To Weigh or Not To Weigh…
… that is the question. :)
For months and months now I have been weighing every day. And for a long time that was a really good thing for me. As someone who didn’t even own a scale for much of her adult life, climbing aboard Mt. Truth each morning made for some much needed accountability. The routine of it was great. And the ability to see what impact, if any, the previous day’s activities had on my body was equally positive and illustrative for me. But most of all, having to face the music each day *forced* me to start listening to what my body was desperately trying to tell me. And, let’s face it, when you’ve been ignoring your body for as long as I did, you need a little help when you finally do decide to start listening to it again.
Plus, as a former Weight Watcher, I know that weekly weigh-ins don’t really work for me… at least, not for long. However, I really like the idea of tracking your progress in the way that a weekly weigh-in does. With weekly weigh-ins you can measure, more easily, the amount of weight that is lost (or gained!) in a specific amount of time. The analytical part of my brain digs that kind of record keeping. But for me, the week always turned out to be too long of a wait. After each weigh-in I’d find myself psyched and totally motivated (either by joy or by shame) to put my back into losing even more weight by the following week’s d-day, and that fire under my ass would last for… at least a day or two — but then the magic would wear off, and inevitably, I’d start to drag. It never took long for the time between weigh-ins to begin to feel too long to be relevant. And before I knew it, I’d be stuffing my face with just about any food that tasted good with salt and butter. (And really, what doesn’t?)
So… when I decided to change my life last summer, I knew that I’d have to take a different approach, which began by buying a scale and promising myself that, no matter what, I would step on it every single day.
And until recently, I’ve kept that promise.
The thing is that, lately, the numbers have been driving me crazy. Each day I rush to the scale to ask it the same question, only to have my whole day defined by its answer. And I’ve noticed how easily I can become discouraged if that morning number doesn’t say what I am hoping for. For weeks now I’ve essentially stayed the same weight +/- the same pound and a half or so… until finally I got disgusted and didn’t weigh myself for 3 days. Then… when I did, I was down a little over 2 lbs. That loss got me excited, so I worked hard and 4 days later… viola! A total loss of nearly 6lbs. Did that loss magically happen as a result of changing my weighing habits? No… of course not. But it has gotten me thinking about those habits and about whether or not there’s a better way for me to go about tracking my weight loss.
For a long time, I’ve been playing the whole “all or nothing game.” As silly as it sounds, I think I’ve been mentally limiting my weigh-in strategy to just two options: once per day or once per week. But maybe, for me, the answer is something a little more in between. So… to that end, I think I’m going to try weighing twice per week. One weigh day will be for the sake of my own motivation; hopefully, I’ll use that day as a little added fuel to the fire. The other day will be my official weigh-in day where I face the music and admit the results here, for better or worse.
I have no idea if this will prove to be a good choice for me or not. But in the meantime, I’m wondering what works for everyone else. I realize, of course, that this is a fairly minor and truly individual thing… but if you’ve got some advice or even just some experience to share, I’d be grateful to hear it. Thanks all.
reading your food diary was just a testament to how much stereotypes lie…… I eat like probably 3 times the amount you do in a day and well I’ve never been above a healthy BMI. The more I read, the more all the myths about weight loss and skinny v. fat seem just that- myths. I don’t have any answers, I just thought I’d throw in my observation about how wrong it is that fat people are considered in this culture to automatically be “out of control” or “gross.” Good luck with your journey. Much love.
Oh, the great scale question. For me it depends on the goal I have. If I am losing weight and that is the goal I am working toward I weigh myself once a week. If I am maintaining weight I weigh every day to make sure I stay in check. These aren’t rules set in stone though, sometimes I decide I have had enough of the scale and rarely go near it. It all just depends. Good luck deciding what works for you!
With regards to the scale, I say do whatever works for you - and if whatever works for you might change from time to time, so be it. :-)
As I was reading through your post I was thinking “maybe if she weighed every third day” and then you said it. The weighing every day can be a total throwoff. So very much of the daily fluctuation is water. I know, that’s cliche, but it’s actually very true. I understand the desire to see the number on the scale go down. I also firmly believe that stress of any kind makes some people (myself included) hold on to every ounce. So maybe your scale avoidance gave your body the ‘relaxation’ it needed to let go of the pounds. Then again, maybe that’s all hooey! Make sure that whatever you do, you write down (or graph) your weight the same day and time every week. That will give you a true indicator of the trend. Don’t make yourself crazy!
i think 2x is a very good idea because i’m in the same boat. weighing every day just makes me ridiculously obsessive. and waiting a whole week is too long because i slack off during the middle with no numbers to hold me accountable. i think weighing yourself after 3 days is a great idea because if you lose a little, you’ll be motivated to keep going. that’s what i’m trying at the moment as well (i need to get over my plateau!) and it seems to be working! fingers crossed!
My official weigh-in is first thing Tuesday mornings, but I weigh a few times during the week too. Basically when I remember. So this keeps me accountable during the week, but is not an obsession.
Wow. You guys are just too smart! :)
weedivine: I think genetics definitely have something to do with it. I’m 100% sure that no matter how much/little I eat that I will always have a certain body type and that I will never be what society considers skinny. I can, however, be a lot healthier than my current state. That said, I appreciate your insight and words of encouragement. Thanks so much.
Mary: Good advice. I believe too that once I am in maintenance mode, that weighing once per week will definitely become a viable option for me. Thanks.
Marshmallow: You make me smile, girl. Thanks. :)
Lady shanny: Good point. I agree, I think the stress of the situation surely contributed to the “plateau” that I was experiencing. That said, I truly believe the whole water thing. It maybe a “cliche” to say it, but often times cliches are based in truth. Anyway… thanks for your kind thoughts and words of encouragement.
Alice: I’ve totally got my fingers (and toes) crossed for you girl! Hopefully balancing the scale obsession will help us both!
Hanlie: Good plan! I like the official weigh-in business with some unofficial peeks throughout the week.
Cheers!
j
I have just paid attention to your side quotes - and I love them!
I do a hybrid of weighing. I “officially” weigh on Monday mornings. I chose Mondays ’cause it keeps me in check over the weekend. Monday morning is when I record my weight for the week on my handy-dandy calendar.
But I weigh myself every day. I look at Monday’s weight, and weigh. I hope for a lower number. I don’t write that number down, I don’t do the math, it just keeps me on track. This morning, I know I weighed less than Monday, but I wouldn’t let myself know how much less or even commit to memory what that weight was - just that it was less.
This is not a minor thing for us, sweetie! If it was, we wouldn’t be in this boat.
Have a very happy Wednesday!
I am obbessed with the scale and weigh myself several times a day! Totally unhealthy I know. I only really do this to keep my on trach though. The only number I chart is the one on Wednesdays at 12:00. That is the one where the lady weighs me at WW and I feel super accountable!
So basically I was no help but at least I can share :-P
I tried not to get on the scale a whole week and when I did finally get on I got the same number as last week. Now, it’s better than a gain but it was still a bummer. And what if I was three pounds lighter on Saturday than I was the following Monday? I’ve adopted a system like Krissie’s — hop on every morning, register if it’s more or less than Monday’s official weigh in and move on. It makes it easier for me to keep chugging along, even after a lousy weigh in.
It’s just like eating healthy and working out — you just gotta find a system that works for you long term. And you will.
First, you’re an incredibly brave woman for writing this blog and for making the big change you’ve already made. I applaud you. Second, have you looked into zig-zagging with your diet? I notice that your calories hover around 1300 per day, but it looks like it’s mostly the same content, with different portions. My partner, Sam Page, (sampagefitness.com), his clients, and I have all had good success with it, without feeling like a slave on a diet. I encourage you in every way, and send you much love.
-Bronson a.k.a. Lovesick Billy
One of the joys of this whole experience is learning what works for us and what doesn’t, and as someone else already said, what works now might not work six months from now. None of it is written in stone. Good for you for being mindful of the changes and adjusting!
Krissie: *smile* I keep trying to remind myself that I don’t need to apologize for worrying about when I weigh myself. In the grand scheme of things, it seems so silly, but I suppose ones health *is* important — so you’re right, it’s not a small thing for us. That said, I chose Monday as my official weigh in day for the same reasons you did. Currently, I’m experimenting with what I do, and hopefully, I’ll figure out what works best for me.
lululeelee: I’m sooo glad you decided to share… each little bit of insight is a great help. That said, wow… if I weighed myself multiple times a day, I’m pretty sure that my head would explode! :)
fatbridesmaid: you’re exactly right. There’s no way I can go to just once a week. I read your post about your week of no loss… but girl, you’ve got to think of it as a week of NO GAIN! Believe me, I’ve been there, and I *know* it’s disappointing, but if the alternative is putting on a pound or two, then I’ll take a flatline any day. :)
lovesickbilly: Thanks for the suggestion. Right now, I don’t really feel deprived or find myself feeling as though I am on a diet. In truth, it’s just a lot easier for me if breakfast and lunch remain the same — at least on a weekly basis. I don’t want to have get up at the crack of dawn each day and worry about what I am doing for breakfast and lunch… so having that planned out and having it be similar, but satisfying, really works for me. Dinner is where I am doing my best to mix it up. Maybe once summer gets here, I’ll feel more comfortable expanding my breakfast and lunch horizons. In the meantime, thank you so much for your kind words.
Cammy: I’m realizing this. In the past, I’ve tried to hop on whatever diet train was going by. I absolutely believe that the reason why I am having any success this time is because I am listening to my body and doing my very best to figure out what works for me. Thanks so much for your support!
Cheers everyone!
j
Wanted to say thanks for stopping by my blog!!….and as for how often to weigh…. I think it depends on the person. Some people can handle seeing the number go up due to the daily fluctuations of the normal body….while others are terribly discouraged by seeing the rise. And all of us I think are highly motivated when the number goes down…although the down may not be due to fat loss, but the normal fluctuations.
Weighing in is necessary because I believe it is very important for one to know what he/she weighs…otherwise we imagine the worst or live in denial…and sometimes fear. We can’t confront our fears if we don’t face them.
But once we’ve gotten on that scale and know how things stand, and get a goal in mind of where we’d like to be, then I think the frequency of weighing depends on the effect it has on the individual.
I found that daily weighing caused me to obsess too much on the number. And the weekly weigh in didn’t always truely reflect my weight loss because I’m a slow looser and a half pound every 7-10 days is the norm for me…hence I go ten days generally, then I weigh feeling pretty certain that the number reflected there is good input as to how I’m faring.
For those who weigh often, say every day or a couple times a week I think it is a good idea to take an average of those weights to determine your weight for the week. That way the normal body fluctuations are offset by weight loss if any and you get a truer picture of what’s going on with total body weight.
When I was doing WW—I’m a life time member—without fail I’d weigh the day before weigh in and be down…and the very next day when I did my official weigh in for the week I’d show a gain!!!! and the following day at home I’d weigh and I’d be back down…it was very frustrating for me.
Bottom line: use the scale weight in a way that will enhance and encourage your journey…you know yourself best.
hmmm i was the same way and i vacilate between weighing once a month and every 3rd day or sometimes once a week. the fact is … all the scale is is a tool to monitor where we are at… its a shame we put so much meaning into those numbers.. so much worth.. when in fact all they are is a tool..
Dinah: This is a funny old game, isn’t it? Frankly, sometimes, keeping track of it all is just exhausting which, when I think about it can be a bit counter productive. I guess right now I’m just hoping that I stumble upon the thing that works best for me. To that end, your input is very valuable. Thanks so much!
Honi: You are SO right. I keep telling myself that this is about more than just the number on the scale… that *I* am more than just the number on the scale. I guess we’re all just looking for validation that all of this hard work is actually paying off. Of course, there are a million other measures — the fact that my ankles aren’t the same size as my head anymore, the fact that I’m wearing clothes now that Ihaven’t worn in years, the fact that I can walk or bike for miles each night whereas, before, I couldn’t walk around the black without falling over. All of those things are evidence of my success. I know this is true… but I still need to see a lower number on the scale. I hate it… but it’s the truth. Anyway, thanks for insight.
Cheers,
j