Scale obsession!

NS81
NS81 Posts: 192 Member
So, I know the recommended time frame to weigh yourself... I also know that retaining water, time of day etc effects the number on the scale... but I still find that I am obsessed with weighing myself each morning... I feel like it keeps me on track, and more alert to my daily choices...

How often do you weigh yourself?
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Replies

  • I do the same thing..lol
    However, it's my understanding that it's more of a mind game. Maybe we should try going every two days...then every three days then once a week like we're supposed to.
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    at least once, but sometimes several times a day, just for sh*tsngiggles.

    you just have to know that the number should be taken with a grain of salt, that it increases by a few pounds from morning to night, and any short term fluctuations are probably from water
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,271 MFP Moderator
    Every morning, in the buff after I've gone potty.

    The number jumps around quite a bit, so the only day I really pay attention to is my Thursday weigh in (no idea why Thursday - it's just the day I picked). If you weigh yourself often, just know that the number fluctuates. sometimes it fluctuates a LOT. Don't let it bother you. It isn't weight gain unless you really did eat 3500 calories OVER maintenance (per extra pound).

    Ranting, and I know you didn't ask about weight gain, OP. Just getting that out there for anyone who might come in complaining of gaining weight over night. :P
  • NS81
    NS81 Posts: 192 Member
    Every morning, in the buff after I've gone potty.

    The number jumps around quite a bit, so the only day I really pay attention to is my Thursday weigh in (no idea why Thursday - it's just the day I picked). If you weigh yourself often, just know that the number fluctuates. sometimes it fluctuates a LOT. Don't let it bother you. It isn't weight gain unless you really did eat 3500 calories OVER maintenance (per extra pound).

    Ranting, and I know you didn't ask about weight gain, OP. Just getting that out there for anyone who might come in complaining of gaining weight over night. :P

    Thanks everyone!

    I kind of do the same, I don't take it too personally if it's up a little, unless it's on Monday (the day I picked as my "official" weigh in day lol) I have noticed that it definitely fluctuates quite a bit!
  • notamoment
    notamoment Posts: 190 Member
    So, I know the recommended time frame to weigh yourself... I also know that retaining water, time of day etc effects the number on the scale... but I still find that I am obsessed with weighing myself each morning... I feel like it keeps me on track, and more alert to my daily choices...

    How often do you weigh yourself?

    Oh god.....uhm....every week? Maybe..
  • dietpepsi100
    dietpepsi100 Posts: 76 Member
    Once a week every Sunday morning right after I get up.
  • NS81
    NS81 Posts: 192 Member
    Once a week every Sunday morning right after I get up.

    Your profile pic is badass! I stalked your profile (creepy? Sorry! lol) Congrats on your hard work - so inspiring to see hard work pay off!
  • ninav1980
    ninav1980 Posts: 514 Member
    So, I know the recommended time frame to weigh yourself... I also know that retaining water, time of day etc effects the number on the scale... but I still find that I am obsessed with weighing myself each morning... I feel like it keeps me on track, and more alert to my daily choices...

    How often do you weigh yourself?

    Every single morning. But you have to be ok with seeing a small gain or no movement at all. I am fine with that, so I weigh myself just to stay on track. The ONLY day I dont weigh myself is the day after my free/cheat meal. There is no point in looking at the damage, lol. Knowing that it will discourage me I avoid it all together on those mornings. The next day I am back to normal and I carry on with my weigh ins :)
  • Veil5577
    Veil5577 Posts: 868 Member
    I don't. I don't own a scale and have no desire to. If I did I'd be constantly on it and constantly depressed because the number isn't moving.

    I'm measuring my weight loss by jean size. I'm at a 16 now and intend to be down to size 10 by September.
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    EVERY MORNING ALSO! But i log it in on fridays!!
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    I don't. I don't own a scale and have no desire to. If I did I'd be constantly on it and constantly depressed because the number isn't moving.

    I'm measuring my weight loss by jean size. I'm at a 16 now and intend to be down to size 10 by September.

    GOOD FOR YOU!!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
  • dietpepsi100
    dietpepsi100 Posts: 76 Member
    stalking....lol its all good! thats what this site is for getting inspiration and encouragement from on another!
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    I weigh myself at least 3 times a day. The fluctuations are fascinating. But I know now how minor things (Food, bathroom visits, water, sodium...etc) can affect the number so I don't stress about it at all. I only log it when I hit a new low.
  • NS81
    NS81 Posts: 192 Member
    I don't. I don't own a scale and have no desire to. If I did I'd be constantly on it and constantly depressed because the number isn't moving.

    I'm measuring my weight loss by jean size. I'm at a 16 now and intend to be down to size 10 by September.

    I work in a doctors office, and the temptation is just too great - Our scale at home broke (and truthfully, I don't know how reliable it was anyhow)

    Good luck to you! Great goal! :smile:
  • GenZombie
    GenZombie Posts: 117 Member
    Honestly, I weigh myself every other day but only log my weight if the number is the same a few days in a row. I should probably set a specific day during the week and only weigh myself once a week...but the scale is just so tempting sitting right there in the bathroom lol. I also measure once a month and always feel a lot better with the loss in inches vs what the scale says.
  • itodd4019
    itodd4019 Posts: 340 Member
    I weigh myself on Sundays

    My fiance wighs herself constantly. before a shower, after a shower. pre-pooh and post pooh

    we seem pretty normal

    I don't think it matters
  • MBrothers22
    MBrothers22 Posts: 323 Member
    I'd highly recommend either weighing every day or don't even own a scale.

    If you weigh once a week, you set yourself up for disappointment if the results aren't what you want and you have an entire week of dwelling on not losing. And while you might not have seen a loss on the scale, it could be just water retention.

    If you weigh every day as I do, there's no disappointment. You won't see huge numbers like you would if you weigh weekly or bi weekly but there's no disappointment.
  • funfang
    funfang Posts: 200 Member
    OH.... nice to know I am not the only one... I do it almost every morning. The only time I don't weight myself in the morning is when I go to gym really early before work and don't want to wake up my husband.... I am so obsessed, I would step on the scale, step down, turn it off, turn it back on, step on it again, repeat it for a few times... and I know, the number don't change much but I just can't help it!!!!! I also weight myself after I come home from work, just to see.... but I only count the weight in the morning ( after bathroom and before breakfast....)

    I sometimes log in twice a week but try to do it once a week....
  • knt6742
    knt6742 Posts: 36
    I weigh myself every morning and log it in an excel sheet. It's cool to see the graph with the daily fluctuations and then an overall downward trend.

    Personally for me, it has helped me get used to those fluctuations.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    So, I know the recommended time frame to weigh yourself... I also know that retaining water, time of day etc effects the number on the scale... but I still find that I am obsessed with weighing myself each morning... I feel like it keeps me on track, and more alert to my daily choices...

    How often do you weigh yourself?

    Once a every few months. I find that just looking in the mirror objectively is a better way to gage my progress. I also go by the way my clothes fit.
  • Once a month....to keep myself from going crazy :)
  • maanders
    maanders Posts: 39 Member
    I weigh myself every morning and log it in an excel sheet. It's cool to see the graph with the daily fluctuations and then an overall downward trend.

    Personally for me, it has helped me get used to those fluctuations.

    Yea!! I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet like this. Doing the exact same thing here. :drinker:
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    Once a week every Sunday morning right after I get up.

    Your profile pic is badass! I stalked your profile (creepy? Sorry! lol) Congrats on your hard work - so inspiring to see hard work pay off!

    I was thinking the same thing but I didn't creep. Still awesome work! Can't wait to see you in the success forum...
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    I weigh myself every morning and log it in an excel sheet. It's cool to see the graph with the daily fluctuations and then an overall downward trend.

    Personally for me, it has helped me get used to those fluctuations.

    Yea!! I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet like this. Doing the exact same thing here. :drinker:

    I track using a phone app doing the same thing. I'm a science geek so I love collecting data :blushing:
  • rosy_08
    rosy_08 Posts: 51 Member
    Every morning, in the buff after I've gone potty.

    The number jumps around quite a bit, so the only day I really pay attention to is my Thursday weigh in (no idea why Thursday - it's just the day I picked). If you weigh yourself often, just know that the number fluctuates. sometimes it fluctuates a LOT. Don't let it bother you. It isn't weight gain unless you really did eat 3500 calories OVER maintenance (per extra pound).

    Ranting, and I know you didn't ask about weight gain, OP. Just getting that out there for anyone who might come in complaining of gaining weight over night. :P

    Same here, but my scale syncs with MFP automatically so as soon as I see the number going up I jump off haha (it's not lying to myself because it fluctuates, right?) Maybe I should pick a day to make it my "official" weigh in day.
  • NS81
    NS81 Posts: 192 Member
    I weigh myself every morning and log it in an excel sheet. It's cool to see the graph with the daily fluctuations and then an overall downward trend.

    Personally for me, it has helped me get used to those fluctuations.

    Yea!! I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet like this. Doing the exact same thing here. :drinker:

    I track using a phone app doing the same thing. I'm a science geek so I love collecting data :blushing:

    This makes me feel better about my daily weighing lol and intrigued to find an app for this purpose ha!
  • ninav1980
    ninav1980 Posts: 514 Member
    I weigh myself every morning and log it in an excel sheet. It's cool to see the graph with the daily fluctuations and then an overall downward trend.

    Personally for me, it has helped me get used to those fluctuations.

    Yea!! I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet like this. Doing the exact same thing here. :drinker:

    I track using a phone app doing the same thing. I'm a science geek so I love collecting data :blushing:

    This makes me feel better about my daily weighing lol and intrigued to find an app for this purpose ha!

    You guys know the MFP app has a graph and pie chart and all sorts of great tools for visual weight loss too right? Or maybe thats what you guys are talking about, lol. Just thought I would chime in, in case you didnt know......
  • weightedfootsteps
    weightedfootsteps Posts: 4,349 Member
    I weigh in whenever I go to my sister's apartment or the gym in the morning as I don't own a scale...on purpose or I would be weighing a lot more often! LOL

    I am in a contest with my sis...its kind of backward...but whoever loses 10 lbs. first gets a free drink from the loser the next time we go out. :) So basically more sabotage for the loser...LOL
  • NS81
    NS81 Posts: 192 Member
    I weigh myself every morning and log it in an excel sheet. It's cool to see the graph with the daily fluctuations and then an overall downward trend.

    Personally for me, it has helped me get used to those fluctuations.

    Yea!! I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet like this. Doing the exact same thing here. :drinker:

    I track using a phone app doing the same thing. I'm a science geek so I love collecting data :blushing:

    This makes me feel better about my daily weighing lol and intrigued to find an app for this purpose ha!

    You guys know the MFP app has a graph and pie chart and all sorts of great tools for visual weight loss too right? Or maybe thats what you guys are talking about, lol. Just thought I would chime in, in case you didnt know......

    I'm still figuring MFP out! Technology and I aren't always the best of friends lol
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    [I posted this some time in 2013 in response to a similar question, and I'll repeat it here to save some typing!]

    I recommend daily weigh-ins, with a huge caveat: you need to do some math to find the difference between your actual weight loss and the daily fluctuations, which are much larger.

    Your weight fluctuates depending on water, salt, and fiber intake, and other factors having nothing to do with calories. Using an exponentially weighted average can help you filter out the noise and focus on the trend, as John Walker explains in "The Hacker's Diet" (http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/e4/). The chapter on "The Rubber Bag" explains, briefly, the source of these fluctuations. The chapter on "Signal and Noise" explains how some simple math can filter them out. Walker explains how to do the math, but you can also set up a free account on his server to do it for you, or use a service like Beeminder or TrendWeight.com.

    If you're going to be all "OMG! I'm bloated!" if you see the number go up by 2 lbs. from one day to the next, then daily weigh-ins aren't for you. Personally, I'm not bothered, because it's the trend that matters.