Tricky Calorie Counting

I've tried calorie counting before, and it worked well until I stopped working it, albeit I was using a spreadsheet and not a website. This seems even easier.

But as I get back into it, I'm coming across a familiar problem. A lot of things I eat are difficult to calorie count. I work in Manhattan; pretty much every day I'm eating lunch at some local place that's not a chain and that doesn't list calories. So I end up having to estimate, and never feeling comfortable about the accuracy of that.

For example, earlier this week I got a make-your-own salad. Starting with a small bowl of lettuce, I added corn, edamame, peppers, chick peas, chicken, and some sesame ginger dressing. Now, I can attempt to find the calories on each one of those ingredients, and then guess at what amount of each was used, but that's both time consuming and doesn't seem particularly accurate.

Today I had 3/4s of a chicken fajita panini. I don't even know where to begin with that one. I don't know every ingredient they used and couldn't really guess at the amounts. I can try to find an estimate for chicken fajita, but they tend to vary widely, and still leaves me estimating the bread portion.

I try to overestimate when I guess, but this happens pretty often. I don't want to be consistently overestimating what I eat and end up binging or something, anymore than I want to be underestimating.

It's impossible to guesstimate calories when you eat out and catered food is often deceptively calorific.   So how about making a packed lunch instead?  You'll know exactly what's in it, you can tailor it exactly how you like it and you'll save a huge amount of money at the same time.... to pay for all those smaller clothes you'll need! 

Calorie-counting is only a small part of the success story.  And, as you found, if you stop calorie-counting it stops working.   Changing your eating habits to be healthier (and not eating out so much is a good example) is more sustainable in the long-run.   Good luck

If you must eat out, why not pick somewhere like Subway instead that not only offers nutritional info but also has healthier, lower-fat foods?

Usually even if you try to estimate restaurant food it ends up being more because of all the added oils and stuff that they put with it (not for the salad, but def. for the panini). I agree with bringing your own lunch. It is healthier, will have less fat and sodium, and it'll be way easier to log.

I understand how you feel. I don't have time and I hate preparing meals. So only input the calories before you go to bed. You'll know where to cut down next time. Don't know if that akes any sense.

I know what you mean by overestimating but most of the time your not. Like a slice of bread has 80 cals so a panini has 200clas + insides another 200 + condiments 200 so aveage 600-900 on your lunch depending if you're having high calorific foods and your calorie limit is. I tend to keep 800 cals for my dinner and have light, low calorie food during the day. if you feel you're having too much eat a salad first.

Im not sure if im making myself clear. lol. Take care

do you normally eat the same salad at the make ur own place? if so add it to cc as a recipe and tag it. and every time you eat it its only a click away. this way you wont have to add each ingredient individually each time.