Should you weigh yourself everyday?

Posted by Kim N. Patient Expert

There have been some arguments over the exercise motivation strategy of weighing yourself everyday. Some consider it unhealthy, because those who have anorexia or other eating disorders will have a tendency to be obsessive about their weight. Others, however, think that it provides feedback and motivation for them to eat better and get their exercise routine in. My only advice is this: if you're going to weigh yourself regularly, please do not freak out with a fluctuation of 2-3 pounds of body weight. The bad thing about a scale is that it weighs EVERYTHING together, which means things such as muscle, bone, and fluid, as well as body fat. So, things such as whether or not you've gone to the bathroom yet for the day can affect your reading. It's perfectly normal to fluctuate from day to day or even somewhat throughout the same day. It may be better to do a weekly weighing routine, so that you can see if you're on the right path, but to prevent you from freaking out like if you were watching the stock market daily.

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C.L. R.

I am of the mind-set that you should only weigh yourself once a week. The thing is, as you mentioned, there are soooo many factors that make your weight fluctuate that it can be frustrating to try and figure them out. If you spent your entire day eating right and hit the gym for a good 45 minute work-out, to come home and learn that you've gained three pounds since yesterday will not motivate you to continue in your healthy lifestyle. Also, many people forget that if you are on a diet that incorporates healthy eating and exercise, your body is being turned into a muscle machine. And newsflash - muscle weighs more. A lot more! So, step away from the scale. Your objective in losing weight and keeping healthy should be primarily based on how you look and feel. The numbers on the scale are going to change accordingly, but looking at them everyday can certainly derail you from your task.

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Kristen D.

Right now, I'm pretty consistent about weighing myself everyday, each morning after having used the bathroom, and I must say that it can be both good and bad for my confidence. Good when the weight's down, bad when it's up. But I've also been working out more frequently, and eating better I think, so the weight doesn't always reflect what I think it will be, because my body is looking much leaner. I guess that's from the muscle building. I'm going to start weighing myself once a week, perhaps on a Monday, which will hopefully help me curb my eating out on the weekends. Thanks for the advice!

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brad c.

I weigh myself 3 times a day, sometimes more. I just like doing it, especially when the numbers are going down.

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Cristina D.

it's debatable but it's been proven that ppl who weigh themselves daily are better at keeping the weigh loss on the long run. yes, i do weigh in daily and no , i don't freak up if i go up 1-2 lbs (usually water weight...ugh..thanks salt! LOL)

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sarah d.

I find that I weight myself in the mornings when for the past week or so I have been eating correctly. If I have not been eating right sometimes I will weigh myself anyway and find that the 4 pounds I previously lost are back on! I have to admitt that it does make me feel badly though. I think it may be better to reward yourself by stepping on the scale when you have been doing well with eating and ecersizing and get that -5 reading from the week before. That motivates me more than realizing I have gained weight.

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Stephanie B.

I don't see the point of weighing myself constantly. Let's say I lose some fat but gain some lean muscle mass. I could end up gaining a few pounds because muscle weighs more than fat. Meanwhile, my body looks better and I'm actually healthier. Because of this, I think judging your weight in the form of single target number is deceptive. I have a friend once who called himself a "skinny fat person," meaning, he was technically on the thin side but had no muscle and was really out of shape. I think if you focus on toning up and getting in shape then it doesn't matter so much what your actual "number" is.

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Lela D.

When the numbers are going down, oh yeah you get that great feeling, but it doesn't last does it? Who even knows what makes the numbers move in one direction or another. And what's up with the "overnight weight loss". Do we breathe out excess water at night and that's why we weigh less in the morning? Because everybody knows you want to weigh early in the morning, before you have even a cup of coffee! It's insane. That said, I think I'll go weigh myself!

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Nancy W.

I do weigh myself several times a week, but I am always within a pound or two of what I expect I will be based on how I feel. I stopped weighing myself every day because I was allowing the numbers to dictate how I felt all day. There is no magic to any of this stuff. If you eat right and exercise, your weight tends to be "right"--even if the numbers flucuate a bit.

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Larisa R.

I know my approximate weight and I have no fear of knowing my actual number, but I don't think it's important. There are so many variables and reasons why your weight fluctuates, there is no need to concentrate on a number versus how your feeling.

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susan m.

to keep yourself in check. don't weigh everyday, but twice a week -that way you'll know if you've gained a couple of lbs immediately. i didn't have a scale for a while and suddenly my clothes were tight and i bought one...i had gained 10 lbs and not even realized.

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susan m.

of weight, I weigh myself about 3 times a week.

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j m.

It's all about how you look at the weight. I know many people who it's just not good psychologically for them. They freak out when it's a couple pounds higher, and get excited when they've accidentally lost some water weight. I personally weigh myself every morning. I log the number, and move on. I really don't think about it. I use the data to get some graphs about how consistent my weight loss is, and that's about it

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Nirmala N.

I don't think weight is an honest indicator of how healthy a person is, for all the reasons that have already been mentioned. I generally ONLY weigh myself when I'm at the doctor's office or if I happen to be at a hotel where there's a bathroom scale. Then I move on and forget about it. There are better indicators of how healthy I am, like my blood pressure or cholesterol. It's all about how good you feel about yourself. I know that when I was in my eating disorder days, I would weigh myself obsessively, and frankly, I just don't see what good that ever did me.

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Regina H.

I am on a weight loss program and have lost 26 pounds so far. I'm not supposed to weigh myself every day, but I do. I used to freak out and get all depressed when I gained a bit, but over time I have leaned to use the fluctuations to understand my weight loss trends. For instance, I log my weight once a week. I changed that day from Monday to Wednesday, because I always eat more on the weekends and my weight is usually up on Monday. I have also learned to take into consideration my monthly water weight gain, due to certain female reasons. Now that I have examined my eating habits and understand my body's weight fluctuations, I can weigh in every morning and not freak out!!

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Kristy V.

I think weighing yourself everyday may be very helpful, IF you are realistic with yourself and take into account daily/ monthly cycles that naturally affect the numbers on the scale. If you are of the mind that minor fluctuations are okay, and you keep it as a marker to motivate or keep you on track- then everyday may be good choice for you. If you find yourself becoming obsessed with these numbers, however, then less would be a better choice. Measurements are always more accurate and you may want to consider focussing on your measurements and tracking your weight only once a week. With any decision you make, do keep weighing yourself. Find a schedule that works for you and be smart about the facts: Muscle weighs more than fat, but takes up way less room in your favorite jeans!

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Cynthia B.

I recommend stepping on a scale once a week at the same time of day each week. My personal method is to stand on it in the morning right before jumping in the shower (naked) so that I don't have the clothing variation (jeans vs skirt). Admittedly I will do sneak peeks more often during the holidays, but in general, it is not good to constantly weigh yourself. It is also important to remember that at the beginning you will lose water and fat, and will hopefully be adding more muscle mass with exercise. As you get closer to your target weight, it will appear to be very difficult to lose the last bit, but at that point you should be looking more at your fitness and measurements and focus less on the scale. Everyone is built differently, so when you are feeling healthy and are physically fit is when you have acheived your goal (at that point it doesn't matter what the scale says).

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Pat Y.

I agree to stepping on the scales once a week at the same time or close to it. Reason being, your body weight can vary by as much as 2 pounds from one day to the next, and sometimes a little more if you are of child bearing years, if you know what I mean. So a couple of water weight pounds doesn't mean you have failed, it just means your body is doing what it needs to do for that couple of days.......

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Sarah A.

I was seeing a personal trainer for awhile who happened to also be a close personal friend of mine. For the first couple weeks, he had me weigh myself every morning after I went to the restroom and before I ahd eaten or had anything to drink. At the end of the week, we added and averaged to find my "weight." From that point on, he suggested I make a Monday morning weigh in and use that to track my progress. No one weighs the same every day, so for me it became more about how clothes were fitting and how i am feeling and looking then about what a number on a scale says. My number is much higher then I look and feel, and while that's not perfect yet, I know I can't live my life on what that number is.

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Kristen D.

I commented on this post quite a while ago, yet I kept on weighing myself every day. I've finally realized fully the error of my weighs. It's so much easier to track your progress week to week, rather than day to day when your weight can fluctuate based on a number of different factors. It's time to start updating my Wellsphere goal log weekly as well.

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Kai J.

I think it's not a good idea to weigh oneself everyday. It can be dissapointing and can result in giving up one's goals.

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NOTICE: The information provided on this site is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on Wellsphere. If you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

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