bmeadows380 wrote: »

I've read the article at the beginning of this thread several times, but I find myself needing to go back again once in a while because what it says doesn't always stay in my head (definitely had to re-read it last week with the temp weight frustration!)

I'd attempted to use my weekly average weight before as my weekly record weight, but slipped out of it pretty quickly as my natural impulse to record the lowest reading overcame my intentions, but I think I'm going to try it again, since I'm already stepping on the scale daily, anyway. Maybe this will help me establish the amount of weight I'm losing with the increase in activity and smooth out the water weight gains?

Thursday morning, the scale read 267.6; this morning 261.9 - that looks like a 5.7 lb loss in 72 hours!

I know some people use weekly averages. I don't see it. When I am trying to lose the only number I trust, unless I know I am dehydrated, is the lowest number. Time will flatten your fluctuations.

In a 7 day period I may have zero, one, or sometimes two numbers that could be usable. The rest are noise. I record the noise, sometimes I try to make some sense out of it, but mostly it is random.

Have you ever checked out one of those weight scale apps?

bmeadows380 wrote: »

NovusDies wrote: »

bmeadows380 wrote: »

I've read the article at the beginning of this thread several times, but I find myself needing to go back again once in a while because what it says doesn't always stay in my head (definitely had to re-read it last week with the temp weight frustration!)

I'd attempted to use my weekly average weight before as my weekly record weight, but slipped out of it pretty quickly as my natural impulse to record the lowest reading overcame my intentions, but I think I'm going to try it again, since I'm already stepping on the scale daily, anyway. Maybe this will help me establish the amount of weight I'm losing with the increase in activity and smooth out the water weight gains?

Thursday morning, the scale read 267.6; this morning 261.9 - that looks like a 5.7 lb loss in 72 hours!

I know some people use weekly averages. I don't see it. When I am trying to lose the only number I trust, unless I know I am dehydrated, is the lowest number. Time will flatten your fluctuations.

In a 7 day period I may have zero, one, or sometimes two numbers that could be usable. The rest are noise. I record the noise, sometimes I try to make some sense out of it, but mostly it is random.

Have you ever checked out one of those weight scale apps?

I record once a week every Thursday as my compare day though I do step on the scale pretty much daily. I chose Thursday because I'm typically up on Mondays, and my lowest weight of the week is on Fridays, I so figure that recording on Thursday gives me 3 days to offload weekend excesses (obviously doesn't always work.....) but I have had weeks where Thursday will spike so I look like I've stalled out or gained when Friday or Saturday will be back down. I hate it when that happens.....The guy at physiconomics recommended the average thing, so I thought, what the hay, can't hurt to give it a try for a few weeks.

I tried looking around for a few of them, but don't want to pay for it. Is there a good free one out there?

I am for anything that helps and this seems like an experiment worth trying. I guess because I am accustomed trusting that I am losing weight even when the scale doesn't relay that information for sometimes weeks at a time I think more monthly than weekly.

I am not aware of a free trending app. I tried a couple of them myself but none of them do for me what my spreadsheet does so I have not used one for more than a few weeks I suggest it because it does seem to help others.

speyerj wrote: »

I don't know who says only weigh monthly. To me that is a recipe for weight gain. I need the feedback. I just have learned to filter out the noise and see the trends. Technology helps a lot with that.

There are "experts" who say you must weigh daily, others that say no more than weekly, some monthly, and some never. My non-expert opinion is to do what is comfortable and don't force yourself into doing something some expert says.

If you need to break yourself of bad habits like weighing multiple times a day, overreacting to the results, or using it as your sole motivation it might be a good idea to weigh less often for a time. I had a pretty bad relationship with the scale that was improved by weighing less often. Now I am fine to do it daily.

howie6267 wrote: »

I agree @NovusDies. Do what is right for you as long as it is not harmful. @speyerj I don't know if a lot say Monthly but through the years I have heard it from many sources. They say focusing to much on the number is not healthy. I weigh once in the morning and once at night. I just like to see the numbers and how they fluctuate. I find it interesting that I can weigh 5 lbs heavier at night and then be 5 lbs down in the morning. I also find in interesting that sometimes after a treat meal I can be up as much as 10 lbs the next day but still lose weight for the week when I weigh in the following Friday. It does not affect my feelings or dictate staying on or going off plan I just like numbers. I guess that is why calorie counting is just second nature to me.

@howie6267

I have heard it from various sources over the years. I have heard to same about weekly, and daily. Very often they have studies that "prove" which is most often used by successful people.

It is the definition of success that is always the problem. The sad truth is that I can watch the habits of 100 people as they try to lose weight for 4 to 6 months and during that trial and shortly thereafter most of them will fail to go the distance and many of those that do will regain. That is why so much of this group is focused on the mental aspects of losing weight not the methodology and mechanics. With the right mindset I can weigh myself daily, weekly, or monthly and/or I can alternate through multiple mainstream diets and still lose weight. Without the right mindset I am right back at risk of yo-yoing and all or nothing thinking. How often we weigh and, as long as we eat in a way that satiates, the food is the smallest part of the equation. Internet blogs, magazine covers, and weight loss "breakthroughs" make money keeping our focus on the incidentals.