Have you ever wanted to know the best way to weigh yourself? To get accurate results that you can count on, check out these 6 tips for accurately weighing yourself every time you step on the scale!
Weigh Yourself Before You Exercise
If you’ve ever noticed that your pants fit a little looser after a workout, you’ve probably experienced a bit of water weight loss through the form of sweat during your workout. Typically a person can lose 0.8-1.4L per hour during moderate to high intensity exercise, which is about 1.7lbs to 3lbs!
Weigh Yourself On The Same Scale
It can be tempting to hop on the scale at the gym or at the doctor’s office, but experts suggest weighing yourself on the same scale every time. Experts also recommend weighing yourself on a scale that you bought because a public scale endures a lot of overuse. Overtime these public scales can become inaccurate and incorrectly calibrated.
Weigh Yourself At the Same Time Each Day
In order to accurately track your weight it’s important to weigh yourself at the same time everyday. Throughout the day, your weight can fluctuate. Ideally, you want to weigh yourself first thing in the morning, before you’ve had anything to eat or drink, so that you can get a precise measurement.
Weigh Yourself On A Flat Firm Surface
When picking a spot for your scale, choose a hard, firm, flat surface instead of a surface like a bathroom or bedroom rug. An uneven, plushy surface can cause the scale to move around and shift, resulting in an incorrect number.
Log Your Weight
When you’re trying to maintain, gain or lose weight, it’s important to be consistent with weighing yourself. Studies show that regularly weighing yourself can help you remain aware of where you are, it can keep you accountable for your food and exercise choices and it can show you how you’re progressing. David Levitsky, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University says, “Stepping on the scales should be like brushing your teeth.” While most experts recommend weighing yourself daily, this can become detrimental when it leads to obsessive and negative behavior. Some people may find better success and consistency by weighing themselves every other day or only once or twice a week. Whichever you choose – make sure it’s consistent!
Weigh Yourself In The Right State Of Mind
Day to day weight fluctuations are totally normal and they do not correctly reflect all of your hard work in the kitchen or the gym. Dr. Kathleen Wynne, a board-certified endocrinologist says it’s quite common for people to have spikes in their weight throughout the day that range from 5 lbs to 20 lbs depending on their size. It’s also important to understand that your weight is simply the number on a scale – it is not always an indicator of a healthy body weight. If an individual is short in stature and has a large amount of muscle, the scale may reflect that they’re “overweight.” However, this may be a perfectly healthy, appropriate weight for them. Don’t become discouraged by the number on the scale! You can measure your progress by taking photos, trying on a pair of old jeans to see how they fit, tracking your body fat percentage, or recording your overall measurements.
The scale should never be the enemy! Remember, when it comes to weighing yourself, the scale is just another tool to help you measure your progress. If you keep these tips in mind, you can have a healthy relationship with the scale while keeping track of your health and fitness goals!
