There is a debate about how often someone trying to lose weight should weigh themselves.  Is it better to weigh yourself once per week or everyday? People hold strong opinions on both sides of the issue and insist that their way is the correct way. Weight Watchers recommends weekly weigh-ins, and actually provides this service at their meetings.  This is probably the best option for most people. Because of the way calories are burned and food is digested, there are daily variations in a person’s weight.  One day you may weigh more and the next day you may weigh less, and this has nothing to do with how well you have been following your weight loss plan.  From week to week, however, you get a better snapshot of how you have been doing, and if there is a gain from one week to the next, that is a better indicator that you may need to change something.

Having said that, I personally prefer to weigh myself every day, realizing that a one day gain is not necessarily significant. For me, if my weight is up 2 or 3 days in a row that tells me that I need to change something.  If you are a person who retains water, gains like that may be quite normal and not signify a problem, but for me it is often an indicator that I have gotten sloppy in my points tracking or have neglected some other aspect of the plan.

The key is not to let a gain discourage you, rather it should be motivation to stay on track or to make positive changes such as increased activity, more fruit and vegetables, drinking enough water, etc.

Weight Loss Update: I gained 2 tenths of a pound during Thanksgiving week, which is less than I feared.  But I immediately got back on track and have already lost 1.2 pounds  since Friday

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