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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 21 April 2008 06:19 pm |
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This topic has been discussed many times in these forums, but after seeing some of the action in the challenges, I thought it might be good to review the subject.
First off, I think there can only be one answer to this question. And that is that you have to see what works best for you. I will simply share what works best for me, and others can do the same.
The most common answer that I have read is once a week. The reasons given are twofold:
- We can become obsessive about weighing ourselves.
- Our weight can fluctuate, and if we weigh ourselves too often it can drive us crazy fussing about daily fluctuations in weight.
I completely agree with the first point. When I was active in Overeater's Anonymous, my sponsor asked me how often I weighed myself. I hadn't thought about it till he asked, but I had a very regular pattern and when I counted the answer was an amazing 7 times a day!
I completely disagree with the logic of the second point. Because our weight can fluctuate so greatly, it would drive me nuts to weigh myself only once a week knowing that my weekly reading might be very misleading. Because I eat so little salt, just having salty popcorn can cause me to weigh 2 pounds more the following morning. I wouldn't want a daily fluctuation like that to affect my food plan for an entire week.
It therefore seems logical to me that if you want to track your weight weekly, you might weigh yourself for three consecutive days and take a average. Or just use your judgement. For example, if it's high one day and you know you at something salty or an unusually big meal the night before, just ignore that day's reading. Or don't even take it.
What works for me is to simply weigh myself first thing every morning. I know the trend, so it never upsets me when it's off for a day. But if I were only weighing weekly, it would be a big deal. And very misleading.
When to weigh is a no-brainer. Our body weight fluctuates greatly throughout the day as we eat, drink, and eliminate. (You never hear the latter mentioned, but it's common sense that it would make a difference, too!) And remember, I used to weigh my self 7 times a day... so I know all about this... LOL.
Always weigh yourself first thing in the morning or as close to it as you can.
BTW, what works best for you many NOT be logical. I mean, obviously my logic is flawless... LOL again... but you simply may be able to maintain a better mentality about your weight loss by not thinking about your weight so often and only checking it weekly.
So as I said at the outset, "...you have to see what works best for you."
Peter
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 21 April 2008 09:06 pm |
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| I've been weighing myself every morning on and off since the beginning of 2004. Unfortunately there is a long empty blot in that period where I didn't care about my weight and did not weigh. Not surprisingly, I gained during that period. Now I have data every day going back to mid-2006 (morning readings wherever possible). I am really greateful to Frankie for introducing me to physicsdiet.com which has made me take a completely different approach to how I view the fluctuations, and in fact means that I ought to get a data point every day. There is an entire free book about the subject, called The Hacker's Diet
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Maggie
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 21 April 2008 10:45 pm |
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Thanks Peter for posting this
I am a very slow looser and I know that is a good thing, but sometimes when one reads about these fabulous losses of 2, 3 or 4 lbs a week it makes one start to doubt yourself.
For me I weigh daily in the morning and record it, allowing a 3 lb leeway and once a week I average the highest reading with the lowest reading and that is the weight I post on the challenge.
Thanks again.
Cheerio
Maggie
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cportwine
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 25 April 2008 03:39 pm |
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I weigh usually everyother day. Sometimes every day. Like today I was up cause I ate pizza two days ago. I know in the morning I will be back down again.
So, I agree with peter.
If you weigh often then you know how your body is going to be about certain things. Like salt, pizza, or whatever you do. Like someone just starting with weights might see a gain.
My weight for the last couple of weeks has went up and down as much as 4-5lbs. Wednesday, I was 125lb today I am 129lbs. So, if I don't weigh myself tomorrow to see what the average is, then I will just keep going on all week thinking that I have gained three pounds when in reality, I have probably not gained that much.
As far as the challenge, I will weigh again on Monday for a final to put on the post.
Last edited on 25 April 2008 03:41 pm by cportwine
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loungebob
New Member
| Joined: | 26 April 2008 |
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| Posts: | 12 |
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Posted: 26 April 2008 05:21 pm |
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lol, I guess I was as notorious as peter. never quite made the 7times a day but close enough.
I'm back to once a day in the morning (well, actually that is so misleading - it's when I get up, whatever time that may be for others) but I only use the median for the corresponding week to compare to the previous and mainly do it daily to counteract a "bad day" weighing that would frustrate me for a whole week to come.
but I agree, keep track and do how many times work for you.
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 26 April 2008 06:12 pm |
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| Once a day here, same outfit, and same time of day (after dinner). Not perfect but it keeps me going nutty from water weight fluctuations. And I avoid a negative suprise I wasn't expecting on weekly weigh-in day, which could be disheartening.
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Heavenseventeen
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 27 April 2008 02:33 am |
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Maggie wrote: I am a very slow looser and I know that is a good thing, but sometimes when one reads about these fabulous losses of 2, 3 or 4 lbs a week it makes one start to doubt yourself.
I agree. Seeing people upset over losing only 2 lbs" is disheartening. I lose very slowly too and the daily fluctuations are getting to me. If they were going down I wouldn't mind but up and down makes me feel like I'm going nowhere.
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 27 April 2008 10:07 am |
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| http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/subsubsection1_2_4_0_3_1.html
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