Weighing food entries

PapaChanoli
PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
in Getting Started
I have to say. I just started weighing my food. It's a bit of a hassle, but it is so absolutely worth it with a decent scale that you can zero out the tare on.

Zero out with the plate on, add pork chops or whatever. Zero again and add second dish. Zero again and add third dish. Decide I want a little catsup, slap the plate on the scale and squirt out a 17 gram serving... Boom. CONFiDENCE!

Even better is putting the plate empty of all but bones on the scale after you're done, zero it and remove the bones so you can take away the extra couple of ounces (or grams) of bones that don't count toward you calorie consumption when it goes negative.

But the best part is no more guessing. No more wondering if I'm doing right by myself and my goals. It is certainly still an estimate of calories consumed but the margin for error is so much lower.

I didn't even realize I was having food guilt until I got the scale and the food guilt disappeared.

If this battle is half mental; a good scale is a fine weapon to engage in the war on fat with.

Thank you to whoever put that advice in the sticky threads. It's definitely worth the $30 investment.

Replies

  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Welcome to the light
  • PapaChanoli
    PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
    Welcome to the light

    Thanks. I was having success with my estimating, but I think the higher precision of a scale will be much easier.
  • poetgirl115
    poetgirl115 Posts: 45 Member
    I. weigh. EVERYTHING. I even decided today (on a whim) to weigh my bread for my favorite tuna sandwich. Turns out, my two slices, which should be 1 serving of 120 calories, are actually 1 1/2 servings! Cut off the crusts, and voila! No wonder I've been feeling a little off the past couple of days! Food scales are amazing. especially if you want to treat yourself to a little chips and dip, as I am right now. :wink: Knowledge is a beautiful thing.
  • PapaChanoli
    PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
    I. weigh. EVERYTHING. I even decided today (on a whim) to weigh my bread for my favorite tuna sandwich. Turns out, my two slices, which should be 1 serving of 120 calories, are actually 1 1/2 servings! Cut off the crusts, and voila! No wonder I've been feeling a little off the past couple of days! Food scales are amazing. especially if you want to treat yourself to a little chips and dip, as I am right now. :wink: Knowledge is a beautiful thing.

    It definitely frees me up to eat those last few calories in the day with more confidence that I'm not going over.

    I put what I guessed was a tablespoon and a half of mayo in some tuna today, not really trying to estimate but just slapping it in. It was over double my estimate. That's a huge difference with mayo!

    Thanks for your comment.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Funny, I just bought a new one (digital this time), its awesome! My old one was one that you had to turn in order to zero. It was off by about .08 oz's (weighing heavier, thank goodness) !.
    I feel like I received a food raise! laughssssss
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    What is especially nice about using a food scale all of the time at home is that it gives you confidence when you are eating out or at someone's home. You can guesstimate 1 ounce of cheese or if that steak or chicken breast is closer to 6 or if it is 8 oz.
  • sabified
    sabified Posts: 1,035 Member
    I have one of those old school ones too, where you have to turn the knob to get to zero. Had a digital, but my bil decided to see if he could weigh himself on it :noway: Need to get another, this one feels like I'm working in the stone ages.
  • qwicherbytchin
    qwicherbytchin Posts: 42
    I bought my scale thru amazon for $16 + free shipping. I even have a pocket size one ($3) that I have at my desk at work. I just found that I need to get a few more sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups because I use those for all the things non-scale measured. :)

    Love when people finally "get it"! Congrats!
  • Lelah77
    Lelah77 Posts: 177 Member
    I Love love love my food scale. I agree that regularly weighing my food has taught me to visually see proper portions and when I am away from my scale I can confidently guesstimate my portions for proper logging.
    It takes a couple extra minutes, but the precision is such a relief!

    :smile:
  • rosehips60
    rosehips60 Posts: 1,030 Member
    YES!!! I love that scale, I've started weighing even more things that I used to measure out, a good food scale can be your best friend
  • amyk0202
    amyk0202 Posts: 666 Member
    I bought my scale thru amazon for $16 + free shipping. I even have a pocket size one ($3) that I have at my desk at work. I just found that I need to get a few more sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups because I use those for all the things non-scale measured. :)

    Love when people finally "get it"! Congrats!

    What kind of pocket scale do you use? I would love to get one to keep in my purse. I weigh everything at home but I'm definitely bad at estimates still when I'm out & about.
  • tmt2003
    tmt2003 Posts: 176 Member
    It's really eye opening to see what a true portion size is! It took me a bit to figure out PB, mayo and such - put the jar on then tare and remove what you want, then you can lick the spoon with no guilt! Lol

    We weigh and measure everything. My boys are 10 and we have been using the food scale at home for 3 years. I don't focus on calories and such with the boys, but I want them to learn what a healthy 'portion' looks like. I taught them to read labels and if they have chips, goldfish crackers, etc they weigh themselves out a serving. The other day, the scale battery died (yes that's cause for panic, lol) I explained how, since we always weigh our food, we should have a good idea what a serving 'looks' like and we'll just do our best. I said "you know, some families don't even HAVE scales in their house" my son yells "WHAT! That's crazy!! How do they know what they're eating???" We all got a good laugh.

    I also had to explain, just because the box of Ho Hos says 1 serving = 3 hohos doesn't mean we (cough, cough 'they') get to eat 3 in one sitting. Lol

    Teresa
  • GeordieGirl80s
    GeordieGirl80s Posts: 120 Member
    I feel so much better about my weightloss now that I am weighing everything I eat. I get laughed at for it at home but last time I just said "hey, have I lost more weight since I started weighing my food than I had before?, is that a yes I hear? well STFU then"
  • icrushit
    icrushit Posts: 773 Member
    Weighing's a good way to go for consistency alright, especially if you tend to eat a certain range of foods, so once you weigh it once you're good :)

    On the subject of logging accuracy, a related point to note is that the exercise calories in the database would seem to be on the high side, so anyone that has spent some time ensuring food logging accuracy might just want to check that they are logging exercise properly too, rather than undo their good work :)
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I bought my scale thru amazon for $16 + free shipping. I even have a pocket size one ($3) that I have at my desk at work. I just found that I need to get a few more sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups because I use those for all the things non-scale measured. :)

    Love when people finally "get it"! Congrats!

    What kind of pocket scale do you use? I would love to get one to keep in my purse. I weigh everything at home but I'm definitely bad at estimates still when I'm out & about.

    This is the one i use when measuring ingredients for my lotions and shampoos, etc (and also food occsionally): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BNWR6UG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    I like a pocket scale that weighs up to 500 grams and carries to the tenth of a gram. For food use, you don't need to be that precise but I do when weighing essential oils that cost as much as $40 for a dram.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Weighing's a good way to go for consistency alright, especially if you tend to eat a certain range of foods, so once you weigh it once you're good :)

    On the subject of logging accuracy, a related point to note is that the exercise calories in the database would seem to be on the high side, so anyone that has spent some time ensuring food logging accuracy might just want to check that they are logging exercise properly too, rather than undo their good work :)

    Good point, although many of us just assume that the exercise calories are going to be high and only eat back about half of them.
  • icrushit
    icrushit Posts: 773 Member
    Good point, although many of us just assume that the exercise calories are going to be high and only eat back about half of them.

    Another alternative, at least if you do the same exercises, is to find a good exercise calculator online (one that uses some details about you, like weight/ etc) and set up your own exercises so you can select them everytime with no need for guessing :)
  • PapaChanoli
    PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
    Weighing's a good way to go for consistency alright, especially if you tend to eat a certain range of foods, so once you weigh it once you're good :)

    On the subject of logging accuracy, a related point to note is that the exercise calories in the database would seem to be on the high side, so anyone that has spent some time ensuring food logging accuracy might just want to check that they are logging exercise properly too, rather than undo their good work :)

    I almost never eat back my exercise calories so I'm in safe territory there, but then I'm a big guy with a 2020 calorie limit. My settings are at sedentary and a 2 pound/week goal, so my metabolism seems to get by fine if I average between 1800 and 2000 calories per day. I think my size has an advantage there. I think eating back workout cories may be more important for smaller or less fat folks or people who have to work to maintain weight.

    There have been a few days where my appetite was roaring and I just went ahead and ate a little higher. So far, that strategy seems to be working as I've lost 10 pounds in a month and I feel great.

    As for the other comments, thanks for your input. I probably should have put this in the Food and Nutrition forum, but I though that it might be more helpful for people who are just beginning if it landed in Getting Started.

    I've been weighing for a day but using MFP for a month. It can work without a scale if you're honest and err on the side of caution, but you feel much better about eating when you weigh it and the confidence is a motivational boost 100 times over.

    I didn't try to find a deal, I just bought to Taylor off of the shelf at Walmart, but I'm sure the same results can be achieved more inexpensively.

    The ability to tare the scale and to switch quickly and easily between grams and ounces is worth it's weight in gold. (Bad pun intended.)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Totally agree with you OP. I love being able to have a treat guilt free.
  • inthekitch
    inthekitch Posts: 26
    I have to say. I just started weighing my food. It's a bit of a hassle, but it is so absolutely worth it with a decent scale that you can zero out the tare on.

    Zero out with the plate on, add pork chops or whatever. Zero again and add second dish. Zero again and add third dish. Decide I want a little catsup, slap the plate on the scale and squirt out a 17 gram serving... Boom. CONFiDENCE!

    Even better is putting the plate empty of all but bones on the scale after you're done, zero it and remove the bones so you can take away the extra couple of ounces (or grams) of bones that don't count toward you calorie consumption when it goes negative.

    But the best part is no more guessing. No more wondering if I'm doing right by myself and my goals. It is certainly still an estimate of calories consumed but the margin for error is so much lower.

    I didn't even realize I was having food guilt until I got the scale and the food guilt disappeared.

    If this battle is half mental; a good scale is a fine weapon to engage in the war on fat with.

    Thank you to whoever put that advice in the sticky threads. It's definitely worth the $30 investment.

    I used to weigh everything I ate... like absolutely everything but as you mentioned, it can be quite the hassle.

    I realized that it made meal prep and cooking such a task that I would avoid doing it all together and would buy pre-made meals. I've recently started weighing food again but strictly just the protein/meat or starchy veggies etc.
  • PapaChanoli
    PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
    I have to say. I just started weighing my food. It's a bit of a hassle, but it is so absolutely worth it with a decent scale that you can zero out the tare on.

    Zero out with the plate on, add pork chops or whatever. Zero again and add second dish. Zero again and add third dish. Decide I want a little catsup, slap the plate on the scale and squirt out a 17 gram serving... Boom. CONFiDENCE!

    Even better is putting the plate empty of all but bones on the scale after you're done, zero it and remove the bones so you can take away the extra couple of ounces (or grams) of bones that don't count toward you calorie consumption when it goes negative.

    But the best part is no more guessing. No more wondering if I'm doing right by myself and my goals. It is certainly still an estimate of calories consumed but the margin for error is so much lower.

    I didn't even realize I was having food guilt until I got the scale and the food guilt disappeared.

    If this battle is half mental; a good scale is a fine weapon to engage in the war on fat with.

    Thank you to whoever put that advice in the sticky threads. It's definitely worth the $30 investment.

    I used to weigh everything I ate... like absolutely everything but as you mentioned, it can be quite the hassle.

    I realized that it made meal prep and cooking such a task that I would avoid doing it all together and would buy pre-made meals. I've recently started weighing food again but strictly just the protein/meat or starchy veggies etc.


    My focus now is on simplifying my weighing methods. So far, at least in the stage of my weight loss, the hassle is totally worth it, and I'm learning techniques for making it even easier with the recipe function.
  • curlygirl513
    curlygirl513 Posts: 199 Member
    I am so happy to read your post. I got an Ibalance 5000 and it is a wonderful scale. But I didn't understand tare till today when I read your post. :) Thank you for posting.

    I weigh my food. There is more than one post here about the ABSOLUTELY MUST WEIGH Peanut butter, but I only eat a peanut butter sandwich with honey, and I use a level tablespoon and that is plenty accurate.

    I read from all the professionals that the number one reason people do not lose weight and plateau for long periods of time is the underestimation of food. It has to be logged and weighed for me to do well.
  • PapaChanoli
    PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
    I am so happy to read your post. I got an Ibalance 5000 and it is a wonderful scale. But I didn't understand tare till today when I read your post. :) Thank you for posting.

    I weigh my food. There is more than one post here about the ABSOLUTELY MUST WEIGH Peanut butter, but I only eat a peanut butter sandwich with honey, and I use a level tablespoon and that is plenty accurate.

    I read from all the professionals that the number one reason people do not lose weight and plateau for long periods of time is the underestimation of food. It has to be logged and weighed for me to do well.

    Yep. I was deliberately over-estimating, but weighing is so much better. I'm not getting the mad hunger spikes I was getting before. My estimates may have been too low.

    Weigh for the win.
  • countscalories
    countscalories Posts: 418 Member
    My food scale is one of the best things I've ever bought! It's my confessional, my judge & jury, and my drill sergeant. No excuses, no estimating, and no giving myself any BS. When dining at home, if I don't weigh the food, I don't get to eat the food!

    Fortunately, it only has a 5 lb. capacity, so chowing down on an entire side of beef is completely out of the question.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    My food scale is one of the best things I've ever bought! It's my confessional, my judge & jury, and my drill sergeant. No excuses, no estimating, and no giving myself any BS. When dining at home, if I don't weigh the food, I don't get to eat the food!

    Fortunately, it only has a 5 lb. capacity, so chowing down on an entire side of beef is completely out of the question.

    mine has a 10kg (22 lb) capacity which I find really handy when I make something in my crock pot. It can handle the weight of the crock in addition to the ingredients.

Categories