Question:
how many of you use food scales to weigh your meats????
Or do use the measuring cups, and if you use the measuring cups-how are you getting in all of your protein??? Also what do you do cut up all of your meat until it fits into one of those measuring cups. I was told by my nutrionists that I could weigh my foods on a food scale, but I see so many bickerin opinions on here, I wasn;t concerned about using the food scale until I read some of these posts about volume versus weight??? It just doesn;t make sense to eat 4tbsp of chopped chicken to equal 2oz, unless it is something like tuna salad or chicken salad, but a 1/4 cup of salmon versus 2oz piece of salmon on a food scale-Need some feedback, I am also going to confer with my nutritionists again tomorrow-It's been 11 weeks and I'm down 52 lbs so I must be doing something right? I'm just curious how many weighed their meats on a food scale and used measuring cups for everything else?Did this stretch your stomach? I'm so confused right now??? — TotallyTori (posted on May 25, 2003)
May 25, 2003
I do not weigh or measure any of my food. I eat slowly, chew everything
really well and stop before I feel full. I am also about 11 weeks out and
down 70lbs. I did not want to get caught up in the measuring and weighing
because it reminds me of past FAILED diets. I just try to eat normally and
make new habits that can last for the rest of my life. Good luck!
— rpoepke
May 25, 2003
Hey hon, I can understand your concerns with this food weighing stuff but i
wouldnt stress to much over it. I do weigh my meat not because im afraid
of eating to much but because i want to make sure I am getting enough
protein in. I eat about 3 oz or less depends on how hungry I am. Usually
I eat just a tad of vegies with that and that seems to fill me up. I dont
really use a measuring cup often but if I do its usually for making
something. Well good look, and yes ur doing awesome so keep up the good
work!!
— Deanna Wise
May 25, 2003
I am one who has done both things. I measured early on and bought an
electronic scale about 4 weeks out. I personally think it varies on the
weight/density of the food which is the ideal way to determine the
appropriate amount to eat. If you are measuring dense food but something
that easily packs then weighing will keep the volume down. For me this
would relate to things like manwhich or shredded BBQ turkey. Tuna I just
eat out of the pouch so I know how many ounces I am getting. Sometimes I
can eat a whole 3 oz pouch. By volume it would likely be about 3/8 to 1/2
cup so in line with everything else. Things that are lightweight should ge
by volume. If you weigh them you could end up with a whole lot more food.
Many times for lunch I eat two string cheese sticks. This is only 2 ounces
but volume wise it is quite a bit, so I feel satisfied. Since I get in 16
grams of protein in that 2 ounces I don't worry about getting in anymore.
I'm never full from the cheese sticks but comfortable/satisfied.
<p>I don't live or die by weighing or measuring my food but I do have
a tendency to weigh my food at supper time. For some reason I seem to be
able to eat more at that meal if I don't limit my quantity. It also helps
me recognize what is an appropriate amount I should be eating. It's real
easy to slowly creep the quantity and next thing you know you are eating
twice what you should be. No all foods will give you the same full signal,
so I think it is wise to know the appropriate volume/quantity. Soft,
shredded, chopped things move on through very quickly and do not give the
same full feeling as dense proteins. For quite a while I could not keep
dense proteins down so it was important I measured as I could have easily
eaten more of the things I could eat (soft, shredded, chopped). If I can
eat denser things I am able to typically stop before I have eaten the total
qunatity.
<p>Each person has to figure out what works best for them. It is
important to get to know what should be an appropriate amount without
having to measure every meal but it takes time so in the meantime use
whatever tool you need to. Maybe start to dole out what you feel is the
right amount and then weigh or measure it as a double check. That would be
a step in the direction of not having to rely on these tools forever.
— zoedogcbr
May 25, 2003
I never measured one thing! I just eat my protein first. Did it hurt me?
I went from a size 24 to 4 in six months. I hit goal in only five months.
I am now 12 months post op and I have been maintaining since then.
— Linda A.
May 25, 2003
I do not weigh or measure anything either. I did in the beginning and
quickly found out that i could not eat that much. I just do protein first
and am full after a couple of bites.
— Delores S.
May 25, 2003
Hon, You must be doing something right - talk with your nutritionist and do
what she suggests. There are so many different doctors and different
opinions that we could all stay totally confused if we let ourselves. It's
great to come here and read and ask questions to broaden out knowledge, but
ultimately it should be our doctor or his representative that determines
what we do. Having said that, I have NEVER weighed OR measured anything.
My surgeon had me start out by eating just a few bites because that was all
I could eat. Now I quit eating when I'm full. I have learned to judge how
much I can eat and that is what I do. For intance, I can eat at least a
cup of cottage cheese but I can eat a much smaller amount of denser foods
like meat. The only thing I do is make sure that my meal is
"heavy" on the protein side. And, like you, I feel I must be
doing something right because I'm almost 18 months post-op, reached my
surgeon's goal before I was a year out and have had my tummy tuck. Life is
good - just relax a little and enjoy it.
— Patty_Butler
May 26, 2003
I measure my protein meat on a scale to get the number of oz's. I use this
info as I log my food onto the site called Fitday.com. It journals my food
for me and gives me the daily totals of protein, calories, carbs, fats. It
really helps me. I don't meause anything else, just eyeball it and quit
when I am full. I always eat protein first, then veggie, and then fruit. I
use the Atkins diet as an example to go by.
— Leslie E.
May 26, 2003
tuna or canned chicken.. I buy small cans.. and use the can.. or now, since
I'm 11 months.. I might try the larger can.. but usually can't eat it
all... other than that.. I measure most stuff.. occasionally, I'll take
some chicken or turkey and throw caution to the wind.. but I use a food
scale.. for a number of reasons.. to know how much I'm getting.. make sure
I get enough.. and honestly, because I'm scared to death I might eat too
much at some point. When I eye ball a portion and find it does come to 3
or 4 oz.. I'm thrilled... although weight in oz. is different than
measuring cups.. if you're not worried about being perfect.. its close...
but they are NOT the same.. two ounces on a food scale is not the same as a
measuring cup with is two fluid ounces. Some people don't want you to use
a scale or to measure. Its about what works for you. I try not to be
obsessed, and ofcourse I don't worry about it when I'm out.. I pretty much
cut whatever my meat is in half.. and try to eat that half.. and go from
there. Good luck! Its tough at first.. but in a few months, you'll be so
used to it all.
— Lisa C.
May 26, 2003
I occasionally measure my meats, but nothing else. In the beginning I
weighed foods more often to get a feel/eyeball for amounts when I was
trying to see if I was getting in enough protein. Now, its more to see how
much I am eating oz wise, and its just the meats. I wouldn't use cup sizes
to measure meats, just go by ounces, and as we all know 1 oz of
meat/fish/cheese = 7 grams of protein. I wouldn't stress too much about
this or you'll drive yourself nuts.
— Cindy R.
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