2 Questions!!!

Hi everyone :)
First question:
When I was having a look through my diary and seclected the nutrians option, I've noticed that over a few days my "goals" (like protean, carbs, fat, sodium ect) have been getting less and less… is that supposed to happen? The more you loose the less your goals?

Second question:
Since I've been loosing weight, I've stated going on the scales a lot!!!! At first, it was once a week, then after a little while, it was every morning, now I seem to be on every morning and every night… it's turning into an obsession!!!!! Does anyone else do this/did this? Do you think it helps you better or worse in he long run?


Thanks in advance :) x

Replies

  • allenpriest
    allenpriest Posts: 1,102 Member
    Obsessing over the scale is not a good thing. Let it go.
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    I have been on MFP for over 4 years. Lost over 1/2 of my current body weight.
    The past 2-1/2 years on maintenance.
    I have weighed myself every morning since I began. It helps keep me focused on my eating habits and goals.
    It is not for everyone, but works for me.
  • ziggy2006
    ziggy2006 Posts: 255 Member
    1. Yes, as your weight decreases your calorie goal is adjusted, as it takes fewer calories to maintain a lighter body. Since your calorie goal goes down, your macro goals are affected.
    2. As long as weighing yourself isn't negatively impacting you, it is fine. I'm not sure there is much value in weighing yourself under different conditions (different times of day with various amounts of food/drink consumed), but that kind of thing isn't problematic for some people. If the reading on the scale starts to bother you, then you might want to take action to limit the frequency with which you step on the scale.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    smence wrote: »
    Hi everyone :)
    First question:
    When I was having a look through my diary and seclected the nutrians option, I've noticed that over a few days my "goals" (like protean, carbs, fat, sodium ect) have been getting less and less… is that supposed to happen? The more you loose the less your goals?

    Yep, the less you weigh, the less you need to eat.
    smence wrote: »
    Second question:
    Since I've been loosing weight, I've stated going on the scales a lot!!!! At first, it was once a week, then after a little while, it was every morning, now I seem to be on every morning and every night… it's turning into an obsession!!!!! Does anyone else do this/did this? Do you think it helps you better or worse in he long run?

    Obsession with the scales is the road to madness.

    Personally, I weight multiple times per week but I'm experienced enough to take what I see on the scales and compare against:
    • The trend over a few weeks
    • What I see in the mirror
    • How my clothes fit
    • My measurements (I use a tape measure and record 5 body measurements)

    I don't see a problem with frequent weighing (although question the need for multi day weigh-ins!) in itself as long as you can handle and respond appropriately to the inevitable fluctuations. If you feel you can't then less frequent weighing is for you.

  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Yes your goals go down as you lose weight. This is because you require fewer calories to maintain your new bodyweight.

    Obsessing about your weight isn't healthy however weighing daily is fine.
  • JosetteGetsFit
    JosetteGetsFit Posts: 55 Member
    You have to reset your goals when you log your weight. *just reminded me I have to reset mine! ;)
  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
    +1 to all of the above.

    I weigh pretty much daily. I use Libra - this app allows you to enter your weight daily, and shows you your weight based off of trends. There are others, Happy Scale is one, I think? That way with hormonal fluctuations I don't gasp at momentary jumps, etc.

    Is it discouraging you when you weigh that many times a day? Don't do it. Try and weigh daily, and take lots of pics/measurements to compare that to as well.
  • AlisonH729
    AlisonH729 Posts: 558 Member
    I agree with a lot of above. If weighing stresses you out put the scale someplace where you physically need to take it out to use it.

    When our scale sat out in our bathroom (we're redoing it currently) I would step on it all the time. But I was more intrigued at how my weight would fluctuate throughout the day/week. I started recognizing trends, and even got pretty good at guessing what my weight would be based on what I had been eating or doing. That probably still counts as obsessing but it didn't cause me anxiety.
  • hypodonthaveme
    hypodonthaveme Posts: 215 Member
    Pick a day to officially weigh in and track it only on that day. I suffer water retention so this is what I do ; I weigh daily, but only mark my weight on the first of the month that is my official weigh in day. That way I can monitor my daily fluctuations without stressing about it long term. Stress isn't healthy and neither is obsessing about it. If you are weighing your foods and not going over your daily limits , what do you have to fear? It's calories in calories out. If you exercise every day or most days of the week all the better. I will also add, weigh after your first bathroom break of the day. Most people do this in the morning before coffee or food. If you want to see how much weight that extra salt added in water then weigh in the evening, but don't beat yourself up. Remember salt doesn't always put a water gain on the same day you had too much. Sometimes it takes a day or two. Once again , don't stress. Monitor your weightloss by your official weigh in days.
  • tbhausen
    tbhausen Posts: 9 Member
    edited July 2016
    I weigh Tuesdays and Fridays. Once a week is a long time to wait to see how you're doing; more than twice a week seems as though normal variabilities could cloud trends. That's what my common sense tells me, anyhow.
  • icemom011
    icemom011 Posts: 999 Member
    Scale fluctuations used to bother and frusrate me until i started to keep track of it. Logged in daily weight, every morning before breakfast or coffee, and saw how it fluctuates with a definite trend downwards. Also, it helps to scroll through the logged entries, going back a month or two, when I think I've stalled, to see the progress is still being made.
  • SamanthaLouiseMence
    SamanthaLouiseMence Posts: 663 Member
    edited July 2016
    Maybe I should've made the post about the weighing a little clearer
    I only log my weight on a Tuesday morning, after I've used the toilet and before I eat or drink anything
    I do weigh myself every morning though… I've just recently started to weigh myself on an evening before bed, to see what foods are effecting my weight more x
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    smence wrote: »
    Maybe I should've made the post about the weighing a little clearer
    I only log my weight on a Tuesday morning, after I've used the toilet and before I eat or drink anything
    I do weigh myself every morning though… I've just recently started to weigh myself on an evening before bed, to see what foods are effecting my weight more x

    IMHO, that's still bordering on overkill. Effects of food as far as water retention will be immediate, but not calorie or fat content. Those effects won't show for several days. Weight loss isn't immediate and neither is weight gain. I'd stop weighing at night for a while. When you see weekly and monthly weight fluctuations look back at your diary at the past week or month. That will be more informative.
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    I weigh every day but only first thing in the morning after you go to the bathroom before you eat or drink. It keeps me motivated and on track...weighing at night makes no sense though...you're full of water and half digested food. There's no point.

    Also, I've noticed that my nutrient goals change depending on how much exercise I log.

    :)