I look like a deer in headlights.

imsmellie
imsmellie Posts: 103 Member
edited September 27 in Motivation and Support
Short preface: I have never once counted a calorie before in my life. Last week, I joined this site to change my outlook/lifestyle along with my new setting. I just moved; I moved without measuring cups (seeing how I have never used them before). For one week (or my entire life), I have been guessing my food measurements and calorie intake.

Story: I just bought measuring cups today and decided to play a little game:
First, I guessed how much 1 tablespoon of salad dressing looked to me. Then, I measured what I actually poured out...
4 tablespoons! I guessed what 1 cup of milk was. Actual: 2.5 cups! I am blown away by how wrong I am.
I would be lying if said I'm not disappointed that my first week of hard work, exercising and constantly editing my food diary, feels like a waste of time.... Minor setback.

Moral of my story: I really need to work on portion control.

I'm going to go buy a food scale next.
I really want to see what 28grams of flaming hot cheetos (my food Achilles' heel) actually looks like.

Replies

  • bigredhearts
    bigredhearts Posts: 428
    my food scale was the best thing i ever bought! it really does help with portion control (also my problem) :drinker: heres to gaining control over portion sizes!!!
  • imsmellie
    imsmellie Posts: 103 Member
    Where can I buy a food scale? Are some better than others?
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    oh hot cheetos...haven't had those in a while...
  • krixi
    krixi Posts: 44 Member
    oh i know how you feel. I was eyeballing it in the beginning, and man was I wrong!! I bought an electronic scale, and since then i've really started losing weight. I've always just eaten too much, when usually half that would have been enough!
  • TonysMiss
    TonysMiss Posts: 128 Member
    lol....My boyfriend bought me a food scale and I absolutely LOVE it and have to say it makes a HUGE difference it how much I eat of one thing. I measure EVERYTHING. Even down to my tsp of raw sugar in my coffee. It's funny because the only time my measuring utensils were ever out was when I was baking.......now they are used constantly
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    I'm going to go buy a food scale next.
    I really want to see what 28grams of flaming hot cheetos (my food Achilles' heel) actually looks like.

    Awesome. You're not gonna like what you see! :noway::laugh:
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    I bought my food scale at wal mart for 30 bucks. It is my lifeline!
  • poesch77
    poesch77 Posts: 1,005 Member
    Where can I buy a food scale? Are some better than others?

    If you don't want to spend a lot like on a digital one...I actually got my scale at the local Dollar Store....works in oz and is fine to use.....
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Where can I buy a food scale? Are some better than others?

    Target, Wallmart, Amazon. You can get one for probably $15. There are under $50 ones and over $50. The less expensive ones are great!
  • daisy89
    daisy89 Posts: 151 Member
    My food scale is absolutely amazing!

    I bought it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It's an all-silver Cuisinart digital scale.

    It even has a removable cup to pour portions into, instead of dirtying the glass.

    I got it for 30% off, by joining the bed, bath, and beyond e-mail list. But I opt-ed out of
    receiving e-mail offers (spam), and over-all it feels like a huge win for me!
  • Tiggerrick
    Tiggerrick Posts: 1,078 Member
    I bought my at Bed Bath and Beyond. They have a huge assortment so you will have plenty of options and price ranges.
  • live2smyle
    live2smyle Posts: 592 Member
    I got the biggest looser scale at bed bath and beyond for $19.99 works very well :flowerforyou:
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    My scale wasn't expensive ($20-$30). The brand isn't too important, but I've found its a lifesaver if it has these features:

    - "tare" button (so you can "zero" out the plate before weighing)
    - convertable to g, oz, kg
    - at least 5lb capacity if not a little more (once you get a plate/cup on there along with your food, it adds up!)
    - glass top (for EASY cleaning. Plastic is porous and not as sanitary!)

    :flowerforyou:
  • Lisamariemlt
    Lisamariemlt Posts: 101 Member
    my parents won one
    gave it to me
    and it still sits in the box
    who am I kidding with portion control
    this post was a wake up call
    thanks
    and now that scale will be out and used
  • jllipson
    jllipson Posts: 646
    Definitely a digital scale. You can go Wal-Mart, department stores or possibly even your supermarket to find a scale. Make sure you get one which you can zero, so you can place a bowl or something on it, zero the scale then weigh the food.

    As far as the measuring, I am pretty good at eyeballing, but still use measuring cups, spoons and scale, my hubby isn't so good - He would tell me he had 1/4 cup of something and I'd look and knew it was closer to a cup - I actually took his food off his plate one night to prove it to him when he wanted to argue, and it was almost a cup. So measuring devices are great tools to use.
  • fitnesspirateninja
    fitnesspirateninja Posts: 667 Member
    I measure with cups and spoons, but don't have a scale. I know it's not 100% accurate, but it's been working well for me. My excercise calories aren't totally accurate, either. But I think a scale would be a great addition.
  • becca0211
    becca0211 Posts: 250 Member
    I got the biggest looser scale at bed bath and beyond for $19.99 works very well :flowerforyou:
    Me too, Love it!
  • LovelySnugs
    LovelySnugs Posts: 389
    lol just make sure it measures down to grams! a friend of mine bought a decent-looking food scale a couple years ago. she's a baker and lots of times she needs to be VERY specific abt the weights of the things she's adding to whatever new recipe. she pitched a FIT when she found out it only measured ozs and lbs. plus, she'd bought it on clearance or gotten a display model or something, so she couldn't return it. lol the price was just so good that she hadn't even thought to check!!

    so, yeah. moral of the story - don't buy a tool without making sure it's gonna serve its purpose.
  • Ezada
    Ezada Posts: 207 Member
    I got mine at Target, it was about $10, not digital and I love it!
    I did the same thing too in the beginning, I was so shocked at how much I thought was a table spoon!
    I still need to get some hand held measuring cups from the store. :)
  • imsmellie
    imsmellie Posts: 103 Member
    I can't wait to measure even more things starting tomorrow!!!
    I wonder what 1cup of cereal looks like....and feels like in my tummy.
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    I'm going to go buy a food scale next.
    I really want to see what 28grams of flaming hot cheetos (my food Achilles' heel) actually looks like.

    Awesome. You're not gonna like what you see! :noway::laugh:

    Yes I cried when I weighed my cheese the first time:sad:
  • imsmellie
    imsmellie Posts: 103 Member
    Yes I cried when I weighed my cheese the first time:sad:


    OH CHEESUS!
    I don't know how I am going to react when I see what a real 1oz of cheese looks like for the first time. I might faint. MFP please be there when I do!!!!
  • joolzsd
    joolzsd Posts: 51
    I have seen the digital scales at Ross/Marshalls for around $12

    It really is eye-opening!
  • Forensic
    Forensic Posts: 468 Member
    My scale is old now, but it is digital and does tare... I believe it was 9 dollars off the internet. :) 's by Salter, if that makes any difference.
  • angp7711
    angp7711 Posts: 324 Member
    I got my scale for $20 from Costco. Its a postal scale from the office supply section but evn says on the box "great for kitchen use" Umm my eye opener was an ounce of chips. They add up fast!
  • significance
    significance Posts: 436 Member
    On the bright side, your first week wasn't wasted, because although you got the portion sizes wrong, you still got into the habit of noticing and writing down what you eat and started learning about calorie contents of different foods!
  • alynb
    alynb Posts: 8
    Now, I'm wondering how my accurate my portions are? Definitely gave me something to think about.....

    A scale may be on my to buy list this weekend.
  • imsmellie
    imsmellie Posts: 103 Member
    ............ I'm also really curious how much my boobs weigh.......
This discussion has been closed.

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