I started counting cals last Thursday 10/2 and I did the start weight on Fri morning so I weighed myself this am and I'm down 2+ lbs already My question is-should I weigh myself on Monday mornings? It seems that everyone posts this info then. Also is 10 lbs realistic from 10/1 to 11/1? My monthly goals are 10 lbs per month. Has anyone given themselves 10 lbs per month goal initially when they started out?

You can weigh whenever you want, although most people prefer to weigh in the morning before they've eaten anything - since the weight of food and water in your system can make a difference.

I weigh every morning and use my Monday weight as my "official" weight. Some women weigh other days. There is no rule. Just whatever works for you.

As far as 10lbs a month being realistic, I personally DO NOT set a time limit on my weight loss. I find that if I do and I don't meet that goal, I get frustrated and disappointed in myself. 10lbs a month is doable for someone who is being very strict and not indulging or deviating a bit ... and that someone isn't me. I have a little more laid back attitude ... and I know that most of the time I simply can't do 10lbs a month.

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When you weigh is up to you, personally, I weigh officially on Friday. I have actually been weighing pretty much every day since I started maintaining, just to see what things impact me when. But, once I calm down I little I plan to go back to only on Fridays.

I never lost ten pounds per month, but I started out at a lower weight. I have seen people who set a ten pound goal per month - that works to a little over 2 pounds per week. You may find that you can do that pretty easily at the beginning, but it might slow down as you get closer to goal. I don't know where the line is...

How many calories are you planning per day?

Hi future size 6!

I use Sunday as my official weigh in day because I always have trouble staying on plan during the weekend. When I know I have to weigh in on Sunday morning, I usually do better on Friday. BUT, after how I ate yesterday, I might be changing it to Monday morning!

As for 10 pounds in one month...that is also my goal. There is actually a "loose 10 pounds in Oct" thread if you want to check that out. 2 pounds a week is considered a healthy weight loss! So, Good luck!!!!

I was typing at the same time as Photo Chick - she is absolutely right on the strictness required for a ten pound per month loss... I should say that I am a person who is that strict - I set a pretty tight calorie limit and stayed with it even though it made me seem pretty darn crazy to people looking from the outside. that being said, I did get disappointed and frustrated when I didn't meet what I thought I should by a certain time, so the no time limit thing might have saved me a lot of stress!

The general rule of thumb for weight loss is no more than 1% of your body weight a week. Since you are starting at 222, 2 pounds a week is a about right for weight loss, meaning about 8 pounds a month. Setting your goal for 10 might end up leaving you disapointed.

One of the best goal setting ideas I have seen is to set weight goals with no timeline. For instance, I set goals at 10% incriments. Why not set your first goal at 200? (10% of your current weight is 22 pounds, so 200 would be perfect)

Weigh ins: I weigh in every morning. Just pick whenever works for you.

Goals: I don't think there's anything long with setting numbers based goals if you're not a person who will get frustrated, upset and risk quitting if you don't meet that goal.

As for 10 pounds per month, I'm often able to meet that number, but I never go off plan, not for a minute, hitting the gym everyday. Even so, there have been months that I have not met that amount despite all my best efforts. You'll lose what your body allows you to lose.

Lately for me, I often feel it's better to focus on goals other than weight, such as having on-plan weeks, weekly minutes of exercise, ect as the weight will come off as a result of your work.

I agree with everyone - schedule your weigh in's around what works for you. Oddball that I am I have found I actually weigh a little less in the afternoon when I get home from work than I do first thing in the morning Just be careful not to let yourself get too obsessed with weighing all the time.

As far as the monthly goal? That's another area that is kind of individual. If you're like PhotoChick and get too frustrated when you set time limits then it's not a good idea for you but, if you are the type of person who needs to see that 'finish line' to be able to run your hardest, that might be the way to go. You do need to keep in mind though that the closer you get to goal the more slowly the weight will come off. I lost 2 lbs a week pretty steadily for a while when I first started out and got kind of attached to that number (I went so far as to go through my day planner and jot down what my weight should be on certain dates based on that 2lbs a week ). Then when things slowed down to some weeks with no loss at all and some weeks with less than half a pound, it was quite the mental hurdle for me to get over; and I had to reconvince myself that I was still getting there, just more slowly. I'm now back to being happy with my progress and count weeks with no gain as being just as rewarding as those weeks when I lost.

Like everyone said, it's best to weigh yourself in the morning, cause you are less likely to have food & drink in your body to mess with the weight. My weigh day is Thursday, only because that's the day I started my diet. But, I do get on a scale everyday. Some people say that is bad, but I find it helps. If I eat more then I should, it shows on the scale so I can adjust accordingly. Also, I want to make sure I don't gain weight!

I started with Monday as my weekly weigh-in just because that was the day I started. It does help me a little (not a ton) to do better on the weekends, knowing I may retain water at my weigh-in. Also, I'm a lot more likely to be away from home on a Saturday or Sunday morning, so miss far fewer weigh-ins by doing it on Monday.

I weight myself "officially" on Friday mornings before I eat or drink a thing. As long as you are doing your weigh in at the same time and with the same conditions (meaning empty stomach every time if you go that way), you will get an accurate reading.

I weigh in as soon as I get up on Sundays, right after I potty, wearing my birthday suit.

At your weight, losing ten pounds each month seems too high to get enough good nutrition. Each body is different, though. Maybe you could try for 6 or 7 a month?

I prefer to weigh in on Friday mornings, so I can cheat a bit on the w/e and make up for it during the week.

hah. See weighing on Monday is what (usually) keeps me from over indulging on the weekends. Knowing that the Monday weigh in is what is going to make me move my ticker one way or the other ... it's very motivating.

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I weigh daily. I weigh first thing in the morning after using the bathroom, before eating or drinking anything and without clothes. That would be the most consistent weigh-in time for most. At 10:00 a.m., I've had a breakfast of variable weight. And, while I've always drank at least some, I may have consumed as much as three pounds of water. That would be the case throughout the day. So, first thing in the morning would be the most consistent. If you're only going to weigh once per week, I'd try to pick a day that would be the most "average" for you. If Sundays are going to be a high calorie day, then maybe you shouldn't weigh on Monday.

As you can see from my signature, I saw a really rapid weight loss in the first month and I started a little less than you. But, after that, it's mostly been 4-5 pounds per month. And, now that I'm close to goal, I'm getting to be happy if I make four pounds! I've had a couple of plateaus where I didn't lose a pound for a week or two, then other times where two pounds in a week happenend.