I'm off to the store later today to pick up a food scale so I can measure out my food portions accurately. I've read about the estimations, like size of a baseball, size of a deck of cards and others, but I feel like my eyes are seeing smaller than it actually is and I'm underestimating my food intake.
Are there other items out there that helped you lose weight?

Karla

Diet Power software. It's helped me enormously -- and it offers much more than Fit Day. However, Fit Day is still good, and it's free, whereas Diet Power is free for the first 15 day trial but then costs like 50 bucks, I think.

I second saying that diet power has helped me. I've only been using it for a few days but it makes it so much easier to stay on track.... plus you can use it offline.

There are ways around the $50ish cost to purchase it though

I used the food scale for about a month, after that, I could eye-ball stuff. By the end of 6 months, I could tell you what calories, fat, carbs and protein content for each food I ate. I'd recommend the scale. they're about $10 at GNC or vitamin world. And its worth it. You'll be surprised what portions really are. I was at first!

I just bought a food scale a couple of weeks ago. I found that it helped a lot. I measure everything out. I also use fitday because it is free. I have to put in a lot of my foods but it helps tremendously.

I also use a good quality measuring cup. Mine is an all-in-one for liquids and solids for foods that call for 1/2 c. or whatever. I also know that my serving spoons are 1/3 cup if they are level and about 1/2 c. heaped on top.

My George Foreman grill that I bought on a whim, coz it was 1/3 off. I am an oil fiend and use far too much, on George you only need a bare whiff of the stuff. A bottle of oil that used to last me 3 weeks now has lasted 4 months and is still half full.

cooking spray
nonstick cookware
Fitday or a notebook for journaling
scale
success websites
Brita water filter

Oh yeah, totally forgot about the george foreman grill.. That is awesome...

Fit day has been a great tool for me as well. I also have measuring cups and a scale that have helped me adjust my portions. But for me, having a frig/microwave and toaster in my office has made all the difference. I can have healthy foods at my fingertips while at work.

Something else that worked for me is my library of books. I write down small phrases or ideas that jump out at me in a journal and refer to that in weaker moments. It is a no excuses, no cutting corners quick pep talk.