What is the best way to weigh yourself, and should you?

dponder127
dponder127 Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
is their a particular scale that best at giving you an accurate reading? Also weight seems to fluctuates so much I am having a hard time assessing how much progress I am making. Any Help?

Replies

  • simplyAmanda89
    simplyAmanda89 Posts: 37 Member
    your weight actually fluctuates throughout the day. any google search can tell you that but your best get it's first thing in the morningor just the same time every day
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I can't comment on scale effectiveness, but I think generally speaking:

    1) Don't get too caught up in bodyweight. Use it as one of many metrics. I would also use the mirror, clothing fit, photographs, body measurements, gym progress, etc etc as other metrics.

    2) Weigh yourself periodically but with consistency. For example, before you start eating for the day, after using the restroom and without clothing. Doing it consistently like this will tend to reduce fluctuations. You will STILL have quite a bit of variance due to water weight. EDIT: Weekly or twice per week would be reasonable. Five times per day isn't, IMO.

    Look at long term trends and disregard daily fluctuations. Watch the forums and every day you will see threads saying "HELP! I GAINED TWO POUNDS TODAY!". These people could benefit from the above advice.


    Good luck!
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    I just got a digital scale from target. Also for weighing yourself, try weighing once a week and taking your measurements once every 2 weeks. My weight fluctuates too much for day to day weighing, but by the end of the week there will be a change from the previous week.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    I agree with Sidesteal.

    Weight yourself on the SAME scale on the SAME day of the week each week at the SAME time. This will yield the most accurate results you can achieve.

    Additionally, do NOT use that as your only determinate. Get a tape measure and measure your hips, waist, and chest. If you feel like it, you can add in arms, thighs, and neck as well. Seeing these numbers go down while the scale stays the same is a good sign usually!
  • Afrikangirl
    Afrikangirl Posts: 54 Member
    Every morning after the bathroom business before I eat anything! Weighing every morning helps me stay focused on what I am working towards.
  • RealWomenLovePitbulls
    RealWomenLovePitbulls Posts: 729 Member
    a digital scale to me is better than the kind with the little wheel thing in it. when we had that kind, it always seemed to somehow be off and also depending on what angle u look at it, it kinda looks like it's on a different number. i love having the digital scale, and i always step on and off a couple of times to make sure it's right
  • RealWomenLovePitbulls
    RealWomenLovePitbulls Posts: 729 Member
    a digital scale to me is better than the kind with the little wheel thing in it. when we had that kind, it always seemed to somehow be off and also depending on what angle u look at it, it kinda looks like it's on a different number. i love having the digital scale, and i always step on and off a couple of times to make sure it's right
  • dponder127
    dponder127 Posts: 2
    Thank you guys so much!! this is very helpful I think I was weighing to often and not at consistent times. Great advice
  • mishkat
    mishkat Posts: 99 Member
    I agree with Sidesteal.

    Weight yourself on the SAME scale on the SAME day of the week each week at the SAME time. This will yield the most accurate results you can achieve.

    Additionally, do NOT use that as your only determinate. Get a tape measure and measure your hips, waist, and chest. If you feel like it, you can add in arms, thighs, and neck as well. Seeing these numbers go down while the scale stays the same is a good sign usually!

    This is what I do, totally agree. I weigh myself around the same time every morning, could do less but I like to keep an online tracker for daily weight so I do everyday. Just make sure you are consistent, no clothes, after going to bathroom etc.

    And tape measurement is a nice tool to add, measure every 2-3 weeks if you want, or at the beginning and end of month.
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    I have a digital bathroom scale and a Wii Fit board. The Wii Fit is the one I use, since it weighs me the same as my most recent doctor's visit. (Also because my bathroom scale is two pounds heavier. Ha!)

    I agree that you should always weigh yourself at the same time of day with the same amount of clothing on (or off). No more than once a day or you'll drive yourself crazy. Just know that if you weigh every day, it WILL fluctuate.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    My husband bought a WW digital scale ..... we think it's pretty accurate ...... since weight fluctuates all day long, consistency is key ...... we weigh ourselves a few times a week, early morning, before meals, no clothes :bigsmile:

    Happy losing !
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I use a digital scale and weigh daily - immediately upon waking up and after going to the bathroom, with no clothes. I've tested the scale I use and know that the reading will be the exact same no matter how many times I step on/off it, so once is enough. Weighing on different scales and/or at different times of the day will yield inconsistent results. Also, if you're an obsessive type who will get all freaked out about daily fluctuations due to hormonal/hydration/whatever issues, then don't weigh daily - do it weekly, monthly or whatever suits you best.

    As others have said, a tape measure and/or skinfold calipers (and a mirror) are better tools to determine the change in body composition than a scale alone. I take measurements and skinfold readings monthly to assess how things are going.
  • BRANDYGR8MOVES
    BRANDYGR8MOVES Posts: 87 Member
    I can't comment on scale effectiveness, but I think generally speaking:

    1) Don't get too caught up in bodyweight. Use it as one of many metrics. I would also use the mirror, clothing fit, photographs, body measurements, gym progress, etc etc as other metrics.

    2) Weigh yourself periodically but with consistency. For example, before you start eating for the day, after using the restroom and without clothing. Doing it consistently like this will tend to reduce fluctuations. You will STILL have quite a bit of variance due to water weight. EDIT: Weekly or twice per week would be reasonable. Five times per day isn't, IMO.

    Look at long term trends and disregard daily fluctuations. Watch the forums and every day you will see threads saying "HELP! I GAINED TWO POUNDS TODAY!". These people could benefit from the above advice.


    Good luck!


    i so agree the you here the scale has not been nice to me at all been at this for almost 2 months and have onlt lost 4 pounds but i feel my clothes getting bigger and i mesure myself to get a little boost

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