Losing weight and not needing to weigh food
Replies
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Wake me when you make a point that goes with what I actually said.
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I respect you Dianne, but I feel like alot of other people didn't read what I said or clarified.0
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I don't weigh but I have weighed before just to make sure I wasn't deceiving myself on portion size (and I am a scientist). I cook a LOT and I create/alter my recipes on the fly/to taste, so it's too time-consuming to weigh. I've become pretty good at estimating and always leave a large cushion most days. I've lost 43 pounds in a year with 10-15 to go. I skimp on calories for break and lunch and use the 80% rule at dinner. I eat until I'm 80% full which often means eating a little more or less than my 250-500 cal deficit.
That being said, I totally understand why people need to weigh. It keeps you honest, and some people do not have good estimation skills. And as others have said, the less you have to lose, the more important it is to keep your calories straight.0 -
Please note: as this is the last time I will say it. I HAVE SAID THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WEIGHING FOOD WORKS FOR YOU, THAT'S SUPER! I have said nothing against people that weigh food, I really haven't, if you look at what I've posted. I have said that sometimes there seems to be pressure to only weigh food, and that is not needed to lose weight. I wanted to let people know that it is not necessary, to weigh food, to lose weight. IF YOU DECIDE TO LOSE WEIGHT BY WEIGHING, GOOD FOR YOU. Stop bugging me on this post.
I know what I'm talking about because I lose 100 lbs. I gained it back because I stopped counting calories and had other life issues not relating to estimating food.1 -
Millions of people lose weight without weighing or logging a single crumb. Weighing/logging is definitely not a prerequisite for weight loss.
There are dozens of "Why am i not losing weight" threads posted here nearly everyday. For these people, the most obvious and simple solution is to tighten up their logging/accuracy, and the easiest way to do this is by using a food scale for everything.
Some people are ace at estimating calories, and their weight loss goes along perfectly. Then there are other people like myself who are not so adept at it and would also prefer more precise numbers.
It's horses for courses.3 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Millions of people lose weight without weighing or logging a single crumb. Weighing/logging is definitely not a prerequisite for weight loss.
There are dozens of "Why am i not losing weight" threads posted here nearly everyday. For these people, the most obvious and simple solution is to tighten up their logging/accuracy, and the easiest way to do this is by using a food scale for everything.
Some people are ace at estimating calories, and their weight loss goes along perfectly. Then there are other people like myself who are not so adept at it and would also prefer more precise numbers.
It's horses for courses.
This^^ which has been repeated over and over again in many ways. OP, what answer are you looking for?0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Millions of people lose weight without weighing or logging a single crumb. Weighing/logging is definitely not a prerequisite for weight loss.
There are dozens of "Why am i not losing weight" threads posted here nearly everyday. For these people, the most obvious and simple solution is to tighten up their logging/accuracy, and the easiest way to do this is by using a food scale for everything.
Some people are ace at estimating calories, and their weight loss goes along perfectly. Then there are other people like myself who are not so adept at it and would also prefer more precise numbers.
It's horses for courses.
I agree with what you have to say.0 -
Not looking for answers here.... Trying to talk to the people that think, when they plateau, their only out is measuring, but it seems to be a pain so they give up. Or newbies that feel pressured. If you don't think that is an issue. Move along. There is nothing to see here.0
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If they do not want to weigh their food or don't own a food scale, the answer is lower their intake a little more.0
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queenliz99 wrote: »If they do not want to weigh their food or don't own a food scale, the answer is lower their intake a little more.
Thank you, I said that earlier, FYI.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Hmm, in an effort to figure out the point of this thread, I went back to the first post:I see some people making a 2nd job out of measuring and weighing.
Really? Or are you IMAGINING that people are spending that much time on it. I realize some find it burdensome and I don't think everyone should do it (or needs to), but for me it takes no extra time to weigh my food while cooking. Logging takes a little extra time and trying to estimate what I eat at a restaurant does, so I don't plan to always log, but even when I'm not I occasionally weigh things and for some foods (like oatmeal and pasta and ice cream) I do regularly weigh out portions as a self-check. If this extra 5 seconds or so is a "second job" you must have a very unusual first one.
Also, when I used to bake (something I rarely do now, so, wowie! extra time), I would weigh ingredients, and didn't find it burdensome then.I feel sorry for those people that weigh everything, all the time.
Of all the things in the world, this is a really strange thing to pity people for, especially if they are happy and given that it's a chosen activity that they could stop doing if they disliked it/thought it wasn't worth it. Don't you see how condescending this sounds?I know when you are closer to your goal weight it can make more of a difference. But after gaining back the weight I lost (in a 2 year span, for reasons like not logging at all) I have been able to lose another 30 lbs, still not weighing.
I know I can lose without weighing, but if I am close to goal weight (currently I am) and have a goal of trying to maintain and then gain muscle without regaining significant fat, there are reasons to try to hit a precise calorie goal (I'm not really doing that at the moment, as I am trying to get back to logging and figure out my real TDEE, as I stopped logging for quite a while). I switched to weighing when I didn't need to be so precise (I was still easily losing 2 lb/week) because I find it much more bearable and fun to log when weighing. If you find weighing to add to the pain, that's fine, but just remember people are different. Many of us enjoy the added detail and accuracy and much prefer weighing to estimating.Has anyone measured their food and logged
routinely for 8+ years?
Don't know, don't care, don't see how it's relevant. I probably never will. IMO, something isn't useful only if you plan to do it consistently forever.I thought, after losing 100 lbs, I had an idea of portions, but it turns out I did not if I wasn't logging my food.
Okay. I actually do have a good idea of portions and find logging more annoying than weighing. I spot check weigh, as noted above, when not logging. I also sometimes weigh foods like vegetables to be sure I am eating as much as I think or just because I am interested in how closely I can predict the weight or what something new might weigh -- again, I may be weird, but I find this fun and a normal part of the cooking process (I've always hated using measuring cups).
I have maintained for 18 months and am starting to log again because for me it's motivation to keep a deficit (or I am hoping it will be), since like I said I find tracking interesting.
What was your real point in starting this thread if not to insult those of us who find weighing worth doing?
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IMHO in regards to OP, the sucess and failures are not "counting calories fault". It is what ever was missed during those two years needed to keep the weight off that is the missing equation.
My next thing is being on a calorie counting site, there is only a big deal about logging when we talk about it here in the forums, its not a big deal in real life actually performing the task. I truly do not make a deal about this at all, its like brushing my teeth, its a simple task that I do to carry on everyday living.
And in regards to a plateau, it is usually that person is not using the food scale with the MFP app, they using measuring cups and spoons or eyeballing, and usually almost always eating more than they think. There is underestimation in calories in and overestimation of calories out. Its not a pain for these people, they just do know or understand the process to begin with and how it all works.
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The only downside i have found with weighing and logging is keeping to those numbers because that's what it says in my diary.
For example, last night i made Goulash, i had logged 500g in my diary. As i was spooning it onto my plate i felt i could have stopped at 400g, but i kept adding because i had logged 500. This is something i have to nip in the bud!4 -
Not looking for answers here.... Trying to talk to the people that think, when they plateau, their only out is measuring, but it seems to be a pain so they give up. Or newbies that feel pressured. If you don't think that is an issue. Move along. There is nothing to see here.
So you don't want a debate? Why post it in the debate section, then, where newbies are less likely to find it?
Seems to me, especially given the wording of the first post, that your intent was something else, but whatever.11 -
I'm not really clear what OP was looking for from the first post, seeing how this has developed.
Will it resolve anything if I say "I am now freed from the tyranny of the scale and will somehow perfectly judge all my portions from now on, lose a few more pounds then stay at my perfect weight for ever?"
Thought not. I'll stick with the scale then
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And because you have nothing against people who log you said that you feel sorry for them?8
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Bless their hearts!
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Lovely.
A thread patronising those that continously patronise others.
haha.2 -
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I'm not sure I understand the "debate" of this thread.
There are some people who don't weigh their food and lose weight fine.
There are some people who do weigh their food and lose weight fine.
The only "deal" I've seen people make out of weighing food is when someone is posting a thread about being plateaued (as others have said). Someone who is complaining that they can't lose weight and who hasn't been weighing their food should consider weighing as a way to be more accurate in their logging. It's just a sensible thing to suggest. However, it's rarely the only thing suggested in threads like that. People will also ask about how much of their exercise calories they're eating back, how they're estimating their CO, if they adjusted their intake after losing, etc.
It's not necessary to weigh food in order to lose weight (I've never seen someone say that it is), but it's generally not a difficult thing either, and if someone is having problems losing weight, suggesting that they weigh food is not a bad thing to do. Since we're all working from estimates, why wouldn't we want to be as accurate in those estimates as possible?
What exactly is the debate, OP? Are you suggesting that no one should be telling others to weigh their food?6 -
I actually eyeballed everything until I got closer to goal - I had to start weighing foods then if I was to see scale budge.
However now been at maintenance over 3 yrs and back to not needing to weigh foods again as I know portion size by eyeballing -I'm really good at it, the other day I poured 30g of Special k into bowl and for the heck of it weighed it....29g!! How good am I Lol3 -
What problem?
And helpful hint -- if you post that in every thread you are going to seem like a spammer.1 -
Lovely.
A thread patronising those that continously patronise others.
haha.
We must have two different definitions of patronizing.
OP: Halp, I'm eating 1200 cals and not losing weight.
Users: Are you weighing and logging your food.
OP: I log religiously.
Users: Ya, but do you weigh it? If you don't it's quite possible that your eating more than you think.
Why do I not see the patronizing in that back and forth I see probably 3 times a day. Am I missing something?6 -
I don't weigh my food either. I drink a Premier Protein chocolate shake each morning so I know how many ounces is in that. I looked up and created MyFitnessPal chart so the things that I put in the shake I know exactly what I'm putting into me. I checked my fitness pal app quite a few times today when I enter my breakfast my lunch my snacks just to see how much of a portion I should have or how many crackers is acceptable Etc things like that. I don't think you have the weigh everything you eat, you just have to pay attention to how much you're eating. I mean come on if you were going to have a po boy instead of getting the 16-inch one you might could get away with 11 inch one. If I did that I cut back a little bit the next day0
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I don't weigh my food either. I drink a Premier Protein chocolate shake each morning so I know how many ounces is in that. I looked up and created MyFitnessPal chart so the things that I put in the shake I know exactly what I'm putting into me. I checked my fitness pal app quite a few times today when I enter my breakfast my lunch my snacks just to see how much of a portion I should have or how many crackers is acceptable Etc things like that. I don't think you have the weigh everything you eat, you just have to pay attention to how much you're eating. I mean come on if you were going to have a po boy instead of getting the 16-inch one you might could get away with 11 inch one. If I did that I cut back a little bit the next day
Weighing is one way to *tell* how much you're eating, one that works for those of us who aren't so good at eyeballing portions. The choices aren't "weigh" or "pay attention to how much you're eating." Weighing is literally just a way to pay attention to how much you're eating.3 -
I see some people making a 2nd job out of measuring and weighing. When I lost 100 lbs in 2 - 3 years. I didn't weigh my food once. I'm not saying it's not helpful at times. I did have an idea of my measurements (a cup of food was my most common) but eating healthy and giving myself alittle kcal cushion was what worked. I feel sorry for those people that weigh everything, all the time.
I know when you are closer to your goal weight it can make more of a difference. But after gaining back the weight I lost (in a 2 year span, for reasons like not logging at all) I have been able to lose another 30 lbs, still not weighing.
I think sometimes people make too much of a deal about measuring. Has anyone measured their food and logged
routinely for 8+ years?
My concern is my goal, to eat healthy and do what I need to to lose weight and than keep it off, and be able to keep that up for decades (i.e. the rest of my life). I can't imagine weighing food for so long.
I thought, after losing 100 lbs, I had an idea of portions, but it turns out I did not if I wasn't logging my food.
Don't feel sorry for us mate.
Weighing works for me and many others, if your method works for you then great stick with it. I will say I have never lost then gained and had to lose again weighing and counting 4 -
Not looking for answers here.... Trying to talk to the people that think, when they plateau, their only out is measuring, but it seems to be a pain so they give up. Or newbies that feel pressured. If you don't think that is an issue. Move along. There is nothing to see here.
You posted this in the debate section. If you didn't want people to debate with you, perhaps that was a poor choice?
No one here says you MUST use a food scale to lose weight. But when someone isn't losing and doesn't know why, checking their numbers by weighing their portions would seem to be a logical reply, wouldn't it? What should we tell them "You're probably eating more than you think. Try eyeballing your portions better, and good luck!"?
As Dianne said, I love numbers and lists and trying to Tetris my way into a good number of calories. It's fun! And I'm a healthy weight! And I'm not struggling to maintain! And I eat ice cream and pizza! Don't feel sorry for me, I'm good 4 -
Please note: as this is the last time I will say it. I HAVE SAID THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WEIGHING FOOD WORKS FOR YOU, THAT'S SUPER! I have said nothing against people that weigh food, I really haven't, if you look at what I've posted. I have said that sometimes there seems to be pressure to only weigh food, and that is not needed to lose weight. I wanted to let people know that it is not necessary, to weigh food, to lose weight. IF YOU DECIDE TO LOSE WEIGHT BY WEIGHING, GOOD FOR YOU. Stop bugging me on this post.
I know what I'm talking about because I lose 100 lbs. I gained it back because I stopped counting calories and had other life issues not relating to estimating food.
But are you at goal weight now? Did you get to a BMI in the healthy range when you lost 100lbs? Are you a petite woman with little room for margin of error?3 -
I have lost weight by not measuring or weighing my food. But I could never really get to goal and I couldn't figure out why. Well, the why is b/c I'm 5'1 and my margin of error had whittled away to nonexistent. Weighing my food is the only way that I have found that will get me to my goal weight. It's also not that hard and takes moments. Place container on scale, spoon out peanut butter until it hits the amount of grams I want, the end. Now, I can pretty much eye ball the peanut butter, but sometimes that amount is a few grams too high or a few grams too low. Peanut butter is too calorie dense to play with, plus I want all of the food I can have. I don't want to skimp at all.
Now, I refuse to travel with a scale. I won't take it with me on vacation, I won't take it with me on my weekly visits to my grandparents, and I will not take it with me to a restaurant. That's when I eyeball, hope for the best, and realize that as long as I get back on track the next day or next meal, everything will even out.3
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