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Sep 9
I know we’ve read all of the articles, blogs, and post that say “don’t weigh yourself every day”, “step away from the scale”,“ don’t focus on the pounds”, etc. Well I learned from recent experience that they may be wrong (or at least not completely right).For years I’ve been one of those people who throw caution to the wind and step on the scale everyday. A quick 5-10 seconds it’s become part of my daily routine, in between brush my teeth and shower is a scale.
Recently, for no particular reason, I took a break. Either I was traveling, woke up late, busy, or just reluctant get on and get the bad news; for most of last month I neglected my scale. Many researchers (a.k.a. THEY) would say this is great, I broke the routine and now I can get on with a healthy regimen. Well, I completely disagree. During my scale hiatus I went on a cruise, barely made it to the gym, and had a 6 day birthday celebration that included 3 birthday dinners, a wedding, touring NY (and NY food), a BBQ, and a local festival (with festival food
) You can just imagine how bad all of this was. So yesterday when I hopped back on my scale I was hit by a shocking, disturbing, upsetting extra 3 pounds. During the 6 day celebration alone I gained 3 pounds and a total of 5 for the month of August. I know 5 pounds isn’t the end of the world, but it’s definitely a trend in the WRONG direction, at a rate of 5 pounds a month I would have gained 25 pounds by Christmas (see that’s the scary part).Well I am now kicking my self for not seeing this little slide earlier. And here is where I come up with my theory of why you SHOULD weigh yourself everyday. Weighing yourself every day helps you recognize trends. While THEY are right that you don’t see real progress with a daily weigh in, and your body fluctuates from day to day. You do see a move in the wrong direction, and over time you will see movement in the right or wrong direction. Even if you only see a .4 change, .4 over several days adds up to full pounds. Personally I use the scale as a tool if I see it creeping up and I can’t explain it with any other body changes (yes those still count too) I adjust my diet or up my exercise. Knowing my weight or better yet weight trend, even serves as a little guilt reminder when I’m making meal decisions like “we’re up a pound, maybe I’ll skip the dessert” or “I’m down a pound maybe I can have the afternoon latte”. Weight change doesn’t happen over night a few drop or gain all five pounds in one day, the truth is with careful monitoring you can see if what you are doing is helping o hurting one day and one pound at a time.
Now, I must caution daily weigh ins are not for the faint at heart is you get easily discouraged or neurotic about your current weight then I suggest listening to the THEY. But if you can reasonably use the scale as guide and tool by all means hop on. I’ve learned my lesson. I will be on that scale yesterday, today, and tomorrow. LOL
Tagged as: body fat, daily weigh in, how oten should you weigh yourself, regimen, routine, scale, weight gain, weight gain trend, weight loss, weight loss trend
37 Responses to “You SHOULD weigh yourself every day!!!”
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Chris said on September 10th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Hi (Here from SITS) I agree – weighing every day or at least every other day can catch a rise before it becomes a problem.
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apol said on September 10th, 2009 at 8:45 am
yeah i agree also,weighing yourself everyday is important to have a basis especially when you are in a diet.
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Alisa said on September 10th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I agree that checking our weight should be part of our routine when we want to lose weight or stay healthy. Holidays are also hard on me, it’s so easy to get carried away with all eating and drinking, but we can always burn that off
Nice post! -
Liz said on September 10th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
I do! It’s a great way to maintain weight.
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When I was working out regularly and watching what I ate (through portion control mostly), I weighed myself 3-4 times/week. Totally worked for me! Helped me notice trends and make course corrections as necessary.
Now that I have a baby, my workout regimen is non-existent and I eat what I can, when I can. Needless to say, my weight is WAY UP and I’m too tired to deal with it. BUT — I can and I will. I actually started weighing myself again last week. I consider this a vital piece of information. It’s that daily feedback that lets me know how I’m doing (even when I’m not paying that much attention). I’ll take what I learn from it and make some small adjustments. And your blog is a big help!
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Totally agree. Checking my weight every day helps me stay mindful of my goal. When I don’t check, it’s too easy to just pretend a weight problem does not exist.
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Hmm..I’ll have to try that!
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Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write something in my site like that. Can I take part of your post for my blog?
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Greedy Girl #1 said on September 27th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I’m glad you enjoyed the content. Feel free to use part of the post on you blog. All I ask is that you please link back to the original post.
Hope this helps Enjoy
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Anonymous said on October 7th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I REALLY liked your post and blog! It took me a little bit to find your site…but I book marked it. Would you mind if I but a link back to your site?
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I hate it but I do it.
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Im not going to lie… I occasionally weigh myself twice a day.
There I said it. lol
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I think weighing in every day helps too. Just to stay on track and maintain your weight. Like you say, better to catch the trend early.
Congrats on your SITS day! Love your blog and will follow.
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I agree with you, as I’m on a 6 week extended shred schedule I’ve come to notice the little things that make my weight fluctuate, like, eating after 7pm, that will make my scale be not so right the next morning. Also making sure I work out everyday, if I don’t that scale won’t bulge so I agree with you on the weight checking everyday. Btw, happy surprise SITS day!!
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I weigh myself every day religiously…and can’t imagine not doing so!
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I’m in agreement and know I’m much more likely to stay on track when I weigh myself everyday. I don’t obsess or anything but it helps keep me in check a bit. Denial can be evil!
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melissa @ the lotus pages said on November 20th, 2009 at 9:11 am
i dont even own one LOL nah I realise when I eat more than usual and its normal in my opinion that it happens I simply go back to a healthier regime when that happens
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I’m on a diet, so if I weigh everyday, I become easily discouraged. Hope you have a great surprise SITS day! Enjoy!
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I did not own a scale for many years. Those were good times!
Three children later, I would be a big liar if I told you I didn’t weigh myself each day now! Maybe once a week could be the middle point for me. Good post! I have enjoyed your blog!! Happy happy day for you!
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Jenn said on November 20th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I think another important thing is weighing yourself everyday holds you accountable for your actions. You can’t say “oh I’ll eat this week and less next week” because you see it each day. You know that each day you need to make a conscious effort so that the trend is always downward.
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I TOTALLY agree! I am a huge believer in weighing myself everyday, if the scale reads a good number I still workout because I feel good, but I might have a small treat. And if it reads a higher number I workout harder and I skip the treat. I’ve kept my 30lbs off for a 1 1/2 now because of it! I love your site, definatly going to bookmark it! I love SITS because I find such great blogs, like yours!
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TOTALLY agree! With this 3rd pregnancy I weight myself everyday just to be sure I’m not gainging weight too fast and that it all a healthy steady growth! It’s actually liberating! Happy surprise SITs day! Enjoy!
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I am absolutely for doing what works best for you. Some women monitor themselves by how their clothes fit. Happy SITS Day!
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foxy said on November 20th, 2009 at 11:54 am
All good points! I do weigh myself (just about) every day. You’re exactly right… it helps keep me in line for the day.
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Here from SITS. If I weighed myself everyday, my scale would just read exactly like the picture in your post. FAT.
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I’m with Young Wife, I monitor myself based on how my clothes fit. If I’m in workout mode, I don’t put the sweats on, I’ll put on my good jeans as a reminder. Weight doesn’t work for me, as I have a lot of muscle mass, and the scale doesn’t change even though my clothes fit better. But if it works for you, do it! Whatever you can do to keep motivated!
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I agree! I gained all my weight back when I stopped weighing myself. Out of sight, out of mind.
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Carrie said on November 20th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Hi, I came here from SITS and I am loving your blog!
I totally agree about weighing yourself every day. I also document my weight & body fat percentage weekly to keep myself more accountable.
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I don’t even have a scale, if my clothes fit tight I know something is wrong. But we’re all different.
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While I agree that if you are trying to maintain your weight then you should weigh yourself everyday, but if you are trying to lose then I think it’s best to weigh weekly. And this is totally personal I just know if I’m trying to lose and I gain, like an ounce, because I had sushi last night and am retaining water from all they soy sauce then I freak out and plunge into an entire day of carb loading and chocolate cramming to make myself feel better…
Oh wow, I didn’t mean to spew all that out on ya, sorry. I’m going to go collect myself now and check into food rehab.
Happy Sits!
Alex
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Thank you!! someone else agrees with me. You are so right. How else are you going to keep track of whether you’re gaining again. So many people lose weight and look great and they stop the scale check. Six months later they packed on the pounds again…. like you said those 5 pounds add up if it’s followed by 5 pounds the next month etc…. I think if those people were more in tune with their weight, they would have taken steps to stay on track when they saw the first little weight gain.
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Interesting. I have not been weighing myself lately. Maybe I better check.
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Lori said on November 20th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Greedy Girl: I agree 100%. It slips away from you if you don’t do the daily jump on the scale exercise!!! Thanks for making us feel OKAY for doing it. xoxo
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I totally agree. I find I’m more aware of what I’m putting in my face and exercise and all that if I weigh myself daily – or just about daily. I play a little mind game w/myself and “guess” at what it’ll be, based upon how I’m feeling that day – bloated cuz it’s pms time, or thinner because I’ve been good at exercising! Stupid I know, but I love it when I’m wrong and I weigh in lower than I was expecting! LOL Anyway – happy SURPRISE SITS day to you. Hope it’s been a great day.
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First of all, I laughed when I saw that picture of the scale that says FAT.
Secondly, I totally agree. I weigh myself every morning right after I wake up, before I dress. Same time every day. It really helps to put things in perspective and if I go up a few pounds I just up my workout routine.
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I always stay away from the scale when I know I am off track. Therefore, weighing myself everyday goes a long way towrds helping me make good decisions. Great post & I liked the vlog about 100 calorie snacks. You go, Girl!
Cheers from your SITSta! -
Missy said on November 21st, 2009 at 2:19 am
Interesting thought. I don’t know which side I would be on; the one that uses it to keep from down sliding or the neurotic.
I should get on the scale once in a while though since I was utterly shocked at my last doc’s appointment. =(
Stopping by from SITS.
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