Since I’m only losing 20ish lbs at 0.5 lbs a week, I have decided to take measurements as a way to track progress because scale fluctuations drive me crazy. Honestly I have no idea how often to do that though! What have you guys done to track progress and how often should I take measurements?
xxzenabxx
Member Posts: 803 Member
Member Posts: 803 Member
Replies
There are different ways you can take your measurements:
1) Scales - this shouldnt be the 'final say' on how your progress is going. This should just assist you because as you stated, it fluctuates for many many reasons and none of them ever mean you've put on fat weight. Step on the scales maybe once a week/fortnight to see the results but please dont be upset if it hasnt gone the way you wanted it to - just keep going! Only after 3-4 weeks of a standstill you may need to make SMALL adjjustments, but its nothing to be worried about
2) Progress pics - Taking pics of yourself once a week/fortnight and then looking back on them to see the stages you've been through will help you loads.
3) How your clothes fit - Take note of some of the clothes you wear and how they fit you better, or even become loose on you.
4) Please remember that the points 1-3 take time, you may see a sudden change initially, and then you may have a small phase where you wont see as much change, but what keeps me motivated is by taking it a day at a time - exercise will generally lift your mood, as will a good diet and nutrition, so remember that these small daily wins are also ones to celebrate!!
I hope this helps, feel free to connect and I can help/assist more if needed
All the best!!
Hey thank you for the response. I don’t know if I didn’t word it correctly but I was asking about using a measuring tape, hence the word measure? So how often should I take measurements using a measuring tape? I’m already using a trending app but it’s not useful because of weight fluctuations it’s telling me I’m gaining weight (due to pms week).
Weekly or even monthly measurements would be adequate as most of these numbers will not change much day to day. Nothing more rewarding than knowing your waist is now 1 inch less than it was a month ago yet the scale didn't show any change
I have never really got into the body fat % measurements (using calipers or bioelectrical impedance scales) maybe someone has experience with these.
Thanks for the tip, I never thought of that. Come to think of it I always gain 1 inch around my waist before my period so it makes sense to do it once per cycle and the same time.
That’s exactly what happens to me. Sometimes the scale won’t move for 2 months 😳 so I’m just going to stick to measuring myself, daily weigh ins and clothes like a pair of jeans because my butt and thighs are my where I gain the most weight.
Technically the answer is as much as you want. One idea is to do it at the begging, middle, and end of the month. Although I doubt the body would have major changes in a month so maybe just at the beginning and the end?
If something is demotivating for you, then don’t do it.
For me: I weigh myself every morning, but I only record the first weekend of the month. When I record, I record weight, waist, hips, thigh, upper arm, forearm and wrist and body fat percentage. I use health status.com body fat percentage calculator, which return 4 body fat percentages using different algorithms + my scale body fat and average the 5.
This is what works for me.
typically i weigh daily and log it weekly, but for this month and placed that on hold and am not weighing until the 1st. Why? no reason, in particular. Other than to (hopefully) see a bigger jump on the scale instead of increments LOL