Do you measure/ weigh your food?

MoonIite
MoonIite Posts: 341 Member
edited September 30 in Food and Nutrition
Personally speaking I weigh everything- including vegetables (except black coffee and spices) on my Taylor food scale and log every bite that goes into my mouth. My family finds it a bit obsessive, but I beg to differ. I can't seem to eyeball portion sizes even after weighing my food every single day for 5 months. Isn't that pathetic?

I don't make a big fuss about going over when eating out, but at home I have to measure/weigh my food. There's no other way around it.
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Replies

  • moylie
    moylie Posts: 195
    I'm in the same boat as you. Everything. Going on 6 months for me. Once I reach my goal, I may lessen the OCD behavior, when I'm on maintenance mode. Right now, I figure I'll stick with it, then ween myself off the scale, and try to eyeball things more. I just like recording everything EXACTLY. Keeps me accountable :)
  • blue04711
    blue04711 Posts: 45 Member
    I weigh and measure 90% of what I eat as well. I don't think it's obsessive. I bought an HRM to calculate how many calories I burn when exercising so how is that any different?
  • Amo_Angelus
    Amo_Angelus Posts: 604 Member
    my fiancé melted my scales! I eyeball everything, including when I'm making things from scratch :P
  • jandzsmom
    jandzsmom Posts: 14
    No! If it has helped you get results then DO IT! I would not be down 2+ lbs this week if not for weighing/measuring everything. To quote Judith Beck (from The Beck Diet Solution), "Thin people are very careful about what they eat."
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I've been doing this for about a year and still measure. Not as much as before because I am now aware, but If I question myself I pull out the scale. Best thing I could have done for weight loss.
  • sister_bear
    sister_bear Posts: 529 Member
    I measure, don't weigh, and sometimes measure by eyeball. I'm okay with approximate.
  • csoul27
    csoul27 Posts: 53
    No it's not. I have just started weighing my food and was shocked at how much I had been over eating. No wonder I wasn't losing any weight. Everything is portioned out and weighed now and I've lost almost 4 pounds in a few weeks not to mention some inches.
  • littlecaponey2
    littlecaponey2 Posts: 143 Member
    I weigh everything that goes into my mouth. My diary shows exactly what has gone into my mouth for that day. If I eyeball or don't measure....that is how going over by a little will turn into a little more the next day and a little more the next.....for me I have to know what is going in. That is just me and my personality!
  • weigh weigh weigh, all the way but the bar scanner is my baby
  • annadilynn
    annadilynn Posts: 84
    I measure and or weigh if i am not sure of what i am eating...some stuff i have weighed and measured before so i am aware of exactly how much a serving is...aka, like i have a specific cup for my cereal, and know how much to put in it to make a serving... i find that weighing or measuring is VERY IMPORTANT when it comes to calorie counting...and I know that if I didnt count calories, I would not be where I am today in my diet goals....I am a person will very little will power, and I thank God for his help every day too :0), without him I would surely fail ... I know my weaknesses and I try to avoid the pitfalls of them....
  • Bsp120167
    Bsp120167 Posts: 68 Member
    I way everything which is not prepackaged, wear a HR monitor. It does get a little obsessive but it is the only way i can stay connected with what I am putting in my body.
  • Edestiny7
    Edestiny7 Posts: 730 Member
    Yes, I only achieved my results by being so diligent. I don't care if it is considered obsessive. Of course, I have to anyway because I have to limit protein and sodium to prevent further kidney stones.
  • debteel
    debteel Posts: 10 Member
    I weigh my food also. I especially weigh my meats, that is hard to eyeball. And if I eat like chips or something I have to weigh. Learning to eat the correct portion size when I weigh my food.
  • trud72
    trud72 Posts: 1,912 Member
    i do some items (potatos) but just till you know there weights and you get a feel for them so to speek!
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    I weigh and measure everything with calories (I just eyeball veggies, spices, etc.). I've found it's too easy to over-estimate (or even under-estimate) if I eyeball. I leave my scale on the counter, so it doesn't take but a second to weigh something (thanks to the tare button!)
  • vettle
    vettle Posts: 621 Member
    Its ok now, but in life you cannot weigh everything. You have to learn how to eat properly or you will have a lot of problems trying to llive a normal life when you're done with this program. Weighing veggies is not necessary as they hardly add up calories, except for root veggies don't bother. It will be hard to get rid of that habit if you don't learn how to eyeball now.
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    I did for a long time, but finally felt like I was able to eyeball things. Now, years later, I'm thinking I need to measure stuff again because it's probably sneaked up over time. Besides, my husband (who's also doing this) keeps disagreeing with my estimates (he always thinks I'm over-estimating, I think he's not aware of how little 1 oz of cheese really is!)

    Would love recommendations for a good, inexpensive food scale!
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    I just weigh calorie dense foods.

    This video is a real eye opener about how easy it is to underestimate what you are eating if you are measuring by volume instead of weight.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    "You know you lick the spoon."
  • mrogers52
    mrogers52 Posts: 378 Member
    The OCD challenge! I measure and weigh my food. Period! No explanations for it. It fits me and I am fine with that:heart:
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    Yes, I weigh/measure everything! And I'm even anal enough to carry a set of measuring spoons and cups in my purse in a ziploc baggie for when I eat out. Sad I know, but it works!!!!!
  • HotMamaByVday
    HotMamaByVday Posts: 343 Member
    I do. As a matter of fact, sometimes I will eat out of the measuring cups in order not to dirty another dish. I also count out veggies chips as I eat them (in my head of course). lol.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    I did for a long time, but finally felt like I was able to eyeball things. Now, years later, I'm thinking I need to measure stuff again because it's probably sneaked up over time. Besides, my husband (who's also doing this) keeps disagreeing with my estimates (he always thinks I'm over-estimating, I think he's not aware of how little 1 oz of cheese really is!)

    Would love recommendations for a good, inexpensive food scale!

    It's all about pereception...I am surprised at how big an ounce of cheese actually is!!
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    If I have to guess how much food it is. I weigh it. To me, a food scale is more important than an HRM. Part of how we got this way was we were eating more than we thought we were. With a food scale, and you can get them for less than $15, there's no excuse not to know.
  • SweetP88
    SweetP88 Posts: 79
    I have been on maintenance for almost 4 months and I still weigh everything!! I will weigh before I measure e.g. instead of 1 cup of cereal I prefer to measure out the 54 grams (it is way more accurate). My family also finds me crazy for it but I WILL NOT go back to how I looked before and if this is my tool to do it then too bad for them!!
  • AmandaR910
    AmandaR910 Posts: 991
    I do. I love my food scale.
  • Ianultrarunner
    Ianultrarunner Posts: 184 Member
    Yes, I do too and it sometimes drives my Wife nuts but I can't eyeball either and I would eventually find myself cheating if I didn't so I use it as a self check.
    I've taken my scales on the road when I travel for business or pleasure.
    I just ignore people looking at me and feel happier in myself that it's the lifestyle I choose for myself.
  • NuMe46
    NuMe46 Posts: 128
    Measure and weigh. It can be a problem when eating out then I have to eyeball portion sizes and if in doubt I take some of it home or just leave it on the plate. But then usually my hubby will finish it off!!! :laugh:
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I eyeball just about everything. But I have a frighteningly accurate eye for proportions. I can tell what size a picture frame is from across a crowded flea market, and crop images in photoshop to within single digit pixels of the size I want. When I worked at an animal hospital, and had to prepare prescriptions, it was creepy how many times I poured out the exact number of pills I needed into the pill counter tray.

    If only I had the same skill for picking lotto numbers. :grumble:
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    Always, and it keeps me on track in a way nothing else does. Keeps me totally aware of what and how much I'm eating, and somehow, when it becomes about the numbers, it makes it much easier for me to say, "No, I can't have that much--cut it down by a third."

    Kris
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    I eyeball just about everything. But I have a frighteningly accurate eye for proportions. I can tell what size a picture frame is from across a crowded flea market, and crop images in photoshop to within single digit pixels of the size I want. When I worked at an animal hospital, and had to prepare prescriptions, it was creepy how many times I poured out the exact number of pills I needed into the pill counter tray.

    If only I had the same skill for picking lotto numbers. :grumble:

    Wow thats amazing! Me, I totally fail at this. I am the complete opposite. That is why I use the scale whenever I can. I skip it at family dinners etc., and my family sometimes makes a little fun of me, but its all OK. I know why Im doing it!
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