Day 70 – Great Day for a Weigh-In

Time to check on my progress. I stepped on the scale for the moment of truth … and what? I’ve lost another pound!! Woo hoo. This, despite a difficult week of travel!

The positive take-away from this is that staying on the plan … and I do mean staying on the plan … works! Weight loss is tricky to navigate and sometimes so is that scale. I know that weight fluctuations are normal and even to be expected. It’s just the body regulating itself. But in a weight loss plan, every ounce matters. Or at least that’s surely how it seems to the dieter!

So, how often should I weigh myself? I’ve been reading 🙂 …  let’s talk about the scale. The first question about the scale: “what kind and where will it be located?” When I started this adventure, I purchased a new scale. Lucite. Bariatric. Digital. Because, yes, the scale matters to me – must be decorative AND functional (it’s readily available in my bathroom). Second question: “how often should I weigh, and why?” There’s no magic answer for how often to weigh. Figuring out what would be helpful and motivating for me, personally, is how I decided.

Why not daily weigh-ins? I’ve noted that some systems suggest weighing in daily keeps you accountable and monitors progress more closely. Perhaps it really does keep progress on track if you’re able to look at the overall trend and not stress about the small fluctuations, but that’s not me. A 0.5lb weight gain makes me grumpy (or sad, or irritated). I don’t want the number on the scale to dictate my mood. I know, I know, it’s just a number. But it’s a number that matters to me!

How about weekly weigh-ins? I’ve settled here because I think there are real advantages. The biggest one is tracking my progress while still having the rest of the week free to not worry about it! Experts suggest you pick a consistent day each week, and weigh yourself in the morning. So that’s what I do – once each week on Monday. I know that the overall trends matter more than the minutia, and I’m looking for that downward slope (see chart below)! It still keeps me feeling accountable without fear of … the scale.

So what about occasional weigh-ins? I’ve noticed that some weight loss sites suggest occasional weight checks only – once per month or less. There is even some research data to suggest that this is a healthier option, emotionally. These people opt for alternative ways to identify weight change, for example, the way clothes fit or the ease/difficulty of exercising. They also use body measurements, rather than pounds, to gage success. I think this is too vague for me. Although I am very aware of clothes, exercise, etc. I may also do some body measurements, just for comparison.

The thing I’m not doing? Weighing myself multiple times per day. There really are dieters out there much more fixated than me (I know that’s hard to believe)! I read in a Diet Center handout years ago, that obsessing over the number on the scale can actually be more problematic than helpful. My New Mantra: The scale is my friend; I shall not worship the scale. The scale is a tool that helps, not harms.