You don’t need to step on the scales to know if you’ve recently put on a few pounds. Many people fear to weigh themselves, thinking that if they don’t see a number, they can continue to maintain a flexible belief about their weight. But if you can summon up the courage to weigh yourself every day, you will find that it is a great way to stay motivated as you work towards achieving a healthier lifestyle.
Obsession or Information?
Many people believe in the conventional wisdom that daily weigh-ins will provoke a lot of anxiety. Many medical researchers, however, believe that incorporating factual information about your weight on a daily basis is a healthy step towards monitoring your current condition, and taking corrective measures when necessary.
One recent study conducted at the Duke Global Health Institute in North Carolina discovered that people who weighed themselves on a daily basis positively correlated with maintaining a sustained program of weight loss and healthy living. Researchers believe that daily weigh-ins can promote a virtuous circle – when you can see tangible proof of success, you’ll be more likely to continue on the path that led you to sustained and healthy weight loss.
Conversely, individuals who only weighed themselves once a week or less frequently were often surprised to discover that they had gained weight in the interim. University students who participated in the study who only weighed themselves once a week gained an average of five pounds over 12 weeks, while students who weighed themselves daily had no net weight gain.
Whereas some people fear small daily fluctuations in their recorded weight might cause depression or anxiety, experts have demonstrated that a long-term view of daily weigh-in statistics empowers people to take more proactive steps in watching what they eat and otherwise maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Over time, people who weight themselves daily will start to see patterns, helping them to identify activities or foods that might be counterproductive for losing weight, or maintaining a healthy weight, alerting them that the need to take corrective action.
How to Weigh Yourself Daily
The secret to getting accurate results when weighing yourself is to perform it at the same time every day. Most experts recommend that you weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom, in order to get an accurate reading. Many experts liken the process of weighing yourself to brushing one’s teeth and other daily hygiene habits, something that will rapidly become a habit. Always wear the same clothes (or lack thereof) when weighing yourself, to negate the added weight of your garments.
Experts also recommend that people use technologically advanced scales that are equipped with an internet connection, making tracking and recording your daily weigh-ins easier. Many scales sold today also measure other functions, such as body fat percentage, giving people additional data points to monitor their overall health.
If you notice a significant increase during one morning’s weigh-in, that can help you be more aware of what you eat the rest of the day. Furthermore, if you’ve recently taken healthy steps towards losing weight, and see a corresponding drop in weight on the scales, this will help keep you motivated and enthusiastic about your program.