Weighing yourself!?.
cieradowning
Posts: 10 Member
Hello everyone!!!!. yesterday I was told I've been losing weight, and it's a large amount according to the people that talked to me, I was so happy because I haven't stepped on a scale yet. I was wondering how often you should you weigh yourself???. I'm so excited to hear that people are noticing I'm losing weight and I do see it myself but the scale is my hardest judge im worried it'll give me a number im not happy with even though I'm so happy with myself and the changes I've made in my life. I do feel a big difference... Just worried the scale will set me mentally back rather than push me forward.. Word of advice anyone. Thank you!!!!.
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Replies
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You know, I started MFP in August feeling a lot like you and over the course of about a month I changed a complete 180 direction. Why would I not want to know? Why is one number 'good' and another number 'bad' if my physical weight is constantly fluctuating? I realized I was getting in my own way by reacting emotionally to data that should just make me mildly curious at worst. So I got an aria and I've weighed every day since. I don't say any single daily weight is my weight; I use the average weekly weight Aria calculates for me. I see the trend go down 1-2 lbs each week this way without any stress, unless I'm doing maintenance for a trip or something. I'm done being emotional about little numeric 'snapshots' of all my various weights. I've had a complete change of heart. And the first day I see some new lowest weight yet? Woot woot! Happy dance, even if it disappears. I know pretty soon it will be the boring old weight I can't wait to get rid of! LOL0
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The national weight registry that looks over the habits of people who have lost weight AND kept it off for 5+ years shows that successful weight losers weigh themselves frequently. The data says: weigh. I just got kicked back in gear and I am choosing not to weigh until January 15- This may be silly but I know I don't want to see the number right now, and I know I can get those first couple pounds off without the scale. I'm worried that if I get on the scale now, I'll find it discouraging, even though I'm feeling great. Once I'm a bit more back in gear, I do intend to use the scale quite regularly.
So I suppose we're all different on this one, and you have to listen to yourself, though the data is fairly clear.0 -
If the scales are upsetting to you, then by all means don't. Go by your measurements and how your clothes fit.0
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If you are happy with your progress, the scale is irrelevant. I weigh daily, but fluctuations don't bother me. You don't have to weigh at all, if you don't want. Set a size goal and just aim for that. Scale weight is not the best measurement of success.0
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nutmegoreo wrote: »If you are happy with your progress, the scale is irrelevant. I weigh daily, but fluctuations don't bother me. You don't have to weigh at all, if you don't want. Set a size goal and just aim for that. Scale weight is not the best measurement of success.
I agree with this. I have had to learn that the scale is not the best way to measure success for me. I still weigh myself, but I promise myself I won't let the numbers get to me if they're disappointing. Instead I go by measurements and how my clothes fit and how I feel - those things are all more important than a number that simply displays your relationship to gravity.
I think it's a good idea for everyone to keep track of their weight, but if you think you wouldn't be able to mentally shake it off, it's definitely not something you have to do. I weigh myself twice a week so I can see the little weekly fluctuations and also look at the bigger picture over the long term.0 -
Thank you guys!. All meant a lot. I do plan on eventually weighing myself I think I just need to build more confidence in myself and remember that it's just a number despite how I may feel. I've notice a difference in my clothes and just looking in the mirror I'm so proud of the progress I've made in a little over a month but I know I need to buck up and just man handle the scale. Even if I'm weighing once a month, it's a start lol.0
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cieradowning wrote: »I was wondering how often you should you weigh yourself???.
As often as you feel necessary. There are literally a bazillion threads about this0 -
cieradowning wrote: »Thank you guys!. All meant a lot. I do plan on eventually weighing myself I think I just need to build more confidence in myself and remember that it's just a number despite how I may feel. I've notice a difference in my clothes and just looking in the mirror I'm so proud of the progress I've made in a little over a month but I know I need to buck up and just man handle the scale. Even if I'm weighing once a month, it's a start lol.
I weigh myself daily, some days it stays the same, some it goes up and most it goes down. The way I see it is that my total weight loss keeps getting larger, so progress is measurable,but weight is just part of it. I set small goals, so the total is less intimidating. I also measure myself and compare how much more I can do and the strength I have gained. Measuring progress is useful in encouraging oneself, and also being able to determine if small changes are needed (such as changing calories or workouts, etc).
At first, I would say 10 lbs lost was a great start, then 20 lbs was great consistency, then 30 lbs was proof of new lifestyle change and great progress, etc... When I lost 40 lbs, a friend told me to go buy 40 of something! So I did! I bought 40 Quest protein bars! I have lost 70lbs so far. My remaining 55lbs feel achievable, not intimidating like the 125 did when I started!
Keep it up and be encouraged.0 -
I weigh weekly. Every sunday evening. IMO that is often enough to keep track of things.0
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Weekly. Unless I feel bloated, then I wait for that to go away first lol.0
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I usually weigh twice a week, and I use the scale at the gym because mine at home is so stupid. And by "stupid" I don't mean that it tells me stuff I don't want to hear; it just won't move at all until a pound or more has been lost so I don't get incremental encouragement for a week or more, and it also runs two pounds "heavy" compared to both the gym scale and the WW scale when I was on WW. I might as well drop the thing off at Goodwill.0
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Every morning. Metrics are good.
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I think it's a personal choice. I lose more weight weighing twice a day.0
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My scale infuriates me most days. But on the days that it says that I've lost weight, I love it. I weigh myself every morning and I am learning to accept whatever it says. I don't have a lot to lose and I'm not trying to lose it quickly but I'm still surprised when the scale shows me that that's exactly what's happening.0
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At the gym they have a digital scale that's pretty accurate.Saves me buying one.
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I am in a small group here in Italy and we weigh ourselves once a week together for accountability and will be taking measurements once a month. We started this 3 weeks ago...I did not put the data in MFP yet. The scale we use...my friend who is a physical therapist has this expensive scale....it tells us not only overall weight but water, bone and fat. the first two weeks i lost "weight" but fat and water were almost the same...last week I did not lose much (0.2 lbs) but I lost FAT!!! It is really a positive feedback! It kept me from getting discouraged as I had done some big hikes and walks.
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I used to be pretty scared of the scale to be honest (especially after a binge) and it'd often send me into a panic and a period of restriction that just led to another binge and.. well you get the picture. I bought a fitbit aria recently and I've been weighing myself each morning and whenever I feel like it (after a workout etc etc). The more I weigh myself the less emotionally triggered I've become each time. I still take measurements frequently because I find them and the fit of my clothes to be more important now that I'm in maintenance but looking to reduce my BF%. Weighing myself more often is allowing me to release the fear of the scales and accept fluctuations as normal and not frightening. I can also start to see hormonal trends which has been helpful so that I don't freak out each time I gain 5+lbs water weight before my cycle. I'm glad that I did weigh and measure myself in the past when I didn't want to because the data is interesting and looking at graphs over several years is like a big pat on the back and a motivational factor to stay healthy and fit.0
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I used to weigh myself once a year if that. I never owned a scale either. For 15 years my weight fluctuated very little considering how large I was...for example 267, 271, 259, 264...it was like that for well over a decade. I knew I sometimes had a tighter fit in clothes when I'd gone up in weight, or a better time looking at photos of myself when my weight had gone down...but I pretty much knew I was around those weights. Then suddenly, with a slight jump in clothing sizes, I didn't weigh myself for about a year and then realized I had actually gone over 300 lb with a new sedentary job and more stress-eating. YIKES.
So anyway...yeah, the 307 weigh-in scared me...I got serious with eating better and exercise - and lost a little weight but then found myself back in that 260-275 cycle for a couple more years and rarely weighed. It depressed me to actually see those large numbers on the scale so I just avoided it, and felt pretty happy I'd at least gotten back to my status quo.
Then I bought a scale and joined MFP on the same day. I decided to give it a serious try because one of my online friends (from somewhere else) lost 100 lb using this site. I weighed 262 on that day and I then proceeded to weigh myself every single day despite what others advised (weekly, monthly, etc).
Now I've been in sort-of-maintenance and not always the best at logging, for about a year. I hover in the 160s and low 170s but I still weigh every few days at least. I find that when I seriously wanna get my weight down, weighing daily helps me dramatically. It also shows me a lot of trends like which restaurant foods will cause me to balloon up with sodium (most Chinese and Mexican) and which don't (Thai, surprisingly most independent restaurants' pizza, seafood). I've learned what to expect. This helped me a lot especially during the 2 years when I was actively losing. Even with over 100 lb lost, I never lost more than 2.5 lb in a week, and I also identified the "whoosh" of weight loss in trends that fall in line with my menstrual cycle.
Mileage may vary but for me weighing daily was awesome to see tiny trends and stay on track. I stopped fearing the numbers and over time for me it was VERY motivational. I remember hitting the 190s and being amazed (since I'd weighed over 200 since my teens).0 -
Thank you guys seriously for all your in put, I decided that after the holidays I will get a scale but I want one to show me body fat vs muscles I think I will feel a lot better knowing I'm making some progress I played sports all my life so I know I have more muscle than some I think seeing it will give me a better understanding since muscle weighs more than fat. I've also slacked a little on my diet but with holidays it's also been extremely hard to stay on track with so much family in town. But thank you for your encouraging words!!!. I look forward to hearing more!.0
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I weigh myself daily and put it into the Happy Scales app on my iPhone. It shows me my moving average and if i'm actually losing. I find it helps me.0
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Every day when losing weight, never when gaining weight.
Honestly, I use the information as feedback for decision making and keeping myself honest. I also use a tape and calipers at least once a week and everything is recorded in a spreadsheet so I can't just make up numbers I have actual recordings. Even when the progress is slow I can see that the trend (the important information) is going in the direction I want. And no, weighing weekly won't guarantee that the number always goes down, which may even be harder on you mentally. I'm into day 10 of weighing 177.5 every morning, which really makes me want to blame the scale, but since this is the 3rd time this has happened I know that within a few days I'll see the scale drop 2lb and I'll be 175lb.0 -
cieradowning wrote: »Hello everyone!!!!. yesterday I was told I've been losing weight, and it's a large amount according to the people that talked to me, I was so happy because I haven't stepped on a scale yet. I was wondering how often you should you weigh yourself???. I'm so excited to hear that people are noticing I'm losing weight and I do see it myself but the scale is my hardest judge im worried it'll give me a number im not happy with even though I'm so happy with myself and the changes I've made in my life. I do feel a big difference... Just worried the scale will set me mentally back rather than push me forward.. Word of advice anyone. Thank you!!!!.
Hello
I weigh every day. This works for me. But that said i really only track my weight weekly.0 -
You know, I started MFP in August feeling a lot like you and over the course of about a month I changed a complete 180 direction. Why would I not want to know? Why is one number 'good' and another number 'bad' if my physical weight is constantly fluctuating? I realized I was getting in my own way by reacting emotionally to data that should just make me mildly curious at worst. So I got an aria and I've weighed every day since. I don't say any single daily weight is my weight; I use the average weekly weight Aria calculates for me. I see the trend go down 1-2 lbs each week this way without any stress, unless I'm doing maintenance for a trip or something. I'm done being emotional about little numeric 'snapshots' of all my various weights. I've had a complete change of heart. And the first day I see some new lowest weight yet? Woot woot! Happy dance, even if it disappears. I know pretty soon it will be the boring old weight I can't wait to get rid of! LOL
I also have an aria scale and love it. I feel the same as you about not viewing it as a "good" or "bad" number0
Plus I'm a numbers person. I find the numbers motivational
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