Scale or No Scale?

Scale - I weigh everyday, not just for accountability but if it goes up, I take a look at sodium levels from the day before and makes me more conscious.

Namasayyy wrote: »

I've seen a lot of discussion about using a scale. So I would like some real opinions and if you do use a scale what scale do you use?

I use a scale because I have a distorted view of portion size. I choose to take the recommended portion size on the package (for example 2 oz of sandwich meat) and weigh that out rather than decide how much I want and weigh how much I am eating. It is so much more accurate than eyeballing or measuring cups.

I have a flat scale that weighs up to 10 kg (22 lb) because then I can put my bowl or pan on it and weigh each item I put in when cooking a dish. There are many good brands out there that do the same and you can expect to pay somewhere between $15 and $50 for one.

Emmarosesos wrote: »

No scale! Your health is NOT a number on the scale! If you want goals to keep you accountable, look into Body fat percentage, measurements, before and after pictures. If you MUST weigh yourself, don't do it everyday! Try once a month to start. Typically when people don't see a number on the scale that they were expecting or wanting, it is harder for them to stay motivated. Some people say the scale is a motivator, but majority of us get more discouraged than anything!

Please don't make sweeping generalizations about what people should or shouldn't do. I disagree with everything in your post and find, for myself, weighing daily is an important part of the process and is helpful to me.

Individuals need to figure out what works for them. If no scale works for you, then say so and say why, but please don't assume that everyone responds the same.

I weigh and track daily using a weight trending website, Trendweight. I can see the daily flucuations and better understand what y weight is doing and how what I eat (sodium, alcohol) impacts my weight. My scale also gives me BF%, but that's a crapshoot.

But if you are talking about a food scale, then if you are counting calories (and I assume you are as you are on MFP), then yeah. I'd say get one. It is too easy to underestimate how much you are eating without one.

I carry a Taylor digital food scale in my purse. I have another (larger) one at home but don't know the brand off the top of my head.

I think my home scale for body weight is a digital Biggest Loser scale because 200 lbs ago, I needed something that would actually go up that high. My doctor's office has a fancy TANITA scale that measures lean mass, fat mass, body fat % etc, and gives a printout. I think when I hit my goal I will buy a home version that does not print.

I use a food scale when I cook at home and I have one at work to dole out portion sizes. I weigh myself officially once a week. I get on the scale every now and then between official weigh ins to see how im doing. I don't get upset, but it lets me know that I need to cut back if the numbers aren't changing.

I use a food scale when cooking at home, it gives me a good idea of what real portions look like. It's a "good cook" brand. As for weighing yourself, everyone is different, I found I became too obsessed with the number and was weighing everyday. Had to stop and now only weigh once a month. I know if I'm honest with my logging and weigh my portions, along with exercise, than I will lose. It really works! Good luck finding what works for you.