Weighing food is so important!
MorganLange508
Posts: 28 Member
Ever since I invested in a scale my journey has changed drastically! I was suprised how much I was overeating since I just was using measuring cups for.. Boy was I wrong! I feel more confident that I'm getting the correct amounts of food now and I very much so recommend investing in one.. You won't be sorry ☺️
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Replies
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A kitchen food scale is an absolutely indispensable tool and will aid greatly one's way to success. A fact.0
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I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..0
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I'm in the middle. I weigh things like meat, but I use either package sizes for veg or cups. I do overestimate rather than under too!0
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It really becomes more important to those who are very lean.0
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I have one in the mail
I agree it's probably very important for calorie heavy stuff. Don't know that I'll use it for veggies and stuff though.. Will have to experiment how it fits in my routine0 -
I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?0
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Peanut butter0 -
Yup. I love my kitchen scale and use it all the time. Even when I'm making a protein smoothie for breakfast I put the blender thingy (sorry, don't know what to call the thingy you put the stuff into lol) on the scale and weigh all the ingredients I'm putting in it.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
It's good if you're making a specific recipe and need to know how many calories are per serving. I don't think it makes cooking boring in the least. I like it because I can control the portion size that my husband gets since he just shovels food on his plate. And before anyone even jumps in and points that part out, he knows he has a habit of doing that and is glad that I portion the food. After a while you get good at eyeballing but I still use it to double check some things. *shrugs* To each their own I guess.0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.0 -
There's absolutely no way I would have lost the weight I have over the last year without a food scale. No way.
Thankfully, I'm now to the point where I can estimate with decent accuracy. I still it out if I'm ever in doubt though... which is also a good life lesson. heh0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.
An extra walk is, obviously, an option of that extra measure but isn't a kitchen scale is more effective and useful tool for that?
Weight loss process is inherently not very precise - everything is estimated: food calories, exercise calories, BMR, TDEE and those estimations stack up pretty quickly. Isn't just logical and effective to take control of what you can control - food weight? If we, the users of this site, could properly estimate our intake, I dont think majority would've been here in the first place.0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.
An extra walk is, obviously, an option of that extra measure but isn't a kitchen scale is more effective and useful tool for that?
Weight loss process is inherently not very precise - everything is estimated: food calories, exercise calories, BMR, TDEE and those estimations stack up pretty quickly. Isn't just logical and effective to take control of what you can control - food weight? If we, the users of this site, could properly estimate our intake, I dont think majority would've been here in the first place.
Also take into consideration that controlling calories is significantly easier than spending a lot of extra time working out. And since professionals can under estimate their intake by as much as 400 calories, it would require a ton of extra exercise to offset logging error.0 -
I just upgraded my scale. It comes today! I cant wait. Measuring spoons, cups and my scale are so important. "eyeballing" just doesnt work for me. You wanna "eyeball" a tablespoon of oil or 4oz of ribeye? Not me! For cereal, pasta, beans, etc my scale is more than necessary.
If you are going to log- why not be accurate?
EDIT: "you" - is meant for general speaking purposes. Not to anyone in particular.0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.
How about just weighing your food instead so that you have a more accurate idea of how many calories you consumed? I for one am not going to "go for an extra walk" every time I log something and shoot on the high side. I'd be walking for 8 hours a day if I did that.0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.
Like....going the extra mile to ensure caloric intake is measured more accurately??
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A kitchen food scale is an absolutely indispensable tool and will aid greatly one's way to success. A fact.
It totally depends on who the "one" is. Weighing all food makes some people too obsessed. Others find it cumbersome or time consuming and unsustainable.
It can be a useful tool but it's not for everyone. Some people control their weight without it just fine.0 -
I love my food scale. I remember thinking that it would be complicated to use one, but I find it so much faster and easier than measuring cups and spoons. Plus, I get to feel like a mad scientist at breakfast. :drinker:0
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.
Lol. Don't use a food scale if you don't want to, but taking an extra 30 seconds to verify I'm eating the amount I think I am turned weight loss (and weight maintenance over the past couple years) from a difficult, murky task into basic arithmetic. Sooo simple, so quick, so logical, I loved it when I was losing and I love it to maintain.
It's not necessary for everyone, some people are capable of creating a solid deficit without it, but for anyone who's losses aren't living up to their expectations it is such a great tool to have and really takes so much guesswork out of the whole thing.
I mostly use mine now to make sure I'm not shortchanging myself as I'm hoping to build some muscle and need to eat enough to facilitate that, but it's still something I use at pretty well every meal.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »A kitchen food scale is an absolutely indispensable tool and will aid greatly one's way to success. A fact.
It totally depends on who the "one" is. Weighing all food makes some people too obsessed. Others find it cumbersome or time consuming and unsustainable.
It can be a useful tool but it's not for everyone. Some people control their weight without it just fine.
Of course. But do you think that most of us here using MFP to lose/maintain weight belong to "Some people control their weight without it just fine"? 0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »A kitchen food scale is an absolutely indispensable tool and will aid greatly one's way to success. A fact.
It totally depends on who the "one" is. Weighing all food makes some people too obsessed. Others find it cumbersome or time consuming and unsustainable.
It can be a useful tool but it's not for everyone. Some people control their weight without it just fine.
Of course. But do you think that most of us here using MFP to lose/maintain weight belong to "Some people control their weight without it just fine"?
I don't know. I would guess that most don't control their weight just fine with or without it.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »A kitchen food scale is an absolutely indispensable tool and will aid greatly one's way to success. A fact.
It totally depends on who the "one" is. Weighing all food makes some people too obsessed. Others find it cumbersome or time consuming and unsustainable.
It can be a useful tool but it's not for everyone. Some people control their weight without it just fine.
Of course. But do you think that most of us here using MFP to lose/maintain weight belong to "Some people control their weight without it just fine"?
I don't know. I would guess that most don't control their weight just fine with or without it. could be 0 -
I just got one a couple weeks ago and I literally weigh almost everything that touches my plate. Sometimes I get lazy and dont weigh out my veggies still though. But it's helping me, and I enjoy doing it, even if my entire family thinks I'm crazy. I intend on getting to a point where nothing touches my plate without it being weighed first, gotta break my lazy bones habits though.0
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I'm on the pro-food-scale side, it made a huge difference for me. In addition to the reasons others have already stated, that silly little thing completely removed the guilt and worry I often had about my diet.
I would "overestimate" everything, but I often worried if I had overestimated enough. I would be a little hungry after dinner and want a small snack, but what if I had eyeballed a portion wrong and didn't really have calories left? Now I'm confident my calories are as close to accurate as I can get them, and I have a little icecream (or a beer) after dinner with no bad feelings, because I know it fits.
And on those days I can't weigh my portions, I don't worry because I know most of the time I'm on point.
Plus I'm a data geek, and what's the point of data if it's not as accurate as possible?
I only had 15 lbs to lose, so my deficit was only 250 calories, which is really easy to negate with one food estimated wrong here and there. I kept gaining and losing the same 5 lbs until I got my food scale.0 -
juggernaut1974 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
Hmmm.... butter, beans, broccoli, cabbage, flour, protein powder, cheese, chicken, meats, fish, etc. etc
Additionally, scales can help you determine by how much different foods change in weight after you cook it the way you cook so you either create your own "cooked" versions of foods or adjust the existing ones.I disagree. I think it is a waste of time and would just make cooking boring. If in doubt, overestimate the calorie intake..
This might create a problem and stall your progress especially when close to your goal when the deficit is not large.
Go for an extra walk. If it is more difficult to achieve something, then extra measures should be taken.
Like....going the extra mile to ensure caloric intake is measured more accurately??
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
For me it was pasta. I was underestimating pasta by a pretty good margin.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »A kitchen food scale is an absolutely indispensable tool and will aid greatly one's way to success. A fact.
It totally depends on who the "one" is. Weighing all food makes some people too obsessed. Others find it cumbersome or time consuming and unsustainable.
It can be a useful tool but it's not for everyone. Some people control their weight without it just fine.
Of course. But do you think that most of us here using MFP to lose/maintain weight belong to "Some people control their weight without it just fine"?
I think most people at MFP would learn a lot from temporary use of a food scale and could learn from it to eyeball portions correctly, if they chose to.
I don't like the pervasive attitude that "Everyone MUST weigh all their food and they must do it forever because I will never learn and therefore no one will ever learn to estimate portions."0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »I am curious, what were some things you weren't measuring properly before you had a scale?
For me it was pasta. I was underestimating pasta by a pretty good margin.
+1
I was eating almost twice the calories in pasta by "just eyeballing".
I was eating 40% more calories of my oatmeal and other dry grains because I was using a measured cup instead of a food scale. No more. I am nicely maintaining my weight now.0 -
Another vote for "not everyone needs to weigh their food".
I do have a scale. Used 2 times.
On MFP for almost 4 years. I have lost over 1/2 of my current body weight, and have been on maintenance for over 2 years.
As with most things pertaining to losing weight/becoming healthier, find what works for you.0 -
diannethegeek wrote: »I love my food scale. I remember thinking that it would be complicated to use one, but I find it so much faster and easier than measuring cups and spoons. Plus, I get to feel like a mad scientist at breakfast. :drinker:
And less dishes, because I don't have to wash those measuring cups!
Another vote for USE THE SCALE!
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