thinking i shouldnt use a scale

prettigirl01
prettigirl01 Posts: 548 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
i dont own a scale but was actually thinking about getting one. i think it would help me realize when im going off track but someone told me that would be a bad idea. i never thought that but then they said base your weight loss on how u fit into your clothes. if youve lost weight your clothes will fit loosely if not they will be the same or tighter. although thats true i would prefer to have a scale. what do u think?

Replies

  • Gianna44
    Gianna44 Posts: 124
    I am definitely pro-scale. Every time I get away from weighing myself regularly the pounds creep back. It's too easy for me to rationalize or be in denial otherwise. I weigh daily, as well, although I know a lot of people don't recommend that. If it discourages you to do it that often - because your weight will fluctuate, seemingly without reason - do it less often (weekly or monthly).
    I've learned to follow the "trend" of my weight instead of the daily or even week-to-week changes.
  • iNicoleLawson
    iNicoleLawson Posts: 13
    I have a scale.. with that said I keep it in the bathroom closet out of view so I'm not tempted by it. I only weigh myself bi weekly. The scale can be very discouraging so be careful. I personally think it's good to have one as long as you are disciplined not to let it be controlling of your mind set.
  • prettigirl01
    prettigirl01 Posts: 548 Member
    but do i need one to show my progress of weight loss on here
  • iNicoleLawson
    iNicoleLawson Posts: 13
    I would do what you're comfortable with right now.
  • bergpa
    bergpa Posts: 148 Member
    When I've done this it was because I didn't want to face the number on the scale. The problem is that your weight could be changing more than the fit of your clothes would indicate. Some fabrics can shrink or stretch and clothes can sit/ride differently on your body at different weights, so I wouldn't use them as your sole indicator of weight change.

    If you're not comfortable with a scale, you could track body measurements instead.
  • IlyanaRose
    IlyanaRose Posts: 21 Member
    I weigh myself because I need to be accountable to something, I need to see my progress. And it's a great motivator when I get on the scales and the number is smaller than last week.

    The hard part is not getting disheartened when I put on weight; it puts a downer on me for the day.
  • UrnAsh
    UrnAsh Posts: 207 Member
    I weigh myself every Monday, in the morning, in my bra and panties. You don't have to share how much weight you've lost either. Hope it gets easier for you!
  • thenewmanda
    thenewmanda Posts: 189 Member
    When I've done this it was because I didn't want to face the number on the scale. The problem is that your weight could be changing more than the fit of your clothes would indicate. Some fabrics can shrink or stretch and clothes can sit/ride differently on your body at different weights, so I wouldn't use them as your sole indicator of weight change.

    If you're not comfortable with a scale, you could track body measurements instead.

    I completely agree with this! I weigh myself weekly and check my measurements once a month. Good luck!
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Personally, I think there is value in measuring progress by many different methods. Scale, mirror, measurements, clothing fit, fitness level, strength, improved skill levels, etc. I have a scale. I think it's important. It doesn't control my life or cause me any problems. It's just one more piece of info. Not only does it help me now, but it gives me a history to reflect back on, if things are ever to change in my life. Then I will have a guideline of some of the aspects of my own personal body history. So, I weigh myself, I take note of it, I notice if there is a change, and I add all that into my understanding of the history of my experience with my body.
  • cmurphy252
    cmurphy252 Posts: 279 Member
    I just recently decided to weigh myself once a month (if I can stick to it) and measure my progress by my measurements. Last week when I weighed myself, I had gained 1.6 lbs, but lost inches (and I was cool with that).

    Knowing that my weight can fluctuate DAILY, I dont place as much of an emphasis on the scale in comparison to my body measurements.
  • michellechawner
    michellechawner Posts: 892
    My scale is great, we got it about 4 years ago and it measures body fat % and water hydration ratio. With that being said, I only weigh myself weekly and the scale is in the laundry room. Since I'm not in there every day, I'm not tempted to weigh myself constantly. Especially since I'm getting closer to my goal weight.

    I know so many people who weigh daily and I always tell them to cut it out. Weight fluctuates from morning to night, day to day. You'll see more progress if you don't weigh in as much. I do all my measurements too, when i weigh myself, so it's all at the same time every week.

    I used to obsess about the number on the scale, and even then, my number was unrealistic for my height. There's so much more to being happy and healthy than a number on the scale.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
    I weigh almost obsessively; nearly every day and sometimes more than once. It's because your weight will vary through the day and over days in ways that sometimes seem to make little sense. When you are losing 2# a week or less on average and your weight can vary 3# or more per day, just weighing occasionally can be misleading. The truth is that most of us know how we are doing without ever setting foot on the thing though...

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