This is what my nutritionist emailed me this morning regarding me asking her about a food scale whether I should weigh my food or not, this is her response:

As far as weighing your food - you can do that if you wish to but I find that it can be a bit more combersome and can lead to cheating on a more regular basis. If you want to buy a scale and use it for foods like meats and grains that is perfectly okay but let it be a tool for you to learn what a proper portion size looks like rather than a crutch that you use when you are at home and then when you are out feel like you have no idea how much food to eat. Also, the 3-4 onces of protein at each meal is not 100% accurate for a LapBand patient. I will be in the office tomorrow and will email you the daily recommendations - you actuall only need 2-4 ounces of meat/poultry/fish per day. Other sources of protein such as cottage cheese, yogurt, beans, etc. are considered to be in other food groups and there is a daily recommendation for them.

What I'm confused about is she said I should only have 2 to 4 ounces of meat/poultry/fish PER DAY, I thought protein was a staple for every meal, maybe not in that order as in meats but I do try to eat a little fish or chicken for lunch and dinner, am I wrong? This girl is new to her job and never has worked with lap band patients before so please someone help me sort this confusion out.

I read her comment to mean you could get your protein from other sources.

I tend to agree on the weighing of the food. I've never done it and never felt like I had to. However, I think in the whole learning curve, everyone has to figure out what works best for them. If using a scale is a good tool for you, then by all means go for it. Sometimes I think some of the experts forget this isn't an exact science, and the program takes individual tweaking.

Thanks Detchatt, I guess I was just reading it like only eating 2-4 oz a day, lol. And yes I get protein in other ways like yogurt (greek), cottage cheese, beans etc. like she suggested.

yeah, there's no way I could eat all that meat. Cottage cheese keeps me alive, me thinks. LOL

I think her key message re the scales was buried and the important thing was : "let it be a tool for you to learn what a proper portion size looks like"

Once you know what a portion size looks like then you can cope better with eating out situations.

I use my scale to weigh ingredients the first time or two so I know how much to pour, measure or grab for future meals. Then I just eyeball it.

thanks everyone. Well, that was my entire email to her, guess I should have included what I said to her. I wanted to know should I be weighing my food because I'm not sure how much protein I'm getting at each meal, I'm just guessing, with the exception of cottage cheese, I'm mainly talking meats. I am going by the portion size of the palm of my hand and my hands are small. For instance if me and my mom go out to eat at the Cracker Barrel I will get the kids menu grilled chicken tenders and there are three small ones and I can eat all of those but not all the veggie that I get. The chicken tenders are like 1 1/2" long or 2" long and sometimes one in there may be 3" long but for the most part they are small. anyhoo, thank you all for your input.

I read her message is 2-4 oz of protient from meats the rest just comes in with other foods. I have a scale and use it for meats other wise I go by potion size on the cartin and decied if I want half or a full amount.. tracking for me is more important.

I have never weighed or measured my food, thats too much work. I go strictly portion size. I use smaller plates and utensils.

I have never weighed or measured my food, thats too much work. I go strictly portion size. I use smaller plates and utensils.

I have never weighed or measured my food, thats too much work. I go strictly portion size. I use smaller plates and utensils.

so for example what is your portion size? I was given one, one hr session with my nutritionist before surgery and no paperwork after. My surgeon says one cup of food or eat on small plates which I do eat on small plates.

A 4 oz piece of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. My dietitian gave me a sheet with the portion sizes all compared to normal everyday items like that. I so wish I could find it. It really helped me.

thanks