The Scale: Friend or Foe?

holyguacamole37

I'm currently doing a semester in Spain, and just before leaving I was becoming slightly obsessed with the scale. I weighed myself every day, sometimes multiple times a day, just to see the fluctuations. Before leaving the country, though, I resolved to not weigh myself for the 6 months that I'd be here, only bringing a tape measure.

Now, though, I miss the scale. Granted, it's been about 2 weeks since I've weighed myself, but it's hard to tell if I'm doing things right or not. I can't really count calories because I usually don't know exactly what I'm eating, so I mainly rely on portion control and exercise - but if you're eating all the wrong things, those can only go so far. And, although the tape measure helps, I feel like a scale would be a much easier way to track my progress (or lack thereof).

So I guess what I'm wondering is: the scale is good in moderation, right? Would weigh-ins once per week be a healthy compromise?

stayxtrue

Weighins once a week should be the rule of thumb. The problem with weighing yourself everyday or multiple times during the day are things like water rentention and so on. So pick a day and only weigh yourself on that day

deekaydee

The problem with weighing yourself everyday or multiple times during the day are things like water rentention and so on. \

The problem with weighing once a week is that you never know if your weight at that one time is being impacted by things like water retention.

I weigh myself every day (and actually graph it on a spreadsheet, but that's because I'm a geek). If my weight goes up a couple lbs in one day, I know that's likely water retention. I don't freak out about it. I watch the trend over time, but weighing daily means I am much more in tune with those little daily fluctuations. I know I usually weigh a bit more after weightlifting days, and then drop off the following day. I know my weight loss has slowed dramatically since I've been lifting heavier and reduced my deficit, but I still like to weigh every day and keep tabs on that progress.

The scale can be used as a useful tool, I don't think you need to be afraid of it. If you're the kind of person who obsesses about a minor weight fluctuation / increase, by all means, don't weigh every day. But I don't think there is a "rule" about the right way to use it. Do what works for you.