Scale: friend or foe?

hippofabulous
hippofabulous Posts: 54 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I find im stepping on ths scale several times through the day. A friend thinks its unhealthy, I use it as a motivator. If its up a bit I work harder. What are your thoughts?
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Replies

  • Bobskiframps
    Bobskiframps Posts: 39 Member
    Every time I step on the scales it says error.. I haven't been able to weigh myself for 2 months or so because of it. And measurring myself doesn't seem to Motivate me because I don't lose very much each time. x
  • alliekat893
    alliekat893 Posts: 19
    For me, foe. Instead of motivating me when it's up, it discourages me. I think, I worked so hard and it's up anyway so why bother. I hate that blasted scale! :grumble:
  • MrsHedgehog17
    MrsHedgehog17 Posts: 1
    Have to admit I get very dispondent if the scales tell me I have lost nothing. Weight fluctuates during the day anyway so I try to stick to once a week first thing in the morning.
  • darylinny
    darylinny Posts: 146
    Weight fluxuates constantly, it could either motivate or discourage me so I don't have a scale at home. I have been weighing myself once every two weeks (I'm in a competition), usually I do it once a month at the same time on the same day. But before that I weighed myself once a year at my annual physical.

    Constantly weighing myself wold drive me insane!! I'm a bigger fan of the tape measure!!
  • PinkEarthMama
    PinkEarthMama Posts: 987 Member
    You are not doing yourself any favours :-(


    I was a complusive scale stepper - two, three, five times a day. However, what I noticed was that I would be eating LESS so that I would weigh less on the scale... and dropped below 1000 calories a day. That caused me to nearly black out. FUN. Not.

    i TRY to not even step on 1 a day now. I'd like to get to be able to weigh just once a WEEK, but i'm a bit too paranoid and neurotic for that right now.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    It a useful tool, when used properly. Weighing yourself several times a day is exactly what you don't want to do. One a week at most, IMO.
  • jenrod1118
    jenrod1118 Posts: 150 Member
    foe! I hate the darn thing. I'm using the scale through the wii fit but even then i rarely jump on.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Weighing yourself several times during the day is only going to lead to frustration as your weight will fluctuate (within a fairly narrow range) throughout the day.

    Focus on improving your health rather than a number on a dial and weigh yourself once a week (same time every week).
  • SimplyShanRunning
    SimplyShanRunning Posts: 885 Member
    once a week works for me ..... Measuring seems to keep me levelheaded when Ive had a slight gain that can usually be attributed to water weight So friend I guess...Just a friend that tells me the truth and not what I want to hear :wink:
  • jrojeck
    jrojeck Posts: 51 Member
    I think it depends on the person. For me, it's been the way of gauging my status each morning. It often works as a reminder to not overdo it that day or to even motivate me to continue the good work!

    But I can see how it could drive someone else crazy when they aren't seeing the results they want. But I just liked having the information each day of where I was at. It's probably not a good idea to check each and every day if you're easily discouraged.
  • mamamc03
    mamamc03 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Neither....it's a tool that provides a reality check. You can chose to turn it into a person and create an unhealthy relationship with it....or use it for it's purpose...to remind you of why you are doing this. If it's up...it means OPEN YOU EYES AND NOT YOUR MOUTH, If it's down...it means GREAT JOB!! KEEP IT UP!
  • hippofabulous
    hippofabulous Posts: 54 Member
    Thanks do much for the input everyone! I think I'll refrain during the day/evening and just step on in the morning to track progress. Admittedly that's going to be hard for me.
  • RepsnSets
    RepsnSets Posts: 805 Member
    I weightlift so Im more of a measurer. Learnt that lesson the hard way......Scales did my head in I was hopping on them twice a day everyday.
  • dg09
    dg09 Posts: 754
    Friend.

    I also like learning about how my weight fluctuates throughout the day after certain events (eating, exercising, etc)
  • Emporor_Augustus
    Emporor_Augustus Posts: 32
    Foe.

    The scale lied to me when I was building muscle since it weighs more than fat. I was getting so discouraged when I saw the number didn't change that I completely ignored the inches that were coming off. I suppose it's different for everyone but getting obsessed with the number instead of how you FEEL is probably unhealthy.

    Just my thoughts.
  • xBeautifulBreakdown
    xBeautifulBreakdown Posts: 167 Member
    Friend! I weigh myself in the morning before I eat or drink anything. If my weight is up it's usually because I cheated the day before. It helps keep me on track. If I dont weigh daily I take an extra bite of food here and an extra one there without tracking and before you know it I am completely off track.
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
    Stepping on it multiple times throughout the day is kind of useless. It's going to go up probably each time you get on it. Use it in the mornings. I weigh every morning, even though everyones like blah blah that's so unhealthy blah blah. Depending on the day...it's my friend or it can be my foe. Lol
  • dad040859
    dad040859 Posts: 66
    Foe - I get a greater feeling of self-satisfaction from the way my clothes fit, the longer I can go on the treadmill or the bike, etc. Some stinking number on an electronic scale only discourages me, so I personally choose to weigh in as infrequently as possible.
  • mzhokie
    mzhokie Posts: 349 Member
    I jump on the scales at least once a day too. It's just what I do first thing in the morning. I don't let it get me down because I have all day to do what's right.

    I'm a numbers person. Which is why I like this site so much. I have a fitbit so I can constantly see my steps and calories burned anytime I want. It's a control issue for me at this point to keep me on track.

    I don't think it's a bad thing if you don't let it get to you. I just want to see the number. It's the number on Tues that I log in to keep up with my weight loss.
  • Raina27
    Raina27 Posts: 133
    A definite FOE for me which is why im only weighing in ONCE a month now!! :)
  • shanahan_09
    shanahan_09 Posts: 238 Member
    For myself, the scale is foe. I've kicked it out of the house till March 19--have no clue what I weigh. Reason I did this was because I would weigh myself all the time and it pretty much dictated my mood (lose a couple of lbs ♫ Joy to the world ♫ Or gain a lb back and all hell would break loose! :explode: )
    So, I'm hoping for a good surprise next Monday (have lost 8 inches so far). I'm finding myself less stressed with having the scale somewhere other than my home--actually quite enjoying this weight loss journey so far!
  • coraliethomas
    coraliethomas Posts: 336 Member
    Friend! I went off the deep and and was weighing an hour after every meal, but that was driving my crazy! Now I only weigh once a day.. after potty before breakfast, and then my hubby takes it and hides it :) It does help keep me on track though, I dont panic if its slightly up, and I only log my weight once a week on Sunday mornings.
  • blueyedwolfe
    blueyedwolfe Posts: 6 Member
    It can be your friend; BUT depending on the type of work out and diet you are on, it can be EXTREMELY discouraging! Take me for an instance: I was on the hCG drops for several months and had to weigh myself each day. The great thing was each day I saw anywhere from .5 to 3 lbs drop off. Now that I am done with the drops, I am on the p90x work out and getting ready to start a Insanity Challenge. I have learned though that with these work outs the scale can appear very EVIL. When you start an exercise program, you can easily put on 2 -10lbs with in the first week. Your body sees the start of the work out as a danger to the body and it is sending immense amounts of hormones and chemicals to try to protect the muscles from damage, which leads to excess lactic acid and LOTS of water retention. I have pretty much stopped looking at the scale, for at least the next two months. As long as I am feeling better, getting compliments DAILY and I am fitting into clothes I haven't been able to wear for 7 years, I am happy! Plus I am seeing inches coming off, because my muscle is replacing the fat; and muscle takes up less room than fat does (no muscle does not weigh more than fat..a pound of one thing is the same as a pound of another...the only difference is the amount of space that pound takes up...Ex: pound of feathers vs. pound of lead). I have went from 255lbs last February, to 183lbs in January....I have, since just the 17th of this February, lost 3 inches in my waist, 2.5 in my hips and 2 in my thighs...and even though my scale has fluctuated from 183 to 186 and back down, I am not worrying about it.
  • unmitigatedbadassery
    unmitigatedbadassery Posts: 653 Member
    the scale is a spiteful lying *****. That is all. :D
  • shayjgordon
    shayjgordon Posts: 90 Member
    I step on the scale a couple times a day, but I only record it on Monday's. I just find it interesting.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I find im stepping on ths scale several times through the day. A friend thinks its unhealthy, I use it as a motivator. If its up a bit I work harder. What are your thoughts?

    The ONLY way that this behavior is okay is if you are fully prepared to handle the ups which can be significant. Women can retain a LOT of extra weight throughout the day depending on where in your cycle you are and how much salty food you've had (fluid retention). My weight fluctuates a good 8 lbs throughout the day. If you can't handle that, weigh once per week (same time on same scale on a hard surface) and be done with it.

    You should be recording your weight in some consistent way either daily or at least weekly.

    Remember though that while the scale may go one way or another, that is no reflection of whether you are getting healthier or not. I highly suggest you set some fitness goals for yourself and work toward them while maintaining your calorie defiict. The weight will come off as a side effect, and you'll be so much healthier and happier.
  • tarabear826
    tarabear826 Posts: 36
    I barely weigh myself normally. I would like to avoid the fluctuation. I go by how I feel and how my clothes fit. =) I normally try to weigh once a month if not every 2 weeks.
  • Partyofpugs
    Partyofpugs Posts: 105
    I weigh in the mornings when I first get up and before I take my shower. I record my weight every Tuesday. I find it interesting to see how the number on the scale fluctuates according to what I've eaten. I don't obsess over it. It is what it is. If I go up on my Tuesday weigh in then I know I need to eat better and move more the following week so it' will go down again. I figure this is for life and I don't want to ever let pounds creep back on again.
  • RepsnSets
    RepsnSets Posts: 805 Member
    Foe - I get a greater feeling of self-satisfaction from the way my clothes fit, the longer I can go on the treadmill or the bike, etc. Some stinking number on an electronic scale only discourages me, so I personally choose to weigh in as infrequently as possible.

    Well said! :)
  • starsnyc21
    starsnyc21 Posts: 436 Member
    Friend - I weight myself 1x a day (early morning only) and helps keep me in check. This especially works after a binge/ cheat day. It's scares be straight. I have absolutely no problem with weighing myself 1x a day for the rest of my life.
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