How often should you weigh yourself?
You want to see progress, we get it, but there’s really no point weighing yourself 3 times a day.
Humans are impatient, and nowhere is that more apparent than when we’re trying to lose weight. We all do that thing where we step on the scales after just a day of eating better, hoping to see some kind of miraculous progress, right?
But weight loss takes time. So with that in mind, how often should you weigh yourself?
Make a date
We recommend weighing yourself once a week and keeping the conditions the same. It’s all about consistency. That means:
- Weigh yourself at the same time of day. Your weight naturally fluctuates throughout the day, so this gives you a more reliable idea of your progress without having to worry about being a few grams heavier later in the day.
- Wear the same sort of clothes. Don’t weigh in wearing your birthday suit one week and completely layered up the next.
- You’ll weigh in at your MAN v FAT session, which is a good routine to get into and is a regular check-in you can use to track your progress. Remember, it’s not just about the number on the scales. Club weigh-ins are about accountability, celebrating progress, and getting support from your team.
- If you’re weighing in at home, make sure your scales are on the same hard surface each time, and that you’re distributing your weight evenly across both feet.
- Weighing yourself in the morning is probably the best time to do it: after having a wee but before eating or drinking anything.
Weight fluctuations
As we mentioned, your weight naturally fluctuates throughout the day based on what you’ve eaten, how many times you’ve been to the toilet, how hydrated you are and even whether you’ve had a good night’s sleep or not.
These fluctuations are completely normal. For example, you might gain 2 lbs after a weekend of social meals or notice a small drop after a day of lighter eating. It’s all part of the process and doesn’t erase the progress you’re making over time.
That’s why it’s often pointless to weigh yourself more than once a week: 7 days is enough time for fluctuations to settle down and for your ‘true’ weight to be reflected on the scales.
Some people prefer to weigh themselves more often, and that’s fine if it keeps you feeling motivated. Just remember that the number on the scales tends to vary wildly from day to day, and it’s not necessarily a true representation of what you’ve done (or not done) the day before.
Don’t forget to make use of the graphs available in your MAN v FAT members area. These let you track your season and career journey over time, showing the bigger picture beyond single weigh-ins. Seeing trends on a graph can be much more motivating than fixating on day-to-day fluctuations.
Weighing yourself can easily become an obsession, and that’s something you want to avoid. If you feel like you’re getting too worried about the number on the scales, you can ask your coach to hide your weigh-in result from you at the session.
There’s also nothing wrong with putting the scales away at home – there are plenty of other ways to measure your weight loss progress. Think about how your clothes fit, how much more energy you have, and your fitness levels to get a good picture of how you’re doing without relying on the numbers.
Make Your Progress Count
Club weigh-ins aren’t just about the number on the scales – they’re about accountability, support, and celebrating every bit of progress along the way. Use them as a weekly check-in to see how far you’ve come, and combine them with the graphs available in your members area to track your season and career journey over time.
Remember, progress isn’t always linear. Weight naturally fluctuates, and the bigger picture is what counts. Share your milestones, ask for tips, or celebrate small wins with your fellow members in your local team chats or the wider MAN v FAT community. Start using your weigh-ins, graphs, and community connections today to stay motivated, focused, and on track toward your goals. Every step and every check-in matters.