Do you weigh/measure your food?

jbsangel
jbsangel Posts: 18 Member
edited December 18 in Food and Nutrition
I was just wondering who weighs/measures their food now or in the past? When I first got serious about losing weight, I bought a scale and started weighing my food to get an idea of how much a particular quantity of food actually was so I could log it on the site I was using at the time. After I felt I had a good grasp of how much something was, I felt the need to weight less and less. I actually also stopped counting my calories, as I was pretty confident on what I could eat and stay around where I wanted to be as far as calories were concerned.

After a bit of a rough time and a nice gain of about 15 lbs, when I got back on eating properly, I found when I went back to eating what I knew was proper, I wasn't losing any weight! I decided I better start logging again (hence joining MFP) and even weighing foods again.

I find it really helpful. I know this stuff is all estimates anyway, but weighing the food helps me feel like I've taken some of the estimation and uncertainty out of the equation.

Just thought I'd pass on something that has been working for me both currently in the past. If you are numbers geek like me, you might finding weighing your food to be helpful. I don't do it to make myself eat only a certain amount of food, I weigh it so I can know how much I ate and remember if that was too much, too little, or just right.
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Replies

  • gaia3rd
    gaia3rd Posts: 151
    Yup, I almost always weigh my food - at least items that have larger amounts of calories (I don't concern myself as much about things like leafy vegetables) - and will continue to do so until I get to my weight goal and have a couple of months of maintenance behind me. It's more accurate than measuring cups, and a lot more accurate than eyeballing the portion.
  • runfatmanrun
    runfatmanrun Posts: 1,090 Member
    Yep. Still doing it a year into it. Makes logging things easier and more accurate.
  • Kristinemomof3
    Kristinemomof3 Posts: 636 Member
    I was measuring some stuff, but just bought a scale today.
  • Drastiic
    Drastiic Posts: 322 Member
    Yep. I use measuring cups and have 2 different scales, both of which are probably 15 years old.
  • robot_potato
    robot_potato Posts: 1,535 Member
    I use a scale& measuring cups. As i lose more, i find i need to be more accurate with my measurements in order to continue losing.
  • carrie31023
    carrie31023 Posts: 17 Member
    I measure everything I eat! Been doing it for a very long time. I am a diabetic and trying to get off all the medicine I am on. Keep measuring! LOL
  • tarnbop
    tarnbop Posts: 53 Member
    I would be completely lost without my scales!! I use digital ones and they're so quick and easy.
    Saying that, now I have a grasp of how much fruit/vegetables weigh, I tend to guestimate as a few grams here and there don't really make that big a difference to the numbers....
  • IndigoFlowers
    IndigoFlowers Posts: 221 Member
    I weigh everthing! Even spinach, cucumbers, etc!

    It makes counting accurate calories so much easier! I love it.
  • moeheep
    moeheep Posts: 34 Member
    YES
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Nope. Never have, except the occasional "I wonder what 6 ounces of yogurt looks like".
  • Kalynx
    Kalynx Posts: 707 Member
    I do, especially protein!!
  • OccupyFitness
    OccupyFitness Posts: 145 Member
    Yes, I weigh and measure my food. I am not good at eyeballing amounts.
  • scarlet_goddess13
    scarlet_goddess13 Posts: 38
    Absolutely! Even at work! My coworkers think I'm nuts but oh well. I measure and only eat the serving sizes. Then, I eat slow to make sure that I am not overeating. I always take a snack just to make sure that I do not get hungry and binge later...
  • LolaVersion2
    LolaVersion2 Posts: 114 Member
    Of course. Weighing/measuring is a bit neurotic, but accuracy is what gets you the results
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Nope. Can't be arsed with all the fuss tbh. I just either go by the packet, my eye, or simply guess.

    Worked so far for me! :)
  • gayje
    gayje Posts: 230 Member
    Absolutely without a missing a beat! Every NEW food and drink that I haven't weighed or measured out in the recent past gets plopped on the scale or dirties up yet another measuring device. I simply do not trust myself to be accurate all the time so I rely on my scale a lot. My SO thinks it's too funny and often challenges me to guess how much an item weighs and the winner doesn't have to do the dishes or take out the trash etc., lol!

    It's particularly difficult to be right on the money when I'm especially hungry, like after running all my errands during the lunch hours and skipping a meal. When I get home I'm famished and just want to eat whatever is easiest and don't make the smartest food choices, hence, the weighing/measuring. If I do make a bad food choice, I have done it in moderation. That, makes me feel okay about my choices.
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    I measure and weigh just about everything.
  • Corrin17
    Corrin17 Posts: 14
    I do occasionally, but am trying to do it more. I eyeball a size, then measure it to see how accurate I am. It is a good learning experience.
  • harebearva
    harebearva Posts: 216 Member
    After awhile it becomes easier to eyeball things but I still weigh almost everything even after 2 years.
  • btretiak
    btretiak Posts: 23
    I weigh everything. Every time.
  • xarla16
    xarla16 Posts: 84 Member
    Yeah I like the accuracy of weighing something. I use measuring cups too, but anything I can weigh, I weigh.
  • chellk71
    chellk71 Posts: 69
    nope. I had a nuitricialist give me a book with what equals a serving size and I just eyeball it.
  • Lwillis1234
    Lwillis1234 Posts: 990 Member
    I measure!!! it helps me know how much i'm really eating!
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    Yes I do, I have a nice digital scale so I know what an ounce of chips is or whatever.......
  • mamitosami
    mamitosami Posts: 531 Member
    I weigh and measure everything. Always have. Neurotic, yes, likely. But I've maintained my weight for more than a year now... so I"m doing something right! It's honestly second nature now. Weighing, measuring everything. I have tons of cup and spoon measures so if one's in the dishwasher, I don't have the slightest excuse to not measure something!
  • pandafoo
    pandafoo Posts: 367 Member
    I had lost 25 pounds last year by exercising almost daily and being careful with my calories, and I weighed my food every chance I could get. However, due to family and life stressors, I gained all the weight back and am getting back on track finally. Started to use my scale again, esp. in weighing out snacks (nuts can add up quickly!), proteins, and carbs. Eventually I'd like to get to the point where I can just eyeball fruits and veggies, but I think I'll still keep on weighing the high-caloric ones where 1-2 ounces makes a huge difference.
  • Masterdo
    Masterdo Posts: 331 Member
    My food scale "tastes" everything before I do. Safety first :p
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    I measure everything unless I'm eating out or at someone's house, then it's just a total guestimation :)
  • NK203
    NK203 Posts: 35
    Yes, I weigh meat, fish, cheese, nuts, avocados, chips, every time. I rarely weigh fruit or veg, except potatoes. I measure mayo or peanut butter, the one tablespoon of half and half I have in my first coffee in the morning, and oil.
  • southernbelle85
    southernbelle85 Posts: 13
    I weigh all of my food and even count out the number of almonds I put in my yogurt every morning. My hubby has even started weighing my food for me when he makes a plate for me. His support really helps!
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