Finally bought a food scale. :)

sabrinacrandall · July 2015

So, last night I finally bought a food scale. I debated for a few weeks, because I didn't want to be the obsessive person my family already thinks I am, but I figured I'm in this for the long haul, and the scales were so cheap!

So I guess my question now is: Do you pack all your own food and pre-weigh everything you eat? During the week I can see this being a reality, since I already pack my breakfast/lunch for work, and cook at home for dinner most of the time. But as far as eating out and everything, how do you manage that? More guesstimating (which is what I've been doing for the last month and a half), or do you order it to go and take it home and weigh it? If I brought my scale to my dad's house over the weekend, I honestly think he'd throw it out on me, since he doesn't think I need to calorie count to begin with, so I'll be guesstimating when I'm there at least.

kami3006 · July 2015

I weigh everything at home before I eat but I don't leave the house with my scale. Part of using a scale is learning what portions look like so you can more accurately estimate amounts when you can't weigh. After a while it becomes easier and plenty of us find ourselves able to eyeball portions and have it be exactly what we want it to be.

As for eating in restaurants: If you can, check online for calorie counts of their meals and preplan what you want to order. Other times, you just have to make your best guess, lot it and move on.

sabrinacrandall · July 2015

Ooh, that's a good idea, the pre-planning before going out. I've always used a spur-of-the-moment approach to restaurants, but knowing what I want will help with calories, and save time. c:

slaite1 · July 2015

sabrinacrandall wrote: »

Ooh, that's a good idea, the pre-planning before going out. I've always used a spur-of-the-moment approach to restaurants, but knowing what I want will help with calories, and save time. c:

I used to do this, and annoyed the *kitten* out of everyone I was with bc it took me forever to decide what to get. Look ahead of time, and pick a few different dishes that fit your calories-that way you can still eat what you feel like. Or, sometimes I plan exactly bc I want to fit in a couple of drinks and need to know how much to cut the rest of the day.

At this point, I view it like a puzzle, and don't mind the planning. I can spend an hour browsing menus and nutritional info, trying to get the most bang for my calorie buck. I think it's kind of fun to eat out, drink and have food I really enjoy-and yet still lose weight :-)

DennyB1964 · July 2015

If I'm bringing my lunch, I'll weigh it, add it to my food log, and then toss it in my bag before I leave for work.

When I eat, then I'll just leave the food log alone if I ate the whole thing, or I'll edit the entries for foods where I didn't.

I actually did just buy a small food scale for work, but only because I was getting annoyed at some foods only being listed by weight and not volume. Without the scale, I had a small plastic 1 cup measure that I kept. I could either pour whatever I was eating into it (halfway for half a cup, etc) or just eyeball the amount. But it does help to have a visual to compare.

Kalikel · July 2015

I don't log it until I've eaten it. Well, I log the whole day that night, but when I logged as I went, i didn't pre-log.

I don't always know what I'm going to want for dinner tomorrow, KWIM? Plus, I have to get it on the plate to be weighed. I can't say, "I'm going to have 65 grams of cereal and 45 grams of milk tomorrow morning."

But some people do pre-log and they have lots of success with it.

You just have to find your own way.

joolieb1 · July 2015

I plan my eating at the beginning of each day so know I might want 150 Grammes of rice, a piece of chicken breast weighing 90 Grammes, 30 Grammes of stir fry. I just put my p,ate on the scale and set it to zero, add the rice, zero again. It is really accurate and easy to do. I weigh out each member of the family in the same way. Then we are all getting the portion control we need

sabrinacrandall · July 2015

Kalikel wrote: »

I don't log it until I've eaten it. Well, I log the whole day that night, but when I logged as I went, i didn't pre-log.

Do you write down the grams that you weigh separately from MFP then, to remember them when you go to log? Or do you just have an awesome number memory?

I usually log once in the morning while I'm eating my breakfast at work, and once at night after dinner. This might change now that I'm actually using a scale though. I'll at least be able to pre-log the next day's breakfast and lunch...And then add the inevitable piece of candy during work.

slaite1 wrote: »

I used to do this, and annoyed the *kitten* out of everyone I was with bc it took me forever to decide what to get. Look ahead of time, and pick a few different dishes that fit your calories-that way you can still eat what you feel like.

Multiple options. An excellent idea. c: I was just looking at the sandwich I like to get at Panera -- I had no idea there was so much sodium and so many calories in a veggie sandwich! Must be the dressing.

Angierae75 · July 2015

We actually have a food scale in our office "kitchen" because there are lots of us watching our weight. However, if it's something I can portion out at home, I just weigh it at home and pack it.

spatulamom · July 2015

Angierae75 wrote: »

We actually have a food scale in our office "kitchen" because there are lots of us watching our weight. However, if it's something I can portion out at home, I just weigh it at home and pack it.

I don't know how many others are weighing food in my office, but that's a great idea. I may have to invest in a food scale for my own office and just put it in the kitchen anonymously.

sabrinacrandall · July 2015

Angierae75 wrote: »

We actually have a food scale in our office "kitchen" because there are lots of us watching our weight. However, if it's something I can portion out at home, I just weigh it at home and pack it.

Wow! That's really awesome. What a great supportive atmosphere that must be to work in!

Kalikel · July 2015

sabrinacrandall wrote: »

Kalikel wrote: »

I don't log it until I've eaten it. Well, I log the whole day that night, but when I logged as I went, i didn't pre-log.

Do you write down the grams that you weigh separately from MFP then, to remember them when you go to log? Or do you just have an awesome number memory?

I usually log once in the morning while I'm eating my breakfast at work, and once at night after dinner. This might change now that I'm actually using a scale though. I'll at least be able to pre-log the next day's breakfast and lunch...And then add the inevitable piece of candy during work.

slaite1 wrote: »

I used to do this, and annoyed the *kitten* out of everyone I was with bc it took me forever to decide what to get. Look ahead of time, and pick a few different dishes that fit your calories-that way you can still eat what you feel like.

Multiple options. An excellent idea. c: I was just looking at the sandwich I like to get at Panera -- I had no idea there was so much sodium and so many calories in a veggie sandwich! Must be the dressing.

I write it down, then log it all at night or the next morning.

Finally bought a food scale. :)

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