To (Food) Scale or Not

Is everyone who is successful at this weighing their food??

I have not been, just estimating and using serving sizes. Sometimes I think I'm underestimating and sometimes over.

I am eating so much less than I was a month ago and now (thankfully) feeling used to it-but not seeing the kind of results I had hoped for.

Any suggestions on a reasonably priced food scale?

Thanks

(Its 8pm and off to the gym I go-really not into it tonite but going nonetheless;)=

Walmart sells a digital that weight both ounces and grams.  It's less than 30 dollars.  I'm quite happy with mine.

I definitely recommend a food scale, it makes everything so much easier (I've gone from 175 to 136 so  guess I'd be considered successful at weight loss). Of course, there is more to being successful than just weighing your food, but I can say that my scale is my most used tool in my kitchen. I use it for absolutely everything. You will be very surprised at what some portions actually amount to when you weight them versus measure or estimate them.

I got mine from Target, it's a KitchenAid digital scale. I forget how much it was but I think I paid around $20 for it. Make sure you get a digital one, but other than that, don't pay extra for bells and whistles. You can get a basic model that will work just fine for a lot less than some of the fancy ones.

I just got a food scale, and it's been a great tool so far. Turns out I was overestimating rice and pasta and vastly underestimating cheese. 

I got mine from Amazon; I think it's a Salter scale. 

I use a Taylor Kitchen Scale mine's pink because I got it for breast cancer awareness. They were sold exclusively for Target during breast cancer awareness month. You may not be able find it in store but it is still available online albeit a black one, if not there's always eBay. I'm impressed with my scale because it helps sate my neurosis to know everything haha. Once you use a scale after awhile you are able to eyeball your portions more accurately. My scale does oz. & grams up to 11lb & 5000g respectively. It’s a nice flat and thin scale so storage is simple also due to its glass surface it's easy to clean.

Target's Taylor Scale

I've been weighing my food ever since I saw this video. 

It was only after I started religiously weighing the food I was preparing that I realised why I'd got so fat !   My idea of a 'small portion' was way off, basically.   I'm a lot better these days and can judge the right amount a lot easier by eye but I still have to spot check portions every so often because my natural inclination is to add a bit extra....

I got a glass-topped, digital, platform-style, 'add and weigh' scale by Salter from Amazon.  Very useful

Wow-Thanks for all the responses.

Tankgirl-that was some video-I am so sure that is my problem-especially with peanut butter(It is a staple of mine since I avoid most animal protein.)

I will be purchasing a scale today!

I guess its especially true as women get older and /or if you have only a small amount of weight to lose ( I am approaching 40 and need to lose "just" 10 -15 lbs)

Thanks everyone again.

I don't own a food scale however I do use measuring cups and measuring spoons though.  I have been pretty successful with this and do think I am accurate because the weight is coming off just as it should.  Nonetheless I plan to get one because either way I'd be interested whether I was under/overestimating or just about right with my portion sizes.  My blender broke while grinding flax seeds yesterday so I might pick one up today while shopping for a new blender -- I can't live without my smoothies!

Oh yes, get a scale.  I decided I need to develop a different relationship w/ food, so now I weight everything.  The actual portion of a food that you "eyeball" measure can be substantially different when you weigh it.  I believe it is a good practice, and takes away those doubts about what/how much you are actually eating.  Spend the money on a scale, you won't regret it!

Loved the video!  I have always used a scale to portion meats but never anything I can measure with a cup or spoon so now I will.

i like my food scale and use it a few times a week, but i lost most of my weight before i got it.  it's definitely not necessary.

i find my scale to be indispensable.  i <3 meat and cheese & there's no more accurate way to portion them than by weight.  it's really good for cereal, too.

the first week i had it, the house was filled with sounds of "oh my god!!!eleventy!11!  you'll never believe how many calories are in this ________!".  it was a real eye opener.  i still use it religiously because i've found that just a couple of days without it totally throws off my portion perception. 

when i use it, i almost always find out that i'm over-estimating serving sizes.  just this morning i used it because i wanted to know how much cheez whiz (i know it's bad; it's my one embarrassment) i was putting on my toast.  i expected that i was using 50-60g (a 2tbsp serving is 30g); it was only 22g.  although that doesn't count the residue i licked off the knife ;)

I love my food scale!!

I've found that "measuring" cups & spoons are NEVER true to grams, regardless of the food being measured.

It's also impossible to get a read on the Calorie Count generic measurements. "1 cup chard." The grams for "1 cup chard" end up about 3 cups of chard in volume.

1 slice pizza = 1/2 to 1/4 of a "regular" slice.

Go get one already! They're fantastic for baking too.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

when i use it, i almost always find out that i'm over-estimating serving sizes.  just this morning i used it because i wanted to know how much cheez whiz (i know it's bad; it's my one embarrassment) i was putting on my toast.  i expected that i was using 50-60g (a 2tbsp serving is 30g); it was only 22g.  although that doesn't count the residue i licked off the knife ;)

I'm quite sure knife-licking is calorie free...a bit like broken biscuits where the calories just leak out

Original Post by tankgirl124:

I've been weighing my food ever since I saw this video.

That was a great video! It's so true too. I was always careful about measuring out my portions. Of course I weighed things like chicken, oatmeal, veggies, fruits, etc.. It wasn't until recently I got a new digital scale and I've pretty much stopped using measuring spoons and cups, except for liquids. I was amazed to see how little miracle whip is actually in 1 tbsp. LOL

Original Post by tankgirl124:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

when i use it, i almost always find out that i'm over-estimating serving sizes.  just this morning i used it because i wanted to know how much cheez whiz (i know it's bad; it's my one embarrassment) i was putting on my toast.  i expected that i was using 50-60g (a 2tbsp serving is 30g); it was only 22g.  although that doesn't count the residue i licked off the knife ;)

I'm quite sure knife-licking is calorie free...a bit like broken biscuits where the calories just leak out

totally.  not to mention the fact that washing cheez whiz down the drain is environmentally irresponsible.  can't get the ducks hooked on that crap!

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by tankgirl124:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

when i use it, i almost always find out that i'm over-estimating serving sizes.  just this morning i used it because i wanted to know how much cheez whiz (i know it's bad; it's my one embarrassment) i was putting on my toast.  i expected that i was using 50-60g (a 2tbsp serving is 30g); it was only 22g.  although that doesn't count the residue i licked off the knife ;)

I'm quite sure knife-licking is calorie free...a bit like broken biscuits where the calories just leak out

totally.  not to mention the fact that washing cheez whiz down the drain is environmentally irresponsible.  can't get the ducks hooked on that crap!

LOLOL!! Indeed...it's good to see someone taking these environmental issues seriously!

Original Post by tankgirl124:

I've been weighing my food ever since I saw this video. 

i'm not a fan of this video.  it's salesmanship, pure and simple.  volume measurement can be accurate for many ingredients, if it's done correctly.  and for those ingredients that can't be measured by volume (meat, for instance), the weight is given on the package.  if i have a 500g package of chicken, that's six servings.  if i cook it in a recipe and eat it in three meals, i've eaten too much.

food scales are great, but unless you're going to pack it around with you to restaurants, friends homes, camping trips, business lunches, etc., you need to learn to judge with your eyes and your stomach.

edit: as evidenced by the "just got back from cruise" thread ;)

It's true that you should learn to judge food by eye...but previous experience has shown me I'm not good at this yet.

One day I hope not to be a slave to the scale, but while I'm still working on weight loss, they are my invaluable friend!