To anyone who measures food-do you measure by weight (scale) or volume? And when you go out to eat how do you measure?

O, one more, are you eating 3 meals a day and no snacks?

Im a calorie counter. So for instance, if I'm eating canned chili I will measure by the cup to ensure I'm not overeating calories. However, I always make sure it's not more than 1 cup of food. But when I cook chicken for instance, or add almonds to my oatmeal, these are weighed to get the right # of calories I'm targeting.

When I was first banded, I cooked and measured alot. It was a great foundation to learn what I was putting in my body, it gave me complete control over my food/volume etc. And most importantly, I learned how to 'eyeball' my food and understand what my portion size should be. This allows me to go to a restaurant and eat under 1 cup or know how many cals (estimate) I was eating.

A good rule of thumb for the restaurant though is eat a portion smaller than your first. Eat your Protein first, veggies next, carbs like potatos/rice/pasta (if you still eat those) last.

Oh another good idea...when I go to restaurants I always use my phone to lookup their dietary menu. It lists the calories for all their meals. This allows me to predetermine what I'll eat and I eat guilt free. Than all I have to do is focus on portions rather than calories/portion etc. Restaurant menus are deceiving, what 'sounds' healthy typically is not!!!

And to answer your last q..when I started I was strict 3 meals. Than slowly I added Snacks. I continued to lose and than stalled out. So now I am back to 3 meals because I think I was over snacking lol.

I measure and doctor told me even chicken cut up and put in a one cup measureing cup to be sure but I weight it and have 4 oz of meat and 1/4 c of veggie and that does it for me when I am being good. I eat every 4 hours hungary or not that way I don't get very hungery and just grab something. I also make home made chicken veggie soup so if I get extra hungey I can have that and its very little cals. and drink drink drink

Thanks ladies!!

Part of our portion control is to limit the risks to stretching our pouch. That alone made me realize the importance of volume measure rather and measure by weight.

All physicians are a little different in their approach to treating their patients. I was advised that I did not have to count calories. What was more important was to make wise choices for my meals and stay with right size portions.

Others mileage may vary...

My NUT and doc told me to measure by volume whenever possible. The reason is because the idea is to keep portions to a size not to stretch the stomach above the band. So, whenever possible I use a measuring cup rather than a scale. I was told to keep all meals to a cup or less of food.

Though I do measure as instructed, I also strictly count calories too. I've seen too often people eat smaller portions yet don't lose weight despite it. More often than not, it's because they're still eating way too many calories. Smaller portions doesn't necessary mean less calories. So, I choose to track my calories and measure my portions so I can be sure.

hub and myself prepare my foods 95% of the time (measured and weighed out) protein 4 oz, veggies 3 to 4 oz and some fruit 2 to 3 oz.....not all ate when i do eat.....as the band lets me know when enough is enough.....that being said, i choose not to eat certain things so i know that the foods i eat are considered in the calorie counting process (high fat/cals etc)...3500 is a pound.....if i eat more cals then i can burn off, i will gain.....i make sure i am well under that every day.....i eat when i am truly hungry.....protein first (that is my fuel) veggies and later on fruit......eating out, we dont do much but i just eyeball it and try not to fester so much.....again, the band controls what i input ........do what works for you.