Food Scale, Really?

jlscherme

I began using MFP about a year ago. This is my 1st post. I logged 280 days then MFP mysteriously went back to 0 days! I was so angry with MFP. I had lost 25 lbs, gained back 5lbs recently due to stress. I was just using measuring cups and eyeballing it. Will using a food scale really make a difference?

LynnBBQ72

YES! I did not believe it until I tried it myself. The first couple of weeks I eyeballed it, and used measuring cups. I was shocked when I started weighing. I had no idea how far off my estimates were. Total shock!

cmriverside

Try it and see. $20 well-spent in my opinion. I use mine daily, after nine years at maintenance weight.

cwolfman13

It's more accurate...it's not necessary, it's just a more accurate way of going about things...just depends on how accurate you want to be and/or how good you are at eyeballing portions.

jlscherme

What is a good one to get? There are so many to choose from and so many different types...

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jlscherme

I gained the 5lbs back from stress over the past 3 months. I was just angry with MFP for about a week and didn't log anything or keep track for a week. Now I'm back to eyeballing my food and logging it. Thinking about getting a food scale and being more accurate.

Rocknut53

jlscherme wrote: »

I began using MFP about a year ago. This is my 1st post. I logged 280 days then MFP mysteriously went back to 0 days! I was so angry with MFP. I had lost 25 lbs, gained back 5lbs recently due to stress. I was just using measuring cups and eyeballing it. Will using a food scale really make a difference?

It's not the days in a row that are important as I discovered after going on a couple camping trips where I had no internet or cell. I was freaked at first, but now I realize it really didn't matter. I've been almost every day since January. That's what matters. As far as the scale, I started out without one and did fine, then bought one. Is it necessary? Probably not. Is it useful? Absolutely. For me, it helps keep me accountable. It was a real eye opener to discover how off things can be, especially "eye balling" portions. Weighing is more important now for me because at maintenance there is not much wiggle room for calorie intake.

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StrongGirlFitGirl

I use a scale for almost everything. It helps keep things accurate, like other people have said. I used to not use it for stuff like salad dressing, I'd measure with a measuring spoon, but it's too easy to be off with a spoon. I was surprised how I was over or under so much. Salad dressing isn't usually a ton of calories, so that's not a great example maybe! Shredded cheese is a another thing that I now measure on the scale.

I got a digital one from Target a long time ago, and it's holding up just fine. It can measure in grams or ounces, plus you can weigh the container, then zero out the scale to get a reading for just the food. The one I have is an older model of this one target.com/p/taylor-11lb-glass-platform-digital-food-scale/-/A-11011109

Spliner1969

jlscherme wrote: »

What is a good one to get? There are so many to choose from and so many different types...

I've tried several different ones. The one I like the most has a glass top that screws off easily for washing. I found it on Amazon and I think it was less than $25 delivered. Take standard AAA batteries as well.

Spook_Skywalker

Best thing I ever did was buy a food scale. It's amazing how little and how large some portions of different foods can be.