Weigh Yourself -10 Mistakes We Should Avoid

Have you ever looked down at the scale, wondering if it’s the correct number? It’s a common occurrence because you might be making one of these 10 common mistakes when you weigh yourself!

Weighing yourself seems like a fairly straightforward procedure – you hop on the scale, see what it says, hop off, and get on with your day.  As simple as that sounds, there are some common mistakes that people make when they weigh themselves.  Here are a few tips to help you weigh yourself correctly.

You weigh yourself too often

 -   It’s normal for weight to fluctuate from day to day – by as much as a 1-2 kg.

 -   Most weight fluctuations are due to fluid shifts, and may also have to do with what you recently ate.

 -   For instance, if you eat a salty meal at night, your body might retain some extra fluid – and you’ll see an uptick on the scale in the morning.

-   On the other hand, cutting back too far on your carbohydrate intake can cause a temporary water loss, which may make you appear lighter on the scale.

-   Recognize these shifts for what they are, and try to weigh yourself less frequently – it will be easier for you to see how your weight is trending over time.

Note: For women only--know that fluid retention during your menstrual cycle may give you the false impression that you’ve gained body weight – so you may want to avoid the scale during your cycle.

You don’t know how much your clothes weigh

-   When you don’t weigh yourself at home, you may not know how to adjust for your clothing – and, you may tell yourself that it weighs a lot more than it does.

 -   An article published last year shed some light on the topic: "Researchers weighed 35 women and 15 men – wearing only their indoor clothing, but no shoes – four times during a one year period and averaged the clothing weight for each person. Men’s clothing (on average) was heavier than women’s, and – interestingly – the clothing weight didn’t vary all that much throughout the year. From their findings, it was suggested that women make a weight adjustment for clothing of about 0.8 kg (1.75 pounds) and men should make an adjustment of about 1.2 kg (2.5 pounds)."

You focus only your weight, not your body composition

-   Keep in mind that your weight on the scale is only that – you may know how much your total body weighs, but what really matters is your body composition.

-   A person who carries a lot of muscle could be “overweight” according to height and weight chart, but a body composition analysis would likely reveal a healthy body fat percentage – and that they’re actually at an appropriate weight.

-   On the flip side, someone who is “thin on the outside but fat on the inside” might have a “normal” weight on height and weight chart, and yet be carrying an unhealthy amount of body fat.

You weigh yourself at night

-   If you’re one of those people who hop on the scale several times a day, you’ve probably noticed that your weight can shift quite a bit from morning to night.

-   Among other things, the extra weight comes from foods and fluids you’ve eaten all day. Ideally, you should weigh yourself first thing in the morning, without clothing, after you’ve emptied your bladder.

You use more than one scale

-   You’d think all scales would give you the same reading, but that’s often not the case. (I can’t tell you how often I’ve weighed a client in my office, only to have them say, “I don’t weigh that much at home!!”).

-   Scales do vary, so track your progress by using readings from only one instrument. The actual weight is one thing; what really matters is the direction in which your weight is moving.

-   If you weigh on the same instrument all the time, you’ll get a more accurate sense for what your weight is doing over time.

You don’t have a decent scale

-   That said, if you’re going to keep a scale at home, do invest in a reliable instrument.

-   Digital scales tend to be more reliable than the old-fashioned spring scales. Take time to read reviews before you buy.

Your scale sits on a rug

-   Scales are designed to rest on a hard surface, like a wood or tile floor.

-   If your scale is sitting on a throw rug or carpeted floor, it may not sit evenly on the floor and you may get an inaccurate reading.

You weigh on Mondays

-   I often suggest that people weigh themselves on Friday mornings, not on Mondays. Here’s why: Most people have a more consistent structure to their eating during the week than they do on the weekend.

- If they’ve been trying to keep their calories in check, their weight is often at its lowest point for the week on Friday. I think this can really motivate you to stay on track over the weekend. But, if you “blow it” on the weekend, your weight could be at its highest point on Monday morning, and the damage is already done.

You weigh after you exercise

-   After a workout, there’s a good chance that you’ve experienced some fluid losses, so your weight might be down. Since you’re not adequately hydrated, you won’t be getting an accurate body weight.

-   The only reason to weigh yourself after exercise is if you’re trying to keep tabs on your fluid losses during exercise.

-   Some athletes weigh themselves before and after exercise so they know how much fluid they need to replenish their losses (every 2 pounds – or 1 kg – lost during activity represents 4 cups – or 1 litre – of fluid that needs replacing).

You let the reading on the scale affect your mood for the rest of the day

-   If the reading on the scale is disappointing to you, don’t let it ruin your whole day.

-   Keep in mind that whenever you weigh yourself, you’re simply capturing a moment in time and – like your blood pressure or your cholesterol level – it’s just a reading that tells you where you are … it’s not a judgement of who you are.

Bottom Line

Keep tabs on your weight to follow the trend, but don’t judge your progress solely by what the scale is telling you. In the long run, the everyday healthy habits that you establish will bring you closer to your goal.

Keep your focus on all the positive changes you’re making and let your weight take care of itself.