How often do you weigh yourself? - Weight Loss Message Board

Teressa64 · 05-20-2003, 07:14 AM

I am currently undertaking a healthy eating program, and am aware you are suppose to weigh yourselves once a week at the same time etc. However I have just bought some electronic scales which are suppose to weigh the same as weight watchers one's. Now I am fearful that I am always going to be on them. Does anyone else have this problem and does your weight change a lot if you weight yourselves once a day?

DonutsNCoffee · 05-20-2003, 07:59 AM

I generally weigh myself first thing every morning right after using the bathroom. The problem I had with weighing myself once a week was that if I was doing something wrong, I wouldn't know it until I weighed myself which would be as much 7 days later. By weighing myself everyday, I can see if I'm doing something wrong and make changes immediately. If you weigh yourself daily, then you just need to be consistent about when you get on the scale because your weight will fluctuate a lot throughout the day. That's why first thing in the morning is ideal. It's been over 8 hours since you last ate, you just went to the bathroom, and you sweated off some fat while you slept. I also saw a study about people who lost weight and kept it off for 5 years. One thing they all had in common was that they weighed themselves daily.

Lindarella · 05-20-2003, 08:02 AM

I weigh myself once a day. It's been my experience during my weightloss journey that my weight can fluctuate as much as 3 pounds in any given day. I weight myself in the morning, when I first get up, naked. This has given me a pretty good idea of what is going on. During and right before "that time of the month" I generally gain 2 pounds. So if you find yourself gaining during that time, don't get discouraged.

I wouldn't advise weighing yourself many times a day. Most people gain weight as the day progresses. I do think that once a day is perfectly fine.

Edit to add after reading Donuts post: I agree with Donuts that it's nice to know on a daily basis when you're screwing up so that you can change your plan. The only problem I can see with weighing daily is that some people, when they see no change after dieting an entire day, get discouraged. If you're that type of person it may be better to only weigh every 3-4 days or once a week. When I finally got close to my goal, I was only losing 2 pounds a month and sometimes it did get discouraging not to see any change on the scale after 2 weeks of dieting.

[This message has been edited by Lindarella (edited 05-20-2003).]

jorpey'smom · 05-20-2003, 08:38 AM

I agree with you both! I do get discouraged because I have been at the same weight for a while, but I have lost inches. I have kicked up my exercise, so I am hoping it will help! I try to weigh every 3 days. Good Luck to everyone!

Figurehead · 05-20-2003, 11:58 AM

Well, I guess I am a bit obsessive. I have a new body fat scale and I weigh myself in the a.m., in the afternoon, and at night. At night I average the weight totals for my daily weight, and then I check my body fat percentage.

I like to see the results every day.