Weighing In

The goal of weight loss...losing the weight.  So when it comes to weighing yourself on scales, how often should you weigh?  No matter where you look, someone has a different answer.  Some say to measure once a week, that way you're not driving yourself crazy with the slight variations of weight on an day to day basis.  There's once a month, that way you allow yourself the last amount of anxiety of weigh-ins.  Then there is once a day, that way you know if something in your diet or exercise routine isn't working.

Lets start with probably the least likely option that a person would choose...once a month.  That basically means you step on the scale the first of every month.  I can't imagine this; I'm sure you can't imagine this...but I'm sure somewhere someone does this.  And its not necessarily wrong.  This is probably an option if you're trying to maintain weight, not lose it.  If you're looking for the same number on the scale from month to month, and you see that same number from month to month...then the once a month weighing choice is perfect.  You give yourself less anxiety and can easily rid your mind of the constant urge to step on the scale.

However, I will tell you that if you're trying to lose weight, this probably isn't the best option.  You won't be able to notice the subtle differences in weight loss or gain because of changes to your diet or exercise. Step on the scale only once a month and you could have gained 5 lbs because of something you started eating, maybe something with more calories than you realized.  If you weighed daily or weekly, then you would have noticed that weight gain and would have been able to cut that high-calorie snack out of your diet.  This option isn't for everyone, but may work for some.

Second, we have the weigh-in weekly.  That may be the best option for most who are trying to lose weight.  You're not driving yourself crazy with miniscule weight changes by weighing daily and are still able to notice increases in weight due to a change in diet or exercise routine.

This is the one I personally like to do.  I am the one that will drive myself crazy if I weigh everyday.  I will panic if I've gained a pound in one day........and by the end of the week I've lost 3 lbs.  So why drive myself crazy each day, when all I have to see is the 3 lbs I've lost at the end of the week.

The problem I find with this is that if I set my mind to weighing only once a week (basically meaning that I try my hardest not to step on a scale more than once a week) I sometimes forget to weigh.  I know, sounds crazy right.  But sometimes I am so successful at not getting on the scale during the week that I forget to weigh myself at the end of the week.  Its a tiny problem that I can usually overcome.  As for other negatives for weighing only weekly...I can't really think of many.

The final option is weighing daily.  I've tried this.  The trick is to weigh the same time every day under the same conditions.  For example, every morning before you eat breakfast.  If you weigh one morning before breakfast and then don't weigh until the next day at noon, you'll have a definite shift in weight.

I wasn't very successful at this; mainly because I would panic when I went up a pound.  Thats the risk you take when you weigh daily.  You see every variation in weight.  However, the plus side is that you can notice subtle changes when you tweak diet and exercise patterns.

Ultimately you must choose what works best for you.  If you're trying to maintain weight, once a month might be ideal.  If you're so worried about what your eating and how much your exercising, one a day may be just right.  I vary between once a week and once a day...usually it depends if I remember to weigh before I eat breakfast or if I'm curious as to how I'm progressing.  Whatever works for you is the right decision.