A few questions...

ccaym · March 2011

Hi there. I have only been working on weight loss for about six weeks now, and I have a general question but also some specific to MFP. Here goes...

How often do you weigh yourself? Do you do it morning or evening? I noticed so much fluctuation in my weight. How to do I know what my true weight is? I know that the number should not be a big deal, but it helps to motivate me. Here's an example of what I am seeing, taken from the last few days:
Day 1 203 lbs. a.m.
Day 2 200 lbs. a.m. and 205 lbs. p.m. (???)
Day 3 200 lbs. a.m.
Day 4 198 lbs. a.m.

What are your favorite aspects of MFP? What changes have you made since you first started using it that make it even better for you? I am still finding my way.

The MFP community is a big draw for me. None of my friends or family is focused on losing weight right now. Who do you friend, and why? I really like reading the updates from the few friends I have already. I am just starting to post, too. I find it all really encouraging. I know I am not alone. Any thoughts on this?

Well, I am sure that I will think of more questions, but that was what was on my mind this afternoon.

Thanks & peace....Christina

pawprint_net · March 2011

Many say to weigh once a week to avoid fluctuations - for me I weigh daily every morning same time in just my housecoat - it fluctuates +/- 3-7 pounds even at that time - and since I generally loose 1-2lb / week I find if I only weighed weekly I wouldn't have any idea of progress. So I weigh daily and watch the trend ymmv but it works for me.

My favorite aspect is the ease of tracking what I'm eating and a HUGE ton of motivation from everyone else here. Biggest change - trying to drop my latte intake LOL (have an espresso machine at home and typically had 5-7 lattes a day until I realize I was consuming more calories from that then anything else)

As for friends - basically anyone that wants to share encouragement and support - because, as you said, that's a huge draw!

Becky1971 · March 2011

I weigh once a week, same morning every week, after I get up and pee, but before I do anything else. And now that I don't do WW anymore, I weigh in the nude. I refuse to look at the scale at any other time.

My favorite thing about MFP is the community. It's very supportive and positive, I have seen very little negative and bickering. This has been a huge motivator for me, I love seeing what others are doing it encourages me, and most of all I love the success stories.

LeslieRoyale · March 2011

Always weigh yourself at the same time of day, for consistency. In the morning when you first wake up is best. Your body gains 'weight' throughout the day...water, food, stress...all of those things will make it fluctuate. A 2-3lb loss overnight is average, at least from what I've experienced, and read. Your body does all of it's repair work at night, which means it's burning crazy calories while you sleep :laugh:
The best part of MFP is the people...the support, encouragement, and occasional butt-kicking are what keeps me going!!
Good luck on your journey, feel free to add me!!

Leslie

sandyw127 · March 2011

i would go with first thing in the morning. i try only to weigh my self from now on once a week.. cause if i do it every day it drives me nuts. i step on it twice and if i get the same weight twice then i know thats it. i excercise 6-7 days a week for 40 -60 min we have a wii fit so thats my excercise now. . depending how i feel and mfp has been a wonderful tool for me cause it makes you se what your sticking in your pie hole and the calories and wow really reading food labels now. and eating more whole grains and nuts soy milk.. good luck to you

Pandorian · March 2011

the daily fluctuation is to be expected, morning you've just fasted since dinner to when you get up and eat (you're weighing after bathroom and before meals right) so you're going to weigh less than you do after eating a big dinner and drinking your daily water etc.
I weigh once a week. Just being accountable is the biggest change the site's helped me to make. I find myself asking if I really want to track that particular item on here... if I don't want to track it then I don't buy it.

For friends I've added some people with similar weight loss goals, or general interest from things they've posted.

kwrecks · March 2011

Your body does all of it's repair work at night, which means it's burning crazy calories while you sleep :laugh:

This is why I've learned I need to eat a little something (like, an apple, or some almonds) about an hour before I go to bed. Since your body is burning calories while you sleep, its possible to run out of fuel, which slows your metabolism down. While it is good to not eat large amounts of food right before you go to sleep, you should give your body just a little fuel to make sure it keeps working until you wake up, and have breakfast.

I agree with everyone, the best time to weigh yourself is in the morning, and only once a week. I've learned from weighing myself everyday, that it can often become discouraging. If I'm at an awesome weight one morning, and weigh myself and find that I'm back up 2 or 3 lbs, I am discouraged. If you wait a week, you'll not only see the results from the entire week, but you'll also be excited for your weigh in every week!

brandy66763 · March 2011

A friend of mine who used to be a personal trainer when I first started my journey she had me weighing once a month, after peeing first thing in the morning and naked. Because my weight varies so much due to water retention and it was just getting so frustrating to me each week. So thats is what I am going back too.

My favorite aspect of MFP is being able to track what I eat & logging my workouts

And the encouragement of everyones progress. I have still quite a way to go but seeing people who have lost over 50 to 100 lbs gives me the encouragement to meet my goal over overall lose of 125 lbs.
My starting weight was 292 on Thanksgiving. Today I'm sitting at 255.
I only have 2 friends on here and they are 2 girls that I went to high school with but always open to find new ppl to visit with and encourage and lend support too. Losing weight in my opinion is almost as bad as trying to get off drugs. Its a life long change and process.

Best of luck with your weight loss journey

LG61820 · March 2011

I weigh once a week at the same time each week. IMO It is too easy to get discouraged and give up by weighing daily. You didn't gain weight every day or even every week to get here and you're likely not going to lose weight every day or even every week on your way to goal.

What MFP has done for me has been to keep me focused. I check in at least once per day. Tracking the food I eat keeps me honest and I don't lie to myself about what I'm eating because it's right there in front of me.

The challenges I have joined have been very helpful in keeping me motivated. Joining a 30DS and completing it helped me realize that I can stick with exercise so I bought a 90 Day program.

ccaym · March 2011

Thank you, everyone. I like weighing myself everyday but I guess I would get a more accurate number if I switched to weekly.

I really like the food tracking tool. I was member of another site like MFP for a few weeks last month and I learned so much from tracking my foods. I had no concept of how many or few calories were in the foods I was eating.

I've also learned so much from reading posts on the message boards. Thanks again!

susancelli928 · March 2011

You have to do what is right for you, no one can answer the scale question because everyone is different. I love this site, it makes me more aware of the foods I put in my mouth and I like that I can actual tract what I eat so easily. The friends I met on here are inspirations t me as they have gone through the same type of struggles as myself with the up and downs or thr binge eating. Also the friends I have have great sense of humor and that is what someone needs with struggling with weight loss. If you cant't laugh at youeself, then what the sense> You are doing great

A few questions...

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