How Often Should We Weigh Ourselves?

Like the title says it, How Often Should We Weigh Ourselves? I've just begun my diet n' I'm planning of weighing myself weekly; is that a good interval?

I don't have a scale and won't get one, so I'll be weighing myself every two weeks.... several memebers said that was fine!

Every week sounds good and should show you your improvement :)

I'm weighing myself every Monday morning...that way I keep myself in check on the weekend!

Personally, I weigh once a week. I get discouraged if I weigh daily. Plus, if you get on the scales and expect to lose weight every day, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. It takes a 3,500 calorie defecit to lose a pound. You can't cut that back in one day!!! Plus, you have water weight that fluctuates, and as a woman, your cycle also changes your weight.

For some people, daily weigh ins work, but just be prepared to watch your weight go up and down on a regular basis.

heather, you could not have said it any better! Weekly weigh ins are my thing. Although sometimes I sneak a peek in between just to see how I'm doing. I won't log it until the end of the week though.

haha! i try not to peak, but sometimes i do...especially on days i feel really skinny or really fat! this week, i snuck a peak today, becuase i only maintained when i weighed on wednesday but i felt so light today, and surprise! 2 lbs were gone!

I'll chime in with a dissenting view...I only weigh in once a month.

Same day of month, same time of day. This (hopefully) minimizes fluctuations such as meals, sweat, grime etc. and gives you a better idea of your trend over time.

I feel that you should give whatever you are doing one month to see how it works; the weigh-in at the end is your report. You then change your plan accordingly and at the end of the next month you have a good solid result (or not).

Observation --> Decision --> Action --> (loop)

Disclaimer: this is best for those wanting to loose large amount of weight, not the 8-10 pounders.

I weigh myself every day... it's interesting to see how my weight fluctuates, not too much - maybe a few ounces or pound.  When I'm up a bit, it gives me the motivation to really watch what I'm eating.  And when I'm clearly losing, it motivates me to keep going. 

It's all a matter of how weighing works for you - I'd suggest weighing yourself one a week to start.  But don't let the scale be your only way of keeping track - measure yourself - and look at how your clothes are fitting differently as you lose. 

I weigh myself at least once every day.  I usually peak at night too because it is very interesting to see what I have gained during the day, but then the next morning I have lost that plus some.  It's a personal choice.  Whatever you are most comfortable with.  I have days where I don't like what I see, but that is ok because I can tell a difference in my body and spirit.  Just make sure you aren't obsessing otherwise it will become a problem.

I also weigh myself daily.  Since the site keeps track of a trend as well as actual weight I don't get discouraged by the ups and downs.  I just watch the overall picture.

I've read recently that studes have shown that people who weigh themselves daily tend to keep weight off better.  By monitoring themselves on a daily basis they are in touch with those little pounds as they start to creep back on, and are able to take action sooner.

I also weigh daily..first thing in the morning after a bathroom pitstop.  It definately fluctuates daily but only by a few ounces....I like to stay on top of things and Im more kotivated to eat better when I weigh daily

raven5496- i do the same thing!  i loose and gain weight really easily so i find it encouraging to track my weight each day and it helps me pinpoint the foods that make me gain weight. 

if you do not loose weight easily i would not recoment weighing in each day as it could be discouraging.  under those circumstances i would opt for weekly or bi weekly weigh in's!

Two to five times a day on the same scale for the first 2 months of your diet.  Then, whenever you feel like it.

Learn that your weight can fluctuate and that your weekly, or monthly, reading doesn't mean anything.  The only thing that is meaningful in scale readings is a TREND.

The more data you have (the number of times you get on that scale), the more meaningful your data becomes.  If you stepped on a scale 100 times a day, and graphed it, you would factor out ALL gains and losses from water, food, and bloat.  In other words, you'd know what caused your fluctuations.  You would see the periodic ups and downs and know they were meaningless... you'd see the overall steady up or down from week to week.

BUT

Say you weigh on a Monday, and only on a Monday, and only in the morning before work.  Once a week.  We all know that you can lose 3 pounds TOP a week if you really work at it.  If your body can give up to 10 pounds of fluctuating weight from its "real" weight (fluctuating weight being the weight that bounces up and down depending on bloat, hydration, and food in the GIT and stomach) and your first weigh for your diet accidentally happens when your body was LOW on the fluctuation scale... God help you!  You'll be chasing the low for months!  If you weigh in on a bloated day... and the next week on a lean day... then you'll think you lost 10 pounds... only to be totally let down the next week.... maybe.

If you weighed in everyday... twice a day... same scale... you'd see the false readings...

Is it better to weigh yourself in the morning or at night? I know you're lighter in the morning, but is it better to log in how much you weigh at night? It's probably not important, I was just wondering what ppl's opinions of this are?

I can't help but sneak a peek every morning after my morning tinkle LOL.  I find it keeps me honest thru the day.  I think whatever works for you -- go for it.

I neurotically weigh myself several times each day. When I see the same low weight show up two or three days in a row, then I claim the new low weight as my own.

I couldn't weigh myself weekly. My weigh-ins are my treat to myself!

every 4 days

I weigh myself several times a day, but only record on Friday mornings after I've been awake for two hours and had nothing to eat or drink. That way I can get a fairly stable reading week to week.

Just started with this program and feel like i am already chasing a low first weigh-in.....yuk..

i weigh every two days or so. i find it useful to watch how my weight changes in a short time, and it keeps me motivated. i think most people weigh once a week though, its more sensible really...some people find it disheartening if they havent lost something every time they weigh, and you certainly dont get that of you weigh every day!

it depends on the individual and what motivates you i think =)

I weigh daily - at the same time every morning.
I know this can get discouraging "day-to-day", but I recommend it, because I feel like I can track trends better if I do.

I don't sweat any gains I see, unless they are a full week apart.