Do you weigh yourself before or after you exercise?

GossInABox
GossInABox Posts: 58 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been with MFP for almost two months now and Thursday is my weigh-in day. I always weigh myself after I exercise and before I take a shower simply because that's most convenient for me. But should I be weighing myself first thing? I'm wondering if all that water I drink while exercising would effect the outcome at all. Not that I drink that much really...I'm still working on my stamina and have been doing 20 minutes lately (did my first half hour today!), but I'm wondering if I should switch it up a bit.

What do you guys do? And do you think it matters at all for accurate results?
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Replies

  • veggievixen79
    veggievixen79 Posts: 109 Member
    I've weighed myself before and after because I was wondering the same thing. There's never seemed to be any difference.
  • mommyoverboard
    mommyoverboard Posts: 105
    I was told to weigh yourself before. Curves is where I was told this, but I don't remember why (maybe someone else can say) I've always weighed in before to motivate myself since i'm working on that number...
  • FuzzieJelly
    FuzzieJelly Posts: 848 Member
    I weigh first thing in the morning before breakfast and before exercising. This is the time you weigh the least amount...so I've heard.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    Double post
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    The general advice I've always heard is to weigh yourself first thing in the morning, before you eat or drink anything. This is the most consistent method. If you can't do that for some reason, you want to weigh yourself at the same time each day, under similar conditions (e.g. before eating). In general, the concern is less that you have the wrong weight in absolute terms, and more that the weights are inconsistent, making it difficult for you to tell if you're gaining or losing weight. If you're drinking water while working out, but not drinking roughly the same amount of water at each workout, this means your weight will be inconsistent due to differing amounts of water consumed--which has nothing to do with actual weight loss. Even if you're not drinking much water during workouts, if you're sweating a lot during some workouts and not during others, you've lost water inconsistently.
  • RichardCh
    RichardCh Posts: 52
    I weigh myself after thats just because I feel more upbeat after a workout
  • RichardCh
    RichardCh Posts: 52
    I weigh myself after thats just because I feel more upbeat after a workout
  • debalina36
    debalina36 Posts: 13 Member
    I always heard to weigh yourself in the morning after using the bathroom and naked. Once a week is good too. I will do it next week when I am done with my "monthly" stuff. Ugh! :frown:
  • mhankosk
    mhankosk Posts: 532 Member
    I think all that matters is that you weigh yourself consistently. If you wait till after you work out, then do it then every week. Your weight will fluctuate during the day, so it's important to stay consistent. I weigh myself as soon as I get up in the morning, just before taking a shower (I workout in the evening).
  • Sh0ewh0re7_BlingItOn
    Sh0ewh0re7_BlingItOn Posts: 501 Member
    I normally weigh in first thing in the morning, after using the restroom and before eating, BUCK NAKED! LOL

    THE FOLLOWING INFO IS FROM MEDICINENET.COM:
    1.Weighing yourself first thing in the morning is usually best. Because of variations in food and fluid consumption, we often "gain" different amounts of weight throughout the day.
    2.If you're weighing frequently, remember that daily fluctuations in weight are common. Just because you're heavier today than yesterday doesn't mean your weight control program isn't working. Don't become a slave to the numbers.
    3.Monthly variations in weight are also common in menstruating women.
    4."Plateaus" in weight loss aren't necessarily bad. If you're exercising a lot, your weight may remain constant for a time even though you're still decreasing your body fat content and getting healthier.
    5.Finally, cues other than the numbers on the scale are equally important. How do you feel? Are your clothes getting looser or tighter? Do you feel stronger, healthier, leaner? Your own perceptions can be the most valuable tools to help you track your weight control progress

    XOXO, Sh0ewh0re7
  • sweetsensi
    sweetsensi Posts: 5
    I agree that first thing in the morning is the best, before you eat or drink anything. I saw a video recently (might have been on here) of a girl who weighed herself, drank two cups of water, then weighed herself again and had gained one pound just from drinking the water. The scale takes everything into account, so if you want your lowest weight of the day, that would be the time to do it!
  • katinka13
    katinka13 Posts: 41
    normally weigt is constantly fluctuating, so don't weigh yourself every day, it's too depressing! once a week is enough to give you a hint, and yes: morning is the best time for weighing.
  • chriscoates7025
    chriscoates7025 Posts: 131 Member
    I weigh myself first thing in the morning, every morning. It should not matter when or how often as long as when you do it is consistant
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I've been with MFP for almost two months now and Thursday is my weigh-in day. I always weigh myself after I exercise and before I take a shower simply because that's most convenient for me. But should I be weighing myself first thing? I'm wondering if all that water I drink while exercising would effect the outcome at all. Not that I drink that much really...I'm still working on my stamina and have been doing 20 minutes lately (did my first half hour today!), but I'm wondering if I should switch it up a bit.

    What do you guys do? And do you think it matters at all for accurate results?
    It matters not, but it's not smart to weigh yourself after a workout unless you are just trying to cheat your numbers down.

    Here is what's important.
    Do the same thing every time you weigh.

    The best time is right when you wake up after a good morning poo but before you eat.
    You want to be consistent in tracking weight, so weigh yourself the same time in the same way.
  • SeaSiren1
    SeaSiren1 Posts: 242 Member
    I have found the best time for me (when I do weigh in, which is not often), in the morning after my rest day.
  • mskatec22
    mskatec22 Posts: 138 Member
    I was told to weigh yourself before. Curves is where I was told this, but I don't remember why (maybe someone else can say) I've always weighed in before to motivate myself since i'm working on that number...

    I remember being told the same thing at Curves!! The explanation I recall has something to do with how the workout pumps up the muscles and actually makes you weigh more after you workout.

    I weigh myself before I work out too and for the same reason...got to work on that number!!!
  • houstonmacbro
    houstonmacbro Posts: 99 Member
    I tend to weigh myself once per day, at the same time every morning.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    I weigh in first thing in the morning, before doing anything, but as long as you are consistent it doesn't matter.
  • Kikilicious84
    Kikilicious84 Posts: 312
    I've been with MFP for almost two months now and Thursday is my weigh-in day. I always weigh myself after I exercise and before I take a shower simply because that's most convenient for me. But should I be weighing myself first thing? I'm wondering if all that water I drink while exercising would effect the outcome at all. Not that I drink that much really...I'm still working on my stamina and have been doing 20 minutes lately (did my first half hour today!), but I'm wondering if I should switch it up a bit.

    What do you guys do? And do you think it matters at all for accurate results?
    It matters not, but it's not smart to weigh yourself after a workout unless you are just trying to cheat your numbers down.

    Here is what's important.
    Do the same thing every time you weigh.

    The best time is right when you wake up after a good morning poo but before you eat.
    You want to be consistent in tracking weight, so weigh yourself the same time in the same way.

    If you are consistient and are seeing a consistient loss or gain with each weigh in...how is this "cheating the numbers down?"
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    I've been with MFP for almost two months now and Thursday is my weigh-in day. I always weigh myself after I exercise and before I take a shower simply because that's most convenient for me. But should I be weighing myself first thing? I'm wondering if all that water I drink while exercising would effect the outcome at all. Not that I drink that much really...I'm still working on my stamina and have been doing 20 minutes lately (did my first half hour today!), but I'm wondering if I should switch it up a bit.

    I do this
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    if i choose to weigh myself on any given day it has to be first thing in the morning after bathroom before i eat/drink
  • eeeekie
    eeeekie Posts: 1,011 Member
    I weigh before workout but I posted this same question a few weeks back because I weighed after out of curiosity and showed a 2lb loss. I didn't log it because Ive never weighed or logged after a workout therefore it wasn't accurate to my loss journal. However, I spoke with my friend who is a trainer and he said if you plan on weighing after a workout to make sure that's how you always weigh in. Make sure you're doing it at the same time every time also...be consistent.
  • Teresa527
    Teresa527 Posts: 62 Member
    My official weigh in is always first thing in the morning. I do weigh myself after I exercise and I am always 1-2 pounds less. I don't drink much water when I work out because I do Turbo Fire and I there's too much jumping around to have a belly full of water.
  • kodibear123
    kodibear123 Posts: 185 Member
    I weigh first thing in the morning.
  • rockstarginaa
    rockstarginaa Posts: 1,529 Member
    I now weigh in once a week. I was driving myself too crazy doing any more than that. Saturday morning when I wake up is my weigh in time.
  • Prek2005
    Prek2005 Posts: 58
    I weigh first thing in the morning before breakfast and before exercising. This is the time you weigh the least amount...so I've heard.


    This is exactly what I do!
  • khaleesinoodlebelly
    khaleesinoodlebelly Posts: 165 Member
    I try not to weigh myself right before i work out because sometimes it discourages me. So it tends to be after :) otherwise it is usually first thing in the morning before I get all clean and such.
  • Brendanery1967
    Brendanery1967 Posts: 21 Member
    I am going to weigh myself soon I was 187 a couple of weeks ago and them I am thinking of weighing myself once at the end of every month.@shoewhore....Great info!
  • jimmigil
    jimmigil Posts: 1
    It's important to know that weight doesn't determine health. Muscle is heavier than fat, so the more muscle the heavy you may appear. Eventually you body will balance out and depending on your routine" type of foods-including the amounts-and type of workout( cardio or eight training or both)" you may see a higher out put in time. Healthy weight loss is the key to maintaining it off in the long run. Weighing in is just a tool not the final word.... It should be on how you feel first and how you look second. At least that's how I see it...
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    First thing in the morning after peeing.
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