How often do you weigh yourself?

weightliftinggirl
weightliftinggirl Posts: 45 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was wondering how often you weigh yourself? I weigh myself everyday (if not more than once a day) and have noticed that my weight fluctuates what seems like a lot. I started (re)tracking my weight again almost two weeks ago, and some days I am pounds lower than other days. How do I know if I actually lose weight, or if it's just fluctuating? Will I have to wait weeks and weeks to know if I have actually lost weight? 11 days ago I was 161.4, and today I am 158.8. A couple of days ago I weighed in at 157.8. I really haven't eaten a great deal more in the past couple of days, but it still says I gained a pound. I'm hoping I have actually lost weight and it not just being the fluctuation in body weight!

Would weighing myself once a week be more accurate if I have lost weight a lot? Am I just looking too much into something that is just going to fluctuate?

Thanks!!
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Replies

  • EsqDreams
    EsqDreams Posts: 8 Member
    Once a week, every Saturday morning. The scale hates me so I don't visit it any more than that! :tongue:
  • imzadi481
    imzadi481 Posts: 86 Member
    Our weight varies daily due to different factors (water retention being one of them). I weigh myself once a week, sometimes two, but no more than that. In the past 30 days, I have only seen losses.

    Maybe cutting back on how many times you weigh yourself would be less discouraging?
  • perfect_storm
    perfect_storm Posts: 326 Member
    I weigh myself every day too, but usually do not fluctuate and only record Sunday mornings result. The rest of the week is to keep me on track with my eating. How is your sodium content? You may have water fluctuating.
  • MrSeriousguy
    MrSeriousguy Posts: 8
    Best not to weigh yourself daily since your body does fluctuate. Anything can cause that; water, rotation of the earth, phase of the Moon, etc. It's nerve racking and your setting yourself up to fail. I personally go by a week or 2 week and 1 month weigh in. It helps to see where I am at with my workout schedule, eating habits, stress levels. With Realistic goals, your going to have setbacks but always know you can get back on track and weigh in again later.
  • dangerousdumpling
    dangerousdumpling Posts: 1,109 Member
    I don't weigh myself regularly anymore. If I sense that I may have lost weight I'll weigh myself but that might only happen every couple of weeks or so. As exercise and eating at a reasonable calorie deficit have become a habit I am less tied to constantly checking for results.
  • garber6th
    garber6th Posts: 1,890 Member
    I weigh myself every two weeks. If I do it any more than that, I get all crazy and scale obsessed.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Daily. BF %age, too. All goes into spreadsheet that tracks 5 and 7 day averages.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    I don't. I don't even own a scale anymore :ohwell:
  • weightliftinggirl
    weightliftinggirl Posts: 45 Member
    Okay, maybe I will start weighing myself less often, or at least just recording on Monday mornings! Hopefully that will help me!

    And I looked up my sodium intake and it greatly varies day to day, that probably has a lot to do with the fluctuating weight!

    Thank you!
  • brentalanrhodes
    brentalanrhodes Posts: 82 Member
    I weigh everyday and keep a journal of sorts. I think it's cool to see how different foods, water, exercise, sleep, etc. affect my weight.

    As far as knowing when you're losing or gaining, you'll see the numbers begin to "hover" in either a higher or lower range. I'm like you, I can fluctuate 5-10 lbs in a days time. It's crazy
  • xX_Samantha_Xx
    xX_Samantha_Xx Posts: 166 Member
    I weigh myself every day. I don't obsess over it, though. I know there are fluctuations because of water, etc. For me, I'm just curious. I don't NEED to weigh myself. I only count my morning weight as correct also. We generally weigh more at the end of the day. But I don't really see/expect to see loss except once a week. It depends what your expectations are as to why you are weighing yourself.
  • brentalanrhodes
    brentalanrhodes Posts: 82 Member
    I only count my morning weight as correct also.

    x2
  • DymonNdaRgh40
    DymonNdaRgh40 Posts: 661 Member
    Once a month.
  • Greywalk
    Greywalk Posts: 193 Member
    Once a week...recording but daily to as to feedback on activity and food.
  • MissVamp13
    MissVamp13 Posts: 53
    Hi :)
    I weigh every 11-14 days, as weighing daily got me too paranoid :/ When I feel like it i weigh weekly too
  • HeyGoRun
    HeyGoRun Posts: 550 Member
    I see weight loss results between the 28th and 10th of the months.. So i weigh more often during that period and take all i can get!
    When i dont weight I measure and take pics to see real progress!
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    Weekly.
  • jamgirl19777
    jamgirl19777 Posts: 17
    I weigh every morning, whenever the scale moves up i go back into my diary and its usually from drinking15 cups of water that day and high sodium level, and the next day the scale usually goes back down. monday's are usually my weigh days to add my loss to MFP.
  • AshelieGovea
    AshelieGovea Posts: 7 Member
    You are supposed to weigh yourself at the same time of day every time you weigh yourself. For instance: My job has a scale in the kitchen. I weigh myself first thing Monday mornings. That is supposed to be the most accurate method of keeping track of your weight. Your weight fluctuates during the day because you eat and workout and burn calories etc. You are also supposed to weigh yourself naked...I won't be doing that at work...
  • jenna808
    jenna808 Posts: 79 Member
    Typically once a week, Friday morning just to see where I'm at, but I don't rely on the scale as my only factor, I like to use how I feel and how my clothes fit instead. My weight fluctuates a lot from morning to night, so I would recommend that if you are going to weigh yourself often to do it at the same time of day under the same conditions, such as right away in the morning with nothing to eat or drink yet.
  • jaecamp1
    jaecamp1 Posts: 120 Member
    I only record once per week, on Monday to try to keep myself in check over the weekend. I do weigh everyday though, sometimes a couple times a day. For me, I do like to see how my weight fluctuates. If you are someone that gets freaked out or stressed out by it I wouldn't suggest doing it too often. It actually makes me feel a little better too because Monday's are usually my highest day (Thursdays my lowest) so I don't get too upset if I'm not showing a loss because scales do lie sometimes.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I was wondering how often you weigh yourself? I weigh myself everyday (if not more than once a day) and have noticed that my weight fluctuates what seems like a lot. I started (re)tracking my weight again almost two weeks ago, and some days I am pounds lower than other days. How do I know if I actually lose weight, or if it's just fluctuating? Will I have to wait weeks and weeks to know if I have actually lost weight? 11 days ago I was 161.4, and today I am 158.8. A couple of days ago I weighed in at 157.8. I really haven't eaten a great deal more in the past couple of days, but it still says I gained a pound. I'm hoping I have actually lost weight and it not just being the fluctuation in body weight!

    Would weighing myself once a week be more accurate if I have lost weight a lot? Am I just looking too much into something that is just going to fluctuate?

    Thanks!!

    I weigh once per day...more than that is ridiculous...as soon as you start eating and drinking, you're going to fluctuate all over the place. Food weighs something...liquids weigh something...it should be obvious that that would show up on the scale.

    I weigh once per day because I can better see trends over the course of the week and month. If you don't understand or can't handle the fact that your body weight will fluctuate NATURALLY a good 2-5 Lbs day to day then you shouldn't do this. I understand these fluctuations and like having the data points...but that's all they are to me...data points so I can view trends over longer periods of time.

    I'd also suggest that you really try to wrap your head around these as it's really going to be a ***** when you're at maintenance if you don't...you'll be one of those freak outs that goes crazy becaue they put 3 Lbs of water weight on over a weekend at maintenance and dive into a chronic state of diet and binge, diet and binge, diet and bing. Weight loss isn't linear due to these fluctuations and maintenance is most definitely not static.
  • davidlovy3
    davidlovy3 Posts: 18 Member
    I weigh myself every morning I get up after emptying my bladder (doctor's orders). I bought one of those old school professional scales with the slide weights. I found all of the bathroom type scales change readings by up to 5 pounds depending on where you stand on them, and the professional scale is very consistent. I also only track whole pounds, as fractions don't really matter to me at this time.
  • gnrshelton
    gnrshelton Posts: 358 Member
    I weigh every day same time in the morning. Yes weight can fluctuate. Time of month,water weight etc. BUT keeping that in mind I can keep myself in check if I see the weight creeping up higher than normal.
  • 257_Lag
    257_Lag Posts: 1,249 Member
    There's nothing wrong with weighing daily but I recommend charting it on something better than MFP so you can learn what's going on. There are a lot of free apps and websites out these for this purpose. Here's my chart...

    libra2.jpg
  • HideyoshiKinoshita
    HideyoshiKinoshita Posts: 46 Member
    Once a week every Thursday morning~
  • rabblerabble
    rabblerabble Posts: 471 Member
    Every morning, I get up, use the rest room, then step on the scale before consuming anything at all. I track each day along with my weekly minimum, maximum, and average on a spread sheet. As long as the weekly numbers constantly go down (haven't had a week where they've bounced back yet) then I don't fret when my daily numbers bounce up (which they do of course).
  • OrionsBell
    OrionsBell Posts: 19
    I don't. Well, I have now...to get started..and from now on, it will be once a week.
  • samammay
    samammay Posts: 468
    Every day, but I am a math geek and I like charts and numbers. Regardless of what the scale says I dont change anything about my workout or diet plan though. Line graphs make me happy. :)
  • davewilliamadams
    davewilliamadams Posts: 5
    I weigh myself once a week....on Sunday. I have friends who weigh themselves everyday and it works for them. I would rather weigh myself once a week.

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