Everyday I try to weigh myself (multiple times a day, whenever possible) and I almost always get varying results depending on the time I step on the scale. Sometimes, it can vary as much as 15 pounds from morning til night! It's maddening to see that while I see that I've made progress, my demeanor deteriorates when I step on the scale at night to see that I've made very little. So my question is, what is the optimal time for me to weigh myself? If I weigh myself in the morning before I've done anything, is that REALLY indicative of my true weight? But do I weigh myself at night? I know most people say not to, because I may or may not have a bigger meal one day than the next, but it seems to me that its probably more accurate to my true weight since it is the weight that most people see me as anyways. Should I weigh myself multiple times a day, or just once a day? If I choose the latter, I might gain motivation, but at what cost?

I know these questions aren't new to anyone, but I'd appreciate any response.

I can speak from personal experience that a scale is a very poor indication of your progress. Weighing yourself multiple times per day is counter productive at best. Each meal will change your weight, each bowel movement or pee will change your weight, salty foods will increase the water you retain, your clothes or lack thereof make a difference and so on and so on. And on top of that, unless your scale is a very expensive professional scale, it is simply a collection of springs that is never meant to be exact. To that end you will often see on personal scales a disclaimer saying that scale CANNOT be used for commercial purposes for exactly that reason.

Do yourself an ENORMOUS favor and stop hopping on that scale so much. If it is important to you to monitor your weight daily, the best reccomendation is to weight yourself at the same time everyday, usually first thing in the morning after a bowel movement. This rules out the most variables, but it still isnt accurate. Like I said, too many variables to be 100% accurate.

One thing I don't understand is what would it cost you by not weighing yourself at every impulse? It takes more than a couple hours to make real changes.

I know it is tough. Losing weight without constant validation of your efforts is difficult. I have just come off of a 1 month plateau where my weight went up and down by as much as 10 pounds, but never lower than my lowest up to that point. Had I just looked at the scales, I would have been shattered. But I choose to look at my face, arms and most importantly my belt. Even though my weight did not reflect it, my belt kept getting longer and longer. SO even though the weight wasn't falling off, I was getting smaller.

Not many of us have scales as accurate and specially tuned as a doctors office or fitness specialist. Don't let a simple collection of springs and pulleys designed to give a good "approximation" of body weight discourage you. Personally I believe I still weigh myself too much at a few times a week. I am hoping to just put that little sucker aside and hop on weekly 1 time and see how it goes from there.

Trust yourself and everything will come together, whether the scale is your friend or foe.

sirant

oh man!

Stop obsessing about the scale. Your weight can vary a lot in a day. Weigh yourself once a week for a truer picture of your weight. You'll be saner too! LD