Measurements vs. Scales

KaylaKilgore

Which do you prefer, Taking measurements or by using scales?
Why?

Also, how often should you do either? i.e. once a week, once every two weeks?

heather1945

I find that if the scales haven't moved, I can be sure that the tape measure will show me as being 'smaller' than my last weigh in. I weigh-in 1st think in the morning, once a week. To do it more often, I feel you don't get a true reading of how you're doing. :-} Good luck with your weight loss.....:-}

Kalee34

I log my weight once a week, and I take my measurements every two weeks. It's always nice to see both numbers going down, but when the scale is stuck it is a big encouragement to see the measurements still moving down!

DancingYogini

Tape measure for sure!! I hate the scale, it depresses me, even if I weigh less than I have in a long time...I want it to go down...so I avoid it for my own sanity. Now the tape, I don't mind...I do a lot of yoga, and I have been pleasantly surprised by the inches lost. I love that my weight can stay the same, yet my clothes fit differently. I think since I started MFP, I am down about 5" in my waist, 4" in my bust, 3" in my thighs and 4" in my hips!! So I am happy

arhzon

I tend to look at the scale as a "pretty much" measurement, for this reason: I weigh in before I go into the gym sometimes, and I may weigh 4 or 5 pounds more two hours later, just because of water retention and/or muscle distention. Typically I weigh once a week just for record, but don't put as much stake in that as my measurements.

KaylaKilgore

Thanks everyone for the replies. Good points as well. I was always told to do measurements because they are most likely to go down before the scale because of toning of muscles and such. When I use the scale I become obsessive with weighing myself every single day, several times a day and that's no good. Thanks again! I'll do both once a week and chart them. Thanks again for all comments, I appreciate it.

joegeiselman

the scales can be misleading and heartbreaking. No one really cares what they weight (shocking!) They only care how the look in the mirror (which is the best success tracker).

Lowering your bodyfat percentage is what makes the difference in the mirror, and that is going to show up in changes on the tape measure. You can find calculators on the web to help you find your body fat percentage. They are all a little different, but as long as you use the same one every time, you will be able to see your progress.

Sometimes you may even find the scale going up, but the jeans are falling down. When that happens, you have added to your "fat free mass" and have slimmed down and toned up, but since muscle is heavier that fat, the scale goes up. If all you check is the scale, you might think you have lost some ground, when really, you have made great strides!

melsinct

I prefer weighing over measuring. Mainly because I must not consistently measure the same spot. It looks like I am not losing inches due to my poor measurements, even though my pants are clearly too big. User error! Weighing is fool proof for me. I weigh every day and record it (Android app called simple weight tool) because I am a data/chart nerd but I don't obsess about daily fluctuations at all. I like to see the chart of where my weight has gone and it helps me identify what makes me bloated or retain water (SODIUM! Restaurant food!) by logging every day.