5 Tips on How to Weigh Yourself

I know this seems silly right?  You stand on the scale it gives you a number and your done.  Sheesh, Lisa this one’s easy … Well, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

  1. Weigh yourself regularly. This really depends on your psyche and I’m sure I’ll get comments of people who don’t weight themselves ever.  That’s fine.  Always use what works best for you.  But if weighing yourself keeps your tummy from turning into a muffin top, then do it regularly.  I happen to be a daily weigh-in person.  Perhaps once a week is enough for you to keep it in check.  Whatever works best for you is what you should do.  Once you decide though, do it without fail.  If you avoid the scale it’s because you’re afraid of the number.   Just saying …
  2. Weigh yourself on a flat surface. Carpeting can throw a scale off by as much as 20 pounds!  So make sure you’re on an even flat surface.  The usual bathroom tile floor will probably work fine.
  3. Don’t bother with a pricey scale. There are fancy ones out there, ones that give you fat percentage as well, but for the most part you don’t need them.  A scale is really just showing you a trend over time.  Is it going up or going down?
  4. Weigh yourself “butt naked and hungry, first thing in the morning.” I’ve been telling my clients this for years.  Your weight can fluctuate as much as 5 pounds during the day depending on what you eat, bloating, etc.  Plus, how much can you trust yourself to properly estimate the weight of your clothes.  Just do it first thing, naked before you eat and you’ll get a consistent number to work with over time.
  5. Journal your weight over time. You can’t see how far you’ve come (or how far you’ve slid) if you don’t know where you started.  Grab a notebook and pencil, or place a chart on the wall, or get fancy with an online tracking program or an excel spreadsheet.  Whatever works best for you, keep track of your weight over time.  I’ve been tracking my weight for 8 years and you can really start to see trends.  I weigh more when I’m worried about money for instance …

So some basic tips to keep you honest and to give you the best results.  Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Lisa