How often and when should you weigh yourself?

I realize I should weigh less in the morning when I wake up, but is that really an accurate measurement?  When I step on the scale everyday and don't notice any change I get discouraged and want to just quit.  Does anyone take measurements into account and not just weightloss?

I know a lot of people use measurements instead of the scale.  For many it's more important to be losing inches than to be losing pounds.  The number doesn't really matter if your clothes fit better (or become too big).

Weighing in the morning is an accurate measurement because your body is "empty."  It's just you.  If you weigh later in the day, after you have eaten and done other things, it's not just you on the scale. 

Many people here to not recommend weighing everyday because it can get discouraging.  I am an everyday weigher, for the most part.  You just have to remember that water, salt, and other things can really affect each daily weight.  (Like if I have a really salty dinner). 

Remember, that you probably want to lose 1-2 pounds a week, so you shouldn't necessarily be seeing results everyday.  It will happen!  Good luck!

I take measurements every two weeks. Helps to show the weight is coming off in ways the scale doesn't.

I've never really cared about the number on the scale but seeing the numbers on the tape measure change is a lot more motivation.

The morning scale weight can vary. Sodium intake spike will cause you to hold more water. Other reasons. Don't worry about one day. Or even a few days. Some times you'll see nothing move and then a drop.

I have decided to only weigh myself at the doctor's office.... quarterly! I read somewhere that people tend to lose less weight when they obsess over the scale. So I don't even own one!

I prefer to try on a small pair of pants once a week and see how I'm dong with squeezing into them!

My view on this is that the exact weight does not matter.  What matters is the trend in your weight.  That is - what you weigh over time.  Weight can fluctuate a lot.  When I exercise I can "lose" up to 5 lbs.  This weight is just water weight.

Weight can be complicated because if you are starting an exercise program, you will gain muscle mass.  So you can take body fat percentage measurements.  For me, that is the main goal: to decrease the body fat percentage.  This is slightly different than "losing wieght" due to the dynamics of muscle mass weight vs. fat weight.  It really depends on the individual and how much weight they have to lose.  If someone has a lot of fat then they should see a drop in weight regardless of exercise program.

It is "more accurate" to wiegh yourself at a set time of day and under as similar circumstances as possible.  In the morning after going to the bathroom is usually when I weight myself.  I do this every couple of days.

As a rule of thumb, I don't consider that I've lost or gained any weight until there is about a 5 lb difference.  1 or 2 lbs don't count.  Again this is just my personal strategy when it comes to weighing myself.

Thanks for the comments. 

I think I will do a weekly weigh in and tape measure.  I currently weigh 190 - want to get down to 125 -130.  I grew up playing sports and always had good muscle mass.  I don't really look like I weigh as much as I do, but I have knee and back problems and I know taking off the weight will help with some of the pain.  My biggest problem is not trying to do too much when starting back into my exercise.  When I do that I start really feeling the knee pain, and then just quit because the pain isn't worth it.  I need to keep going this time. NO MORE EXCUSES...

My last shot at losing weight, I failed, and I think it is because I weighed myself ALL THE TIME. When I worked so hard, but didn't see progress (how can there be progress in just 1/2 day time), I got discouraged.  This time around, I threw away the bathroom scale.  I'll let you know later if it works.

I "officially" weigh once a week and that's what I log.  It affects the BMR and the # of calories you can eat.  The less you weigh (and the older you are--I saw 12 calories disappear on my birthday) the less you need.  I do however from time to time do more weigh in's, sometimes just to scare back to reality when I'm craving something or have had a "fatty" day.