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Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds or are looking for motivation for your workouts, an essential part of the process is getting accurate weight measurements to monitor your progress. Without proper weigh-ins, it’s easy to get discouraged and quit before you reach your goals.
Before you step on the scale, remember that the number isn’t an “end-all, be-all” measurement of your health. If you have a healthy relationship with weighing yourself, the number can be a useful tool that gives you valuable insight into your progress toward your overall health goals.
With that in mind, there are a few key things you need to know about how and when to weigh yourself to get consistent results every time. Read on to learn how to weigh yourself.
Looking for more health tips? Read how to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet and why you should eat more carbs, not fewer.
Weigh yourself right now
You will get the most accurate reading from your scale if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning. Do this after using the bathroom and before having breakfast or drinking water.
According to experts, morning is the best time because you’ve given your body a chance to properly digest everything you ate and drank the day before, leaving your stomach relatively empty.
Read more: Expert Tips to Lose Body Fat
More tips to get an accurate measurement
In addition to weighing yourself at the ideal time of day, there are other ways to ensure that your scale gives you an accurate reading on a regular basis. This is especially important if you want to track your weight loss or gain.
- Weigh yourself once a week at the same time of day.
- Place your scale on a sturdy, flat surface.
- Stand on the scale with bare feet and distribute your weight evenly on both feet.
- Wear little to no clothing when weighing yourself. Whatever you decide, keep it consistent each time you weigh yourself for better accuracy.
When to Leave Your Scale
As in any unhealthy relationship, you can stop weighing yourself if you feel it is having a negative impact on your life. Don’t hesitate to put your scale away if you are experiencing:
- Negative thoughts caused by weighing yourself
- Unsafe or unhealthy habits caused by weighing yourself
- Regular anxiety or sadness after weighing yourself
- An eating disorder, whether you are developing one, recovering from one, or have had one before
read more: Your Weight Isn’t Everything: 6 Health Stats That Matter More
