How do I know I'm losing weight without a scale?

Fitdoge

An important question, how do I know I'm losing weight without a scale?
The entire reason I started this diet was I was tired of being fat & unhappy, and I couldn't fit into my work jeans, but although I feel better, healthier and I have more energy now that I'm eating less and exercising more, sometimes my work jeans will be a little loose (which makes me feel great) and then one day later, they'll be tight and I don't understand why. It's not a gradual thing, it's quick to jump back and forth, and very confusing.

How do I know I'm really losing weight and not just maintaining or even gaining it if I can't judge by measuring my tummy or by the fit of my jeans, since it changes so often?

I don't really have the money to spend on a $20+ weight scale.

jazzie_red

Really, I never had a scale and I just watched how my clothes fit. But I am going to buy a scale. I think if I start to weigh myself weekly it will be easier to monitor myself.

I am not going to weigh myself daily, because weight fluctuates to much on a day to day basis.

vismal

Progress pictures, the mirror, and your pants are somewhat decent indicators but these things take weeks to months to show differences so you have to keep that in mind. The scale typically reflects losses within 1-3 weeks where as pictures and clothing sizes can take 6-12 weeks to significantly change. It may however be worth the 1 time investment. The National Weight Control Registry, an organization who tracks people who lose significant amounts of weight and keep the weight off, listed regularly tracking weight as one of the factors people with weight loss success tend to have in common.

Kalikel

My first 30-40 pounds were scaleless. I certainly didn't see it, either. It was the clothes. They got bigger, then didn't fit. Then the next size down got bigger and then didn't fit.

You'll know!

Other places to weigh yourself: the doctor's office (they'll let you pop in to get a weight for free), the gym (if you have one), the grocery store (one of mine has a scale), maybe at work (if your company ships big things on pallets, they have a scale) or at a friend or neighbor's house.

It shouldn't be too hard to weigh yourself if you really want to! But it's not necessary.you can lose without it...and the number really isn't that important, anyway. Now that I have a scale, I weigh at least once a day, but I really was happier going along without it. Decide whether you really want to worry about the number before you start weighing. Once you start, there may be no going back.

gmallan

Other than what the others have said, a tape measure should do the trick