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To Weigh or Not to Weigh
Does weighing yourself really help you? Or does the common obsession with the scale hinder you on your weight loss journey? This is something that comes up on a regular basis for me as one of the GOLO Customer Support Agents. People talk to me about how much they weigh now and how much they want to weigh.
Some people weigh themselves every day (with some weighing in several times a day) and some doing it once a week. The people who weigh themselves once a day or more claim that it helps them to stay on course. But, does it really? People can become obsessed with the number on the scale. If the number they see is not the number they want to see, the discrepancy can deeply affect how they see themselves, their body and their weight loss success.
My advice (always) is to weigh yourself once a week. Our weight fluctuates drastically from hour to hour and day to day, depending on what we put into our bodies (sodium, water, fiber etc.). If you are weighing yourself every single day, this may not be an accurate assessment of what is really happening with your body.
Eden, our customer service manager’s son (age 7) loves to step on the scale and see the digital scale flash the numbers until it comes to a final number. Part of the fun for him is to report his numbers to her afterward. They can range anywhere from 50.2 lbs. to 56.6 lbs. at any given time or day. His weight is fluctuating 6.4 lbs throughout the day. Is his weight accurately assessing what is happening in his body? If this happens to a 7-year-old, then it is most definitely happening to you.
This is why weighing today and then again tomorrow can be damaging to your self-confidence. Even though you may be doing great on the GOLO program, you may have had more salt today or you might drink more water tomorrow (which is a good thing) but that could make it look like you have gained on the scale.
I am not telling you that you shouldn’t be weighing yourself at all or that you shouldn’t have a weight loss goal. It is definitely important on this journey; and weighing yourself at the same time once a week can be very beneficial. But, keep in mind that the scale is only a compass or tool and should be one of many that you use to track your progress on your journey to a healthier life.
Other great tools include taking measurements of your body to keep track of inches lost, assessing how you feel (energetic, more focused) and how your clothes fit (looser, too big) and taking photos of yourself and to see the difference and your progress. Remember, sometimes we are gaining metabolism-boosting muscle and losing fat which can affect the number we see on the scale.
Although you probably joined GOLO® to lose weight and in the end, I’m sure you will, just remember not to hyper-focus on the number that pops up on the scale. What is most important is your health and how you feel. When those are in check, you will be amazed at what you are able to achieve!
GOLO® is committed to providing you with the helpful tips and resources needed for personal success on a lifelong journey of health and wellness. It’s time to become #YourBestYou.
Sources:
The pros and cons of weighing yourself every day | American Heart Association
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