the sugar free gum or mints) - I over guestimate on portion sizes - and my SO was very surprised at the calorie content of the vegan meals he is cooking for me - veggies can add up!
  • mzhokie
    mzhokie Posts: 349 Member
    I logged everything when I started... from the gum I chewed, the zero calorie drinks, the celery, the herbs and garlic I cooked with, etc. I needed that sense of control.

    Now I log 99% of what I eat. If I'm prepping veggies and eat a couple baby carrots, I don't worry about it. I put a slice of lettuce and tomato on my sandwich, I don't always log it.

    The main difference now is my exercise calories. When i started here I wasn't working out as much. Now I aim for 400-500 calorie burn on exercise days. I probably only eat 75% of them back on most days. So when I have calories left at the end of the day... I don't worry about the veggies I munched on or the piece of gum I chewed. If I am on an off day and not getting those extra calories, I worry about it all.

    But if you have all that in your diary before, odds are you can easily find it and add it quickly now. Most of my breakfast and lunch items are under Recent for me. I just might have to change serving numbers because I put some extra turkey on my sandwich or ate an extra egg because I was starving. So if you normally add a slice of lettuce and tomato to a sandwich, it will be there in your diary so you just click or you can set up a meal/recipe so you only have to add that. I have a lot of our dinners set up as recipes because I like to cook. Makes it easier than adding in 10 ingredients.

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