Weight Loss fluctuation question

[Carina]

When I read something like "I've lost 3 pounds this month" I get so confused. I honestly fluctuate more than 3 pounds in a day. Realistically closer to 5 pounds up or down depending on the day. So I tend to just average it out to determine my weight.
But I could be down 3 lbs tomorrow morning and 3 pounds up tomorrow night.

How do you determine such small weight losses and at what point do you decide you've truly lost weight.

I figure I'ld have to have the heaviest number I see now be lower than the lowest number I used to see to call it a loss (so nearly 10 lbs)

Not trying to knock anyone that's lost 3lbs. Any healthy choices you are making that results in lost pounds is great.

 

[barkley]

well as someone actively 'dieting' for the last 4 months whose weight can wildly fluctuate over the course of hours let alone in one day (multiple bottles of water along with iced and hot tea and coffee will do that) I only consider weight lost as the weight that I've gone down that consistently remains off. while I enjoy seeing the number on my scale drop I'm as much if not more excited when I periodically check my measurements and see that they are steadily decreasing. I'm also more impressed when I move down in size into the smaller clothing I've held onto for years and they're no longer impossible to get on.

as far as using my scale to track loss-I weigh in once per week, always at the same time, so at least I know that I'm comparing a.m. weight to a.m. weight.

 

[minnie mum]

If you eat or drink anything of course some weight fluctuation is unavoidable. Hence the importance of weighing yourself at the same time of day. Preferably in the morning before you eat. But weighing yourself daily isn't very helpful and can be counterproductive. Once a week should be sufficient.

 

[Carina]

If you eat or drink anything of course some weight fluctuation is unavoidable. Hence the importance of weighing yourself at the same time of day. Preferably in the morning before you eat. But weighing yourself daily isn't very helpful and can be counterproductive. Once a week should be sufficient.

I agree, I just wondered how people determine they lost 3 lbs, as even the same time of day you could vary simply based on what you ate the day before or if you've (ahem) 'used the toilet' lately.

So mostly I am asking to find out how others determine their weight loss - simply out of curiosity

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Considering I have only 15lbs to lose, 3lbs is a big deal to me, lol.

Basically you weigh yourself in the morning when you get up. Currently I am trying to lose .5/week, which is basically a pound a month.

If you eat at a calorie deficit, you will lose. So, people that are calculating are in general also counting calories as well.

Bottom line you only lose a pound at a time.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Good, sustainable weight loss should be about a pound/week. Losing 3 lbs is good. As for tracking that, it is a bit hit or miss but weighing yourself at the same time of day under as close to the same circumstances as possible is really the best you can do. Any of the fad diets that claim you can lose 20 lbs in a month are not healthy!

 

[lauradis]

Good, sustainable weight loss should be about a pound/week. Losing 3 lbs is good. As for tracking that, it is a bit hit or miss but weighing yourself at the same time of day under as close to the same circumstances as possible is really the best you can do. Any of the fad diets that claim you can lose 20 lbs in a month are not healthy!

depends on how much you have to lose. Ideally i think it was 5% of your total weight in a month. So if your around 400 lbs its not impossible to safely loss 20 lbs.

 

[lauradis]

I agree, I just wondered how people determine they lost 3 lbs, as even the same time of day you could vary simply based on what you ate the day before or if you've (ahem) 'used the toilet' lately.

So mostly I am asking to find out how others determine their weight loss - simply out of curiosity

Its positive vibes for some people to chart daily, weekly. Most of the advice I have been given says do it after you wake and go to the bathroom, naked daily. lets say jan 1st I weighted 200lbs. weight my self daily now the weight will go up and down by no more then 5lbs daily. by jan 7th my avg weight has been running 197lbs so it seems I have lost 3 lbs.

I think most people want to see those numbers go down and want emotional encouragement for the effort they are putting in to drop 3lbs.

 

[Happy Snowman]

depends on how much you have to lose. Ideally i think it was 5% of your total weight in a month. So if your around 400 lbs its not impossible to safely loss 20 lbs.

Not according to medical professionals...

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752?pg=1

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html?s_cid=govD_dnpao_082

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/recommen.htm

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss-guide/Pages/set-your-target-weight.aspx

etc........

 

[buzzrelly]

Considering I have only 15lbs to lose, 3lbs is a big deal to me, lol.

Basically you weigh yourself in the morning when you get up. Currently I am trying to lose .5/week, which is basically a pound a month.

Wouldn't that be 2 pounds per month?

 

[lauradis]

Not according to medical professionals...

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752?pg=1

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html?s_cid=govD_dnpao_082

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/recommen.htm

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss-guide/Pages/set-your-target-weight.aspx

etc........

Really your going to tell me a person that is 400 isn't going to lose more 3lbs and it really is around 5% month of your body mass if your eat and exercising properly

 

[lauradis]

Not according to medical professionals...

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752?pg=1

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html?s_cid=govD_dnpao_082

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/recommen.htm

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss-guide/Pages/set-your-target-weight.aspx

etc........

How about if they eat the calories of what they should weight to lose weight????? if i drop my calorie count to 1500 at 400lbs and work out for 30 mins a day you will see massive weight loss in first couple of months. aka 5% of body mass.

Its not about fad diets it about being healthy in general.

 

[lauradis]

How about if they eat the calories of what they should weight to lose weight????? if i drop my calorie count to 1500 at 400lbs and work out for 30 mins a day you will see massive weight loss in first couple of months. aka 5% of body mass.

Its not about fad diets it about being healthy in general. .

 

[Happy Snowman]

Really your going to tell me a person that is 400 isn't going to lose more 3lbs and it really is around 5% month of your body mass if your eat and exercising properly

I'm not "telling" you anything...the collective medical community is and for sustainable weight loss, losing a pound a week is preferred. Sure you CAN lose more, but you will likely gain it back...which defeats the purpose to begin with, and especially so with people that are THAT heavy....

 

[smiths02]

I weigh on the same morning of the week (Tuesday), naked, after going to the bathroom.
Of course, it's not exact, but it does give you an idea.

 

[aaarcher86]

This is exactly why people should be going by their inches, not weight.

But I get it. I think a lot of people who "diet" don't fully understand how losing weight and stuff works.

 

[havaneselover]

I'm not "telling" you anything...the collective medical community is and for sustainable weight loss, losing a pound a week is preferred. Sure you CAN lose more, but you will likely gain it back...which defeats the purpose to begin with, and especially so with people that are THAT heavy....

A pound a week is 3,500 fewer calories (500/day). If you have someone who eats 4,000 calories/day and is morbidly obese and cuts back to 3,000 calories per day and begins exercising, they're going to lose more than 2 pounds / week. And saying that's not healthy or optimal makes no sense to me.

My weight yo yoed in my late teens early 20s and I've been close to my ideal weight since I was 22 (I probably lost 40 pounds on my final diet). I lost well more than a pound a week and have had no issues over the last 16 years keeping the weight off (including getting back in shape after two pregnancies).

 

[EMAW_KSU]

This is exactly why people should be going by their inches, not weight.

But I get it. I think a lot of people who "diet" don't fully understand how losing weight and stuff works.

and the things they do understand are myths.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

This is exactly why people should be going by their inches, not weight.

But I get it. I think a lot of people who "diet" don't fully understand how losing weight and stuff works.

Best advice I was ever given when I lost a pretty substantial amount of weight (to me anyway) a few years ago (30lbs).
It's so easy to hung up on the numbers. As a matter of fact, if I were to go by the numbers I still have about 10 lbs to lose. I don't want to though. I like where I am now. Like Aarcher said, I go by inches. My inches are perfect

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

To answer the OP's question, I do this:
I weigh myself once a week. It fluctuates a little so I just go by the most consistent number. The one that shows up the most, whether it's higher or lower.