There are many different schools of thought on the concept of daily weigh-ins. While some weight loss experts believe it can actually hinder, not help, the losing process, others promote the idea of stepping on the scale every day. {relatedarticles}A study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that people who weighed in daily shed an average of 12 pounds, while people who weighed in weekly lost just 6 pounds. Those who didn't weigh in at all actually gained an average of 4 pounds. And according to the National Weight Control Registry, more than 4,000 individuals who have lost 30 pounds and kept it off admit to weighing in on a daily basis. Researchers believe that the daily weigh-ins help dieters stay abreast of their progress and serve as a warning if the number on the scale is moving in the wrong direction. While weighing in every day is great encouragement for people who are losing, it can be discouraging for those whose weight fluctuates. That's because water weight causes the number on the scale to go up and down. For women, water weight may go up and down during their menstrual cycle.
So a daily weigh-in may not paint an accurate picture of the true weight, and this can adversely affect the motivation of the person struggling to lose weight. By placing too much emphasis on the number on the scale, there are those people who will actually become discouraged and quit altogether. {relatedarticles}That's why it's important to take those weigh-ins in stride. You need to decide what works best for you. If you're one of those people who lives and diets by the scale, maybe you should stick to weighing in once a week or choose another alternative method for measuring your success. Another way to accurately monitor your progress is by measuring inches of your waist, hips, arms and thighs and charting your measurements. This will truly show you what you're losing and gaining.