[Shannon in ATL]

So I've been moving along thinking I was eating 1200 calories per day now for about 12 weeks, counting every meal and snack... I finally got a food scale a couple of weeks ago, before I was going with cups, tablespoons, package info,etc... I started out weighing meats, fruits, veggies, pasta (because I knew the cup thing wasn't working there!), things like that.

This week I started weighing things I normally use a measuring cup or spoon for -yogurt, rice, trail mix, granola, coffee creamer (the one tbsp I allow myself...), peanut butter, fat free caramel apple dip that I eat several nights per week, etc...

My yogurt was pretty darn close, actually a little under most of the time.

My rice had almost an entire serving extra - 32 grams, 45 g is a serving... That is over 100 calories!

My trail mix varied from 20-80 over calories per 1/8 c I was measuring out... And I was sometimes eating a small trail mix snack twice per day at work...

My granola, also pretty darn close - within a gram or so up or down...

I was consuming 10 extra calories per day in coffee creamer, small number until I looked at the fact that I have one cup of coffee every single day...

My peanut butter was very inconsistent - luckily I didn't eat it much...

My caramel apple dip that I rated at around 50 calories based on my tbsp was actually closer to 75 cals...

I've been succeeding - I lost 1.8 pounds since my last official weigh in two weeks ago,17 total. In looking back at the calories I've tracked the last three months I now realize that I lost that weight eating more calories than I thought... So this week I've been eating the 1200 I thought I was eating before because I've weighed out everything, and I worry about slowing my metabolism down and hurting my progress... I'm thinking about moving up to 1300 - my feeling is that it can't hurt me, I've probably been really eating that all along on average and just didn't realize it...

I just had a small trail mix snack at 3:20 and am already hungry again... Could be really hungry, could be stress hungry...

[yoyonomoreinvegas]

It was probably a little startling to realize you were eating more than you thought but, if you were doing well, why mess with it I think you'd be doing fine to just go ahead and adjust your calorie goal number to meet what you were actually getting.

[carinna]

Wow, incredible the difference between measuring and actually weighing, huh? Good thing you figured it out now.

[ndnguy85]

they way i see it is..i am not going to starve myself to make an extra 100 or 200 calorie deficit.

anything under 1600 calories for me is a pain to work with. eating 5-6 meals, get over 160g of protein while keeping carbs under 100g...*whew*

so i just try to do 1700-1750 at least. if i dont get the deficit i want..oh well..i just have to get more active.

and i dont know how i can live without my scale. i mean how can i eat 12grams of peanut butter using a spoon!!!! :-)

[cdiem4994]

I just got a scale too! I have had it for two days and can't figure out how I survived without it. What I love most is that nutrition info is stored in the scale for tons of things so I now have calories on hand for veggies and fruits.

[beth4365]

Great post. Thanks!

[ddc]

Speaking of peanut butter, I actually measured out 2 level tbs. once just to see how much it is. It is not very much

Your post shows why a scale is such a valuable tool and also how we have lost sight of what a portion size really is.

Good job on figuring it out

[jtammy]

I also round the scoop, and I know I need to get more accurate. I also need a new scale, a digital scale. Any recommendations? I love the idea of the scale having a food database.

[Shannon in ATL]

I have an Oxo slimline scale with a slide out display so it isn't blocked by the container sitting on it. It doesn't have a food database, but I love it... Switches easily from lbs to kg, accurate, compact - slides right under my napkin holder...

I have a pretty exhaustive spreadsheet with most of the food I eat in it already, so I went for compact over database.

[cdiem4994]

Mine is a chefmate. I got it for $50 at Target. I spent a long time walking around the store debating on spending that much money. (I'm cheap!) It was the best purchase ever! (Next to my bike and my weight scale). It has a little booklet with codes for tons of foods like fruit & veggies. The pages are even laminated so it can hang out in the kitchen with no harm done.

I can't believe how I stared with writing down what I eat to see how I'm doing, to counting calories, to finding this website to weighing everything I eat in about a six week time frame. But it's working, I'm dropping pounds/inches like mad since I've started this!

[jtammy]

Thanks Shannon and Cdiem, I'll look and see if I can find those. The database isn't essential, but it's certainly a cool idea.

[ghost]

I love the perspective my scale has given me. I'm always pushing weighing foods on other people trying to diet and they never get it.

[DMNewman]

I guess I need to go out and buy a scale, I usually round too

[Spoz]

You know... I went horrible wrong with cereal. I realized I was eating over 200 calories more cereal per serving than I thought! And its my comfort food so sometimes I was dishing up several bowls a day... Arent you glad you started weighing now?

[Shannon in ATL]

I am very glad I started weighing! It makes me much more confident to move the calories up to 1300... I'm less afraid that I'm missing something...