Working Out Before Weighing In

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Do you all work out before/same day as weighing in? If so does it add to your weight and what type of exercises do you do? The reason I'm asking is because I was always told not to because it causes a gain on the scale. Just asking your opinions here so please be honest.
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  • TheRealJigsaw
    TheRealJigsaw Posts: 295 Member
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    I do 40 mins on the elliptical machine every monday morning before weighing in. I honestly don't think it has any gain but it has just become a routine for me.
  • LifestyleChange33
    LifestyleChange33 Posts: 169 Member
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    I only weigh first thing in the morning. By the time I am done working out, I have drank at least 40 oz water (water adds weight).
  • marymayt
    marymayt Posts: 5 Member
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    on the biggest loser show they always have the final workout before weigh in so i think working out before a weigh in helps but i may be wrong im just saying busting a good sweat cant hurt. I always weihg after a wonderful workout and the scale always be down a little.
  • shawnbair
    shawnbair Posts: 1 Member
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    I weigh myself on my rest day but I feel lighter and less bloated the next day after my one rest day (Sunday). I have been trying to not weigh myself daily - I have been told that it is not good to do that, but I am not sure anymore...
  • BSchoberg
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
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    My "official" weigh in is Tuesday morning... at the gym, after walking the dog, breakfast, spining class, usually 36oz of water in, some of that back out (:blushing: ) and after my shower, with soaking wet hair up in a towel.

    The point isn't the actual number... the point is: is this number less than last week's number?

    And even those numbers are only part of the point... how do I look, how do I feel, how are my clothes fitting? Don't hang everything on a single number.

    Whenever you weigh, just do it at the same time under the same circumstances each week.
  • chelovik
    chelovik Posts: 200 Member
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    I weigh myself every morning when I wakeup and get ready for the workday
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
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    I weigh first thing in the morning, after a pee and before anything goes in my mouth.

    When I'm full swing into a workout routine, I can lose as much as 5 lbs in a workout due to sweating. I'd think you'd get wildly inconsistent scale weights when weighing post-workout, as the intensity of your workout and the conditions in which you performed it would cause inconsistencies in sweating. You may also have eaten differently from day to day, be working out at different times of day, etc.

    You want to weigh at the same time, in the same conditions, with the same scale in the exact same spot every weigh-in.
  • CDG1013
    CDG1013 Posts: 106 Member
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    I weigh in first thing in the morning after using the restroom and before eating. I have found that weighing after working out results in 2-3 pounds less. I do a combined running and weight routine 4 days per week and sweat a lot during that time. So, I lose a couple pounds of water weight. I thing the most accurate reading is right after getting up and that's what I log to show progress.
  • Vonwarr
    Vonwarr Posts: 390 Member
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    Best time to weigh in is in the morning, after going to the bathroom. It is the time when the least number of other factors will affect your weight. Depending on the type of exercise, the duration, if you eat something beforehand, how much water you drink, and how much you sweat during, working out can cause weight fluctuations up and down.

    And to be honest, in my opinion, sweating out water weight just before I hop on the scale feels like I am lying to myself. I know if I do 30 mins of intense cardio I can drop a pound or two while I'm doing it... of course, I will regain that from drinking water, and it's not really healthy to do cardio like that just to see an artificially lower number on the scale.
  • Kagami_Taiga
    Kagami_Taiga Posts: 124 Member
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    Do you all work out before/same day as weighing in? If so does it add to your weight and what type of exercises do you do? The reason I'm asking is because I was always told not to because it causes a gain on the scale. Just asking your opinions here so please be honest.

    I don't see the point in weighing myself to track my progress any time other than first thing in the morning, probably after the morning poo.

    Why? Because then you'll be weighing the water you drink or the food that you eat.
  • teelander
    teelander Posts: 3 Member
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    As a nurse we teach you should weigh in once a week, in the morning, before food, after a shower, stark naked and always at the same time (as close as possible) . Exercise is OK if you ALWAYS exercise before food and the shower. The idea is to insure as much as possible to keep your weigh in consistent.
  • Brent_J
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    What he said. I will drop as much as three lbs during my morning workout. I'm not going to pretend like jumping on the scale while my body is in a dehydrated state produces a legitimate reading.
    Best time to weigh in is in the morning, after going to the bathroom. It is the time when the least number of other factors will affect your weight. Depending on the type of exercise, the duration, if you eat something beforehand, how much water you drink, and how much you sweat during, working out can cause weight fluctuations up and down.

    And to be honest, in my opinion, sweating out water weight just before I hop on the scale feels like I am lying to myself. I know if I do 30 mins of intense cardio I can drop a pound or two while I'm doing it... of course, I will regain that from drinking water, and it's not really healthy to do cardio like that just to see an artificially lower number on the scale.
  • chubtofit
    chubtofit Posts: 67 Member
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    Here an piece from an article I just read - hope it helps

    Exercise may cause temporary weight gain due to your muscles' response to strenuous activity. Strength training, for example, tears muscle fiber and can cause your muscles to retain water. Cardiovascular exercise also triggers your muscles to store more glycogen, the form of carbohydrates that fuels aerobic activity. Not only do your muscles store more glycogen when you exercise, but the glycogen attracts water, according to Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist William Sukala.

    Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/388056-why-do-i-weigh-more-on-the-scale-today-even-after-exercising/#ixzz25ytyXuvH
  • ShaunaLaNee
    ShaunaLaNee Posts: 188 Member
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    I don't think it matters if you are weighing in at the same time every week, same day of the week ext. I weigh in first thing in the morning before I do anything. I do work out the night before after dinner.
  • bpmartyr
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    Weighing everyday seems obsessive, especially seeing that a few pounds of weight fluctuation from water can constantly jump you around. Weekly just seems to make more sense. IMO
  • chelovik
    chelovik Posts: 200 Member
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    I agree with you that it does border line on excessive. I have to because of a study that I enrolled in when I had my heart attack in 2010. I will be done with the study in Nov, 2012 and I won't feel like I am under a microscope
  • kjw1031
    kjw1031 Posts: 300 Member
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    I don't think it matters if you are weighing in at the same time every week, same day of the week ext.

    I agree. If you are consistent about when you weigh, it really shouldn't matter. If you want to weigh yourself after working out, then always weigh yourself after working out, wearing similar clothes.
  • NMorse1907
    NMorse1907 Posts: 90 Member
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    I can weigh myself as soon as I get up, then again 2 hours later after working out and I ALWAYS weigh less! On my official weigh in days, I weigh myself when I get up, remember the #, get the kids off to school and workout, then re-weigh before I get in the shower. I use whatever number is less (it has always been my after wkout number) and that's what I log for the day.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
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    If you wake up and weigh yourself. Let's say, 180.
    Run 3 miles. Do not drink/eat.

    Then weigh yourself again, you will not weigh more than 180.

    Possibly slightly less due to sweat.
  • bradp1979
    bradp1979 Posts: 154 Member
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    If you wake up and weigh yourself. Let's say, 180.
    Run 3 miles. Do not drink/eat.

    Then weigh yourself again, you will not weigh more than 180.

    Possibly slightly less due to sweat.

    Extremely unhealthy to do a strenuous workout like running without drinking anything. I can't do it. Halfway through my second or third mile my mouth is bone-dry and I feel dehydrated. During my normal cardio days, I will run 5 miles non-stop, slowing down a bit to drink some water, usually drinking around 40 oz over the course of the run. Opting for an unhealthy route like avoiding water during a workout just to weigh less afterward is risky, and frankly, dumb. Day-to-day or hour-to-hour figures on the scale are absolutely worthless. All that matter is that there is a general trend. Downward if you are losing, even if you are maintaining, or upward if you are trying to gain.