When Should People on a Diet Weigh Themselves?

Monday, March 03, 2025  Read time3 min

If you're currently on a weight loss journey and constantly worry about gaining weight, it's important to know how to use the scale to get an accurate reading. In this article, Saadnews will share the best times to weigh yourself for those on a diet.

When Should People on a Diet Weigh Themselves?

Important Tips for Weighing Yourself and Managing Weight During a Diet

When you're trying to lose weight, if you weigh yourself constantly, you might feel discouraged, as frequent weighing can prevent you from reaching your desired results. You shouldn't weigh yourself every day; you need to be patient and do it after some time. What do you think is the best time and method for weighing yourself? Join us in this section of Saadnews to learn the tips and facts on this matter.

Wear the Same Clothes Every Time: When you weigh yourself, make sure you're wearing the same clothes as you did the previous week to maintain an accurate comparison.

Use a Digital Scale: Digital scales are much more accurate and provide a precise weight reading. Therefore, it's better to use them for greater accuracy.

Track Your Progress: You should track your progress weekly and write down exactly what your weight is, so you can compare it to the previous week.

Don't Panic: If you step on the scale this week and see that you've gained weight, don't panic. It's likely due to changes in your routine or lifestyle. You can definitely manage it with exercise and a proper diet and reduce your weight again.

Find Other Methods: Besides weighing yourself, you can also use other methods like measuring your body size to track progress.

If you feel that weighing yourself makes you demotivated or unhappy, it's better to take a break from using the scale and set it aside for a while.

Best Time to Weigh Yourself: When you're on a weight loss journey, you're likely putting in a lot of effort and are eager to see how much weight you've lost or gained. Try to weigh yourself on a specific day each week.

Studies from 2014 show that weight tends to increase at the end of the week. So, try not to weigh yourself on the weekend. Instead, pick a specific day in the middle of the week. For example, commit to weighing yourself every Tuesday and avoid stepping on the scale any other day of the week.

How Often Should We Weigh Ourselves? Research shows that weighing yourself daily may be an effective strategy for some individuals, but it can lead to frustration throughout the day. For some people, it's beneficial because it helps them stay mindful of their meals and exercise. Our suggestion is to avoid weighing yourself more than once a week or less than once a week. The ideal scenario is to weigh yourself once a week, which translates to about four times a month.

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Weight Fluctuations Throughout the Day

Before Bed: In the late hours of the day, your body is in recovery mode, and the food you've consumed is being processed and packaged for absorption and elimination. Additionally, since you’ve eaten dinner, your stomach is still full, which can show a higher weight.

After Eating: After meals, your stomach is full, and the volume of food consumed will temporarily add to your weight.

After Exercise: Weight loss immediately after an intense workout is not accurate and is simply due to dehydration from sweating. This weight will return once you hydrate by drinking several glasses of water.

Before and After Pregnancy: During pregnancy and shortly afterward, the scale doesn't reflect your true weight. Hormonal changes and the need for nutrients to support fetal growth cause your body to retain fluids, which will be gradually released post-delivery.

During Menstruation: A few days before menstruation, bloating often occurs, and the body retains more water, causing many women to experience temporary weight gain.

Final Thoughts

Therefore, you should adopt a method that works best for you. If weighing yourself daily helps you feel better and gives you motivation, go ahead and do it. Otherwise, stick to weighing yourself once or twice a week. I hope you’ve enjoyed this weight control content, and feel free to share it with others who care about their fitness. For more valuable content, you can visit the Sports World section of Saadnews. Thank you for your continued support.