From the article: Reasons to Ditch the Scale
The scale isn't my favorite weight loss tool out there, although it can be useful for some people. The trouble with the scale is that it doesn't tell you what you're losing and/or gaining and that information is very important for determining your success. Even knowing that, many of us can't imagine not weighing ourselves on a regular basis, whether it's helping us or hurting us. What about you? How often do you weigh yourself and does it motivate you to work harder? Share your story Share Your Story
Every Day--twice
- For folks interested in losing weight, the scale is simply another tool. Weighing less on that little mechanical device doesn't make me healther, it is just an indicator that I probably am going in the right direction. I recognize that there will be fluctuations depending on my level of hydration, etc. I weigh first thing in the morning before I head off to exercise class and I weigh again at bedtime. It helps me remain accountable to myself for sustaining the lifestyle changes that will bring me better health. More critical than the scale is counting caloric and fat intake; keeping my protein and fiber intake high enough; and getting enough exercise and water. For me, the scale is just another readout on the dashboard. When I drive my car, I frequently look at my speedometer because it gives me the facts to back up what I already should have a sense for: how fast I am going. The scale also tells me what I already should be generally aware of: how well I am doing on my plan.
- —Guest BIff
Scale
- I have a love hate relationship with the scale, but since I am low income I can't afford one, and so when I see my doc, I find out what my weight is and I get my blood pressure checked only once a week. I would like to have my weight checked once weekly and up to once a month if I had one since I would be discouraged if I gained more weight than I should have especially if I was walking a lot and drinking lots of safe fluids so this is what I need to do, but my nurse would want to check it weekly and I would be tempted to have it checked daily and so low income is not all bad, I would love to have an easy to use blood pressure monitor here.
- —vernonbro
I am overly obsessed w/ weighing myself
- I too am way overly obsessed with weighing myself every morning. I too, since last Oct 08 have lost 73 lbs. I started with a walk/run program & now it is purely a run program & a complete diet change. I have alot more muscle but of course the scale does not reflect that weight. I get upset when I see that my hard work is not lowering me & getting me below the 180 mark. It can be very frustrating but I can also be the greatest & proudest feeling also. I have read that people who do weigh themselves regulary do lose weight more consistently & keep it off. I will try to consider weighing myself 2 or 3 times a week instead of everyday. My weight loss was a steady 2 lbs a week. I do not believe that I reached a "platuea" in my weight loss. I only gained my excess 120 lbs thanks to a side effect of a medication. A very interesting article though, thanks. Good Luck to all in their weight loss goals!! Marie
- —Guest jazzyboy2421@yahoo.com
The Scale
- I weigh myself every morning, and have done four the last 5 years (since I lost the 70 pounds). It helps give me an "early warning" when I'm letting my diet get a little too far "off track", before the damage becomes overwhelming. FOR ME, getting rid of the scale would be a *really bad* idea.
- —Guest Pat
Throw your scale out!
- All right, well, maybe keep it just so you can input your weight into body fat calculators. I weigh myself no more than once a week, sometimes waiting until the 2 week mark. Every 2 weeks, I get my body fat measured with calipers. Over the past 8 weeks, I've lost 8% body fat but the scale has only gone down about 2.5 pounds. Most people would be incredibly discouraged by such a low weight loss and would have given up by now. But I'm in the best shape of my life right now and at a much higher weight than I had thought would be my goal. If I didn't need the number on the scale for the body fat calculator, I wouldn't weigh myself at all!
- —acretin
Useful, if you know how to use it
- I've gotten in the habit of weighing myself daily, and graphing it using a program I picked up from the Hacker's Diet. I've found it *very* useful, because it's kind of innured me to the fluctuations in my daily weight, but I'm able to see the overall trend over time, which is very motivating.
- —Guest Sam
Daily
- I have to weigh myself daily or my weight gets out of control very quickly. It is definitely my friend. I tried the once a week route, but I gain weight way too quickly. This keeps me focused and I can nip it quickly before it's a mountain.
- —Guest Pat
Once A Day
- My wife and I weigh once a day. My wife is trying to lose weight. I plot my wifes weight on a graph. My wife is steadily losing about 4 pounds a month. Her diet is basically the USDA food pyramid, along with exercise. Bob
- —ABarcelona
From Foe to Friend
- I weigh myself daily. I use to percieve the scale as my enemy, something to fear and hate. Since last September I have lost about 42lbs and I have found that my daily weigh-ins helps me to better understand my body and how it functions; if I am bloated or on my period the changes are more dramatic, but I have also found it the best way to keep on top of my weight loss. Once I have gotten to goal weight another 25lbs. I intend to do so less frequently, whatever that may turn out to be.
- —Guest leba
It can be great It can be depressing
- I go to two doctors so I am always on this constant need to weight myself not wanting to gain an ounce! When I do gain that 5 lbs. its depression and I eat an apple a day till I feel I have lost this weight. So yes the scale becomes my enemy! I of course love when I weigh my correct weight. Anything over I panic! I wish you didn't have to worry about the scale so much! I think yes I am obsessed with that number on the scale and that's a bad thing! And no, I may not a heavy person. I normally weigh around 128 and getting older makes it hard also to maintain this number! Ugh I hate scales! People think you are only obsessed when you're really heavy and this is absolutely not true! It's hard for all of us to maintain good habits and be on our toes all the time! You eat something you should not and indulge and enjoy it then you feel guilty for days about the weight gain. UGH!
- —doggylover1
Once a Week
- My husband and I have been counting calories and weighing ourselves once a week. I've found that weighing your self more often than that can be discouraging. While weight it a good way to measure your progress I think clothes sizes are more accurate.
- —khayesrn
When I Feel I Need To
- I don't weigh myself regularly. Instead, I pull out the scale only when I feel like I have lost weight or gained weight. I used it simply to confirm what I suspect, so that I can adjust my diet/exercise accordingly if necessary.
- —Guest HealthyKK
Pay more attention to how I feel
- I try not to get too obsessed with the scale, since my weight flucuates depending on how recently I exercised, what time of the month it is, and other factors. Instead, I focus on how my clothes are fitting and how toned I feel. If my jeans start feeling a little snug, I know I need to cut back a little on the sweets or step up the exercise. I check the scale maybe once or twice a month at the gym -- more out of curiosity than anything else!
- —cmanyluff
Breaking the Weighing Habit
- I used to weigh myself at least once a day, sometimes several times a day. It was to the point where I was almost obsessed, even though it made me completely miserable. What helped me was working with a trainer. She took my body fat and suggested I not get on the scale for an entire week. It was hard, but I did and now I never weigh myself because I finally realized how deceptive that number was. It's such a relief not to have to torture myself anymore!
- —Guest Ann
