Why do I need a food scale???

MeanderingMammal

dtopo wrote: »

So why do I need to invest in a FOOD SCALE for success?

You don't. It depends on your objectives.

I don't measure intake, but measure running and cycling outcomes.

MoiAussi93

You don't NEED one. Some people like using them because they more accurately measure what they eat.

I have never used one and don't plan to ever use one because I don't want to do that for the rest of my life. I am happy with my results and weighing everything I eat would drive me crazy. This works for me. Scales work better for some people. Do whatever you feel is best for you.

AskTracyAnnK28

Back when I first started MFP I kept seeing the expressing "weigh/measure/log EVERYTHING" so that's what I did...and I started developing a very poor relationship with food. I was weighing condiments (like a tablespoon of ketchup/mustard/salsa). My son staired at me like I was insane when he saw me weighing couliflower (serving size is 100 grams/25 calories). I stopped going out to eat because I refused to eat anything I couldn't weigh.

This was not good and no way to live.

Now I just use it for the larger items like fish/potato's/certain cheeses and I've steadily lost over 50 pounds

lemon629

I am generally very good at eyeballing portion sizes after working in restaurants for several years. (I have tested myself.) However, weights of fruits and vegetables vary a lot, and I never had to pay much attention to the sizes/weights of those in restaurants, just on how much volume I needed for the recipe, so I need to weigh those, especially calorie rich foods like avocados and potatoes. I also weigh calorie dense foods like cheese and peanut butter because going over by even a little can mean a significant calorie increase. And I like cheese too much to trust my eyeball technique.

A food scale is cheap and handy to have.