Have you taken your body weight scale or food scale with you when traveling?

lightenup2016 · October 2016

Hi--I'm just curious how many people here have done this (or would)? I have been losing weight for 3 months, and I've skipped weighing in for two days at a time here and there. But soon I'll be going out of town (visiting family, not a true vacation) for about 10 or 12 days, and I feel like I'd like to at least have my body weight scale with me. We're traveling by car so it's not really that cumbersome to bring along. Or does that sound silly?

cmriverside · October 2016

I never have, but your question just reminded me that when I was a kid the local Publix store had a huge body-weight scale in the front of the store. My family didn't have a body-weight scale, so we would jump on that thing whenever we thought about it. None of us were overweight back then though.

khhregister · October 2016

I've taken my food scale with me. When we visit the inlaws, I usually put on 5 pounds over the course of a week. This last time - I broke even by having tiny breakfast, tiny lunch, and only eating out with them for dinner. It was brutal, but the food scale really helped.
The body weight scale would not have been helpful, really. Lots of days I'm a pound up or a pound down and it doesn't make a difference in the long run. Normally I weigh daily, and use trendweight to see the average trend line. This is a nice sanity check, but it doesn't immediately influence my behavior like a food scale does.

Shana67 · October 2016

I haven't, but this morning after weighing myself, I am thinking about it. It just adds weight to the baggage, dang it. However, bringing my food scale along is a great idea! We will visit the IL in December and my MIL is a *fantastic* cook - I think it will be worth it

CyberTone · October 2016

I went on a 30 day road trip this past summer and took my Fitbit Aria and a food scale. I had bought a couple small food scales a while back on clearance at Aldi for $5.99 each for grab bag and secret Santa gifts - many Americans I know do not own a food scale. I took one of those.

Since I was solo, I didn't eat out much. I had a cooler and stayed at hotels with a microwave and mini-fridge, and all of the hotels included breakfast. I bought vacuum packed hard boiled eggs at the grocery store to have some protein for breakfast if the hotel did not offer eggs, meat, or yogurt. I usually grabbed a salad bowl at the local grocery store deli for lunch, and I ate a lot of Greek yogurt and protein bars, which filled me up and gave me energy. I did more walking and hiking than I do at home, and when I got back, I was down four pounds out of the eight pounds I had put on over the past year while at "maintenance."

she_lived_wholly_forevermore · October 2016

I did take my foodscale with me when I visited family for almost 3 weeks. We did a lot of eating out but because I used my scale when I could and stayed moderately active I actually lost a smidge during that time. I plan to do so again when I visit this summer although I hope to be in maintenance at that point so the food scale will be exceptionally important.

Lizarking · October 2016

I use a AWS Blade scale, it fits in the pocket. It's useful when eating out, because half the time they don't serve you portions to match their nutrition info.

dopeysmelly · October 2016

I haven't. I've used business trips and vacations as a way of practicing by focusing on habits. I use it to compete against myself to see if I can keep my weight steady without the weighing. It's very motivating when you realize that you can actually do it, and it helps you focus on your behaviors in a different way.

quinngetsshredded · October 2016

I don't know if I would bring the food scale

At this point I'd say just eyeball it. Chances are you have a good idea how much is a typical amount of typical foods; just try to keep smaller portions in mind.

As for the weight scale: I definitely wouldn't. (Daily fluctuations happen)

007Aggie · October 2016

I have a joseph joseph food scale that I keep in my purse. It doesn't get used a lot, but I do use it to measure fountain sodas. I'm not good at estimating with the ice in the cup, so I use the scale. Its helpful since soda is so calorie dense.

CajunTess · October 2016

No to the body weight scale, but yes to the food scale. Going 10-12 days without weighing yourself will not make a difference to your progress. However, not logging properly and knowing how much you are consuming will make a difference.

kgirlhart · October 2016

I never have. If I was going somewhere for a week or longer and would be doing my own cooking I might consider it. Or if I was at my mom's maybe. If not I would just make my best guesses and try to eat moderate portions.

lightenup2016 · October 2016

OP here--thanks for the responses! I am going to my mom's to visit. I think for me, I can fairly easily estimate portions and be okay (did that for two months losing weight before I bought a food scale), but it's the bathroom scale I think I would miss more. I feel like it keeps me in check. I'll probably wind up taking both since they'll pack easily. I have gone for two days without either, but 12 days...I don't know! OTOH, my mom does have a bathroom scale, it's just not a great one.

emilysusana · October 2016

I would take it if I were going to visit family. They probably won't judge you or be offended, right? If it were a weekend, I'd say no, but for 10-12 days I think you won't want to risk being too out of the habits when you return.

emilysusana · October 2016

Oh, and I was answering for the food scale.

Sued0nim · October 2016

I take my food scale when we go away to villas with full kitchens. Why not?

neldabg · October 2016

Body weight scale-Never. Weight fluctuates anyways, especially if sodium intake increases while away from home, and a body weight scale doesn't play an "active" role in the CI part of the equation.
Food scale- Definitely. I do guess at serving sizes here and there, but if continuing to weigh out food for just a second or two will keep the weight off while I am traveling, then weigh food I will.

gillie80 · October 2016

yup. took my body weight scales on holiday this year. my husband rolled his eyes but i packed them anyway.

DEBOO7 · October 2016

Ah, yes.... both body weight and food scales. My son & daughter-in-law laughed like hyena's.. however while away my son hopped on the scale and that stopped him laughing!
A while back I bought a food scale that is small enough to keep in my handbag. The same kids laughed at that too and asked if I was dealing.... cheeky buggers! My answer... only deal in food!

ILoveGingerNut · October 2016

How about learning to practice healthy portions?

Sued0nim · October 2016

ILoveGingerNut wrote: »

How about learning to practice healthy portions?

Because my idea of a healthy portion is huge as I am a large volume eater....guesstimating portion size has always been a highway to weight gain for me

Different strokes and all that

jrwms714 · October 2016

Don't take either but then I now eyeball portions fairly easily and accurately. We stay in a rental 6 weeks every winter. They have a scale I use in the bathroom. I just take what it tells me when I arrive and use that for a base until I go home. That way I can tell if any overall gain.

Granada88 · October 2016

I don't think that's silly at all. I believe that's a workable idea. I'll probably do that the next time I find myself on the road. Cheers!

DancingMoosie · October 2016

I don't. When visiting family, someone usually has a body scale. I never travel with a food scale. Even when losing, taking a vacation did not make me gain. I still logged, but just with estates or used restaurant entries from places we went. I tried to over estimate the food anyway.

divcara · October 2016

I bring my food scale with me and measuring cups. I don't bring a regular scale with me. I will typically make things like eggs and oatmeal for breakfast myself if possible, then just make good choices when I eat out, without weighing or measuring anything. I don't need to weight myself when I travel.

Francl27 · October 2016

If I knew I'd eat at their house every day for 10 days (and they won't judge me for weighing food), yeah, I'd probably bring it. The only family I visit for a week tends to eat out all the time though so it's just not really worth it.

That being said, at this point, I'd be comfortable eyeballing for that time too.

nutmegoreo · October 2016

I never have. I try to make the best choices, have a treat or two, and get out walking around more. It has always worked well for me.

HealthyBodySickMind · October 2016

I have, body weight scale anyway.

RoxieDawn · November 2016

Never take my body scale any where..

Food scale on vacation? Absolutely not. If I were to go back to traveling for work and I am away from home all week, probably use the food scale in the hotel with my groceries, never in restaurants..

If I were visiting grandmas, grandma would never understand why I needed to weigh her food. If I am visiting my sister, she does not care one way or the other..

Now my mother and father (they live an hour a way) would freak out.. they do not even know I count calories. they would freak over that too.

runningforthetrain · November 2016

take the scale- you will have more fun and worry less...

cwolfman13 · November 2016

Nope...a little over the time for me.

Have you taken your body weight scale or food scale with you when traveling?

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