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traineo Community / Diet & Nutrition Tips / Weighing frequency?
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Samantha Cordell
Fitness Guru
Posts: 338
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 13:54


I only weigh myself every week, same day, same clothes...

Should I be doing it more often that this or say on a monthly basis?? I hear so many conflicting things and don't want to become obsessive about the numbers on the scales...

Whats best?


THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 14:40


i like to do it once a week as well-same time, same outfit. i feel that is more than enough. your weight can fluctuate from day to day and it takes a few days for your food to metabolize, and you can retain fluids etc. i find you can drive yourself crazy if you weigh everyday. whats best is what works for you and what doesnt drive you crazy.
Ara Bruno
Fitness Guru
Posts: 774
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:00


Quoting: jenngetfit
i find you can drive yourself crazy if you weigh everyday


I weigh myself everyday and yes it drives me crazy. But when it does go up It makes me work harder in the gym... it can be very discouraging but you got to remember that it does fluctuate. On days it goes down your very happy and on days it goes up "you feel like throwing it like a frisbee at the annoying neighbors."
Sarah Rodriguez
traineo Regular
Posts: 36
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:00


I agree with New.
Greta G
traineo Regular
Posts: 38
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:13


I'm fluctuating on this one. Have witnessed the pros / cons for each, and how my psychology reacts to it.

Daily:
- kicks me into action, and serves as a constant reminder - no one day slack off;
- helps me understand body better incl. its fluctuations, but need to see past the demotivating yo-yo effect (this can be a turn off and the minute it starts I've learnt to step back and quit);
- sometimes just have to weigh myself as I get impatient.

Weekly:
- you get to see a bigger change (or not), which doesn't cut with fractions of a llb on a daily basis;
- get more buzz with weekly weigh or anticipation?;
- good for trends instead of a chart that goes yo-yo.

Currently, daily or every other day weigh in is doing it for me, as I'm going downwards and I need to be obsessive about this / understand my body. However, I'm always going to keep this under review, and I can see me changing approach as time goes on, or if I get to a point where I start to beat myself up mentally with a stick (doesn't work well with how I need to be motivated).

Of course, I'm always on a learning curve, and all the above could be subject to change.


Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:29


I like to mix it up--daily/weekly/head only/sometimes I even weigh the scale.



Cardio King
Fitness Guru
Posts: 1784
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:36


You can weigh just your head Minu?

Now THAT'S talent!!!
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:42 - Edited by: Minu


I just weighed the ole melon.
4.2 kilos of pure thinking power.



Monique Kamosi
Fitness Guru
Posts: 254
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 15:53


I weigh daily right now, but I think I'm going to start just weighing on Thursdays (since that's when I have to report to my challenges). I think I might be less discouraged if I do that, and I might be encouraged to work harder to surprise myself the next week. Thanks!
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 16:02


I weigh myself every morning with no clothes. I'm the most dehydrated in the morning right after I wake up, so that's when I'll weigh the least, hahahaha.

I do it every day to remind myself to be good and eat correctly. If the scale doesn't change much from day to day, that's OK. If there's an upward trend then I'd know I'm not doing something right.

Last week my weight was stable within 0.2 lbs on my scale even though my diet and exercise hadn't changed from the previous week when I lost a total of 2 lbs. GAH! That is frustrating! But I stayed calm because I knew it was just water retention, etc.

This week the scale has dropped by about .4 lbs every day.

You should also measure yourself at least once a week. Last week when the weight wasn't coming off, the inches were, so I knew I was still on track.

Hope that helps!
Angie
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
Posts: 733
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 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 16:45


This came up not that long ago. Might want to check the other topic for more info!

http://www.traineo.com/9_4561_0.html
Brandon S
traineo Newbie
Posts: 5
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 # Posted: 3 Feb 2008 01:29


Every sunday as soon as I wake up. I've tried weighing everyday but I drive myself insane. I always have a drop in weight if I weigh once per week. I just can't stand to see the numbers on the scale go up even though I know I've eaten well and worked out hard when I weigh every day.
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
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 # Posted: 3 Feb 2008 21:55


I go for daily weigh-ins while reminding myself to observe the overall trend and not the actual results for each day. As long as the graph is moving down I'm happy overall; on days where the number goes up I use it as motivation, on days where the number goes down I use it as inspiration...

I know that doesn't work for everyone, but it's just mental discipline (as much as getting to the gym) to wrap your mind around learning how to use it.
Kathy O
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 200
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 00:49


It`s a mind game and I could agrue both sides of the fence (and yes all my faculties are in order) !

I vary between weighing daily, weighing every couple days and weighing weekly. When I avoid the scales there is an issue - I am losing control and don`t want to face it!

I also use how my clothes fits and measurements as an indicator of how I am doing because there are times no matter how good we are those (d**n) scales just won`t budge! Especially when your hormones are out of whack (once a month)!

The thing to remember is there is no right answer - its what ever works for you and that may be different from week to week and month to month. As long as we win the battle in the end that`s all that matters!


Greta G
traineo Regular
Posts: 38
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 02:12


I entirely agree with Kathy O! Especially this bit:

Quoting: Kathyonf
When I avoid the scales there is an issue - I am losing control and don`t want to face it!


Dreading stepping back on the scales tomorrow. Had 2 glasses of wine this evening, a slice of pizza yesterday and no exercise all weekend (assigned time off). I just know my weight must have gone up, and it will take some courage to step back on (easier to ignore etc), however onwards and downwards, etc.
Samantha Cordell
Fitness Guru
Posts: 338
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 05:23


Thanks for your thoughts and input everyone


Doug Kyle
traineo Newbie
Posts: 4
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 06:07


I'm on the daily side of the fence. I have a pretty regimented diet, and if I stick to it, the weight goes down (I've an electronic scale that records to a decimal point). Because I'm eating roughly the same amount of food each day, the downward swing is pretty predictable and it's motivating to see it go down.

If I meet friends and grab a bite in a restaurant, even if its as healthy as I can make it, my weight will tend to go up a little (or even a pound or two) due to food being cooked in oil and having salt... this is where the water retention and stuff comes in for me. That's motivating for me as well as it gives me immediate feedback on what cheating does. It doesn't stop me from cheating as I'm not giving up my social life, but it does keep it fresh in my mind why I order a chicken sandwich/salad/potato rather than burger/fries.
Tim Wilson
Fitness Guru
Posts: 650
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 12:38


I have only skimmed the thread so forgive me if something is off.

I weigh everyday, and have had battles both ways. If you search this forum for this topic there is no doubt I am there somewhere stressing over something

I weigh everyday and log it at www.physicsdiet.com so I can see my average, this way I can see myself going down and I don't get as stressed about the fluctuations.

In my experience, the weekly weigh in can also be something that messes with your mind. Take for instance this week. Last Monday I was 177.0 on the scale. A couple days later and I was seeing 174's and 175's with even a spike in the 172 range. This was consistent everyday, so I know I am moving, however this morning I weighed myself and I was 177.2. If I had not weighed myself all week I would have been down on myself thinking that I gained .2, but in reality I am on the downward motion, and a good one at that. I may stay at the 177 area for another day, but I am confident that it will move back down to the 174 175 range quite quickly and I will continue my downward trend.

Just my $.02
Cardio King
Fitness Guru
Posts: 1784
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 15:17


I weigh myself daily, but I don't make myself TOO crazy over it. I do it because there's more data which, to me, shows more of a trend, and I can see when my diet really sucked because my weight around that time really reflects it.

Now if I could just make myself a little more accountable for my diet, or on some days complete lack thereof, then I'm be alright...LOL
Kathy O
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 200
Post History
 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 16:18


Quoting: timwilson
If I had not weighed myself all week I would have been down on myself thinking that I gained .2, but in reality I am on the downward motion, and a good one at that.


I agree with Tim's statement which is why my weighing in is not regimented. If I only weigh a couple times a week well fine. If I weigh daily that is fine as well. And if it's weekly and I'm up and I feel I shouldn't be up then I weigh daily or every couple of days for the next while until I see results.

The main thing for me is not to get hung up on just weighing. If I acknowledge how my clothes is fitting and I've had sufficent physical activity and ate appropriately then I shouldn't need to weigh daily. I need to be able to recognize other indicators of health and fitness and what is important to me. I travel alot and don't always have scales around (although they went on vacation with me last summer although I ignored them:wink so I need to be able to judge myself accordingly so I don't falter on my quest for a healthlier me!

But it is personal preference and what works for the individual that matters. If you need the reinforcement that the scales bring then go for it - only you can answer that question.
Laurie G
traineo Newbie
Posts: 2
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 18:57


I have heard that though you should keep track of your weight it is actually better to judge your progess based upon your actual measurements. If you're working out your toning and building muscle while losing fat. Fat weighs less than muscle but muscle takes up less space than fat...

Though I am new here, I am going to weigh myself daily just to keep track of the way my body fluctuates but I am also going to keep track of my measurements on a weekly basis. This should give me a pretty good idea if my diet and exercise routine are working for me and tell me if and when I need to up the pace a bit.
Cardio King
Fitness Guru
Posts: 1784
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 19:04


That sounds really good Laurie.
I mean to do the same, but always forget to take measurements
Brandon B.
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 78
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 # Posted: 4 Feb 2008 23:02


I've been weighing in once a week. This week I'm going to weigh in every day and use Physics Diet, so I don't get discouraged.
David DeVore
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 71
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 21:28


this is simpleminded, but i like to weigh myself everyday because i like having lots of dots on my graph


Daniel Lackey
traineo Regular
Posts: 47
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 # Posted: 23 Feb 2008 23:02


I weigh myself every morning right before showering, then every night before bed and average the two numbers. I dunno, seems to work for me


Elizabeth Weightloss
traineo Newbie
Posts: 8
Post History
 # Posted: 25 Feb 2008 03:01


I go to TOPS meetings every Monday and weigh in.
I think if I weigh myself everyday I would get obsessive about it in a bad way, that is just my personality though. I like the one a week thing, I like the anticipation and the not knowing. Plus they have a "doctor scale" there and my scale at home is a piece of crap.
Does anyone know where to find a in home scale for heavier people?
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 25 Feb 2008 11:27


Quoting: lizziebaby
Does anyone know where to find a in home scale for heavier people?


Elizabeth, (always loved that name), I think that a quality digital scale might make for one awesome milestone-gift, once you reach a weight that's measurable on regular scales.

And it's great that you have a place with a good scale that you can use weekly already.



Rob M.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 442
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 # Posted: 25 Feb 2008 13:51


Daily weigher here, although I can't say it has been of any benefit to me.
Dice Six
traineo Regular
Posts: 29
Post History
 # Posted: 25 Feb 2008 15:35


Quoting: isoulride
this is simpleminded, but i like to weigh myself everyday because i like having lots of dots on my graph


Hehe I so agree. I weigh myself every morning and then rush to the computer to log it.

I need this daily control otherwise I would start slacking.
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