Shopping time! What items have helped the most?

amandatiffany90
amandatiffany90 Posts: 44
in Health and Weight Loss
This week I bought a food scale, 5lb weights and proper measuring cups (can't believe I didn't have any!)

What has been essential on your weight loss and fitness journey so far?
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Replies

  • ebr250
    ebr250 Posts: 199 Member
    Extra food storage containers for making more meals and snacks. I work long days so I prep a bunch on the weekend and freeze it.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    Definitely the food scale. Oh and fitness dvds for when I just can't make it to the gym and my HRM
  • wibutterflymagic
    wibutterflymagic Posts: 788 Member
    A food scale without a doubt is a must.
  • felicia8604
    felicia8604 Posts: 274 Member
    food scale and measuring cups! Its all about portion control for me!! Just eyeballing it doesnt work.
  • tj1376
    tj1376 Posts: 1,402 Member
    Small storage bowls and freezer bags!!!! I like to stick the measuring cups into some of my containers so they are always there, so extra measuring cups are essential to me. Now if only they would make a dishwasher that washed the little containers instead of throwing them around like rag dolls, I would be awesome.

    I did buy a food scale for Christmas, but I don't use it a ton, maybe once a week or so. That still makes it worth it to me
  • imhungry2012
    imhungry2012 Posts: 240 Member
    A good tuperwares set with a variety of sizes! I bring breakfast, lunch and snacks to work everyday and this makes it so much easier.

    Food scale is # 1 ... careful with measureing cups, I still weigh certan things (higher calorie items) in the measureing cups b/c it can vary if don't and many food labels have both. ex. 1/4 cup (1 oz.) on the package.

    veggie steamer - just the cheap metal one that goes in the bottom of a pot to steam fresh veggies (though I do a lot of frozen these days)
  • woodsy0912
    woodsy0912 Posts: 323
    For food: Scale is a MUST!, also love my veggie steamer.

    For fitness: Polar FT4 HRM, good running shoes, fitbit (not necessary, but very fun!), iphone armband (gotta ave my tunes!)

    Other: digital body weight scale (nothing fancy), body tape measure.
  • amandatiffany90
    amandatiffany90 Posts: 44
    Thanks everyone!
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    Food scale, HRM with chest strap, and making time to exercise.
  • dollylohaze
    dollylohaze Posts: 15
    Yup, s'all about the food scale. And peanut butter! Mmmm...
  • endoftheside
    endoftheside Posts: 568 Member
    My food scale is SO OLD, and I really question its accuracy sometimes, so a digital food scale is on my wishlist. Also, a bodyfat scale (I know they aren't necessarily the best, but hopefully I will at least be able to see a downward trend). Also on my list is a blood pressure device, push up and chin up bars, P90X, and a bicycle. Most of these things are more like rewards, and for motivation, tracking, and encouraging a more active lifestyle. For losing weight alone, the food scale is #1.
  • willdob3
    willdob3 Posts: 640 Member
    Lots of good things already listed that I use.

    Also important is a good cooler to take my lunch to work & to pack meals if I am going to be away from home at mealtime. Going too long without eating spells disaster. Also steel bottles for my water & coffee.

    I'd have a FitBit One if it was in my budget right now but, because it isn't, I added an activity tracker app to my iPhone. I have MotionX Sleep & it tracks my steps as well as my sleep (the same sleep tracker Jawbone UP uses). I never would have believed the difference this makes. I move more throughout the day because of it. It motivates me to improve my cardio workouts & that means I'm burning more calories. It gives calories burned including BMR & the numbers are not too different from those I get on MFP. I know that none of these numbers are 100% accurate but seeing them increase is motivating me to work harder all the time & that is wonderful. An app like this is also great if you are not quite sure you would consistently use a FitBit or other separate activity tracker. It can help you decide if it would be a good purchase.
  • gemmaleigh1989
    gemmaleigh1989 Posts: 241 Member
    So many!

    -food scale
    -measuring cups
    -polar heart rate monitor
    -good trainers
    -weight bench, racks and complete weights set up (barbell included)
    -gym membership
    -work out clothes
    -tupperware
    -MFP app!
    -tape measure for tracking progress
    -good BF % scales

    And that's just off the top of my head!
  • pennydreadful270
    pennydreadful270 Posts: 266 Member
    My food scale struggles to weigh anything under 5g, kind of annoying. Usually I' trying to find out what a level teaspoon of something is.

    I bought some big resealable packets of nuts and dried fruit from lidl- they actually seal back properly and keep really well! They're the blue-packaged ones near all the crisps and stuff.
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    A food scale (this was a real eye opener)
    blended fabric underwear (%100 cotton %100 sucks)
  • paperhawk
    paperhawk Posts: 26 Member
    Most helpful: The stuff I left at the store....
  • amandatiffany90
    amandatiffany90 Posts: 44
    Thanks so much everyone! :)
  • GeekyGirlLyn
    GeekyGirlLyn Posts: 238 Member
    bump
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    I love my glass Corning casserole with lid! My veggies come out of the microwave perfectly steamed with just a couple of tablespoons of water! Love it! Use it everyday for yummy fresh steamed veggies.
  • boatsie77
    boatsie77 Posts: 480 Member
    My Google Nexus 7" tablet for logging and keeping up with MFP
    Hamilton Beach Personal Blender for my daily smoothies
    Taylor Biggest Loser Electric food scale
    Stainless steel 18 oz Thermos hydration water bottle
    Books: 'The Power of Now' and 'Women, Food and God'
    Thorlo brand running socks
    Asics Gel Strike 3 sneakers
    Body Fortress Cookies & Cream Whey Protein Powder
    Leslie Sansome Walk Away the Pounds DVDs
    Goodwill & Thrift stores for finding smaller sized clothes on the cheap
  • jenf330
    jenf330 Posts: 66 Member
    I've been thinking about buying a food scale. Can anyone recommend a brand?
  • darwinwoodka
    darwinwoodka Posts: 322 Member
    Tiny ramikins for snacks and salad plates to use as dinner plates.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    A suspension trainer
    A jump rope
    And more recently, sandbags. 5 lb weights? Gonna need a lot more than that. =/ Your lower body is tremendously strong. 5 lb weights won't challenge it.
  • TheDarlingOne
    TheDarlingOne Posts: 255 Member
    baby spinach! I put that stuff on EVUR-REE-THANG! lol
  • darwinwoodka
    darwinwoodka Posts: 322 Member
    The Asics Gel sneakers are nice too! And tighter jeans so I keep going.
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
    Set of cocktail size spoons and cocktail bowls.

    They slow down my eating and made me put smaller bites of food in my mouth. The smaller spoon and smaller bowl create an optical illusion making me feel like I'm getting a larger portion. Absolutely essential for any type of treat like ice cream and cereal.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Food scale
    HRM
    Kettlebells
    Sexy workout clothes (whatever, we're all shallow ... looking good motivates me)
    Foam roller
    Measuring tape for progress check-ups


    Generally, I just think it's good to have an attitude that buying health & fitness related products is an investment. If you don't spend it now on those things, you will spend it later in medical bills. I certainly would not recommend going into debt to buy things you truly cannot afford. But I do recommend saving up and getting the best you CAN afford when it comes to your health.

    As for what brand on the food scale ... I got an EatSmart scale from Amazon. I've had it for about 3 years. It still works great. Measures in lbs, oz., grams, and kilograms, and the customer service from the company is great.
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    1. Digital food scale
    2. Measuring cups AND spoons
    3. Lots of plastic containers for meals (Wal-Mart has sets of 5 for real cheap)
    4. Little 2oz plastic containers for nuts/seeds
    5. Really good water bottle (I personally like the 32oz Bobble filtered bottles)
    6. Quality poultry shears
    7. George Foreman grill (or similar)
    8. Quality microwavable rice cooker
    9. Omron Body Fat meter (look on Amazon for a good deal)
    10. BodyMedia FIT LINK armband

    Now go forth...
  • asaw00
    asaw00 Posts: 1,904 Member
    I like snack baggies. Portion control!! my Brita water pitcher, you gotta drink lots of water! Cauliflower, you can do anything with it!!!
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    Water bottles of various sizes. One for home, on for your car, one for your gym bag, one for work, so you have no excuses not to chug it back all day long.

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