What number to believe on scale!?!

mfpgal14

I usually like to weigh myself quite a lot but don't know what to believe?! In the mornings I weigh less and at night time I weigh more ? How does that work? What's my real weight?

lemonlionheart

Your 'real' weight fluctuates constantly, even when you are maintaining, according to how much food/fluid is in your system, water retention, etc. You weigh more at night because of the food you ate during the day that hasn't left your system yet. If you must weigh yourself a lot you need to get used to this, however if your diet program is working you should notice a downward trend over time. This is what daily weighing might look like over time (not mine, found on google):

nickwisp

Some times our weight can fluctuate , that is to go up and down on a daily basis - even though you are actually losing weight in the long term.
Try weighing yourself every 3 days , or even just once a week is better
It will be more accurate long term and you will feel better in yourself

blues4miles

The food and water in your stomach and intestines weighs something. That's the biggest difference. A half gallon of water weighs 3.5 lbs or so. In the morning you tend to be a little dehydrated and have been fasting for 8 hours. People tend to weigh first thing in the morning because it will be the most consistent but no individual weight is perfectly accurate.

runningalice

As long as its the same time, everyday in the same outfit it shouldn't matter which time you choose i weigh everyday but you need to realise weight fluctuates and so "gaining" 2lbs is not fat just water!

PAV8888

Weight yourself in the morning after using the bathroom before eating or drinking anything on the same scale at the same location wearing (or not) the same exact items. Plug the numbers into a weight trend program that will help you sort out your underlying weight trend from your daily water weight fluctuations.

Suggested:
Libra -- Android
Happy Scale -- Iphone
www.trendweight.com, which I use, either with a supported scale or in conjunction with a free www.fitbit.com account (available without a fitbit product, connect the two accounts, plug your weight into fitbit)
www.weightgrapher.com, either with a supported scale, a fitbit.com account as above, or manual data entry.

You won't go very wrong if you start thinking of your trending weight as your "true" weight.

Unknown

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kommodevaran

nickwisp wrote: »

Some times our weight can fluctuate, that is to go up and down on a daily basis - even though you are actually losing weight in the long term.
Try weighing yourself every 3 days, or even just once a week is better
It will be more accurate long term and you will feel better in yourself

This is so not true, I just have to comment.
Your weight always fluctuates, from day to day, that's not something you can or should control. As long as you are eating the appropriate amount of calories for your need, your weight will be right for you, and stay within a range.
Weighing every day is objectively superior to once a week. The more data points the better if you want accuracy. Subjectively, however, weighing less frequentliy can be better for those who for some reason freak out over these small and natural variations.
I am the opposite - I build up anxiety if I don't weigh every day; it's also easier to not care so much about what I eat and getting moving when I know that I won't have to "face" the scale tomorrow.
Maybe is daily weighing more important in maintenance, or maybe not - one day's water weight fluctuation can easily mask a whole week, or two weeks, of fat loss, making it look like you haven't lost any weight.
We have to do what is best for ourselves.

Maxematics

kommodevaran wrote: »

nickwisp wrote: »

Some times our weight can fluctuate, that is to go up and down on a daily basis - even though you are actually losing weight in the long term.
Try weighing yourself every 3 days, or even just once a week is better
It will be more accurate long term and you will feel better in yourself

This is so not true, I just have to comment.
Your weight always fluctuates, from day to day, that's not something you can or should control. As long as you are eating the appropriate amount of calories for your need, your weight will be right for you, and stay within a range.
Weighing every day is objectively superior to once a week. The more data points the better if you want accuracy. Subjectively, however, weighing less frequentliy can be better for those who for some reason freak out over these small and natural variations.
I am the opposite - I build up anxiety if I don't weigh every day; it's also easier to not care so much about what I eat and getting moving when I know that I won't have to "face" the scale tomorrow.
Maybe is daily weighing more important in maintenance, or maybe not - one day's water weight fluctuation can easily mask a whole week, or two weeks, of fat loss, making it look like you haven't lost any weight.
We have to do what is best for ourselves.

I'm in complete agreement with this. I remember when I first started losing weight again, before I started I stupidly believed all the myths that said I couldn't lose weight anymore because I'm in my thirties and my metabolism slowed down, you must cut out all sweets, etc. I read the forums a bit, started an exercise program, and started dropping weight. I became more secure about my weight loss; I dropped 15 pounds in almost two months. Then, there was one week where I didn't lose any weight. I was upset, panic set in, and I decided to hide the scale for a week. "What did I do wrong? Are my exercise burns overestimated even though my Fitbit has been consistent?" The next week I dropped three pounds. I was happy again, but I knew I had to reevaluate my approach to weight loss.

I read the forums even more. I read about how weight loss isn't linear and fluctuations happen. I knew about day to night fluctuations, but didn't really process that the scale won't always go down, especially as I got lighter. Now I look back and laugh at the way I used to think about the scale and progress. Daily weigh-ins and Trendweight helped me get a grip on my expectations and now I know exactly what to expect. "Oh, up three pounds overnight? Must be all that sodium in the large pizza I ate last night. It should be gone in two days." Two days later it's gone. I can usually look at myself in the mirror and be able to predict my weight by 0.2 pounds. I love numbers, data, and being able to know my body that well. If it weren't for that and becoming more educated on weight loss and fitness by MFP, I'd freak out about any scale increases/stalls and immediately cut calories which would be highly unnecessary.