When do you weigh yourself... I'm scale obsessed now!

Every day at first, until I started to notice a pattern - I stop losing and even gain the last 2 weeks before my period. So now I just weigh myself the week after my period.

Honestly weighing every day is very useful to figure out patterns.

Most people will suggest that you weigh yourself every morning when you first wake up, right after you pee and while you're naked. Any more than that isn't helpful for weight loss reasons because our bodies change weight all day long.

For those who find they have an issue with the number on the scale, obsess over it, become upset if it's up a couple of ounces, etc. a once per week weigh in on the same day at the same time is recommended.

Personally, I weigh myself every morning on waking to track my progress. I don't let the number bother me unless I'm seeing an upward trend. Daily weigh ins help me catch those trends quickly so I can make corrections. I do also weigh myself before and after a run, especially a long one. I live in southern Arizona, so it's hot and dry. The difference in my weight before and after a run can often be a few pounds as it is the water loss from sweat. I track that change so I can drink that water back after my run.

ETA: When I've actually checked, my weight is always lower the next morning than right before I go to bed but that's completely normal. Our bodies still require energy while sleeping so mine is burning calories and also processing food. Plus, I've just expelled a few ounces of urine before I stepped on the scale.

The scale isn't always the best measure. When I was in weight loss, I found measurements to be far more satisfying than the number on the scale and even know, I'm far more conscious of how my clothes feel on me as opposed to a number.
When losing weight I would weigh in about once a fortnight, in the morning, in the nude. Now I'm maintaining I weigh in about once a month or when I feel I need to 'check in'.
Being obsessed with the scale is not a good thing...see it as one of the tools to measuring your weight loss rather than the ultimate one. Weight can fluctuate for loads of reasons.

I weigh myself everyday right before I get in the shower. It doesn't really bother me what the scale says it just either gives me a boost for the day or a heads up that I need to pay more attention to what I am eating that day. I have also learned a little about how and what causes some of my weight fluctuations. For instance high sodium shows up the next morning but high fat seems to take an extra day to reflect on the scale. I wouldn't weigh myself twice a day and compare them in any way, too many variables that would effect the results. But for me there is no way I could weigh once a week, I just don't have that much control over my eating schedule - I may really need a cookie of some chips the day before I would weigh-in

jenversuslife wrote: »

Every morning; after using the bathroom and naked.

This

I weigh every Saturday morning after using the restroom and before eating or drinking. I've been doing this long enough that I know the general trends of my body, like that I weigh more the week before my period than I do the week after. I still weigh myself, but I don't worry if it is up that week because it happens every month for me.

I used to weigh in the morning and again in the evening, but that was a very bad habit for myself. I couldn't let go of the scale number, even though I knew the evening number was higher because I had water, food, and food waste in my system.

I used to be a daily weigher but it's too fluctuating for me so I just do weekly now. This makes me happier :-)

I believe it is an individual thing. To me, whatever motivates and keeps a person healthy and on track is just fine.

I do not “drive myself nuts” but I do find comfort / direction in weighing myself most days. BUT, I only RECORD my weight once a week (same day/time).

Let’s assume I weigh-in Mondays. If I check my weight on Thursday morning and it hasn’t moved or has gone up a 1/4 or 1/2 pound…I know I must be “diligent” on the weekend. My goal has always been “just to not gain” on a weigh-in date and using the other days as a “heads-up” that allowed me to adjust carbs or whatever.

Try not to get stressed.

You’re doing great. You described yourself as “fat” – but being “fat” was once my goal. I started at morbid obesity, then moved to severe obesity, obese / fat and now fat/overweight…so actually you are doing better than many.

You're going to be closest to your actual weight in the morning after waking up, and relieving yourself of all excretory substances. That's great if you want to know you're actual weight, and keep a log of that.

However, if you don't care to know you're actual weight, and only want to keep track of your loss, you would just have to weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions (clothes on/off, after eating dinner, right before bed, etc.). You wouldn't get your actual weight at that time, but you'd at least be able to get some sort of idea of the weight you're losing.

However x 2, weighing yourself naked in the morning directly after waking up and relieving yourself will give you the most accurate picture as doing so later in the day only throws in more variables like the amount of food/water still currently in your system from the last time you ate, what type of clothes you're wearing opposed to what you were wearing the previous day, stuff like that. In the morning, you should be as void of any external variables as you'll be throughout the rest of the day, so you'll get a better picture.

DarbiB wrote: »

Easier said than done, but don't worry about the number on the scale too much. Its not like we all walk around with signs that show our weights on our foreheads. The number isn't REALLY what we're chasing, right? We all want to look better, feel better, be healther/harder/faster/stronger versions of ourselves.

So much this!

When talking about scale issues I usually recommend getting a measuring tape and recording progress with it right from the beginning. Not only because the number on the scale can be really meaningless, especially when you're seeing 5-10 pound swings from week to week due to water retention like I do, but sometimes when the scale isn't moving we're shrinking especially if one is lifting weights. Also the measuring tape doesn't fluctuate on a daily basis like the scale.

I wish 3 years ago I would have taken measurements... They are so much more informative after time than basic pounds or weight loss. That said, I am scale obsessed as well! After 3 years, I just learned to accept it! I posted the comment below to a different forum on the topic of weighing and weight fluctuation this morning, it sorta sums up MY opinion...

Most people say "the best time to weigh yourself is in the morning, naked, post-toilet, pre-food"... I sorta dispute that belief! I have a bit of an OCD going since my 90 pound weight loss and I weigh myself 2 times as day. First thing in the morning (as described above) and when I get home from work, before I consume dinner after I change out of my dress work clothes (yes I am naked and post-potty!). For the last month everyday I see a fluctuation of several pounds between morning and night. For example yesterday my morning weight was 104.8 (lbs) evening weight 101.2 (lbs). When I see it drop so low, I know to eat a little more at dinner. These are standard consistent readings FOR ME. Just remember, everyone is different (and I don't work out!).

All that said I agree with everyone here, fluctuation will happen. As long as there is a calorie deficit, you "should" see weight loss in the long run... unless there is an "underlying medical condition".

Best success in your journey. It sounds like you are are taking the right path.

999tigger wrote "I weigh as often as I want because im curious, but i also dont take it too seriously and know about fluctuations. I also use tape and performance measures in the gym. I like information and keep it in perspective. Do whatever suits you"

I also like information and the more, the better

Personally, I also weigh myself right directly in the morning, and once right before bed. I consider my morning weight to be my actual weight, and the night weight for fun just because I enjoy watching number trends.

nonstopdancemom wrote: »

Ok, so I'm big, large, BBW, whatever you want to call me, but the simpleness of it all is I'm fat. Lots of reasons why, but, there it is we won't dwell. I lost 15 pounds in a very short amount of time, but the scale stopped. Now it seems to me, that if I weigh myself in the morning, I'm lighter vs before bed. But it seems like that scale is looking at me all the time, taunting me... So now if I gain a pound (I know it's probably water weight) I start to over think it, then maybe the next day I'm down a pound (whew relief) ... so tell me how often you weigh yourself and maybe why. Oh and feel free to add me as a friend.

Thanks!

Well, I only weigh myself in the mornings. EVERY MORNING. Its your truest weight. I gain 2-4 lbs a day by eating and drinking a crap ton of water.

Every morning, same time, place and same bat channel.