Ditching the scale.

JustDoIt987
JustDoIt987 Posts: 120 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
Im thinking whether or not I should stop weighing myself. I am tired of the scale determining my mood for the day. Plus , birth control makes me retain a lot of water so I gain about 3 lbs while on the pill. Anyone here that does not use the scale? If so, how do you check whether you lost/gained weight?

Replies

  • RedheadedPrincess14
    RedheadedPrincess14 Posts: 415 Member
    I don't use a scale. I measure with a measurement tape once a month
  • jdevergillo7
    jdevergillo7 Posts: 315 Member
    I threw it out for same reasons you said.... .5 pounds would make me angry for the day and I couldn't live like that. I go by the mirror, my pants fitting, and just overall knowing I'm putting in hard work
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    JustDoIt987 wrote: »
    Im thinking whether or not I should stop weighing myself. I am tired of the scale determining my mood for the day.

    You always have complete choice over your mood. :)
    What many do.. including myself.. is to look at the overall weight trend from week to week, to not take day-to-day variances so seriously. You can use a trend-tracking app or website (TrendWeight, Libra, etc). Here's an example of a trend graph:

    5S2xqU9.jpg
  • Ocean_Breezy
    Ocean_Breezy Posts: 55 Member
    The scale is annoying, but think of it as fractions of a pound lost = many pounds lost over time. Don't give up.
  • RosieRose7673
    RosieRose7673 Posts: 438 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    No way. It's the most simplest way to gauge weight loss/gain. I can pack on quite a few lbs before my jeans start getting too tight.

    As mentioned, using a weight trending app smooths out those highs and lows, and helps very much in avoiding the number on the scale freak outs!

    Agreed. Every time I ditch the scale, I pack on far too many pounds before I catch it. In fact, that's why I'm back to reducing my calories currently.

    Just try to weigh yourself less often. I weigh about every week or so now. It's easy to get caught up in the numbers day to day. Some people can weigh daily and not be bothered. Others, not so much.
  • Windrunner666
    Windrunner666 Posts: 91 Member
    I have simmilar issues. It's better to measure yourself, the progress is more visible like that. I do that every week..ish.
  • ferd_ttp5
    ferd_ttp5 Posts: 246 Member
    I never anoyed the scale, i think because i never experienced some weight flactuations.
  • LucasWilland
    LucasWilland Posts: 68 Member
    The scale is one data point, but is not the be all end all. As I explained before, scale weight can fluctuate based on bowel content, water retention, intake of salty foods, menstrual cycle, etc.. A person can easily go up in scale weight 4 pounds a day without any change in fat-free mass or fat mass. It is also possible that females in their menstrual cycle will hold up to 7 pounds of water a day. This can add a lot of extra mass without any change in fat mass or lean tissue.

    If you are going to weigh yourself, don't do it on a daily basis. Take a weekly average first thing in the morning after using the toilet, and compare it to the previous weekly average. If weight is not going anywhere, then I would consider taking body measurements of the waist, hips, neck, etc.. this will determine if you are losing fat during times of extreme water retention.
  • LucasWilland
    LucasWilland Posts: 68 Member
    edited April 2017
    Also, I would like to point out that it is entirely possible for two people to look different at the same weight because one may have more muscle mass than the other, which is why weight alone is a useless indicator.
  • MaddMaestro
    MaddMaestro Posts: 405 Member
    I WOULD suggest weighing yourself at the end of the day, but then I guess going to bed mad isn't any better ^_^;;
  • LucasWilland
    LucasWilland Posts: 68 Member
    MaddMaestro wrote: »
    I WOULD suggest weighing yourself at the end of the day, but then I guess going to bed mad isn't any better ^_^;;

    Why is that a good idea? After all that glycogen from the food and carbs eaten during the day, the scale could easily go up 2 pounds or more. You want to reduce as many outliers as possible to ensure that you are progressing.
  • 1234newman
    1234newman Posts: 31 Member
    I just installed AKTI BMI. Read the dial, ouch!

    I understand the problems of varying weight. Personally I Think it will bolster my resolve. I need all of the help I can get. No
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    Post scale regardless of lbs put on some mood cheering music
  • 1234newman
    1234newman Posts: 31 Member
    amtyrell wrote: »
    Post scale regardless of lbs put on some mood cheering music

    I know what you are saying. Appreciate your nice dry sense of humour too :) But a bit desperate to get the weight down.

  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Everyone has to do what works best for their individual personality. I weigh everyday, but I have been at this for four years and completely understand the daily fluctuations, how much I have to overeat to gain, how much fluid I retain from a night of pizza or Mexican and so on. I also use Happy Scale app, it gives you trend weight so even if my morning measurement is .5 higher, my trend weight will usually be lower. That's good data. I believe one of the biggest hurdles to making these changes permanent is getting over the daily emotional roller coaster, once that is done things get a lot easier. At least it did for me.
  • LessCookiess
    LessCookiess Posts: 538 Member
    edited April 2017
    I personally wouldn't last time I did that came back with more than a 10 pound gain. The scale is what helps me ensure that I'm on the right track and helps me make food choices!
  • 85Cardinals
    85Cardinals Posts: 733 Member
    I just find a circus and have them guess my weight. Close enough!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I ditched the scales years ago after seemingly having to diet just to maintain - shortly afterwards I hit my highest ever weight. :(

    I weigh daily, understand and accept that my weight fluctuates for many reasons.
    To me it's data and an accountability tool and holds no emotional baggage. The number neither makes or breaks my day or my mood.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I did not use a scale for long periods. I maintained or gained. I never lost weight avoiding the scale.
    You don't have to weigh daily. I weigh once a week.

  • pbbananacoffeechocolate
    pbbananacoffeechocolate Posts: 44 Member
    edited April 2017
    I'm a daily weigher. I like gathering data frequently, it gives me information about how my weight fluctuates in response to many things. How my weight varies the morning after an intense exercise day vs a rest day, a few days of overindulging, TOM, etc. The more information I gather, the less surprised I am by the number on the scale.
  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    I know what I've been eating and just assign variances to water weight. 1-2 days before my official weekly weigh in I may lay off the salt and eat a banana. I don't lose exactly what MFP predicted over time, but it's close enough.
  • peacefulsong
    peacefulsong Posts: 223 Member
    LucasWilland wrote: »
    The scale is one data point, but is not the be all end all. As I explained before, scale weight can fluctuate based on bowel content, water retention, intake of salty foods, menstrual cycle, etc.. A person can easily go up in scale weight 4 pounds a day without any change in fat-free mass or fat mass. It is also possible that females in their menstrual cycle will hold up to 7 pounds of water a day. This can add a lot of extra mass without any change in fat mass or lean tissue.

    If you are going to weigh yourself, don't do it on a daily basis. Take a weekly average first thing in the morning after using the toilet, and compare it to the previous weekly average. If weight is not going anywhere, then I would consider taking body measurements of the waist, hips, neck, etc.. this will determine if you are losing fat during times of extreme water retention.

    All of this is precisely why I DO weigh every day. My weight can fluctuate so wildly from one day to the next. If I weigh only on Saturdays, for example, I might spend the week doing everything right and see myself 2 pounds up from the previous week and get incredibly discouraged. If I weigh every day I might know that my weight was on a general downward trajectory for most of the week but then I had a big spike for whatever reason right before I weighed for the week. Then I won't be so concerned about it. I find daily weighing much easier and much less stressful for that reason.
  • JustDoIt987
    JustDoIt987 Posts: 120 Member
    Thank you everyone for your help ! I decided to give myself a weight range , and not a specific number and use my Fitbit Aria and the Fitbit App to track my weight
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    No, not me! it would be too easy to gain several pounds if I didn't weigh regularly. I like to keep my goal range to +/- 5lbs so it takes me being on the ball most of the time to do that.
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