Did you use a scale to start?

gostumpy

Hey everyone!

Just getting started, and logging everything store-bought is easy, but what about when I slice off a bit of Ham for a sandwich? A steak?

Is a kitchen scale pretty necessary to properly track?

d0gma

I don't know if it's necessary, but I use one for stuff like that.

heidiwebs

I love my scale. I didn't have one to start out, but finally bought the Biggest Loser one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It's amazing the difference between 2/3 of a cup of cereal and 29 grams of cereal, which are both listed as the serving side. I find it much easier to track my calories accurately using my scale for meats and liquids too. I used the coupon that's always on the back of the B, B, and B flyer and the scale was under $20. It has an option for ounces and grams and you can put your container on first for the tare weight.

runfatmanrun

Use my scale for everything, pasta, meat, veggies, snacks......

Superchikanthem

I love using my scale it does make things more accurate. My husband saw me weighing out lettuce the other day for a salad I do everything! I'm lucky that I also get to have a scale at work so if I buy something on the way I can weigh it out.

gostumpy

I love my scale. I didn't have one to start out, but finally bought the Biggest Loser one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It's amazing the difference between 2/3 of a cup of cereal and 29 grams of cereal, which are both listed as the serving side. I find it much easier to track my calories accurately using my scale for meats and liquids too. I used the coupon that's always on the back of the B, B, and B flyer and the scale was under $20. It has an option for ounces and grams and you can put your container on first for the tare weight.

Do you mean this one?

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=15947047

Punktorian

It isn't something that you need to keep up after awhile but it's great to start with and to go back to every so often just to really see what size portions you are actually eating. After awhile you will have a much better idea of how much you are eating even without a scale.

pixelberry

I always use a scale, I suck at judging portions.

mfp_1

I got my scale a long time ago to make my life easier. It's essential for calorie dense foods and accurate baking. Cups are the devil's measure. Digital scales allow you to use grams for extra precision.

If I search for a recipe, I'll search for one that quotes weight. I'm always surprised when I hear of homes without a digital scale but where food is important to somebody in the home.

Di3012

Hey everyone!

Just getting started, and logging everything store-bought is easy, but what about when I slice off a bit of Ham for a sandwich? A steak?

Is a kitchen scale pretty necessary to properly track?

Yes it is. If you use guesswork, you could end up being a few hundred calories out over the day, that will scupper your weightloss attempts if you did that all the time.

caramkoala

I only bought a food scale about a month in - and I found out I was ripping myself off, by a lot! :noway:

I find it empowering to know exactly how much is a portion, and now I make a little game out of it by guessing first and then weighing to see how far off I am. I am MUCH better at guesstimating now, and i don't weigh things like lettuce and spinach, even if I was off by double it would hardly matter! :laugh:

Well worth the 50% off price of $10 I paid for it :happy:

dls06

Best investment I made.

Spokez70

We bought one a long time ago for my daughter who has Type-1 diabetes but now I use it all the time for my own food as well.