How Often Do You Weigh Yourself? – 719woman.com
According to the Boston Medical Center, approximately 45 million Americans diet each year and spend $33 billion on weight-loss products. And according to Centers for Disease Control, 62% of adult Americans are overweight or obese with 9 million children and teenagers suffering the same problem. An increase in fast food consumption, coupled with low physical activity are two of the main reasons Americans are overweight.
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I want to emphasize that being thin doesn’t necessarily mean you’re healthy nor does being overweight, according to weight charts, indicate that you’re not healthy.
I have several friends who are on diets or who are trying to make healthier lifestyle changes and the question of weighing yourself on a daily basis has come up in some lively conversations.
TO WEIGH OR NOT TO WEIGH?
I personally weigh myself every single day and have done so for most of my life. For years the debate has gone on between doctors, weight-loss experts, nutritionists, etc., as to if you should weigh yourself daily, weekly, or not at all. And from all the research and statistics I have read, it seems like it boils down to this…what works for you?
I don’t need to lose weight but when I weigh myself on a daily basis I can immediately see if a few pounds have crept up and it just reminds me to eat a bit healthier, after I may have indulged a bit too much. It works for me.
When I was younger I tended to be pudgy and while I wasn’t in any means obese, I did tip the scales at 130 pounds at 5′ 1″ and wore a size 14. And I wasn’t comfortable or happy with how I felt or looked. (Weight can be a very sensitive subject and believe me, I’m not saying a size 14 or bigger isn’t a good or healthy thing.) In my 20’s and 30’s I kept a healthy diet and exercised and maintained a size 4 to 6, which felt comfortable to me. I did have a tendency to always be about 5 pounds more than I wanted but I didn’t kill myself to lose them. But I did weigh myself daily to make sure those 5 pounds didn’t creep up to 10 or 15, because I remembered how hard it can be to lose unwanted pounds. When I hit 40 I unexpectedly went through an early menopause and for some strange reason my metabolism changed and I actually lost weight. In my 50’s now, I eat what I want, which is mostly healthy but I also enjoy my chips and chocolate. And I continue to weigh myself every day. It’s a habit and helps me personally stay on track with where I want to be. The scale doesn’t rule my life but it does help keep me aware.
WEIGHING YOURSELF – A HELP OR HARM TO REACHING YOUR GOALS?
What type of personality do you have? That seems to be the question as to what works and what doesn’t when it comes to weighing yourself and what keeps you motivated when trying to lose or maintain weight. If you weigh daily while trying to lose weight and the scale doesn’t budge for a week or you actually gain a pound, will that discourage you or motivate you more? That appears to be the main question behind how often you weigh and what experts are at odds about. Some believe that weighing daily and not seeing results will encourage you to give up on your weight loss plan or that you’ll actually end up eating more due to feeling bad. If weighing yourself becomes an obsession or the numbers ruin the rest of your day, then perhaps a daily weight check isn’t right for you. Others think stepping on the scale every day promotes and helps maintain weight loss and will help you take action immediately if you start to slide.
Here are the pros for weighing yourself daily…
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2016/01/03/weight-loss-scales-daily/77584478/
And here are the cons for weighing yourself daily…
If you are on a diet or just trying to eat healthier, it’s important you do it in a nutritional and medically safe way. If an eating plan is too restrictive, chances are you won’t follow it or be able to maintain it. And if it’s not nutritionally good for your body, you’re not doing yourself any favors.
If you are wanting to lose a few pounds for health reasons or just to have your clothes fit a bit better, here are some healthy diet plans.
http://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/2017-01-04/what-makes-a-healthy-diet
The bottom line is the number on the scale doesn’t matter if you’re healthy. If you are at a weight that your doctor says is good for you, your lifestyle, your health, and you feel good, then that’s what matters. I recently read an article about a woman who changed her eating habits and began exercising and after months of hard work, only lost one pound. But she went from a size 16 to a 10 and looked fabulous and fit. So the numbers on that scale aren’t everything.
Being overweight can wreak havoc though on diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and even arthritis, so for some, keeping the weight down can make a difference on your overall health and well-being. (And as always, check with your doctor before you start a new weight-loss program or diet meds if you have any medical conditions.)
So, my question to you is…
Do you weigh yourself daily, weekly, or perhaps not at all? What do you think?