Table of contents:
- Measure your weight in the morning
- Before exercising
- Consistency of time and use of weighing equipment
- The benefits of routine weighing
- Don't get hung up on the numbers on the scale
Weighing weight is something that must be done either every day or every week. This is because weighing can be a way to balance body weight during the diet process. Experts also support this, because it can help stop weight gain slowly and most importantly make yourself honest.
Before you weigh, make sure the scale is working properly. Make sure if the scale needle always returns to zero when not in use. And, this is the right time to weigh yourself so that the results are accurate.
Measure your weight in the morning
The most frequently used time for weighing is in the morning. Ideally, weigh yourself before breakfast and after defecating (BAB). The reason is that your real weight will be seen because you do not have extra weight from food or food waste that is in your digestion.
When you want to weigh, it is best to weigh without clothes, or if you want to wear clothes then use very light clothes. Remember, thick clothes will add weight to you and have an effect on the scale.
Before exercising
When you exercise in the morning, ideally weigh yourself before exercise. The reason is, when you weigh after exercise, your weight is impure because the body loses fluids from sweat, and this can vary from day to day.
Consistency of time and use of weighing equipment
While the morning is the most common time to weigh, it doesn't matter what time of day you weigh as long as you're consistent. If you want to weigh in the afternoon or at night, this can also be done.
Keep in mind, your weight can fluctuate by around 1.5 kilograms per day. If you weigh yourself this morning and then the next afternoon, you won't be able to compare the two weights because you weigh them at different times.
Scales can vary in accuracy. Try to use the same scale when weighing, and don't worry too much if your weight is different from other scales.
The benefits of routine weighing
Research from National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) suggests that weighing yourself during the weight-control phase can help fight weight gain. The NWCR looked for people who were successful at losing weight and maintaining weight, found seventy-five percent of the people at the NWCR routinely weighed it at least once a week.
A 2007 study also found that participants who did not regularly weigh after losing weight were more prone to gain weight again later. One of the reasons it's important to weigh yourself in during the weight-maintenance process is because you'll be more likely to be sensitive to weight gain even on a small scale, and to quickly make behavioral changes before any more severe weight gain later.
Don't get hung up on the numbers on the scale
Consistently weighing your body can have a positive effect as a means of control in keeping your weight and health on track. However, it is very important to remember if the numbers on the scale do not give a further picture of what is happening to your body. The scale does not tell you whether you are thin or fat, nor does it tell you whether you are gaining or losing weight. Sometimes trying to focus on one number on the scale is considered unrealistic in some cases.
There are several scales that are sold in the market that provide an estimate of the body fat percentage through bio-electrical impedence. This is another way you can control your health, but keep in mind that many things can affect the accuracy of the weigher, such as the level of hydration.
Don't put it in your mindset, if you are only fixated on the numbers on the scale and you are willing to do anything to reach a certain number on the scale. Your overall health is better measured by habits controlling your diet, exercise, sleep, and stress, rather than sticking to numbers on a scale.
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