Get a scale people!

kissedbythesunshine

I just started using a food scale and I am just amazed at how much food I was eating vs how much I "thought" I was eating. If you are seriously wanting to lose some weight then this is the way to go. Eyeballing it is so way off. I was one of those people who thought weighing every little thing was ridiculous and would take up too much of my time. Boy are my eyes opened now to how essential this simple and lost cost piece of equipment is to weight loss. You're welcome:)

sweetpea03b

Agreed. It makes all the difference!

quiksylver296

Truth.

StacyJanJ

Totally agree!! I use mine all the time!!

heatherlewisis

I use mine every day!

bmayes2014

I just got one too because of MFP. I kept reading here that it was essential. I wasn't really that far off with my estimates prior to owning one. I was just overeating in general (completely aware that I was overeating) which was stopping my weight loss. One thing is has taught me is more about portion sizes and portion control. yaaay for scales!

_Waffle_

kissedbythesunshine wrote: »

I just started using a food scale and I am just amazed at how much food I was eating vs how much I "thought" I was eating. If you are seriously wanting to lose some weight then this is the way to go. Eyeballing it is so way off. I was one of those people who thought weighing every little thing was ridiculous and would take up too much of my time. Boy are my eyes opened now to how essential this simple and lost cost piece of equipment is to weight loss. You're welcome:)

Once you're used to weighing food you'll find that it doesn't take up that much extra time. For instance instead of weighing peanut butter I put the bread on the scale, zero it out, and then add peanut butter directly to the slice of bread. There are no extra steps necessary and no extra things to clean up.

ohmscheeks

Yeah... It's one of many weight loss tools. If I start having issues losing weight (with the tools I already employ), I may consider it.

holly_roman

I have a scale, been using it and logging everything....still stuck at the same lb for 3 weeks. *Sigh* Was an eye opener when I saw the food portions though. I used to think about 2oz of pork was 4....boy was I wrong. I could have been eating twice what I thought. I also didn't realize how LITTLE 2oz of pasta was..pasta is pretty much off my list of food items now.

Kalikel

A scale is very eye-opening!

Just be sure to pay attention to your portions and get an idea of how to eat without a scale. Don't get so hooked on it that you require a scale and computer in order to know how to eat. Use it as a crutch. It really stinks when you find that you're incapable of eating without a scale and computer, lol. I know!

rocknlotsofrolls

I know it sounds boring, but I pretty much eat the same meals all the time, cause I know how many calories are in them. How do you weigh your food, I mean, I've never done it. Are you talking about weighing chicken, for example, without added ingredients? Excuse the dumb question.

janejellyroll

rocknlotsofrolls wrote: »

I know it sounds boring, but I pretty much eat the same meals all the time, cause I know how many calories are in them. How do you weigh your food, I mean, I've never done it. Are you talking about weighing chicken, for example, without added ingredients? Excuse the dumb question.

The best way to tell how many calories are in a food, though, is to start with the actual quantity -- the weight. If you're eating chicken, you would weigh the chicken (as well as any added ingredients).

joshuajdouce

Totally agree food scale has helped me start drop those last few stubborn pounds

diannethegeek

I won't go so far as to say that they're essential for weight loss, but I was one of those people who thought it'd be super difficult and obsessive to use a food scale. Boy was I wrong! Personally, I actually find it faster than trying to round up a bunch of measuring cups and spoons and cram food into them. Plus there are fewer dishes to clean up afterwards. And who doesn't want to feel like a mad scientist at breakfast?

dbanks80

Yes very important! I need to get a new one maybe digital. My scale is so old the tray is cracking.

Traveler120

I can't do it. Reading labels is enough for me.

oolou

diannethegeek wrote: »

And who doesn't want to feel like a mad scientist at breakfast?

+1

cdudley628

I guess I was really surprised by some of the one serving foods I was eating and going by the labels for a bit. Then I decided to weigh and realized that if I was eating those to get me to my calorie goal, or even 100 calories under, I was most likely going over my calorie goal. Some thing are 1.03 servings, some are 1.3 servings. I rarely find food that is under the serving size on the package.

Bogditzy

I weight everything (when needed) or scan products. 100% must have if planning on loosing weight in my opinion. Got a scale at work as well

Francl27

diannethegeek wrote: »

I won't go so far as to say that they're essential for weight loss, but I was one of those people who thought it'd be super difficult and obsessive to use a food scale. Boy was I wrong! Personally, I actually find it faster than trying to round up a bunch of measuring cups and spoons and cram food into them. Plus there are fewer dishes to clean up afterwards. And who doesn't want to feel like a mad scientist at breakfast?

That's the thing that gets me, honestly.. People think it's obsessive to use a food scale. I found that it's the opposite. It gives me peace of mind, and knowing exactly how much I eat pretty much prevents all the worrying about not losing that you see every day on the boards... You weigh your food, you know you're accurate, you KNOW why you're not losing (you ate too much last week, or you didn't but then you know it's just water weight, whatever, but at least you know it's not because you're underestimating your food intake).

cdudley628 wrote: »

I guess I was really surprised by some of the one serving foods I was eating and going by the labels for a bit. Then I decided to weigh and realized that if I was eating those to get me to my calorie goal, or even 100 calories under, I was most likely going over my calorie goal. Some thing are 1.03 servings, some are 1.3 servings. I rarely find food that is under the serving size on the package.

Yeah. I've eaten things that were 50-80 calories off.

OneHundredToLose

So, question. I don't use a food scale, and I do estimate some things (meat mostly). I've been losing at exactly the rate that MFP predicts I will, with no issues. Does this just mean that I'm really good at estimating, or is it still worth it to get a digital scale?

mysteps2beauty

I first started using it today. I had chicken cutlets for lunch, and my eyeballing had me eating less than what I was allowed. Hallelujah! So, I will be using it until I can eyeball with much less error, in case I get out to a restaurant that doesn't have a scale at my table...lol.... Back in my Weight Watchers time, we used to call the miscellaneous items that we put in our mouth but not in our diary the BLTs (bites, licks and tastes). Corralling those in was huge for those who had stalled or plateaued and saw the loss almost immediately. It seems the scale will do that as well.

Protranser

OneHundredToLose wrote: »

So, question. I don't use a food scale, and I do estimate some things (meat mostly). I've been losing at exactly the rate that MFP predicts I will, with no issues. Does this just mean that I'm really good at estimating, or is it still worth it to get a digital scale?

I'd wait until a 4-6 week stall before changing up my logging. So, i'd suggest you keep doing what you're doing now until it stops working, and only then, look at ways to improve your accuracy

MarcyKirkton

OneHundredToLose wrote: »

So, question. I don't use a food scale, and I do estimate some things (meat mostly). I've been losing at exactly the rate that MFP predicts I will, with no issues. Does this just mean that I'm really good at estimating, or is it still worth it to get a digital scale?

That's how I judge how I'm doing, too. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Kalikel

OneHundredToLose wrote: »

So, question. I don't use a food scale, and I do estimate some things (meat mostly). I've been losing at exactly the rate that MFP predicts I will, with no issues. Does this just mean that I'm really good at estimating, or is it still worth it to get a digital scale?

If what you're doing is working, no need to bother weighing all the food. It's a pain in the butt, especially for those who cook by tossing stuff in and not by following recipes. Major pain!!!

If you find that you're not losing, you can drop the calories or start weighing things on a scale, either way.

Many people find that they learn a lot when using a scale. I know I did! It will help you to get the best possible estimate on how many calories you're swallowing. Food scales are a huge plus for many people!

But they aren't necessary to lose weight, as you've already learned. And, again, can be a pain in the butt.

If your current plan is working, don't fix it.

sweetsriracha23

This this this. Buying a scale is my #1 recommendation to anyone who's tracking but not losing. I think mine cost less than $10 at Walmart!

annette_15

Yeah so important... I've been eating half or a whole Lenny and Larry's cookie every day now for like two weeks. The package says the cookie weighs 112g, but the smallest cookie I've had I think was 120g and one was a whooping 137g. So they are all 30-120 calories more than they should be. Being in maintenance, that would lead to weight gain if I trusted the label

ZeroDelta

I weigh everything I can. I even have a travel scale I keep in my bag. The other day I was hungry and bought a bag of pumpkin seeds for a snack. I'm in my car weighing out a portion of pumpkin seeds wondering what a cop would think if he/she walked by the car at that particular moment.

juliet3455

Some good reads.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/ask-the-dietitian-should-i-eat-back-my-exercise-calories/
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ihad/view/the-power-of-habit-part-1-why-habits-matter-688130

sobiakhatoon

What scale did you buy? Please mention size, type, price and stord. Thanks!

kissedbythesunshine wrote: »

I just started using a food scale and I am just amazed at how much food I was eating vs how much I "thought" I was eating. If you are seriously wanting to lose some weight then this is the way to go. Eyeballing it is so way off. I was one of those people who thought weighing every little thing was ridiculous and would take up too much of my time. Boy are my eyes opened now to how essential this simple and lost cost piece of equipment is to weight loss. You're welcome:)

ZeroDelta

sobiakhatoon wrote: »

What scale did you buy? Please mention size, type, price and stord. Thanks!

I just ordered this as a second scale. $11.49 on Amazon. Free delivery if you have Prime.

AmazonBasics Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display