Is an ounce an ounce?

Ok, this might seem a bit ......... dumb but I have a question. When you eat a solid like chicken/beef, using 4 oz as an example, would that be 4oz in weight or a 1/2 cup? For things like cottage cheese, I use 1/2 cup. But I'm not sure I'm doing meats correctly. Sheryl In the Zoo

I think, if I am right when meat is weighed, it is done as RAW weight, and done on a food scale. Paige

Sheryl: It seems to me that on the pre-diet I had to go on that they wanted me to have the ounces after cooking. They said to use the rule: "it should be a piece of meat about the size of your palm". An ounce of liquid or like cottage cheese is measured by the 1/2 cup = 4 ounces. I think you are doing fine, don't worry yourself too much. I doubt you could eat much more than a 4 oz. serving of meat, could you? I can never finish that much, especially chicken! Let me know how you are doing! Love, Pam

Thanks Pam and Paige. I can do about 3oz, I just didn't know whether to measure it in a cup or weigh it on the food scale. As to how I'm doing, I've been "stuck" for several weeks now. (5 weeks to lose 11 lbs) I'm doing all that I should, have upped my water and trying to do better on my calorie intake but it's moving so much more slower than I should be at this stage of the game. I'm concerned that if it's this slow now, what's going to happen when I hit the stage where it REALLY slows down. Sheryl In the Zoo

Sherly, I know kinda how you feel. I lost fast, and even faster some weeks, but since December I havent lost a damn pound, infact I have gained 3lbs... Dr. Pesta told me not to worry, it was natural to have plataue stages, and even gain a few here and there. I havent done any measurements in AGES, but I would probably be safe to say if I did right now, I have lost more inches since last measure date. I am really big on eating as much protein as I can get in, in one day. I do cottage cheese for breakfast, protein bar & yogurt for lunch, and a healthy piece of meat (beef, chicken, or pork) of some sort for dinner with veggies. I also eat about 3 protein bars a day, so that gives me the added protein there of anywhere from 45-70 grams of protein in those alone, on top of what ever else I eat. I use my protein bars as a snack food for between meals or while I am at school sitting in a boring 4 hours class. I am getting my 2 sheep processed this month so I will be in HEAVEN eating my lamb this summer. Now that the summer is here and weather is nice, I think walking will be a bit more exciting cause I can find new places to walk and not have to worry about freezing my butt off...lol... Keep up the good work and think positive. That is what MANY of the oldtimers on the board have told me in the past, and even still today.... Paige 385/263