Is daily weighing obsessive?

godblessourhome

I weigh daily, but I only log it weekly! I think as long as you're aware of the potential to fluctuate and it doesn't discourage you there's no harm in it!!

If I'm honest I sometimes weigh before bed AND as soon as I get up! It's amazing the difference overnight!! haha

same here. i don't find it obsessive at all. the number on the scale doesn't affect my mood; it is a habit more than anything else. but i am fairly science/mathmatically-minded.

luvmykid28

By weighing daily, I think I'm learning more about how my body responds to what I eat, how exercise really does make such a huge difference, and how sometimes my body seems to do whacky things that I'm not expecting and can't explain . I find it all fascinating and whether I gain a little, stay the same or lose a little, I still end up feeling motivated to keep doing my best. But the biggest motivator is when I've had a bad day and I see immediately (usually the next morning) how my bad decisions have real consequences and it really encourages me to get back on task and not let my guard down too much.

Exactly... Its all in how you look at the scale. It is a tool and the number found there is not good or bad.... it just Is.
Seeing how your daily choices affect that number is the key.

I learned that in a study I am involved in... more notes here
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Lizzy_Sunflower/view/what-i-ve-learned-so-far-86049
:drinker:

Best to you!

I weigh daily too. It helps motivate me and keeps me on track. I am new at this and I like to see how different foods work for me. As long as it's working for me, I will do it. When I start to stress over it, I will stop and find a different motivation.

bethany41h

I sometimes get obsessive about it. I suppose it's different for everyone and different strokes for different folks. But the fluctuations would get me down until I finally realized that they often meant very little and they were simply just making me crazy. Now I try to do only once a week because the fluctuations would really get me down. Do what works for you!

ablueskier

While most dietitians typically recommend once a week weigh ins, there was a report in the news last month that some personality types can be benefitted by daily weigh ins. It doesn't increase weight loss but it avoids backsliding and more importantly for some people in the maintenance phase it helps them hold their weight. I found I put on a good amount of weight in the last two weeks when the scale was moved from e bathroom floor to the linen cabinet. Needless to say, I find daily weight checks keep me accountable. I am not the kind to get upset if there is a slight yo yo in my weight because I find my body is usually within a pound of itself over the course of the week.

chantihayes

yes it is, but i do it.. usually twice or more a day..

foodforfuel

I weigh once before bed, and first thing in the a.m. It helps me keep things in check, as far as not too low on the highs, and not too high on the lows (emotionally). I keep a running chart of these numbers. That way, I can look back and see all the fluctuations. It reminds me that even though I had a low weigh in for my official (Tuesday) weigh in, I can't go all crazy with the food. It helps keep me focused on my ultimate goal, and helps with the determination to keep on keeping on. I don't consider it obsessive. It just helps me keep it real.

katlynx6

I think that it only becomes obsessive if you allow yourself to be consumed by the number. I weigh myself every day, but if i'm up a little or down a little I don't get too invested in it. The whole "your weight can fluctuate alot" is actually why I weigh myself every day and not once a week: if I only weighed in once a week and that happened to be a day I was holding a couple extra pounds, I would be upset after dieting all week. Whereas if I weigh every day I can keep an eye on my weight and get a better average. However if you find your numbers are ruling your moods, or you can't brush it off and move on, then I'd cut back on the weighing.

goaskdad

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think I had anticipated most of the comments against daily weighing, but there were some comments in favor of daily weighing that I hadn't.

I also found an MFP post about a study on daily weighing - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/135682-weighing-daily-is-ok-for-some which validates my personal feeling that daily weighing can actually be a very positive thing. That said, I'm not suggesting that daily weighing is for everyone, since I know many people get discouraged by daily fluctuations in weight.

As for my original question (Is daily weighing obsessive?), a friend of mine might have proved himself insightful when he said "Do you really think people who record everything they eat - every meal, every snack, and every glass of water they drink, EVERY SINGLE DAY - are in any position to say weighing yourself daily is obsessive!?" :laugh:

The bottom line for me personally is that daily weighing has helped motivate me, where weekly weighing hasn't, and most importantly it's been proving itself to me in actual results. So I'm still going to weigh every morning, like I've been doing.

But yes, I've decided that daily weighing is most-definitely obsessive ... maybe.

Thanks everyone!

abyssfully

I say that if it motivates you then go for it. Why not? To each his/her own.

As for me, I prefer to weigh-in once a week. I think I would be the type of person to obsess over it if I weighed in every day.

Elle129

I force myself to not weigh myself more than twice a week. I usually weigh in sunday and wednesday. Weight flucuates so often

TAWoody

I do daily weigh ins right now just to reinforce what happened the day before. If I worked out and ate properly then I see a slow trickle down. If I eat a little more than I'm supposed to I can see it go up a little. It just helps remind and motivate me to keep on the program. Eventually when we all get to our goal weight we won't really see any difference from day to day and that's when I'll just weigh in weekly to make sure I'm around my goal.

cng1117

i've weighed myself everyday twice a day for the last 15 years. I have to admit, it's alot more fun now though that the numbers are going backwards instead of forward.