Question for weighing food?

redxxx6866

I have just started MFP a few days ago, and have just now figured out the importance of weighing your food. Unfortunately, I do not have a kitchen scale, and can't get one until next month. However, I have already lost 1 lb by counting all of my calories.

What is your reason for weighing your food? When you weigh it, how do you log it into MFP? Feel free to include pictures of your food on a scale, recommendations for the most accurate/best scale, etc.

lx1x

Scale = To get better accuracy of how much calories are for specific food by weight.

Fflpnari

A measuring cup full of oatmeal is 2 servings and 300 calories. When you weigh that same amount it actually 3 servings and 450 calories. Even one item that happens every day can change the amount you lose or gain.

DaintyWhisper

Weighing your food is a part of counting your calories. The purpose of it is to be accurate, instead of guesstimating your calorie intake. You're losing weight because you're becoming aware of your calories and paying attention to them. Whereas you didn't pay as much attention before. When you have more weight to lose, just that extra attention to what you're eating helps you to lose at first. There comes a point where being more accurate with the weights of your food will come in handy.

For example, if the back of one serving of dry pasta noodles says 3/4 cup or 56g/2oz is 200 calories. If you just use a measuring cup, you're more likely than not to go over the 56g serving size. If you measured with a measuring cup and thought: "Yeah that's one serving" but it really weighed 70g without your knowledge because you didn't weigh, you'd be eating an extra 50 calories that you didn't know about. All those little discrepancies can add up and be the difference between losing weight or not (even gaining).

You'd enter the food into MPF the same way as if you didn't weigh it. So, if you found an entry that was for "Pasta noodles - 3/4 cup 200 calories" you can still put down that you ate 1 serving of it. Except this time you know it's 100% accurate because you did weigh it. For fresh produce without a label, like an apple, you can search for "usda apple" and find an entry for 100g (because 100g is easiest to do math with). If your apple slices weighed 145g, you would put in 1.45 servings.

It seems really confusing at first, but it's definitely worth the extra effort!

diannethegeek

I lost the bulk of my weight without ever owning a food scale. That worked for me until it didn't anymore and I found that I needed to get even more accurate with my logging. I kept using one simply because I find it to be faster, easier, and less cleanup than messing about with measuring cups/spoons.

You might find any of these posts useful:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1290491/how-and-why-to-use-a-digital-food-scale/p1

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10640205/the-basics-of-accurate-logging/p1

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10621050/how-to-use-the-usda-food-database-mfp-food-database-for-accurate-logging/p1

glassyo

Nut butters and cereal. That's all you really need to know.

DomesticKat

You don't HAVE to weigh your food with a food scale to lose weight, but it does increase accuracy with calorie counting. Lots of people can lose just fine without one, but it's fairly common to experience a stall at some point and a food scale can help with ensuring a deficit. I think a food scale is great for creating a deficit, and also to make sure you're eating enough. No guessing at serving sizes or eyeballing portions, and no reason to underfeed yourself because you aren't sure how much you're eating. I'm a firm believer in eating as much as possible and still losing weight.

Panini911

redxxx6866 wrote: »

I have just started MFP a few days ago, and have just now figured out the importance of weighing your food. Unfortunately, I do not have a kitchen scale, and can't get one until next month. However, I have already lost 1 lb by counting all of my calories.

What is your reason for weighing your food? When you weigh it, how do you log it into MFP? Feel free to include pictures of your food on a scale, recommendations for the most accurate/best scale, etc.

Congrats on the weight loss.

Some people are able to lose without a food scale for a variety of reasons.

But most of us eventually end up needing a scale. At first if we have a ton to lose, we don't need to be nearly as careful as there is tons of wiggle room. however, the closer we get to goal and the less we have to lose the more careful and accurate we need to be. That is the point most of us will start using a scale and being more accurate/ logging every little thing.

kbmnurse1

scales are cheap. $25 at Target.

wilson10102018

$10.89 at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Multifunction-Stainless-Batteries-Included/dp/B0113UZJE2?ref_=Oct_DotdC_289787_0&pf_rd_p=501aa8c8-0356-575b-81a9-41864621c6bc&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=289787&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=W708XAHERF2NYQNFAJHY&pf_rd_r=W708XAHERF2NYQNFAJHY&pf_rd_p=501aa8c8-0356-575b-81a9-41864621c6bc

callsitlikeiseeit

scales are cheap. ive had $50 scales and $10 scales and they all worked just fine. the one i have currently was around $25 if i remember right

pinuplove

I have the Etekcity scale from Amazon linked above. The biggest drawback is that it's kind of small, so your plate or bowl can sometimes block the display. But for the price, you really can't go wrong if you're looking to start weighing your food.