A really interesting webpage (well, I find this stuff interesting…!) sort of related to the restaurant discussion.

A recent study found that the larger the meal, the more that people miscalculated the calories.

Thay also thought that people with a higher BMI would miscalculate more. They didn’t. Everybody miscalculated about the same… but the people with higher BMI’s tended to eat larger meals… and that is where the calorie miscounts occurred.

* * * * * *

The authors developed a perceptual model of meal size estimation, and used it to test the assumption that people of higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to underestimate calories than those of normal BMI. They then used the model to examine the reasons behind the failure of education campaigns, such as the FDA's "Count Calories" initiative, to promote weight loss, and identified an alternative method for helping consumers estimate better the calorie content of their meals.

Presenting survey participants with a typical fast food meal, the authors found that the calorie content of such meals was usually underestimated, but that, contrary to expectations, underestimation was related to the size of the meal rather than the BMI of the subject. They determined that, among both overweight and normal weight subjects, smaller meals were estimated more accurately than larger meals, and that underestimation increased with the size of the meal.

A second study found that higher BMI subjects tended to choose larger meals, which supported the assumption that the underestimation of calories associated with higher BMI subjects was a consequence of meal choice rather than BMI. This study also found that calorie estimation could be improved in subjects who were told to use a piecemeal procedure (estimating calories for each item separately) to calculate total calories.

The rest of the article is at:
http://knowledge.insead.edu/abstract.cfm?ct=16178

I saw that piece meal method on the Biggest Loser once… I know that helps me. And it helps me to compare restaurant food to what I eat at home. If I can look at sandwich roll and figure, “OMGosh, that is probably 4-5 slices of bread…”

It is harder with oils and things like that… but slices of cheese or lunch meat it is really easy.

Also, I can see how the bigger the meal… the harder it is to figure out… Is that 3 cups of pasta or 4?

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
I gained 12 pounds telling myself I would weigh tomorrow becuase the "pound or two" I gained was water weight and I didn't want to depress myself seeing the scale reach 130. HA! It was really, really close to 140 and I denied it.

I gained 40, telling myself, "It is just water weight." Or "I'll weigh at the end of the week after I've been back on plan a few days."

And then after a few months... I just stopped weighing altogether and didn't weigh again for about 2 years. Didn't want to know. Wasn't ready for the reality of "OMG! I have to do somehing."

I think that I've owned one of those "Brand Name Calorie Counter" Books since the 70's. I've always pretty much known the calories.

I've been thrown by a loop, when the calories were printed right on the package and I misread it or didn't read the lable. Like that yogurt with 140 cals in two TBS or something, and I read 140 calories and dished out a cup.

That totally makes sense to me too that the larger the portion, the harder it is to tell.

I've often tried the "hand" method of figuring out portions in restaurants and it can be tough with a huge plate of risotto or pasta : )

Sounds like we're all in good company with the struggles to estimate properly.

That's why I'm like Sandy, that when at home, it's just easier to weigh and measure.

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:


A recent study found that the larger the meal, the more that people miscalculated the calories.

Thay also thought that people with a higher BMI would miscalculate more.

When I was heavier (40 pounds over weight) I avoided really knowing how many calories were in d dish. I told myself that the portion of fries was small and that would not feel satisfied with the salad, so I would be better off eating the fries.

I had (and still have) am amazing denial mechanism around food, weight, calories. I gained 12 pounds telling myself I would weigh tomorrow becuase the "pound or two" I gained was water weight and I didn't want to depress myself seeing the scale reach 130. HA! It was really, really close to 140 and I denied it.

In order for me to maintian, I have to count and weigh and then do it over and over again.