What A Difference A Food Scale Makes

alyssareyans · August 2014

I have to admit I was very skeptical of the actual benefit of a food scale and weighing food vs just measuring using measuring cups and spoons. I'm a firm believer that fitness and weight loss does not necessarily require fancy gadgets or equipment. And that it doesn't have to cost a fortune because I don't have a fortune to spend.

After reading all of the posts on MFP about food scales, I found one that was in my price range and have been using it for the last couple weeks. And holy cow what a difference. There were some foods I was way overestimating even though I used a measuring cup and some foods that I can actually eat more of by weighing on the scale.

I have learned so much in the last few weeks on the forums. It never ceases to amaze me how something that seemed so irrelevant to me has made such a huge difference. I was on a mini plateau which is why I finally gave in and got the food scale. After getting the scale and being more accurate I've lost 5 lbs.

I just can't thank this forum and all of you guys enough for your patience and help in educating me on weight loss.

williams969 · August 2014

:drinker: Welcome to the Food Scale Club!

Amazing to really see what you're eating and to have the confidence of accurate calorie counts, right? When I started, I only had money for EITHER a new bathroom scale (ancient thing, my old one) or a food scale. I chose the food scale, and I, too, realized I made a very wise choice!

ETA: I'll just leave this here, too, for you, OP (if you haven't seen it already) and anyone who has questions about how to use their food scale to their best advantage: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+accurately&page=1

alyssareyans · August 2014

:drinker: Welcome to the Food Scale Club!

Amazing to really see what you're eating and to have the confidence of accurate calorie counts, right? When I started, I only had money for EITHER a new bathroom scale (ancient thing, my old one) or a food scale. I chose the food scale, and I, too, realized I made a very wise choice!

ETA: I'll just leave this here, too, for you, OP (if you haven't seen it already) and anyone who has questions about how to use their food scale to their best advantage: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+accurately&page=1

Thank you! I hadn't read that yet. I think for me the biggest difference is pasta. I love pasta but without knowing exactly what I'm eating I'd been avoiding it. Now I can weigh and know that I'm not going over my calorie count.

marissanik · August 2014

Food scale was the best $15 I ever spent. I was also over-estimating for the longest time. Good on you for getting one!

AllyG1213 · November 2014

Okay so which food scale did you guys buy?

AlainaKayy · November 2014

Where did you guys buy yours from?

libbydoodle11 · November 2014

AllyG1213 wrote: »

Okay so which food scale did you guys buy?

This was my most current purchase.

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-183236/OXO+5+lb+Scale+with+Pull+Out+Display

However, I owned something similar to this from 2006 to 2013ish.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/BasAcc-White-11-lb-Digital-Kitchen-Scale/7595621/product.html?refccid=ENLC2ILI6UYLBOKL4SNOISEPQE&searchidx=0

KimWillBeThin81 · November 2014

libbydoodle11 wrote: »

AllyG1213 wrote: »

Okay so which food scale did you guys buy?

This was my most current purchase.

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-183236/OXO+5+lb+Scale+with+Pull+Out+Display

However, I owned something similar to this from 2006 to 2013ish.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/BasAcc-White-11-lb-Digital-Kitchen-Scale/7595621/product.html?refccid=ENLC2ILI6UYLBOKL4SNOISEPQE&searchidx=0

I have this exact one, its been a diet saver lol.

KimWillBeThin81 · November 2014

The oxo one I mean.

libbydoodle11 · November 2014

AlainaKayy wrote: »

Where did you guys buy yours from?

I purchased the scale I have now from surlatable.com. Bedbathandbeyond.com has a pretty nice selection. Ross or Marshalls may even sell them.

Kalikel · November 2014

You can lose without a scale. But you'll get a more accurate calorie count with one. And Yes! While some things had more calories than I thought, others had less!

Hot dogs are always right on the money, though. Every single one I've weighed has been exactly, to the gram, what the label says. There is something else that is never off, but in can't remember what.

Welcome to the world of weighing.

PrizePopple · November 2014

This is my scale...

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Gurus-Glass-Digital-Scale/dp/B00HARZJFW/ref=sr_1_8?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1416379064&sr=1-8&keywords=food+scale

I love it.

flatlndr · November 2014

Weigh to go!

chachadeb · November 2014

OXO food scale for me, best purchase I made in helping get the weight off. Was guessing the first week or so til I got my food scale.

diannethegeek · November 2014

AllyG1213 wrote: »

Okay so which food scale did you guys buy?

I bought a $20 food scale at Target. As long as your scale is digital, has the ability to weight in ounces and grams, and has a tare button, any scale should be fine to get you started.

fruitsmarts · November 2014

I am going to purchase a food scale. This seems to be the best choice to lose weight with MFP. I was wondering what is the best or nearly the best body scale to buy that is accurate. I prefer not to spend a ton of $$$.

diannethegeek · November 2014

fruitsmarts wrote: »

I am going to purchase a food scale. This seems to be the best choice to lose weight with MFP. I was wondering what is the best or nearly the best body scale to buy that is accurate. I prefer not to spend a ton of $$$.

There are some great recommendations in the posts just above yours. Maybe you could let us know what works/doesn't work for you with those scales so that we can narrow things down for you?