How often do you weigh yourself?

[norajane]

So I weighed myself this morning and I lost a pound overnight. I think that as long as the scale doesn't keep going up (which it has in the past!) I will be okay. I definately don't want to turn obsessive about the whole thing, Im trying to keep in mind that there will be some flunctuation.

 

It is a little curious/frustrating though when you've watched your diet for a day and worked out hard to gain 2 pounds!

 

That's actually one reason why weighing yourself frequently is counter-productive.

 

Watching your diet for a day and working out hard that day isn't going to really do much. Consider that a pound = 3500 calories. Even if you starved yourself and ate nothing that day, there's no way you would lose a pound in a day because you probably normally do not eat 3500 calories a day. Weight loss is more gradual than that.

 

And so is weight gain! You didn't gain 2 pounds overnight because you didn't eat 7000 extra calories yesterday! It's water weight, water retention, might depend on your salt intake or the time of the month.

 

And muscle is heavier than fat, so if you work out consistently for a while, you might be losing fat and gaining muscle but the scale won't show any or much difference. Your tape measure might because muscle is more compact than fat, so you'd notice that your body is smaller before you'd notice you lost weight.

 

So, why frustrate yourself over a couple of pounds of fluctuation? That frustration might lead you to give up on your work-out/eating better because you think you aren't making any difference.

[kiss_andmakeup]

So, do you see ANY kind of weight fluctuation (up a pound, down a pound) from weighing yourself everyday?

 

Sure, every now and then it changes a little, I think that's totally normal. No reason to beat yourself up over a couple of pounds...and depending on the time of the month it is, you could be bloated/retaining water etc...

 

My morning weight is usually around 113 with my evening weight around 116....the morning weight fluctuates every once in a while but not as much as my evening weight, which is why I keep track of the morning one.

[norajane]

Since I turned 40, my weight hasn't changed a lot. I find I have to work out much harder and eat much less in order to maintain a weight of under 130. I like to keep watch over it, so I don't go over 130.

 

This. Drives me insane! 40 may be the new 30, but our bodies need to get with the program!

 

It really is harder to maintain the weight and size you want to be the older you get. And I love food, so that really sucks.

[TheLoneSock]

Usually once a day, as I'm in a bulking phase of physical training.

[girlygirl25]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I'm definately not beating myself up over it, I realize it's water weight also, I didn't gain/lose 2 pounds of fat in one day. I basically flutuate between a couple pounds which is okay.

 

I have just learned that weighing myself daily/almost daily is the only way I can stop from gaining weight more.

[In_Repair]

I have to go see my doctor every 4 to 6 weeks, and I really only pay attention to that weighing. It's funny because I can cut or bulk rather quickly, so the numbers in my chart are all over the place.

 

I do also weigh myself every week on my own scales, but it's just to compare with the previous weeks numbers. When someone asks what I weigh, I tell them the last number I got from my doc.

[sb129]

I don't get frustrated by small fluctuations from weighing myself most days, but it gives me motivation and a reminder to keep going on this fricking diet when I can see how I am doing.

 

My diet is pretty healthy anyway, but I will definitely think twice about treats now, and I needed to get back into that mindset as when I was pregnant and breastfeeding I indulged every craving, and just assumed I would lose the weight- I didn't, I had to work at it!

[threebyfate]

Soda pop, junk food, high sodium products, prepackaged foods are all anathemas to weight loss. As well, if you intake more than you burn, you're going to gain weight or will be unable to maintain weight.

 

The more you cook good foods and eat raw veggies and fruits, the more your body will thank you.

[sb129]

I agree- am not a fan of processed/ pre made food- I have found that it just leaves you feeling unsatisfied and unhealthy.

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately?!) H and I are both mega- foodies and love to cook and bake and match wine to go with our creations. A fun day out for us is to go to an artisan food market and source local produce etc to take home and cook for our friends.

 

So for me the weight loss has been all about portion control, limiting drinking wine to the weekends and not snacking/ picking, as well as balancing out those treats with decent exercise. thats why WW has been so good to track it all and to realise that if you want to eat chocolate, a walk around the block is not enough to burn it off- you have to RUN, twice!

 

Have now discovered a new potential pitfall though- Wonderbaby is now eating solid food, and I have a freezer full of homemade baby friendly casseroles and snacks. I can see how people fall into the trap of finishing off their kids leftovers as I hate throwing food away, esp stuff I have put so much effort into making!

 

Luckily the dog gets most of the scraps when they are thrown onto the floor...

[make me believe]

I think that weighing yourself daily is kinda pointless. It causes obsessive thoughts like "I gained one and a half pounds yesterday!! What did I eat??" and then you start thinking about what you ate and trying to pinpoint where that 1.5 pounds came from... but really it's just normal weight flucuations, or the time of day, or water weight, etc. I think once a week should suffice, so that's what I do. I don't want to be obsessing everyday "I weighed 122 yesterday and now I'm up to 123??!!" (and I probably would do that, so this is a measure of self-protection too! )

[Feelin Frisky]

I'm very touchy about scale fluctuations from one to the next so I only weigh myself at the doctor's office on the same scale every three months when he checks my blood work. I was type II diabetic but yesterday I finally cracked the A1C into official normal range. I'm down 45 lbs so far this year. Cholesterol 148, BP 96/68. I think I'm growing younger. Signed, Benjamin Button.

[threebyfate]

I agree- am not a fan of processed/ pre made food- I have found that it just leaves you feeling unsatisfied and unhealthy.

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately?!) H and I are both mega- foodies and love to cook and bake and match wine to go with our creations. A fun day out for us is to go to an artisan food market and source local produce etc to take home and cook for our friends.

 

So for me the weight loss has been all about portion control, limiting drinking wine to the weekends and not snacking/ picking, as well as balancing out those treats with decent exercise. thats why WW has been so good to track it all and to realise that if you want to eat chocolate, a walk around the block is not enough to burn it off- you have to RUN, twice!

 

Have now discovered a new potential pitfall though- Wonderbaby is now eating solid food, and I have a freezer full of homemade baby friendly casseroles and snacks. I can see how people fall into the trap of finishing off their kids leftovers as I hate throwing food away, esp stuff I have put so much effort into making!

 

Luckily the dog gets most of the scraps when they are thrown onto the floor...

I totally get where you're coming from. H and I both love good food and while pregnant, we ate more meat than normal. Now that I'm no longer pregnant, my meat intake is back down to what it was prior to pregnancy. When people get themselves accustomed to eating healthy foods, IMO, it's best to listen to what your body's telling you.

[SadandConfusedWA]

I weigh myself at least once a day. The problem with not weighing myself is that once I went for a couple of months without the scale and gained 20lbs.

 

This way, if I see that I have gained 2lbs I am onto it and work harder to lose it (even if it turns out to be water weight, it doesn't hurt to be careful).

 

My downfall are sweets, my mum is the same as me. I can't go a day without having a piece of cake or a chocolate bar or 2. I don't like other processed foods anyway, and apart from sweets eat reasonably healthy, rarely drink alcohol and when I do it's a glass of wine or 2. Greasy, junk food (like fries, all kinds of chips, fried chicken etc) makes me sick.

 

My gradnmother was a diabetic so eating tons of sugar is not a good idea for me. Still, I went for a check up a month ago and my doc did a detailed glucose tolerance test (they give you a really sweet drink and then take your blood every 30mins to see how your body reacts to sugar). My test was perfectly normal. Doc joked that my body seems to love sugar and that I can just keep eating it as much as I want This is not helping my resolve!

Edited June 30, 2010 by SadandConfusedWA

[allina]

 

So for me the weight loss has been all about portion control, limiting drinking wine to the weekends

 

Me to sb, definitely me too. I eat pretty healthy, I like real, whole food, I just like a lot of it I never eat crap like fast food or packaged dinners, but I still have to watch the amount of food I consume.

 

For weighing myself, I used to mainly focus on how my clothes fit and weigh myself every few months. Now, with my wedding 2 months away I'm weighing myself weekly. I feel a lot of pressure to be thin on my wedding day so I'm more careful.

[sb129]

Allina, you are going to be the most gorgeous bride.

 

I lost weight in the week before the wedding just from stress!

[allina]

Allina, you are going to be the most gorgeous bride.

 

I lost weight in the week before the wedding just from stress!

 

Thanks sb You were a stunning bride yourself. I'm sorry to hear you were so stressed.

[just_some_guy]

Nearly every day.

 

But I don't freak out over it, I'm looking for a trend, not a number. My weight can range up and down 2-3 pounds in the same day. But I keep note of the highest and lowest numbers I see and figure my weight is in between. The trend is what is important.

[girlygirl25]

I weigh myself at least once a day. The problem with not weighing myself is that once I went for a couple of months without the scale and gained 20lbs.

 

This way, if I see that I have gained 2lbs I am onto it and work harder to lose it (even if it turns out to be water weight, it doesn't hurt to be careful).

 

Oh my gosh, me too!!! Weighing myself daily also gives me motivation to work out because I know that I need to do well in my "morning weigh-in."

[reservoirdog1]

In the last 6-7 weeks I've been exercising a lot, seeing a trainer who kicks my ass, and eating healthy. I've cut out beer and fried foods, drastically lowered my consumption of meat and starches, and have been eating healthy snacks during the day. When I need a drink, I usually drink water.

 

Weighed myself the other day, and was momentarily surprised that I haven't lost weight. However, then I remembered that my gut is smaller, my pants need to be taken in, and people have commented that I'm looking a lot better. The only explanation for the weight thing is that I've traded some fat for muscle.

 

So, weight's suddenly a lot less relevant to me. I can't really picture stepping on a scale these days and getting much useful information.