How often do you weigh?

thewindandthework

I just started MFP yesterday, and weighed myself for the first time in about three years. I weighed about 20 pounds less than I expected, which was a nice surprise, but I still have a long way to go.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic about food and exercise, but I'm not sure how often I should weigh myself. I don't want to obsess over the pounds, but I do want to keep track and stay motivated.

What would you recommend? How often do you weigh yourself?

CafeRacer808

Do what works for you. I'm a data person, so I like to weigh myself daily. I use a weight trending app to track my daily weigh-ins and use the trend line the app generates to monitor my progress.

Doing this has really helped me see weigh-ins as data collection, not something that I need to be emotionally attached to.

Also, seeing my daily weight fluctuations is a good reminder that our weight is never static, which also helps with the whole emotional attachment thing.

malibu927

However often you're comfortable with. It's more important that you do it in a consistent setting (same time, room, clothing worn, etc...most will do it first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom and before eating/drinking anything).

Just remember that you WILL see your weight fluctuate up and down if you weigh yourself more often. It's completely normal and not worth fretting about unless you start to see a consistently upward motion. If you choose to weigh daily, a weight tracking app will help you see the overall trend.

Ninkyou

malibu927 wrote: »

However often you're comfortable with. It's more important that you do it in a consistent setting (same time, room, clothing worn, etc...most will do it first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom and before eating/drinking anything).

Just remember that you WILL see your weight fluctuate up and down if you weigh yourself more often. It's completely normal and not worth fretting about unless you start to see a consistently upward motion. If you choose to weigh daily, a weight tracking app will help you see the overall trend.

This.

EatingAndKnitting

I like seeing the daily changes, up or down, so I weigh daily and use a trend app on my phone (Libra - Android, I hear Happy Scale is the one to use on an iPhone) to see the trend. I don't have a regular schedule, so I don't do it at the same time every day. Just after I get up and go to the bathroom, wearing the same clothes.

When I did Weight Watchers I would weigh in weekly, and be disappointed if I didn't lose anything that week, when there could be lots of reasons why the sale wasn't different. Daily is just better for me, even if I go up. It felt like more pressure when I weighed weekly, plus with WW I was paying for it, so I wanted to get my monies worth!

There nothing that says that you have to do one way or the other forever. Try weekly, or monthly, or daily. If you don't like it, change it. You're in this for the long haul, right?

MelodyMomof2

I weigh once a week. I don't have a scale at home, and I don't want one. I think I would tend to weigh way too often. Once in a while I won't see a loss, but generally I do. Usually if I don't, when I weigh next week I loose more than I normally would in a week. I am to the point that my weight doesn't scare me anymore. I went 10 years without getting on a scale. Now it's just a number. If I ever gain, it will just be one weeks worth and I know I can loose it fast.

KosmosKitten

I used to weigh once a week, but I felt like it wasn't making me accountable enough, so I upped it to three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). I find that if I do this, it keeps me accountable on the weekends (which are tough for me because of the family being around and the fact that I usually don't exercise then).

But in the end, do what you believe works for you. Some people get by just fine with once a week, some of us need more. Just remember the number isn't the only thing that matters. Your health improvements and measurements can go a long way to determining how you are doing, too.

estherdragonbat

I'll get on the scale several times a week, but the only time that counts is first thing Sunday morning, before breakfast, after using the bathroom. Everything else is just to give me an idea of how my week is going so far.

Motherofship

The scale can be your enemy if you put too much stock in it!

In the beginning, the number isn't very important except as a record of where you start. You want to look for the general trend after, say, a month. Far too often, I and others fall into the despair of not seeing results "soon enough"; as in:

"oh, it's been three days since I started eating kale and I haven't lost 12 pounds? Must not be working"--and then I just give up since obviously the kale isn't working. Vegetables are toxic, after all

xmichaelyx

I'm usually either trying to gain weight, or trying to lose it. Right now I'm losing, so I weigh pretty much every day, but the only time it matters is Friday morning after I step out of the shower. That's the number I write on the white board in my home gym.

Motherofship

I like the replies I'm seeing here about weighing multiple times but only as a guideline, and only one of those weigh ins counting officially towards your progress.

Also, the rest of my comment seems to have been cut off, but I mentioned that measurements are important. If you haven't already, measure yourself, especially chest, waist, hips, legs, arms. (I also do wrists, calves, ankles, stomach, neck). Seeing the inches drop is always more exciting for me than the scale!

3rdof7sisters

Daily, first thing in the morning, but record it on Mondays only.

vaman

Once a week, Monday morning, more often and the normal fluctuations will drive me crazy.

SusanMFindlay

vaman wrote: »

Once a week, Monday morning, more often and the normal fluctuations will drive me crazy.

I'm the opposite. I weight daily so that I can be numb to the fluctuations. If I only weighed once a week, that day's weight would feel "more important" to me.

Puppy_love_81

I weigh myself once a week.:)

lulalacroix

I weigh daily and track my trend on the Libra app.

Chunkahlunkah

When I'm losing weight, I weigh pretty much daily. I view it like CafeRacer as data collection.

This really is a personal choice though, finding the way that best keeps you informed and accountable, but is also compatible with your emotions so it works to motivate rather than frustrate you.

youdoyou2016

Of course, it's completely up to you and what you think will serve you. I weigh myself every day. I like to see the data over time.

If you're just starting out, I'd also recommend taking photos of yourself and measurements of many areas: in addition to the obvious places (waist, hips, etc), measure your wrists, neck, forearm, etc.

You'll be surprised when the scale doesn't move or even goes up how you'll have lost inches someplace.

This is just how I think, though. But I like seeing the big picture and how recording all sorts of things helps me appreciate my progress.

clags301

Every morning. As a result, I truly understand my body's fluctuations.

success313

I weigh daily to see the fluctuations and record it on HappyScale and then once a week on here. I like to see the daily trend and how different foods/meals/circumstances affect my weight.

Christine_72

Every 3 or so days. I weighed everyday for the first 2 years, but it started getting on my nerves! I use Trendweight, so i have to keep my weigh in's somewhat regular.