Amy over at www.diabetesmine.com posted recently about her new food scale.
This is something that has been around for a while, but I didn’t appreciate the concept then as I think I might now.
This type of scale comes with a database of foods. You put the food on the scale, punch in the code or look up the food, and it gives you (among other things) the total grams of carbohydrates.
One of the many major obstacles I fight with is the resistance to measure and count. I think it has something to do with getting all emotionally tied up around the so-called “serving size” and my desire to eat much more than that little amount. Or to eat in multiples so I can more easily calculate the carb grams.
Are you with me here?
With this type of scale, I would dish up what I want, punch in the code, and have an accurate count of the carbs. This gets me around the serving size mental roadblock, and gives me a very exact count. This is assuming the food I want is actually in the database.
One commenter, Jana, described actually being able to build a meal this way. Working the scale to “zero” out the previous items and adding the next.
I completely realize that this single item is not going to solve all of my food woes, but each helpful tool is a helpful tool right? I also realize that an accurate count of carb grams can help me match my insulin to those carbs, but it will not make the calories “go away”.
If anyone finds something that makes the calories just “go away” – please let me know.
Hey ChocoMilk,
I am jealous of your numbers, for sure! I hear you about eating boring same stuff all the time. I may need to try that…
btw, would you kindly open up comments on your blog to everyone (not just “Blogger” software users? Thanks!
All the best,
AmyT of http://www.diabetesmine.com
i’m too lazy to count so i’ve become weird and just eat the same foods all the time. i know everything in what i eat. makes life easier just VERY boring. oh well, rather that that horrible a1c’s and mean doctors shouting at me, and leg amputation….. :o(
Scott,
Not a scale response but a calorie response and for me starting on the pump has allowed me to eat when and how much I want causing significant weight gain.
Just yesterday after always avoiding bagels, because of high carbs and high calorie count, I found the perfect bolus to lead me to a 124 bgs two hours later. Ahhhh!!!!
I love my pump, but the ease of bolusing is allowing the increased calorie intake.
Type 1 for 40 years never measured or knew about carbs until 5 years ago.
Gobble, gobble.
Karen
What I’m thinking of installing is a scanning device in my hand, much like that thing at the supermarket that beeps when items pass over. I’ll scan my hand and the precise carb count will read out on my … fingertips, I suppose. And that will solve all of my carb counting woes and my blood sugar will be 111 mg/dl at all times.
… Damnit.
I think I need to buy a digital scale. 😉
I want one!
I have been using a digital scale for several years (not a famcy one like this) and was initially shocked by the difference in weight in foods that measure the same – say a cup of grapes, or a cup of strawberries, or a cup of dry cereal – all will weigh different each time, sometimes by a significant amount.
I certainly have periods when I don’t weigh or measure a thing – actually it is sort of collecting dust in the cupboard right now.
Gobble gobble gobble gobble……