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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

I had no idea how many calories are in....

153 replies

lightand · 26/04/2021 18:13

Glass of Ribena - 107 calories

I thick slice of brown bread and butter - 100

Even just 2fl of mead wine - 90

On the plus side
Cup of tea - 1

1 strawberry - 4

No wonder I have been struggling for months to lose up to 1 stone in weight.
I had decided today to start writing down everything I eat and drink.
It has already become a lot less of a mystery as to where the calories have been hiding themselves!
More strawberries and cups of tea for me, by the looks of things.

OP posts:
Cowbells · 26/04/2021 22:55

1/2 teaspoon of butter wouldn't butter one corner of a slice of bread for me. It would take two teaspoonfuls at least. 83 cals is for a small slice of bread. Warburtons thick slice from the 800g loaf is more like 140. Add realistic amount of butter and that's 200 cals a slice.

Isittimenow · 26/04/2021 22:56

People talk about counting calories as if that alone, the very act of entering them into MFP keeps the weight off. My downfall is I can count till the cows come home but can’t keep it under what it should be Grin

GreyhoundG1rl · 26/04/2021 22:57

@Isittimenow

People talk about counting calories as if that alone, the very act of entering them into MFP keeps the weight off. My downfall is I can count till the cows come home but can’t keep it under what it should be Grin
Haha, yes!
BagLadyy · 27/04/2021 06:44

@Yoshinori

As far as our bodies are concerned, refined carbs are the same as sugar. Totally unnecessary and damaging, yes.

www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/carbohydrates-and-blood-sugar/

www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-refined-carbs-are-bad

Which is why it's quite baffling that white rice and pasta and "unlimited" on slimming world.

4PawsGood · 27/04/2021 07:06

@Cowbells

1/2 teaspoon of butter wouldn't butter one corner of a slice of bread for me. It would take two teaspoonfuls at least. 83 cals is for a small slice of bread. Warburtons thick slice from the 800g loaf is more like 140. Add realistic amount of butter and that's 200 cals a slice.
I was just using my fitness pal. Maybe it’s wrong.
lazylinguist · 27/04/2021 07:17

I know lots of people (including me) want to lose weight, but it's a bit odd how some people talk about calories as though they are some terrible hidden thing lurking in food, which are to be avoided! They are, after all, simply energy, and are keeping you alive Grin.

Lougle · 27/04/2021 07:18

"Are you implying that carbohydrates and sugars are the same thing?"

Yes, in a nutshell. Carbs are the main fuel for the body. They are broken down into glucose. When there is more glucose than needed, they are stored as glycagon. Complex carbs have fibre in them, which can't be digested, so it takes longer to release the glucose from them.

Carbs aren't bad for you, as such, but when you eat a lot of processed carbs (where the fibre has been stripped out), the sugar is available very quickly. If you eat lots of refined carbs, your body will lay down the excess.

felulageller · 27/04/2021 07:50

Popcorn was a shocker for me. And the difference between brands/types is astounding.

Also that veg crisps are much worse than potato ones.

Kit kat Jaffa cakes and maltesers are a dieters friend!

Bananas and bread/oils make me cry!

NutellaEllaElla · 27/04/2021 07:51

Yes, air popped popcorn is a total bargain for calories

LesleyA · 27/04/2021 07:56

I drink about 5 cups of tea and 3 cups of coffee a day with milk. Is that a lot of calories?

Mojitomumma · 27/04/2021 07:59

Lost a stone since feb using mfp....need to get back to logging everything as at a standstill at the moment.

BagLadyy · 27/04/2021 08:05

@LesleyA

I drink about 5 cups of tea and 3 cups of coffee a day with milk. Is that a lot of calories?
Probably upwards of 200.
itsgettingwierd · 27/04/2021 08:09

I've been using nutracheck.

I was also extremely surprised to see how high in cals and carbs some foods are - ones you think are healthy and are syn free on slimming world.

My friend and I have been doing to together and she's done slimming world before - she said she can eat all the things considered syns and eat well and we've both lost a stone so far! X

itsgettingwierd · 27/04/2021 08:10

Sorry about it the x! My phone seemed to predict I wanted to send you a kiss 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

Cowbells · 27/04/2021 08:12

@LesleyA

I drink about 5 cups of tea and 3 cups of coffee a day with milk. Is that a lot of calories?
I usually count about 20 calories per cup for semi skimmed. Not sure where I picked that up from, but I think it's right. So it's about 160 calories. If you like black coffee and fruit or green teas it's an easy way to drop your calorie intake without really noticing.
Cowbells · 27/04/2021 08:15

@Lougle

"Are you implying that carbohydrates and sugars are the same thing?"

Yes, in a nutshell. Carbs are the main fuel for the body. They are broken down into glucose. When there is more glucose than needed, they are stored as glycagon. Complex carbs have fibre in them, which can't be digested, so it takes longer to release the glucose from them.

Carbs aren't bad for you, as such, but when you eat a lot of processed carbs (where the fibre has been stripped out), the sugar is available very quickly. If you eat lots of refined carbs, your body will lay down the excess.

Lougle what does 'your body will lay down the excess' mean? Do you mean convert it to fat and store it?

I've always wondered why I feel starving and light headed after eating carbs. Is that connected? (Sorry - I know I should be able to find this out online but the info is so contradictory it's bewildering and you sound like you know what you are talking about!)

BagLadyy · 27/04/2021 08:39

@Cowbells

"Then, after we have ingested high-carbohydrate foods, postabsorptive insulin-induced hypoglycemia stimulates hunger and increases the probability that we will eat even more. Thus, palatable high-carbohydrate foods stimulate both appetite and hunger, each of which is probably ascribable to insulin-induced hypoglycemia."

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666382800172

coogee · 27/04/2021 08:47

I usually count about 20 calories per cup for semi skimmed

It's 13 for semi skimmed and 19 for full fat.

www.nutracheck.co.uk/calories/calories_in_drinks/calories_in_tea

BagLadyy · 27/04/2021 08:51

Totally depends how much you put into a cup.

I measure mine out (40ml which of semi skinned is 18 calories. I have whole milk so is 25cal) and 40ml is way less than I'd have put in before measuring.

CornishGem1975 · 27/04/2021 08:58

I could 15cal for a cup of tea as I have semi-skimmed milk, but not a lot of it, as I don't like it too milky.

I've also switched to Nimble bread which is only 50 calories a slice (mainly because it's half the size...) but works for me.

BagLadyy · 27/04/2021 09:01

Although now for my morning coffee I have 10ml of double cream.

As compared to 40ml of milk (1.8g carbs/sugar) it is 0.2g of carbs/sugar (all the carbs in milk are from sugar)

Semi skimmed is 2g sugar per 40ml.

Also it's a lot more satisfying/filling and I'm fat adapted so doesn't break my fast and helps to burn more fat.

Lougle · 27/04/2021 09:05

@Cowbells a proportion of the carbs you eat are converted to glycagon and get stored in your liver and muscles, so that when you need more glucose (energy) it's ready to go. But if there is more glycagon, that can't be stored by the liver and muscles, that's converted to fat.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/why-we-need-to-eat-carbs/ this is a useful page.

Original poster
lightand · 27/04/2021 09:05

Sorry to anyone on the thread if my calorie counting is wrong.

I googled homemade brown bread, it said 75 calories. [We have a Panasonic Breadmaker]. The bread is cut thick, and with at least an average spread of butter, I estimated 100 cals in all.
Perhaps I am a bit out with the estimation.

Its all a bit of a complicated business, isnt it?
Years ago, I used to have a handy booklet about calories. I either need to see if I can dig it out, or download an App. Either way, it looks like I am in serious need of some reeducation.

OP posts:
Lougle · 27/04/2021 09:14

Fat and protein are harder for your body to process, so they satisfy you for longer. For example, if I have 30g cornflakes and 125ml whole milk, that's 200 calories and my stomach will be growling by 10 am. If I have 100g Greek style yoghurt and 13g fruit and seeds mix, that's 200 calories and I don't need anything until lunch time.

Lougle · 27/04/2021 09:15

@lightand

Sorry to anyone on the thread if my calorie counting is wrong.

I googled homemade brown bread, it said 75 calories. [We have a Panasonic Breadmaker]. The bread is cut thick, and with at least an average spread of butter, I estimated 100 cals in all.
Perhaps I am a bit out with the estimation.

Its all a bit of a complicated business, isnt it?
Years ago, I used to have a handy booklet about calories. I either need to see if I can dig it out, or download an App. Either way, it looks like I am in serious need of some reeducation.

My fitness Pal is free and really useful. It's better to aim for better quality food (less processed) with sensible portions than extreme fad diets which aren't sustainable.