What is the best time of day to weight yourself?

flippy1234
flippy1234 Posts: 686 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have heard that your weight is not your "real" weight if you do it in the morning. Is that true? What is the best time to weigh yourself for an accurate read?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Why wouldn't that be your "real" weight? What would make a weight from later in the day more real?

    Given that we're constantly cycling solids and liquids through our body (even while we sleep we lose water), we never have a true "real" weight. As long as you are weighing around the same time each day, it should be fine. Many people pick first thing in the morning because we haven't yet had anything to eat or drink.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    What is "real" weight to you?

    Your weight on a scale is just ONE number. Sometimes that number lies. A higher sodium meal the day before = water weight. Sore muscles = water weight. That number on the scale doesn't address your health very well either. 2 people can weigh the same, yet look different. A person with a decent amount of muscle mass is going to look slimmer than someone with a high body fat percentage.

    Instead of obsessing with a "real" number......look for comparisons. I weigh in the a.m.....same place, same time, same clothes. That tells me if I am making progress.
  • sunandmoons
    sunandmoons Posts: 415 Member
    I weigh once every two weeks on a Monday. Not going to be obsessive about it. Its a life long goal not a race. Real weight? Not sure what you mean.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    Depending on what you mean by real weight, one could even argue that your dieting weight is not your real weight either. Typically people that move to maintenance after losing weight jump up about 5 lbs as the they increase their glycogen stores and the water that goes with it.
  • jeepinshawn
    jeepinshawn Posts: 642 Member
    I weigh in the morning, naked after peeing. Usually do this a few times a week to make sure the number is trending down. It shows a pattern or trend and I take into account that throughout the day or week my weight will vary a few lbs.
  • faurotann
    faurotann Posts: 444 Member
    I weigh in the morning, every morning, just for consistency. Yesterday, I jumped on the scale in the afternoon for the first time in a long time. I was down half a pound from that morning. This morning, I'm back up to the same as I was yesterday. The point is, my morning weight is the one I use to track. Just for consistency. Maybe tomorrow morning I'll hit that low I had yesterday. Maybe not.
  • marcae70
    marcae70 Posts: 72 Member
    In the morning, naked, after pooping :smiley:
  • ohmscheeks
    ohmscheeks Posts: 840 Member
    I weigh in the morning before consuming anything. All that really matters is consistency; weighing yourself under the same conditions like: date/time, clothing (or lack thereof), scale, etc...
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    The idea that you aren't your 'real weight' first thing in the morning is just silly! :)

    I weigh every Friday morning as soon as I've woken up!

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