Weighing food - JP Fitness Forums

kobeat · 08-22-2008, 05:09 AM

Internal debate occuring...

According to my challenge plan I am starting OPT after Labor Day weekend and am looking into a food scale. My problem is we have a squeaky tight budget and a food scale just isn't on the list, yes, I know I can get a decent one for about $30. On the one hand $30 really isn't that much money but on the other $30 here and $30 there tends to add up.

How important is it REALLY to weigh my food? I have a fair amount of weight to lose (35+) so I think I have a little more leeway than someone who's at the last 5 or 10 pounds stage. I've seen Leigh's video and understand about the inaccuracy of using measuring cups & spoons versus a scale and I know if I change the plan sure it may work but it's not the plan. My thought is if I'm always using the same cups & spoons I could subtract an additional 5-10% to somewhat account for the innaccuracy. Then I could evaluate my weight loss each week and adjust accordingly. One of my arguments is that the numbers are more or less an estimate in the first place, though Leigh's calculations and detailed activity adjuster seems better than most. Another is if I can get away with out a scale for now I could always pick one up later when I'm closer to goal and more accuracy is needed. Still another is prior to the challenge I wasn't tracking, was eating too much and moving too little.

Anyway, am curious about your thoughts as to whether I really need the scale or not. Thanks

Angabel · 08-22-2008, 05:56 AM

I would be lost without my scale. Seriously, I weigh just about everything. I'm often amazed how much more some foods weigh than what I had expected or estimated. It's helped me a lot with my portion sizes.

LaraT · 08-22-2008, 06:38 AM

I think it is very important. You can get a decent one for under $30. Stores like Bed/Bath/BEyond are always sending out those 20% off coupons. I got mine there for $20 I think. I know it is hard when budget is tight but it is well worth the small investment.

workoutgirl · 08-22-2008, 06:42 AM

If you have alot to lose, it may not be as important. I didnt weigh my food at all after having the baby and followed weight watchers, eating around 2200 calories and lost 20lbs. Its the last 10lbs that I realized I needed to be more meticulous. JMHO and experience!

norahd · 08-22-2008, 06:46 AM

Honestly, I would get one. Yes, you use the same cups, but depending on how something is packed, that could still give you a huge variance. In my opinion, if you're going to do this, and have to do it long haul (like me), you should get in there doing it right the first time. Plus, this is somewhat of a lifestyle change - you need to educate yourself about exactly how much food you're eating, and be aware of everything that's affecting your weightloss. So yes, you have more leeway if you have more weight to lose, but you also (probably) have more bad behaviors to unlearn, so you're best bet is to arm yourself with the best tools possible to help you win.

Than said, you can do this without a scale - can't say it's not going to work without one. Maybe you can use it as an incentive for you - save up $5 a week, and if you stick to this program for a month, reward yourself w/ a new scale - that way you get it fairly early, but allow yourself a little time to set aside the funds? Plus, little rewards for yourself & mini goals to look forward to are really helpful when you have a long way to go.

Good luck this September!

SpacecityPaula · 08-22-2008, 06:49 AM

Kobeat:

I say get the scale if you can work it into your budget. Reasons being, measuring in grams is WAY more accurate than using a measuring cup and even pre-portioned food can be off by several grams from the one serving amount they give on the back of the package.

Sometimes you can find some pretty decent deals on Amazon for scales.

LaraT · 08-22-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpacecityPaula

Kobeat:

I say get the scale if you can work it into your budget. Reasons being, measuring in grams is WAY more accurate than using a measuring cup and even pre-portioned food can be off by several grams from the one serving amount they give on the back of the package.

Sometimes you can find some pretty decent deals on Amazon for scales.

I recently started weighing some things that are in pre-portioned containers like yogurt, mini cottage cheese, laughing cow cheese, etc and finding that often there are less grams then the package states! so it can work both ways.

maggieandmommy · 08-22-2008, 07:26 AM

I got a cheapy little one at the grocery store for $10. It's not digital, but it gives me a pretty good idea of what I'm eating.

It's too easy to eyeball (or even use the measuring cups/spoons) and get it wrong and go a little over here and there, which could end up stalling your progress. Then you don't know what's not working--the diet or the exercise. If you weigh and measure everything, then at least you know that's not to blame.

Leigh P. · 08-22-2008, 12:23 PM

Not having read everything, if this was said sorry.

You don't HAVE TO weigh your food. This is just a "if thinks aren't working or if you want to be sure" then it may be time to start weighing.

If you attempt, get results, and everything is rolling then yay.
If not then maybe get a scale and see if that helps.

kobeat · 08-23-2008, 05:11 AM

Thank you everyone for your responses!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leigh P.

Not having read everything, if this was said sorry.

You don't HAVE TO weigh your food. This is just a "if thinks aren't working or if you want to be sure" then it may be time to start weighing.

If you attempt, get results, and everything is rolling then yay.
If not then maybe get a scale and see if that helps.

That is the answer I was really hoping for!

I discovered yesterday that the cheaper fix for our broken dishwasher didn't work, more expensive repair needed. Hand washing dishes = NEAT, Karen in kitchen longer = tired and frustrated woman who already spends too much time there trying to feed four people on different schedules!

Since I have a fair amount of weight to lose I'm going to hold off on the scale and use the cups, spoons and my really old (forgot I had it) not digital, measures (kind of) in ounces only scale for meat that is not typically cup measured. For now.

In the meantime...

Quote:

Originally Posted by norahd

save up $5 a week, and if you stick to this program for a month, reward yourself w/ a new scale

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpacecityPaula

Sometimes you can find some pretty decent deals on Amazon for scales.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaraT

Stores like Bed/Bath/BEyond are always sending out those 20% off coupons.

I'm going to set aside a little each week from my grocery money to save up, watch for the sales and hold on to my BB&B coupons! Then if I find I'm not losing weight or stall I have a plan.

Etana · 08-23-2008, 10:11 AM

kobeat,

Where do you live? I was going to suggest you subscribe to freecycle.org in your neighborhood and post a WANTED for a scale. Freecycle and craigslist are great resources!!

BUT... I'll mail you my Soehnle scale which has a 9volt rechargeable battery as soon as I buy a new scale at BedBath and Beyond in the next 2 weeks. If you don't have a charger you can use regular 9volt. It has been a little temperamental lately, but I think it is the battery. Also, it doesn't like to get wet on the bottom; when it gets wet it doesn't work unitl it drys out ;-) It's a really good scale.

Send me a private message with your address and email
Etana 62 young and powerful!
Silver Spring, MD

Espi · 08-24-2008, 12:20 PM

That's so totally sweet of you Etana!

tkinsley · 08-24-2008, 09:21 PM

^+1

And good call on freecycle and craig's list.

kobeat · 08-25-2008, 04:11 AM

Ever have one of those weekends where you try to do something and get interupted everytime? Yeah, that was mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etana

BUT... I'll mail you my Soehnle scale

THANK YOU, you are so nice!

I'll send a pm in just a minute.

Etana · 09-30-2008, 11:16 AM

An interesting observation with weighing versus measuring food:
My Trader Joe's Lowfat granola with almonds says 1 serving is 3/4 cup. So I decided to eat a bit less than 1 serving and measured 1/2C, and it was a full 1/2C, but not heaping by any means, just full to the top... It weighed 55gm. When I entered it in fitday, the calories were the same as for 1 3/4c serving.

I went back to the carton nutritional info, and they say 3/4C=55gm, while I know I didn't have 3/4C in my 1/2C measure. They must really fluff up that granola before putting it in their cup..

so here's a great example of how honest measuring can get you 50% more food than you count. I would not have believed measured food could be that far off.

Glad I'm weighing food now! For some it may not matter, but for me it contributed to years on no weight loss.

Leigh, thanks for all the years you've devoted to educating yourself and sharing that knowledge with us.