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Losing weight and not needing to weigh food

cee134

I see some people making a 2nd job out of measuring and weighing. When I lost 100 lbs in 2 - 3 years. I didn't weigh my food once. I'm not saying it's not helpful at times. I did have an idea of my measurements (a cup of food was my most common) but eating healthy and giving myself alittle kcal cushion was what worked. I feel sorry for those people that weigh everything, all the time.

I know when you are closer to your goal weight it can make more of a difference. But after gaining back the weight I lost (in a 2 year span, for reasons like not logging at all) I have been able to lose another 30 lbs, still not weighing.

I think sometimes people make too much of a deal about measuring. Has anyone measured their food and logged
routinely for 8+ years?

My concern is my goal, to eat healthy and do what I need to to lose weight and than keep it off, and be able to keep that up for decades (i.e. the rest of my life). I can't imagine weighing food for so long.

I thought, after losing 100 lbs, I had an idea of portions, but it turns out I did not if I wasn't logging my food.

Replies

cee134

Here's a cute kitten photo, enjoy and goodnight.

Christine_72

cee134 wrote: »

Christine_72 wrote: »

Weigh your food, don't weigh your food. What you, them or i do doesn't matter. Most of us are here to lose weight and even more importantly, maintain that loss. I don't care how we as individuals get there, as long as we arrive and stay there

You're cool and I respect your opinion. But honestly I've been attacked most of the night. Which is why I'm arguing with the non-believers.

I really hate debating back and forth, it's draining and tiresome. One of the best and most freeing things I've learnt to do in interwebz foruming is to breath and walk away.
I've been banned from a couple of forums (years ago), all because i couldn't keep my mouth shut and had to have the last word and let my temper get the better of me! Since then, i refuse to let internet strangers get under my skin. I'm not saying this is what you are doing, just relaying my experience.

I'm not trying to sound cold and heartless, i love MFP and most of the members here, even the argumentative annoying ones

But i refuse to let the 'differing' opinions of people i don't even know upset and aggravate me.
We will NEVER all agree and be in happy unison, and that's fine, just move on and forget about it.

Why the F i'm writing this.. i don't know lol I'm just feeling especially emotional today.

So, sorry and carry on chaps

rollerjog

on the other hand if you just want lose some weight and you been playing the game for a while you can get pretty good at eye balling food so you dont have to use a scale, but if you want to get into peak condition i like to weight my food i understand that getting in peak condition is not for everybody, its all in what you want to do, good luck everybody

Christine_72

rollerjog wrote: »

on the other hand if you just want lose some weight and you been playing the game for a while you can get pretty good at eye balling food so you dont have to use a scale, but if you want to get into peak condition i like to weight my food i understand that getting in peak condition is not for everybody, its all in what you want to do, good luck everybody

I play 'guess the weight' game all the time. Lets just say, I'll never win first prize in estimating what my food weighs, I'm usually quite a fair way off

jessiferrrb

cee134 wrote: »

Alluminati wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

Alluminati wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

Alluminati wrote: »

rankinsect wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

rankinsect wrote: »

Out of sheer morbid curiosity - what exactly about weighing is so hard for you?

I just don't get it. Of all the lifestyle changes I made, this seems like by far the easiest thing to keep going in perpetuity.

Working out 3x per week - that's going to take discipline.
Planning and logging my meals every day - it's pretty simple, and habit now, but still takes at least a bit of time.
Sticking to my planned food and not going off and pigging out - takes a combination of discipline and being certain my food plans account for all my tastes and preferences, so cravings don't turn into binges.
Weighing out my portions - adds zero time and effort. All it means is rather than set my plate on the counter, I set it on the scale on the counter, and I push the "tare" button a few times as needed. Typing this sentence is quite literally more effort than weighing my food today was, as I have to press a whole lot more keys.

Already retracted my statement thanks to one person. Look at the logs.

I saw. I'm just really surprised this was an issue to begin with for you, particularly if you're already logging your food, which seems a lot bigger of a change to make.

This was my issue with the main OP. What is so unbelievable about someone weighing for 5 years straight? Unless, of course, the OP himherself found weighing to be a hardship. For me and many on here, its not a big deal so I find weighing and logging for 5 years entirely plausible. That's why the whole pity thing was odd.

Prove it.... I've seen people that say it's a hardship. Once again. Don't care if you weight your food. I care about people that can't but feel like the have to on MFP because that's how alot of people tell them that is the only way to succeed.

I don't have to prove anything to you, lol. Its a hardship for you to log, no need to project it onto everyone. That's fine that you don't/can't log, no one is forcing you to. Just because you believe it doesn't happen doesn't make it so.

If you wan't to berate me for my opinions you do.
[edit] - isn't that what MFP is all about.

Disagreeing does not equal berating. You're saying people don't log for 5 years, I asked why you would think that, and pointed to myself as an example.

I've seen people say that it is the most important, and see other newbies struggle to measure everything. (no references can be provided at this time, sorry, I guess I'm a bad person for not being able to point to all the people that said this, but there are people on MFP and why I started this post)

I keep seeing threads where people advocate against weighing, logging or even just counting calories and it is always framed in the same "think of the poor newbies!" Kind of way. Like it's too complicated or burdensome for them, and they need to be stuck up for. But I call *kitten* on it. People come into these forums with questions because they want to learn how to be effective in their goals. They can take or leave any of the MANY suggestions given but it would be remiss not to offer tools that so many have found effective. Maybe you notice that weighing gets mentioned more than you notice other suggestions because it's not something you do and you're projecting a bit. I notice every time people mention to try not eating back all your exercise calories or that fitbits overestimate because those are the areas where I know I could tighten up. But there really isn't an army of mfp commenters chasing people down with pitchforks and food scales.

rankinsect

cee134 wrote: »

Correct, disagreeing does not equal berating. But have you read the posts that tell me I'm wrong? Not just from you. I did not say people don't log for 5 year. I said I haven't met anyone yet that has weighed their food for 5 years. MOST IMPORTANTLY I also said I don't think weighing food is the only option for people trying to lose weight. I've seen people say that it is the most important, and see other newbies struggle to measure everything. (no references can be provided at this time, sorry, I guess I'm a bad person for not being able to point to all the people that said this, but there are people on MFP and why I started this post)

I guess I just don't see those people, and I clearly spend too much time here.

I see a ton of people that struggle to log their food, but apart from a few threads where people discuss whether they need to weigh food at a restaurant or other people's homes (my answer: no) I don't really see many people who struggle with the actual act of weighing it in their own homes.

And of course weighing isn't the only option. Plenty of people don't need to either weigh or log their food, and they can maintain their weight just based on their hunger and appetite alone. On the other hand, many people do need to do both if they want to keep their own weight in control.

It's like finances. I've never actually needed to budget or track my spending, because I'm quite frugal, so even if I have no set budget I won't overspend. That said, if I saw someone struggling with finances my first piece of advice would be to carefully track what they spend and plan a budget.

Like with anything else, though, it comes down to the person. If it's a huge burden to you, then you need to find a different approach that isn't a burden. It's not a burden to me in the slightest, and I've been doing this for over a year. I actually find estimation to be much harder because it's far more thought process involved - it's quick, easy, and accurate to read a number.

lemurcat12

rankinsect wrote: »

What's weird is the hate for weighing and not logging.

I at least understand people who find logging annoying. I don't, as I have a very easy system and it is a small effort. I don't get why someone would be fine with logging but not weighing. That's quite literally one of the easiest things I do. It takes absolutely zero extra time or thought except to occasionally push the 'tare' button, and lets you dial in an exact portion.

I'd already been using a kitchen scale for over a decade for all solid measurement when following recipes, so using it to plate food wasn't really any different.

Heh, I made the same point. I don't log at maintenance in part because I often find it tedious. (I have ways of getting around this if I need to.) Weighing I do off and on (sometimes for reasons unrelated to weight loss) as part of the cooking process, and it is no extra time. Estimating amounts was irritating for me, so if not for the scale I'd probably log less than I do.

I used a scale for baking before, and once I realized how much better it was than measuring cups for cooking too I entirely stopped using them for anything. (I don't cook from recipes, but still use the scale for various purposes even if not logging -- not for everything I eat in those cases.)

queenliz99

lemurcat12 wrote: »

rankinsect wrote: »

What's weird is the hate for weighing and not logging.

I at least understand people who find logging annoying. I don't, as I have a very easy system and it is a small effort. I don't get why someone would be fine with logging but not weighing. That's quite literally one of the easiest things I do. It takes absolutely zero extra time or thought except to occasionally push the 'tare' button, and lets you dial in an exact portion.

I'd already been using a kitchen scale for over a decade for all solid measurement when following recipes, so using it to plate food wasn't really any different.

Heh, I made the same point. I don't log at maintenance in part because I often find it tedious. (I have ways of getting around this if I need to.) Weighing I do off and on (sometimes for reasons unrelated to weight loss) as part of the cooking process, and it is no extra time. Estimating amounts was irritating for me, so if not for the scale I'd probably log less than I do.

I used a scale for baking before, and once I realized how much better it was than measuring cups for cooking too I entirely stopped using them for anything. (I don't cook from recipes, but still use the scale for various purposes even if not logging -- not for everything I eat in those cases.)

I don't use my food scale much anymore either, I do use it for weighing my coffee beans for my perfect cup. Instead of scooping out beans(8 scoops) I just tare my grinder and pour in 45 grams of beans. Voila!!

My food scale helped my get good at portion sizing or eyeballing. And if my weight starts creeping back up I will get back to weighing my food. Apparently my eyeballs grew. LOL No one has to do this but it easier when at first trying to lose than when down to the last bits of weight loss.

stevencloser

cee134 wrote: »

Again, if you are the exception to this rule, good for you, I'm glad you found something that worked for you. But I am worried about the people that can't succeed at this, this being weighing food for long periods of time.

It's a rule you made up from your own n=1...

The_Enginerd

cee134 wrote: »

diannethegeek wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

This post is still a thing?

Anyway I posted it here because I knew there would be a debate. No, I don't think you need to weigh food. However, if that's your thing, than good for you. You're taking your health into your hands and getting results.

But for those that want to give up.... you have other choices. That is my point. Please read my posts before responding. And no, I did not write the original post as a dissertation, so yeah, it may not have conveyed every point I meant.

In 5 years, let me know if your still weighing your food. 5 years! I will save this post and come back to it than and you can tell me all about how weighing food is sooooo important.... 5 years from now. August 24, 2021.

But do you still feel sorry for those of us who choose to weigh our food?

Yes and no. Yes but no. I stand by my, tell me after 5 years of weighing. I will happily retract my statement.

I'm at almost 5.5 years. (2000 day streak yesterday). Still weighing all my food at home everyday. Still log ALL my food. Still not feeling sorry for myself. Still have maintained my initial weight loss for almost 5 years.

It barely takes any time, it's accurate and faster and easier than other measures like counting or using measuring cups, and it keeps my visual scale honest for when I'm out and can't weigh my food.

lemurcat12

queenliz99 wrote: »

My food scale helped my get good at portion sizing or eyeballing. And if my weight starts creeping back up I will get back to weighing my food. Apparently my eyeballs grew. LOL No one has to do this but it easier when at first trying to lose than when down to the last bits of weight loss.

Agreed.

I also play the game Christine mentioned, trying to guess weight before I weigh. I'll aim for exactly 140 grams of brussels or something and see if I'm right (if not, I don't care) or I'll try to judge exactly what a perfect serving of oatmeal is (I usually do adjust that, since I know from experience that the serving size is about what I want at breakfast and I like consistency). I don't see how that's somehow harder than using cups, but I never really used cups anyway -- I eyeballed before I weighed.

cee134

The_Enginerd wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

diannethegeek wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

This post is still a thing?

Anyway I posted it here because I knew there would be a debate. No, I don't think you need to weigh food. However, if that's your thing, than good for you. You're taking your health into your hands and getting results.

But for those that want to give up.... you have other choices. That is my point. Please read my posts before responding. And no, I did not write the original post as a dissertation, so yeah, it may not have conveyed every point I meant.

In 5 years, let me know if your still weighing your food. 5 years! I will save this post and come back to it than and you can tell me all about how weighing food is sooooo important.... 5 years from now. August 24, 2021.

But do you still feel sorry for those of us who choose to weigh our food?

Yes and no. Yes but no. I stand by my, tell me after 5 years of weighing. I will happily retract my statement.

I'm at almost 5.5 years. (2000 day streak yesterday). Still weighing all my food at home everyday. Still log ALL my food. Still not feeling sorry for myself. Still have maintained my initial weight loss for almost 5 years.

It barely takes any time, it's accurate and faster and easier than other measures like counting or using measuring cups, and it keeps my visual scale honest for when I'm out and can't weigh my food.

Statement retracted for you.

jessiferrrb

The_Enginerd wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

diannethegeek wrote: »

cee134 wrote: »

This post is still a thing?

Anyway I posted it here because I knew there would be a debate. No, I don't think you need to weigh food. However, if that's your thing, than good for you. You're taking your health into your hands and getting results.

But for those that want to give up.... you have other choices. That is my point. Please read my posts before responding. And no, I did not write the original post as a dissertation, so yeah, it may not have conveyed every point I meant.

In 5 years, let me know if your still weighing your food. 5 years! I will save this post and come back to it than and you can tell me all about how weighing food is sooooo important.... 5 years from now. August 24, 2021.

But do you still feel sorry for those of us who choose to weigh our food?

Yes and no. Yes but no. I stand by my, tell me after 5 years of weighing. I will happily retract my statement.

I'm at almost 5.5 years. (2000 day streak yesterday). Still weighing all my food at home everyday. Still log ALL my food. Still not feeling sorry for myself. Still have maintained my initial weight loss for almost 5 years.

It barely takes any time, it's accurate and faster and easier than other measures like counting or using measuring cups, and it keeps my visual scale honest for when I'm out and can't weigh my food.

omg! happy 2001!!!!!

unknown

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xWondertje

The fact that people here felt shamed/put-down because he was questioning measuring food over long-term is just ridiculous. No, OP wasn't the smoothest talker in the world, but nowhere did he/she deserve the response this thread got.

I think it's great to bring up other point of views and showing people that there's no need to measure every single meal, every day. I sure felt great reading OP's post as I find measuring tedious but I know I need to do it at this current time. I'm hoping to move away from measuring after awhile, learning to just eat like a normal person.

SleepyEquus

I eyeball the whole plate with food xD, I weighed and measured a good portion of things starting out, now I know what certain foods will look like on my plate. But certain ones I do not, then I bust out my measuring and scale and go to town

. Nothing wrong with or without doing it. Just makes people feel more accountable and its a very helpful tool as well!!

unknown

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3dogsrunning

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