The problem is that a person’s body weight can fluctuate wildly day to day, and even hour to hour. If you weigh yourself first thing in the morning, you’re going to have a different weight than if you weigh yourself at 5:30 p.m. You weigh less in the morning because you have an empty stomach, and you’re usually a little bit dehydrated.
What you eat also makes a difference. For example, if your meal the night before was high in sodium, you might be a little bloated, with water affecting the weight on the scale. In addition, women’s menstrual cycles can play havoc with the amount of water they retain. These hormonal variations can cause the scale to tip in a way not reflective of your overall healthy weight.
How to Weigh Yourself Appropriately
An individual should weigh themselves once a week. Once a week is a good time to check in and see if the scale is moving in the desired direction. Weigh yourself at the same time on the same day so there’s consistency in your measurements.
Is Your Scale Ruining Your Diet? was originally published on blackdoctor.org
