The scale: when to weigh in , when not to weigh in
Now that I've been through
both the cycles of losing weight, maintaining the weight loss and back
to losing weight, I thought I'd share my thoughts and what I've noticed
about the scale.
There is a great deal of debate about whether to weigh yourself
every day, or once a week, or to give up the scale totally and use
other ways to measure progress such as a tape measure. I am a fan of
the scale. It works for me. It's funny, it's when I gave up the scale
that I gained all of the weight in the first place because I lacked the
"checking in of reality". That said, when I was losing initial weight,
I weighed in once a week as my official "count". I would hop on the
scale on about Tuesday to see my unofficial progress and then on Friday
I would record what my official "weigh in was". Then, when I was more
in maintenance mode, I started to get on the scale frequently, almost
every day or at least every other day. If I'd see the scale up a pound,
I would eat fewer calories or run around more, if it was down a pound,
I would feel like I could order dessert.
Then a few months ago, I decided I would like to lose another 10
pounds but I still had the habit of hopping on the scale all the time.
I can't tell you the frustration I've experienced. It's driving me
nuts, If it's up a 1/2 pound I"m bummed if it's down I'm elated, if
it's the same I'm frustrated. But the last couple of weeks, I waited as
long as I could. Today, I waited until Thursday, 6 whole days from the
last weigh in and I'm so much happier. I haven't been driving myself
crazy with all of the daily fluctuations and I feel like I'm making
progress. Have any experience with this? I would love to hear your
thoughts.