How often should I weigh in?

Hi,
I am currentley getting on the scales every day, which when I loose weight really motivates me, but when I gain de-motivates me and makes me question what If what I have been doing is working.
For example, yesterday when I got weighed I had lost 2 pounds, I had a really great day, I exercised and stayed within my calories but today I have gained 3 pounds, I get weighed at the same time every day as soon as I wake up before I eat or drink anything.
Any advice would be great.
Thank you

Replies

  • chrisjathompson
    chrisjathompson Posts: 227 Member
    If you have an android device, download an app called Libra. It can do some useful stuff with daily weighs. It eliminates the "static" in your weight's natural fluctuations, and can help keep you motivated and encouraged.
  • Xiaolongbao
    Xiaolongbao Posts: 854 Member
    It doesn't really matter how often you weigh but you need to be realistic. Weight fluctuates. I weigh daily but I understand that simple fact. If you are finding yourself too obsessed by that number then switch to weighing far less often.
  • JJordon
    JJordon Posts: 857 Member
    Weekly.
  • likeschocolate
    likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
    It helps to keep a standard weigh-in time, for example, Saturday -- first thing in the morning.
  • cassondra1370
    cassondra1370 Posts: 162 Member
    Personally I weigh once a week, on Friday mornings. I know some people like to weigh everyday, but I don't like to see all the fluctuations. I also like Fridays because if I splurge a little over the weekend I have plenty of time to burn it off at the gym. :)
  • nataliescalories
    nataliescalories Posts: 292 Member
    I weigh daily and eventually you get comfortable with the fluctuations. After just two months, I'm very familiar with what my hard run or hard kettlebell days do to me or when PMS water retention sets in. I think if you'll stick to it you'll find some peace in it.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    You have to keep in mind that while your goal is fat loss, the scale does not measure how much fat is standing over it. It measures your skeleton, blood, organs, skin, hair, muscles, fat, water retained, and food inside your gut. The last two can significantly change in the course of a day.

    Keep the big picture in mind. The amount of food and water 'retained' does have a maximum amount, so if you're losing fat the number is still going to go down in the longer term. For many people it typically stays the same for so many days/weeks and then suddenly drops in one day to the next step. I enjoy weighing every morning. If the bouncing of the number drives you insane then you should weigh in weekly or every two weeks instead. This is what mine has looked like for the past three months:

    weightlossgraph.png
  • BigAndTallSection
    BigAndTallSection Posts: 46 Member
    The scale is really evil, in my opinion. Most certain for woman there can be that extra issue to contend with but even for men there are lots of things like a salty dinner the day before that can really toss the daily weigh in off. I know for me Chinese food will really screw with me and my sister says the exact same about Chinese food. There are plenty of other things so I suggest not to get obsessed with the scale and realize that it is just a tool and not the best one either.

    Now I do weigh in weekly but I could easily do it monthly so long as I know that I am doing what I need to then I know the results are going to be there.
  • HatherM
    HatherM Posts: 404 Member
    Personally I weigh once a week, on Friday mornings. I know some people like to weigh everyday, but I don't like to see all the fluctuations. I also like Fridays because if I splurge a little over the weekend I have plenty of time to burn it off at the gym. :)

    Yes this is what I do too, stops me being to hard on myself if I have a treat that way :happy:
  • ashleab37
    ashleab37 Posts: 575 Member
    I weigh daily and record weekly. I understand the scales will fluctuate. Just yesterday morning they went from 107.7kg to 109.6kg. That's 4.2LB in one day! It was half gone this morning and the rest will be gone tomorrow morning. it's not a fat gain, it's a FLUCTUATION.
  • i get on the scales each day, just to see were i am, but i record my weigh just on friday mornings so that we i can see what has happed each week and if i put on a few pounds at the weekend i can burn it of before friday, and has long has im to same weigh or under weigh thats a good job for me.
  • once a week is enough
  • bill323
    bill323 Posts: 100
    I weigh myself every day but only record it every 3 or so days . I measure myself in 8 different places once a week though and that is what really tells the tale.