Scale: Friend or Foe?
Do you do better or worse at losing weight if you weigh yourself regularly? Is a scale your friend or foe? Research shows one thing, but personal experiences differ.
First, here’s what I’ve heard from my clients…
Pro’s to regularly weighing in…
- I hold myself more accountable if I weigh myself regularly
- I feel encouraged if the numbers are going down
- I lose weight more easily if I weight myself
Con’s of regularly weighing in…
- I feel discouraged if I gain weight, and then I start overeating
- I know there are daily fluctuations in weight, but I still feel badly if I gain weight
- I’ve gained so much weight that I can’t bear to get on a scale
Research shows that people who weigh themselves once a week or more are more effective at weight loss. But how do you feel about it? Are you on the pro or con side? How often do you weight yourself and why? I’d love to get your feedback on what you do and what you think is best.
I personally think weighing yourself at least once a week is helpful. I say this from observing clients’ results with weight loss over the years. Carol Crenshaw
I think weighing once a week holds me accountable. Although, I do get discouraged if the number is what I expected. But I know a loss or maintain is good. It’s just sometimes you feel you worked harder than just maintaining and want to see it in the number.
Yes, positive feedback is always helpful. It encourages you to keep at it. In the meantime, whatever you can think of or visualize to keep you going is also helpful. Like picturing yourself at your ideal weight every night before you go to sleep.