So what are some of the crazy day before weigh in rituals that you participate in? For me, the day before my weigh in (Thursdays) I will avoid sodium like the plague, stop eating after 6 with the theory that this gives it times to pass through my digestive track, load myself with fiber that will be expelled in the morning, and chug water like it's going out of style. I also make sure I do not miss a cardio workout, since it seems to get things moving the next morning
I take my cardio waaay down the day before, like walking, or make it my day off, so my muscles aren't retaining any water. I also CHUG water and avoid sodium and get to bed reaaaally early. I spend the night at my boyfriend's a lot and if I stay over there the night before weigh in I bring my scale with me, which seems totally crazy.
I don't do anything different. I feel like you're misrepresenting your weight if you change your routine on purpose to get a slightly lower number. And of course, you get yourself stuck in a cycle because if you every don't do it one week you'll look like you gained weight, which you likely didn't. Why don't you just do that stuff every day, or most days?
I don't do anything completely weird. I do drink a lot of water and get into bed at a good time. Thats about it though. I do weigh myself right after my morning pee and before anything else, it is #1 Friday morning.
I try to remember to make sure to drink a lot of water the day before, but that's about it. ("a lot of water" means I generally drink 100-120 oz a day, so I try to be sure to be in the upper end of that range prior to my official WI day).
But I don't limit myself to weighing in a single day a week - if I want to know my weight the other days, I check. I don't weigh every day but enough times over the course of the week that I generally know what my trend for the week will be.
I weigh myself every day :P I know, I shouldn't it's obsessive and all. But when I read you gals and the whole ritual thing then I dunno which is more obsessive
I don't do anything special, I just make sure the circumstances for my weigh-ins are always the same. So always in the morning, and always without all my clothes on and without breakfast in my tummy. And that's all I think about really. Because in the end, it doesn't matter what the scale says, it's just an indication of wether my plan is working and wether I'm slimming down or not.
But I don't limit myself to weighing in a single day a week - if I want to know my weight the other days, I check. I don't weigh every day but enough times over the course of the week that I generally know what my trend for the week will be.
This is what I do as well. It would make me upset to know that I am only showing a gain on my official weigh in day since I consumed too much salt the day before.
I generally consume my recommended amount or less, but sometimes I saute green beans in soy sauce or have chicken tacos -- I just try not to make that the meal before my weigh in.
I would only do something different if I was on a show like the Biggest Loser where my weigh-in made a difference in whether or not I could continue on the program. Since my weight is just for my own knowledge of what's going on with me, I don't see the reason to make changes. I can see why people do all that....especially at the beginning of their journey, since higher losses tend to increase motivation.
I weigh everyday too, but I am participating in a 12 week challenge thread on the 20's board so Thursday is my "official" weigh in day. The only difference is that I find it a lot easier to say no to bad things on Wednesdays. I also avoid cottage cheese that day. I know it's kind of random. but it's the only thing I eat with a high amount of sodium in it and I don't eat it everyday so I don't want to create a temporary blimp on the scale. Of course I now want to eat some cottage cheese, but it will have to wait til lunch tomorrow
I do almost exactly the same things you do. I actually don't increase my water drinking because I drink a lot every day anyway. But I avoid sodium, eat an early dinner (with the same idea that it will have time to pass through my system), and go to bed early (mostly so I'm not consumed by thoughts of a late night snack). I also use the bathroom beforehand and weigh myself in the buff. I swear, since starting this journey, Friday mornings are like Christmas morning for me. I can't wait to see what the scale says!
ERHR I don't necessarily think doing these things means that you're tricking yourself into believing you're at a lower weight. For me, I want to make sure the scale is reflecting my weight, not my weight plus the weight of the food I ate the day before. Actually, looking back at the list of things I do, I don't do anything different most days because I almost always eat an early dinner, avoid sodium, and drink a ton of water. The only exception is that, any other day of the week, I might have a 50 calorie chocolate pudding after dinner. I'm just more conscious of doing those things the day before a weigh in.
I love reading the rituals!
ERHR - I don't take it as something they are doing to totally influence the numbers, but more like watching your favorite football team and putting on their jersey for luck, lol.
For me, I tend to get a bit over-obsessive about exercise/activity normally, so use it as a reason to take a break from the strength training aspect. I know it sounds silly... but not only does it pose the same as my lucky jersey, lol, but it also makes me rest one day a week from over-doing it. Looking at the number on my weight, I realize it's near impossible to have too much activity, but if I don't find an excuse for a breather of some sort while juggling work, kids, all their specialists, appointments, school, etc... then I would never slow and honestly would probably burn out - so I am grateful for my "ritual" I enjoy reading the others too... it's neat to know I am not alone on going a bit weird on the path beforehand
Day before weigh-in rituals
