How Often Should You Weigh Yourself?

For many of us, the thought of stepping on the scales can make us shudder. If you let it, the whole act of weighing yourself can turn itself into a source of stress and self-hate.

However, a recent article by App for Health shed light on the importance of frequent weigh ins for successful weight loss. The article draws upon a large study conducted by the National Weight Control Registry which found that 36% of successful dieters weighed themselves every day (1).  These findings do make sense; given that more frequent weigh-ins provide an opportunity for us to measure and manage: we can see where we are and modify our regimen accordingly. However the key here is to view the scales as just one of your tools to weight loss.  If you start to form an emotional attachment with your scales then that has the potential to really mess with your mind and interfere with your ability to successfully lose weight in a healthy way. Everyday might be a bit too much, for some, particularly given that it is going to be perfectly normal to have minor fluctuations in your weight from day to day and so you need to expect this and simply use it as a guide or a marker over the course of the week.  Are you trending up, or trending down?

You could try weighing yourself once a week at the same time if you’re trying to lose weight. If you’re happy with your weight then you might not need to weigh yourself as frequently.

There are also other ways to monitor progress too, scales are not the “be all and end al”l of weight loss progress.  Have your waist measurements or hip measurements changed, have your energy levels improved, do you feel less bloated?  Has your muscle mass changed?

Simply be thinking about: what changes you can measure, and whether you improving for the better.  Remember Size Fantastic is a metaphor for being the size, weight and shape that feels healthiest and best for you.

Read the article by App for Health at http://www.appforhealth.com/2015/10/weigh-myself-2/

[1] Butryn, M., Phelan, S., Hill, J., & Wing, R. Consistent self-monitoring of weight: a key component of successful weight loss maintenance. Digital Columns. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=kine_fac