How often should you weigh yourself

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Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I weigh every day. When I lost my weight I weighed every day. Sometimes twice a day. I liked having "data" and for me it made it easier to see the scale go up, since I knew what patterns to look for. I knew the day after sushi the scale would go up 1LB (sodium), I knew it would go up after a night of drinking. I knew it would go up 2 when I ovulated and 3 the days before my period. And then I knew it would go down 4ish the day after my period ended. Patterns. Knowing them meant fewer freak outs.

    That said, you decide what works for you. Some folks can't handle weighing daily.
  • Ejourneys
    Ejourneys Posts: 1,603 Member
    The scale is a tool, and fluctuations happen.
    I weigh myself daily and also graph the trends. Back in 2001-2002 I took a weekly average, which shows a much smoother weight loss than either daily or weekly weights. Here's what I mean:

    8058380998_ed08a62411_b.jpg

    Your best tools are patience and perseverance. Also, body measurements will give you info that often the scale does not.
  • victoriaalice39
    victoriaalice39 Posts: 22
    The scale is a motivation killer! I recommend that you weight yourself the (same day and time...preferably the morning) no more than once a week! Instead, use your clothes and mirror as a guide. It is also important to know that it will take you around a month before you notice any changes...

    This. This is perfect.
  • scottkjar
    scottkjar Posts: 346 Member
    I am going to have to be the contrarian here.

    I weigh myself about 20x each day. By doing so, I understand the effect of a glass of water, a sandwich, a good bm, a brisk walk, etc. Because I weigh myself so many times, I don't freak out when I eat the right number of calories and my weight goes up. I watched it go up right after I ate that sandwich, and then I watched it come down again when I peed. I watched it go up at supper, and I watched it come down overnight.

    By weighing myself all the time, I avoid the anxiety that OP has, because I understand what caused the weight to fluctuate. If I weighed myself weekly I would have absolutely no idea what to make of a rise in the scale. If I were up 2 pounds, I would then be as anxious as OP because I would not understand why I did everything right but saw no results. But now, by seeing all of the fluctuations, I understand the source of the fluctuations,so I am not bothered if the scale is up or down by a few pounds each day. I understand that it is normal.

    I understand that for most people, weighing all the time would make you more anxious, and weighing weekly makes you less anxious. But that is the exact opposite for me. I understand data, deviations from the mean, and regression analysis, so having more data, rather than less data, is helpful for me.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I simply live on a scale that records my weight in real time 100 times per second.
  • spacelump
    spacelump Posts: 233 Member
    For me, weighing in is my reality check when I've been dishonest with myself in terms of food tracking and such. I find myself doing so about 3-4 times a week. More as a means to maintain, at the very least, before catching myself another 3 lbs in the hole by the end of a week. It's what works for me, maybe it's not for everyone. Most suggest once a week.
  • HappinessFreedomForever
    HappinessFreedomForever Posts: 62 Member
    What scale do you use? Analog vs. Digital?
  • F00LofaT00K
    F00LofaT00K Posts: 688 Member
    Most people seem to advocate weekly, but I weigh myself daily and record all losses 1+Lbs on MFP. I notice patterns and I like watching them. I don't feel upset if the scale goes up or doesn't go down because I understand my weight will fluctuate throughout the weeks/days.
  • amandakev88
    amandakev88 Posts: 328 Member
    Your weight will fluctuate all during the day. I doubt you gained 2lbs in 1 day. Try weighing yourself once a week.

    This..... My weight will go up or down as much as 5 lbs. over the course of the day...... pick a day and make that day your weigh in once a week first thing in the morning......... Best of Luck

    yup. buck naked first thing in the morning after you peed
  • lynleeg88
    lynleeg88 Posts: 104 Member
    I change it.

    This time, because I want my focus to be healthy, then weight loss, I am leaning towards once a month. I've been a slave to the scale before. Never again.

    Before, once a week.
  • ptronis
    ptronis Posts: 5
    Thank you so much everyone for your help. You have no idea how appreciate I am for all of your advice ... Xoxo
  • seashell709
    seashell709 Posts: 123 Member
    i only weight myself once a week right now. I also only measure once a week at this time.
  • cathryn_robinson
    cathryn_robinson Posts: 7
    The scale can also mess with your head a little. If you are thinking about your weight constantly (and thus stressing and subsequently wanting to eat more emotionally) then weigh yourself monthly.

    :) I do

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