How often do you weigh?

[KayPS]

I'm anxious to see results, and I know every day isn't recommended. I just can't help myself. Yesterday morning I was 148.6. This morning I was 149.8. I followed all my macros to the T yesterday. Why would I have a 1.2 pound gain in one day? That seems crazy. I know I should stop stressing about it, I'm just confused.

[tara19]

I'm anxious to see results, and I know every day isn't recommended. I just can't help myself. Yesterday morning I was 148.6. This morning I was 149.8. I followed all my macros to the T yesterday. Why would I have a 1.2 pound gain in one day? That seems crazy. I know I should stop stressing about it, I'm just confused.

Weight loss isn't linear.
Unfortunately, you will see fluctuations daily.
Think about water/sodium/carbs.
They all can play tricks on your body.
I admit I weigh every two/three days. If it increases or doesn't change over the span of a few weeks you should look at your diet again

[KayPS]

Weight loss isn't linear.
Unfortunately, you will see fluctuations daily.
Think about water/sodium/carbs.
They all can play tricks on your body.
I admit I weigh every two/three days. If it increases or doesn't change over the span of a few weeks you should look at your diet again

Thank you! The good news is that I'm still down 0.2 from the beginning of the week. That's about 1/3 of my weekly weight loss goal (0.7). Again, I'm trying not to obsess, but this is the most motivated I've ever been, especially when it comes to nutrition. It's more about making sure I'm doing the right things.

[oregonchick76]

Weigh once a week. Put the scale on the shelf in a cupboard on the other days. And you will still not see a consistent .7 loss each week. Some weeks it'll be more, some weeks it'll be less. Especially women have the capacity to carry and drop 2-4lbs of extra water at any given time, so scale readings can be off by a lot. You have to track it over several weeks.

[kjake55]

I'm anxious to see results, and I know every day isn't recommended. I just can't help myself. Yesterday morning I was 148.6. This morning I was 149.8. I followed all my macros to the T yesterday. Why would I have a 1.2 pound gain in one day? That seems crazy. I know I should stop stressing about it, I'm just confused.

I used to have a scale obsession. It's a difficult habit to break but you'll feel very free once you have. It comes down to a matter of trusting yourself not to let yourself down. The validation that we hope for from the scale simply won't be there on a daily basis and will get very discouraging.

Ask yourself this, what is the scale going to tell me today that I didn't know yesterday? Nothing. Is it going to confirm that you did "it" right yesterday? You already know the answer to that, either yes or no. Hell it isn't even going to take into consideration TOM or any other factor that is going to cause a minimal but understandable weight gain? But it will make you feel bad about yourself...trust me...been there/done that It won't tell you anything you don't already know but it will cough up an arbitrary number like a sick person coughs up phlemg. (Gross I know. I'm hoping to cure you through disgust ~ lol ~ )

You're going to hear this a billion-trillion times...FUK dat scale! Use your mirrors, clothing, measurments and self awareness as your guide. It's more accurate and you will be much happier! Most of all trust yourself in your journey and in the end you'll be very proud of your results, this I can promise. All the best.

[tara19]

I'm going to get in on the phuk the scale motion.
I'm bulking and have no desire to see what I weigh.
Throwing away my batteries asap.

[KayPS]

Thanks, ladies! I knew what the answer was going to be, but it helps to actually read it. I think I'll stick to weighing once per week for now, just to keep up with my BF% and goals. Maybe less as time goes on. You're all the best!

[Ma110W]

My weigh ins are sporadic. I put my scale up in the hall closet, and I forget that it's in there. Occasionally I'll pull it down and step on it. I weigh myself more at my friends house than I do my own, she has a scale in each bathroom, and Ill see it and think, "Oh I haven't weighed myself for a couple of weeks..."

Like the others have posted, it's best not to weight daily, it wont tell you much, just drive you crazy and could make you a bit number obsessed.

[srb04e]

I'm anxious to see results, and I know every day isn't recommended. I just can't help myself. Yesterday morning I was 148.6. This morning I was 149.8. I followed all my macros to the T yesterday. Why would I have a 1.2 pound gain in one day? That seems crazy. I know I should stop stressing about it, I'm just confused.

I totally understand you... I weigh myself everyday and its always different and it can change my whole day. As hard as it is put your scale out of sight. Weigh yourself once a week. Pick a day and do it that day at the same time every week.

[EPolis13]

I weigh myself 0 times a week. 0.

[mediumraw]

Once a week at the most, usually every two weeks. I keep my scale on a top shelf of my closet. If it's right there in the bathroom I'll be tempted to get on it.

[LaDonnaMF]

weigh in on the 30th/1st and 15th... so 2 times a month - since I started doing this I've been losing. LOL! I also take measurements once a month.

I was losing motivation to see the ups and downs on the scale regardless of what I was doing in terms of eating and exercising so it has really helped to not do so even weekly.... however, this could vary from person to person and I'm not trying to say NOT weight will be your magic thing to see weightloss but it may help you to focus on your workouts and eating well.

Good luck

[MrsBru]

I'm so sensitive to water retention, sodium really affects me, as do certain workouts....for some reason I tend to retain more water after certain workouts. So weighing more than once a week really doesn't do anything for me. In fact, once a week is probably still too often. I have a light workout Friday morning, so I weigh myself once a week on Saturday mornings as soon as I get up. I log the number in my worksheet, and forget about it until the next week.

[Vicque]

I can be somewhat scale obsessed to and can have wild fluctuations due to water weight. I find it easier not to weigh when I'm trying to maintain (as long as my clothes still fit, I'm good!) than it is when I'm trying to lose. I'm on a cut right now and I'm trying to weigh twice a week at the beginning and then mid-week, instead of every day like in the past. The scale is in my bathroom, and I swear it's mocking me every time I walk by!

[heidismommy]

Years ago I had a major obsession with the number on the scale and would weigh myself daily/multiple times per day sometimes. Now I weigh myself once every couple of months, just to see where I am, though the exact number isn't as important as the general direction in which I'm going.

I wouldn't recommend weighing more than once per week. Pick a day of the week and try to weigh only on that day and under similar conditions (morning, after voiding, before breakfast). Weight can fluctuate daily from just simple things like fluid retention.

[penny0527]

Years ago I had a major obsession with the number on the scale and would weigh myself daily/multiple times per day sometimes. Now I weigh myself once every couple of months, just to see where I am, though the exact number isn't as important as the general direction in which I'm going.

I wouldn't recommend weighing more than once per week. Pick a day of the week and try to weigh only on that day and under similar conditions (morning, after voiding, before breakfast). Weight can fluctuate daily from just simple things like fluid retention.

I agree. I don't own a scale and I never have. I weigh myself at work. If I forget its weigh day and drink or eat before I weigh or I had a lot of carbs the day before I won't even weigh myself. Why when the conditions are different than the last time I weighed? If I am cutting calories that is the only time I weigh weekly. Any other time I do it once a month or so.

[oregonchick76]

I'm going to get in on the phuk the scale motion.
I'm bulking and have no desire to see what I weigh.
Throwing away my batteries asap.

I agree with you but I'd totally save the batteries for something else, lol.

[Hannah82]

I'm anxious to see results, and I know every day isn't recommended. I just can't help myself. Yesterday morning I was 148.6. This morning I was 149.8. I followed all my macros to the T yesterday. Why would I have a 1.2 pound gain in one day? That seems crazy. I know I should stop stressing about it, I'm just confused.

When I get like this ^ I take a deep breath and wait a week to weigh again before I officially start double checking my numbers. Also depends where you are in your cycle.

[Hannah82]

I'm going to get in on the phuk the scale motion.
I'm bulking and have no desire to see what I weigh.
Throwing away my batteries asap.

Here here!

[tara19]

I agree with you but I'd totally save the batteries for something else, lol.

Too late. Oops

[discdoggie]

I weigh daily.


I am aware of fluctuations so going up a few pounds doesn't freak me. Unless it STAYS up, then it's time to do something.


It keeps me accountable. The scale is another tool in measuring progress. It's not an Evil Monster. Unless YOU make it one. I refuse to let an inanimate object have such control over me I need to lock it away in a closet.

[EPolis13]

I agree with you but I'd totally save the batteries for something else, lol.

I see what you did there

[penny0527]

I see what you did there

I did too I just wasn't sure if she was thinking what I was thinking so I didn't say anything. For all I know she wants to put them in her remote control car.

[mynameisfred]

Everyone has already said it, but you need to worry less. My weight can fluctuate anywhere between 135 and 140 pounds depending on water weight, if I'm on my period or not, sodium, etc. I think weighing anymore than once a week is excessive. I admit, I've done it before too...but don't let the number of the scale distract you from your goals or how far you've come already.

[o0o0]

I weigh everyday but only on weekdays - right after coming home from work that is always about the same time. I do this for consistency. I know my weight also fluctuates like many others, so I don't pay too much attentions to daily changes.

[carbsih8]

If it has a positive impact on your goals, then you should do it as often as you like. Personally, i only do it once a month because it does my head in if i do it too often.

The anticipation is fun and since i am losing weight, it's really motivational and a good reward for my self control when i see a decent sized loss. If i did it daily and went up it would bother me even though i know it's normal.

Whatever works best for you.

[penny0527]

For those who weigh everyday and you see fluctuations how is that helpful?

[discdoggie]

For those who weigh everyday and you see fluctuations how is that helpful?

I weigh daily.


I am aware of fluctuations so going up a few pounds doesn't freak me. Unless it STAYS up, then it's time to do something.
It keeps me accountable.The scale is another tool in measuring progress. It's not an Evil Monster. Unless YOU make it one. I refuse to let an inanimate object have such control over me I need to lock it away in a closet.

The scale is THE easiest/most convenient progress measuring tool available. Easier than a tape measure. Quicker than waiting for visual changes and taking photos.

If someone is wanting to lose fat, and they aren't seeing the numbers go down on the scale with *some* regularity, something is off.



"Seeing fluctuations" isn't "helpful" lol. But being aware that fluctuations are normal while weighing daily allows to see trends over time, BUT in a "time" that is shorter than other methods.


Personally, I don't see daily weighing any more obsessive than driving 3 hours round trip and paying 100 bucks to get one's body fat assessed.

[heidismommy]

Personally, I don't see daily weighing any more obsessive than driving 3 hours round trip and paying 100 bucks to get one's body fat assessed.

I guess for someone who is doesn't have tendencies towards developing an eating disorder it may be okay. I think focus on numbers can spell bad news for some of us, it can really mess with one's head. But you know yourself well enough that you know that daily weighing isn't a problem for you, but it certainly isn't something I would recommend to someone else who I really don't know. Plus I personally just don't see the point in weighing more than once a week. Even if the scale is moving in the wrong direction, a week is such a short amount of time that any damage can easily be fixed and dietary changes can be made. That is just my opinion though.

[EPolis13]

I guess for someone who is doesn't have tendencies towards developing an eating disorder it may be okay. I think focus on numbers can spell bad news for some of us, it can really mess with one's head. But you know yourself well enough that you know that daily weighing isn't a problem for you, but it certainly isn't something I would recommend to someone else who I really don't know. Plus I personally just don't see the point in weighing more than once a week. Even if the scale is moving in the wrong direction, a week is such a short amount of time that any damage can easily be fixed and dietary changes can be made. That is just my opinion though.

Well said. I was going to say earlier that I think different people will be comfortable with different things. If you can do it more frequently and not sweat it, cool. If you want to do it once a week to keep you accountable, cool. Or if you just want to go by how your clothes are fitting and throw away your scale, cool. Personally, my choice was the result of my last bulking season where I gained 20 lbs. No thanks, Jeff. I don't ever want to see those #s on the scale again. I just don't weigh myself, because I know if I saw a # that didn't please me, I would be upset about it even though I'm smart enough to know that it doesn't friggin' matter as long as I look sexy when I look in the mirror.

So to the scale, I say "eff youuuuuuuu!"

PS heidismommy - you have one of the best bums on this board. Respect!