How Often Do You Weigh Yourself?

Updated on April 15, 2011
S.G. asks from Fort Eustis, VA
43 answers

I used to weigh myself every morning. It got really depressing! Even just a small fluctuation upward would put me in a funk. So I switched it up, now I weigh myself once a week, Friday mornings. I figure then even if my weight is a little higher than I'd like, at least it's Friday, so it's harder to be glum! Do you weigh yourself? Does the number on the scale impact your mood at all?

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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

I weigh myself every morning... If it's up or down a pound or two, then I know it's just water weight as I am ALWAYS lighter in the morning than I am by evening... I like to weigh myself because it helps me stay on track.... I know some say it's the worst thing you can do and I used to believe that as well... but not anymore... these days, I weigh in before I do anything else.. it's become my morning routine and I whether I am up or down, I just feel it's the right thing for me and keeps me honest with myself about my weight..

best of luck

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

It impacts me too much, so I stopped doing it except for once in awhile (prob once a month and only when I am "feeling" thin lol). I got tired of getting so bummed over a change in the scale when it was almost ALWAYS back down within a couple of days.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I never weigh myself. I used to but it just depressed me. I know it's silly, but it does affect my mood. I just try and go how I feel and how my clothes fit. When I'm exercising and eating good then I feel good and that's all that really matters to me.

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K.F.

answers from New York on

I am only weighed when I go to the doctor's office for my annual check up. My clothes tell me if I'm heavier or lighter. You know when things get tighter around the middle or you begin to pop buttons on your blouse you probably have had more than enough cheese cake and candy.

Generally I don't sweat it but I try to be fit instead of weighing a certain number besides I haven't seen my favorite weight number in about two years. No big deal. Hubby still finds me sexy and I am beginning to agree with him.

3 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I am only weighed when I go to my Dr. for my yearly physical.

I'm don't have any weight issues. I've been a size 2 since I hit adult hood and the only time I wasn't a size 2 was during pregnancy when i hit a whopping 135#.

I don't think it is good to weigh yourself that often if it has a negative effect on your mood. You can probably tell any changes in weight with the clothing you wear (ex too tight, too loose)

3 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

never.....seriously, i dont even let the doctor do it, since im somewhere from 160 to 170 i dont need to weigh myself. i gauge my progress by how my clothes fit and how i feel, 5 lb fluctuations can make a woman obsess and discourage her.

1 mom found this helpful

M..

answers from Appleton on

I weigh myself every Tuesday morning - I hate it!

1 mom found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Dallas on

I always check my weight on Friday and Monday mornings in my birthday suit. It's just to make sure i'm keeping on track, I love to see the fat percentage decreasing. However, all bets are off when i'm on my period : )

1 mom found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

1x a year, when I go to the doctor.

Weight is an arbitrary number. It means different things to different people, and all it REALLY does these days is serve to make you feel bad about yourself because Hollywood has associated certain numbers with being "fat".

Go with how your clothes fit. And keep in mind that the greatest fluctuations come from water retention.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I only do maybe once a month now. I was weighing weekly when I was on Weight Watchers and it was useful. However, I just judge based on how my pants fit now and track things about once a month to make sure I'm not off-track.

You really can drive yourself crazy checking daily because it will fluctuate.

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T.B.

answers from Bloomington on

It definitely impacts my mood, therefore, I do not do it anymore!

1 mom found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I weigh myself when I think about it, usually a few times per week, just because. Like if I was a real glutton one day, I'll check it the next day just to see how it effected me. Or after a few days of working out, I'll weigh myself. Because I've done this for so long, I know that I've got a solid 8lb window of continuous weight fluxuation; as long as I'm somewhere in that window, I'm very comfortable. It helps so much to remind myself that I'm normal as long as I fall somewhere between weight 'a' and weight 'b', I'm okay :)

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Every morning. I am a firm believer that it helps to maintain weight.

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

I don't weigh myself at all. I wait for doctor appointments. I gauge weight loss by how well my clothes fit.

C.F.

answers from Boston on

I dont own a scale :-) dont miss having one! LOL Once in a while when I'm at my moms I'll run up and use hers, but that's always after work (after eating all day) but I was pleasantly surprised the other night when I weighed myself, (it has been a good two months or so) I was 164!!!! last time it was 170 -
WOO HOO not great but better !

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I am weighed when I go to the doctor. My weight doesn't fluctuate much except for a pound or two each month when I get my period.

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

Ditch the scale-do what you can to get in shape-and remember how good it felt to be in certain clothes. You didn't gain it overnight-it takes time to lowse it and strength to keep it off. I am going through the same thing-good luck!

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I wiegh myself everyday. Sudden changes freak me out even more. I have skipped the last 2 days and bot do I feel it. The real key is to it the same time. I do it in the am, after potty stop before coffee or water.

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N.S.

answers from Chicago on

I weigh myself once a day or so. I don't let it affect my mood, because it's something I have control over. If I'm up a pound or so, I drink more water to stay full and try to avoid junk. If I'm down a little, I don't mind splurging on that reese's peanut butter egg:) I don't really believe in going by how your clothes fit, because it's to easy to buy the next size bigger when you get something new. I also truly believe that sizes are not true anymore...I think it's called vanity sizing? I have clothes from several years ago that are a lot snugger than the same size of clothes that have been purchased more recently. I think it's very important to keep an eye on my weight, the size of the average woman is getting bigger every year. And don't even get me started on the "real woman" thing. I'm smaller than that, am I less of a woman? Ridiculous!

J.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

most mornings. I don't let fluctuations get me down, I've learned to attribute them to various things like, menstruation, B.M's or lack there of, alcohol consumption or salty foods leading to water weight. I can tell by how I feel in the morning if the scale is going to be on the low or high end of my current normal, it rarely surprises me. I consider my self healthy and normal both in my weight and the way I mentally feel about my weight. However, I have also had an eating disorder and can remember these things overwhelming my day. Not saying you have one. Just saying, I've been on a spectrum of needing to avoid scales altogether, or rarely weighing. But today I can say I can handle daily weighing with out it having control of me. Sounds like weekly weigh -ins are a good choice for you.

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L.L.

answers from New York on

I weigh myself in the mornings before I take a shower. I think it's important to keep an eye on our weight. Too many people are in denial about how much they actually weigh. Maybe if they saw the numbers on a daily basis they would try to do something about it. I know it's depressing, God knows I'm not where I want to be, but weighing myself makes me eat smarter and make better choices.

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

I'm a firm believer that our weight DOES fluctuate, not only daily, but hourly~ throughout the day. You will always weigh less first thing in the morning and weigh more as the day wears on. Try it if you don't believe me. IF your clothes are snug, that's a good indicator to weigh yourself. The time of the month will also affect your weight so stop stressing about it. How do you feel about yourself? How do you feel in the clothes you wear? Let those be the determining factors, unless you are obviously overweight, I wouldn't be stressing about it at all.

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S.G.

answers from Boston on

I don't weigh myself at all. Well, except right before I went the the hospital and about 6 weeks after I gave birth. I was curious how much I gained during pregnancy and how quickly I lost it afterwards (nursing really does help!!) Your weight flucutates every day depending on what you had to eat/drink right before you weigh. It's the same as pant sizes. I wear anywhere from an 8to a 12 depending on how the pants are made and how they look best on me.

Weight, pant size, etc. are all just numbers to use as a starting point for something but don't get me down at all. My weight doesn't define who I am or what is going to happen during the day that really will affect my mood. You shouldn't let your weight affect how you set up your day, it's really not worth bringing yourself down when you could otherwise have an awesome day!!

L.M.

answers from Portland on

I do the same as you. Every friday morning before breakfast. Yes, the number affects my mood. Even if it's slightly higher, I can tell my mood goes down just a little. But it's important to me to keep an eye on it, and I think once a week is perfect. Plus, if I am up a little bit, instead of splurging on the weekend, I keep myself on track. :)

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C.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Never, other than at the doctor's office. I can tell by how my jeans fit if I'm thicker than I'd like to be. But I'm fortunate ... chasing after kids tends to keep me pretty fit. =)

Good luck!

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O.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I never weigh myself anymore. Used to, but i noticed that it really impacted me and not in a positive way. Weighing yourself is setting yourself up for either a) being happy with yourself or b) being unhappy. I would suggest only weighing yourself when you go to the doctor. I just whether i've gained weight by how my clothing fits. Don't allow weight to control how you feel about yourself. Not a healthy pattern to continue...

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I never weigh myself. I don't even own a scale. I can tell if I've lost or gained weight by the way my clothes fit and that's the only thing I go by.
Unless it's for medical purposes, I don't know that a person weighing themselves every single day is necessarily a good thing. If it becomes an obsession.

Just my opinion.

M.W.

answers from Chicago on

I had to stop weighing myself also. I can tell I've lost inches but not seeing the pound loss on the scale is sooooooo frustrating!!!!

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A.G.

answers from Atlanta on

I weigh myself once a week. I did every day for a while, but I noticed at even different times of the same day, there could be a variation of pounds. I also try to do it first thing in the morning before eating. Remember there are so many factors that affect your weight- like water retention, medication side effects, etc. I am pregnant now, so I don't look for the number to go down, but I was a little overweight when I got pregnant, so I do try to gain in accordance with what my doctor has discussed with me. I try not to let it mess with my mood!

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I weigh myself twice per day - once in the morning and once in the evening and YES it gets depressing, especially of late! Yuck!

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A.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had to stop weighing myself because I felt it was becoming a compulsion and just like you, would ruin my day or week if it was up even just a pound. Now I weigh myself once or twice a week, in the morning when i first wake up, which is when you're the lighest. If it is up a pound or two, I excercise more that week and watch what I eat.

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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

I weigh myself EVERY morning. If I stop weighing myself MAYHEM ensues. I've lost the SAME 80 pounds TWICE and I'm doing only one more time.

I FINALLY got a handle on my eating/family issues and have been losing weight steadily since last Fourth of July and making myself accountable to ME is most important. There's only ONE MOM in my son's life and I better be a healthy one so I can keep up with him. Now I actually look forward to getting on the scale now that it doesn't say 232!

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S.D.

answers from San Francisco on

I weigh myself once a week on Saturday mornings. Weight can go up or down by a pound or more based on nothing that makes since so why bother with it. I don't consider my weight to be the only marker of health or or being in shape either. How my clothes fit and how I feel are important too.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

I never weigh myself. I don;t own a scale. I only get weighed at my yearly checkups with my gp and my midwife. I know how I look, the number attached to it doesn't change that.

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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I am dieting and I weight myself after every workout. I know this is against common advice because of small variations and the potential lack of change. However, for me it is actually very motivating. If it goes up or there is no change, it sort of "scares" me a bit into not having that extra slice of pizza at dinner. And if it goes down even a little, I find that very motivating as a sign of progress. So I weigh myelf 4-5 tiems per week. Works for me.

I'll add that I don't keep a scale in my home. I am overweight and thus, weight is a true measure of health and progress for me. But I don't want my girls overly fixated on the idea of numbers on the scale or Mommy weighing herself. So no scale at home.

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Absolutely get rid of the scale!! I never weigh myself. I know if I'm gaining if my pants feel tight. Go with how you feel, not by the number on the scale. I never weigh myself but I've been the same weight at the doctors for the past 15 years (except when I was pregnant!! Then I actually did weigh myself!) I don't care if the scale says I weigh 200 pounds, if I look and feel the way I do right now.

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

I never weigh myself. Maybe you should simply throw out your scale. Go by how you feel, try to eat only healthy foods, and try to get exercise 4-5 days a week. My goal is to build muscle when I exercise and hopefully that would mean I gradually weigh more (with more muscle weight).

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R.L.

answers from Roanoke on

I weighed myself once a week, which was fine for me, and occasionally after a big meal, just to see what happened :). However, the week I found out I was pregnant, the scale broke (not because I stood on it though)! A few people told me to throw it out anyway, because I wouldn't want to weigh myself during pregnancy. So, I consider it a blessing.

After I give birth, however, I'm sure I'll replace it quickly :)

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C.T.

answers from New York on

I know that the medical community really frowns upon it, but I weigh twice a day... The morning number is the number I record and track but the PM number helps me determine what kind of "damage" I've done during the day and evaluate what changes I may need to make the following day(s). As long as the AM trend is generally downward, I am good.

~C.

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I weigh myself as little as possible. For decades that meant only at the doctor's office! But my husband recently requested a scale for himself, so we bought a nice digital one that also measures BMI. I tend to focus more on how I look in my clothes rather than what the number on the scale reads. I definitely don't get caught up in a number. It's liberating, actually.

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K.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

I never weigh myself because it's pointless. It changes daily and has too many variables to count - water weight, muscle weight, time of the month, ect.... I do, however, take my measurements once and a while - about once every couple months to ensure I'm not slowly "expanding" without realizing it :)

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Just weighed myself for the first time in three years yesterday. I can always tell by my clothes if I have gained or lost.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Unless I go to the Dr. (The last time was almost 2 years ago) I never weigh myself. I am happy with the shape my body has, and I'm healthy, so I don't care what the scale tells me.

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