Weighing yourself on a weekly basis can give you a good idea of the progress you’re making. It will help motivate you if you’re making gains or motivate you even more if you didn’t make your mark that week. Weight also fluctuates naturally over time, so you’ll want to maintain a consistent schedule. Remember too, that you won’t see the results of today’s diet and workout until 4-24 hours later, so if you weigh in ever day, it’s most likely you won’t see today’s results until tomorrow.
Weight Fluctuates Greatly Over Time
Weight can fluctuate throughout the day or week. Depending on your current weight, it might fluctuate up to five pounds or more. Things like bowel movements, hydration, and food intake can all affect your overall weight. It can be off-putting to work hard and eat right, only to gain 2 lbs. because you’re more hydrated and feel better than you were last time you weighed in.
Weighing yourself at the same time on the same day each week will remove a lot of the variables mentioned above. I prefer to weigh myself on Wednesday mornings before my morning shower. This is before I’ve eaten, but after I’ve gone to the bathroom. This mean’s I’ll be the lightest I can be, only weighing my natural body weight. I also avoid the unpredictable nature of weekend meals.
By all means, weigh yourself on Sunday evening after you’ve eaten. It’s all about consistency. If you weigh yourself at the same relative time, you’ll be able to get accurate relative results. When selecting the time you weigh yourself try to select the time of week with the least variability in your diet and water intake. You won’t be doing yourself any favors if you weigh yourself today when you’re lightest and then tomorrow after a big dinner.
Results from Today’s Exercise Won’t be Visible Right Away
Whether you’re trying to gain muscle or lose fat, it doesn’t hop on or jump off as you’re exercising. Sure it might look like you lose weight after an exercise because you didn’t drink any water and sweated out 3 pounds, but that isn’t real. It can play the opposite way too. Maybe you sweat out 1 pound and drink 2. That means you just gained a pound that won’t stick around.
As your body synthesizes protein during muscle repair and burns fat for energy your weight will change. That doesn’t happen during the workout for the most part. It happens in the 4-24 hours afterward when you go to the bathroom. You’ll also want to give your body some time to normalize it’s water balance after a workout. If you’re anything like me, you’ll drink upwards of 60 ounces of water during your routine.
Stay Motivated with Consistent Returns
If you don’t know where your weight really is it’s hard to know if you’re gaining or losing. Giving yourself consistency during weigh-ins gives you a really good idea of if you’re gaining or losing ground in your efforts.
If you don’t know where you are, it’s hard to feel good about the results. If you don’t feel good about your results, there is a good chance you’ll slip. When you meet your goals, celebrate in a healthy way, and when you don’t, try harder for next week. You only have seven days to meet your mark.