weighing yourself

Hello everyone. I'm new to this program. My Name is Curt, 54yo male, and extremely overweight. I started this 3 days ago, and I was wondering, how often to you weigh yourself and log it? I started dieting on my own about a year ago weighing in at 268 lbs. I got my weight down to 226 lbs, then last 3 months, been bouncing between 226, and 235. My goal is 160. Since Nov 21, this year I'm managed to drop my weight as of this morning to 222. Seeing the calories I eat, and changing what I eat so far has helped, as with the same on logging my exercise.

So is there a standard verdict on checking your weight and logging it?

Thanks

Curt

 

I think it is all in your personal preference and what you can tolerate in seeing in fluctuations. If you weigh yourself every day, you will see fluctuations (sometimes significant) that can be exasperating. If you weigh yourself only weekly, it may be easier.

My fear in going to weighing only weekly is seeing the scale not move after a week. It wouldn't have been bad when I first started my journey - I've lost 81 pounds so far - but I've been stuck for months and waiting a week to weigh to see no change would be very depressing to me.

Pam

Hi Curt,

And WTG on the progress so far.  As for the question, people use what works for them.  personally, I don't like to weigh myself to often.  Once a week is more than enough in my opinion.  But others like to weigh themselves everyday. 

I think the thing to remember is that the more often a person weighs themselves, the more variability in weight they will see.  So if you don't mind lots of ups and downs, weigh everyday.  If you just like to see a long term trend, once a week is fine.  Even once a month will work.

Duke

Nope - some people weigh once a week, some every day. Some people do a combination, with one day a week is the official weigh in, but they will weigh themselves on the other days too.

My reasoning for weighing every day - yes I will see the daily fluctuations, but if your official weigh-in day is on the high side, it might appear that you have not lost at all that week, but if you had looked at the days before and after, you would see that it was high.

Hope that helps.

Thanks all so far.  I have been checking everyday, since I've started , and the ups and downs actually helps me.  It keeps me informed to a point where I can make adjustments.  I know water retention will very on a daily basis, which also reflects a persons weight. 

I wasn't  sure if there was a standard rule, so thought I'd ask. 

Thanks again all

Best to all.

Curt 

   pam1998 -Congrats on your weight loss.

Keep up the great effort.

Curt

PS thanks for the reply

I weigh myself everyday. I've only lost about 16lbs & i have about 15 more to go.

I love weighing myself every morning & every evening. It doesn't torture me at all. I like to see what my weight is before i eat anything & what it is once i've gone through my day. That way once i weight myself at the end of the week i am not surprised.

It actually motivates me to work harder. If i see the scale not moving i work harder at the gym so that at my final weekly weigh in i see a difference. If i DO see a difference in my weight i get motivated to work HARDER. So that i see a bigger difference.

It's all will power & mental. You are what you say you are. I make sure i always say to myself " i am a woman of God & i can do anything through christ who strengthens me " I know it's a little religious but it helps. Not only that, but i think of my motivation. I hope to see my husband in December & i hope to see his jaw drop.

Good luck every one!!!

xo

nelli

Congrats on your loss. I've lost 50lbs since June, down to 269lbs from 319lbs and I don't obsess with the scale numbers on a daily or weekly basis, even though I weigh myself whenever I want. I look at the numbers from the beginning of the month and the end and look at the average loss because my weight fluctuates like crazy at times but over a 30 day or so period, I am ALWAYS less than the 30 days before that. Good luck!

Hey Curt,

Kudos on the weight loss so far.  You and I started at approximately the same place (I originally started at 255 last November, and found CC at the end of December).  We have the same goal, too!  (I'm a 6'1" female). 

Anyway, a recent study showed that people lost more weight, more consistently when they weighed themselves every day.  That is, first thing in the morning -- after going to the loo.  However, there are people who just can't stand seeing fluctuations that daily weighing reflects (hormonal and water-weight changes, to name a couple of reasons).  So, it really is up to you.  Try weighing yourself everyday to see how it goes.  If you don't like it, try once a week.  If that bugs you silly, try once a month.  But you do need to fit in a regular schedule for weigh-ins (every third Friday, for example). 

Also, please do yourself a favour and take pictures of yourself and measure your calves, thighs, stomach, chest and biceps.  Keep these measurements in a safe place and then re-do the same thing every month.  My husband insisted on doing so when I started out last year and I'm so, so glad he did.  Now, whenever I plateau in a mean and nasty way, I can take my measurements -- it never, ever fails that even if the scale hasn't budged, I've nevertheless lost inches. 

As for logging your weight, well, I only log losses.  Some log everyday.  Some every week.  I only do so when I feel like I have something to celebrate (100 grams is a reason to celebrate!)

Stay positive and post often!

In retrospect, I really, REALLY wish I wouldv'e taken pictures at the outset- it would be so helpful!  The other day I was griping about my thighs being fat, and my best friend said "do you have ANY idea how different you look compared to last year?!".  Well, no, actually.  You can really see fantastic progress on photos...or at least on the photos of the people here who have been so kind as to share them!

 Best wishes on your journey (good luck not required!)

As to the original question I weigh daily (or more. I may have a little OCD) but only log weekly. THat's a pretty good compromise for me. Interestingly, as my diet has improved and I've lost weight, I've found the swings from fluid retention to be much less dramatic, even the hormonally-driven ones.