Hello! I am new to this site and I am hoping that someone can help me with this question. I started to try and lose weight about 3 months ago, and since then have lost 20 pounds. At first I was afraid to get onto the scale. I was scared it would show no results and cause me to give up. Then I decided to weigh myself once a week. Well last week I decided to weigh myself every day, sometimes twice a day. One day the scale would show no gain or loss, and then the next day it would show a 2 pound loss, then the next day back to the original weight! I would never go over the original weight, I just fluctuated between 1/2 pound to 2 pounds less than the original weight. Can someone explain this madness to me?!?! I did take my measurments for the first time in forever last week. I hope to start tracking my progress that way as well, checking them once a month. Any help on this would be great! Thanks!

I had the same issue when I started, and I was also afraid (with reason) that I would just get an error message when I stepped on the scale. For the first four months, I did not weigh myself. I didn't even own a scale. I didn't want to become a slave to it, and I was focused on the changes I was making. I didn't even tell anyone what I was doing. Only after friends and coworkers noticed the changes and my clothes became perilously loose did I at last invest in a scale. I didn't get an error message, but I was still shocked...

..and, although I *know* I should only weigh in once a week, I find it difficult to stick with that plan sometimes. Nevertheless: weigh in once a week, only. The scale fluctuates based on what you have eaten, what you've been drinking, and many other factors. You'll weigh less in the morning than the evening, and so on. Pick a day, a time, and a scale, and use it once a week, no more than that, while you're losing weight. It'll be what it is. You are less likely to get emotionally invested in daily gains/losses, and you'll have a better picture of your weight and weight loss efforts.

Once a week, no more!

I use a digital scale and it does fluctuate a little. The thing is, depending on what I've been eating or drinking I start to recognise the patterns so don't get too worked up about it most of the time.

I own two scales and I weigh myelf several imes a day to see what my normal margin of error is. I have found that on both of my scales, I fluctuate by up to 5 lbs- and that's at any time of any day. I'm sure that it's water retention and I don't jump on the scale and freak out about it. In fact, now that I know what my margin is, I probably won't weigh myself so much. I think once a month is plenty for me. Frankly, when I am focused on other things besides the scale, I do alot better.

maybe you should just totally ignore the scale for awhile. this is what i've decided to do (i just went crazy a few days ago when i gained 2 lbs in one week...only to find out that it was just water weight bc of my period...im back down to normal in one day). i plan to just focus on how many inches i lose and how my clothes feel on me. you could try doing that. it cuts down on a lot of stress. this past week (after ignoring the water weight), i havent gained or lost any weight, but my clothes are much looser and i've lost almost an inch off my waist (i've started tae-bo...it REALLY works).

anyways, i would suggest that you continue to take measurements and maybe weigh yourself once a month or so. good luck!

How can you have your clothes much looser and lose an inch in your waist but not lose any weight?!?! I really don't understand this. I think I understand the retaining water thing and how that causes the scale to fuctuate from day to day...is this normal or is it possible to dring too much water? Water is all I drink.

Are you exercising? Exercise can tone muscle, distributing it, so that the clothes may fit differently, even feel looser, but the scales won't always show a weight loss.

I exercise twice a day five days a week. I do about an hour and a half of cardio a day and weight machines three times a week.

OK. So I just got back from a 35 minute cardio and decided to weigh myself and it says the same weight as it did last week when I was floaing between pounds. Maybe I should just stop using the scale?!?! It's just so tempting because it is right there in the locker room.

You should try to weigh yourself at the same time and day every week and under the same circumstances. For example, I weigh myself every Thursday morning right when I wake up, before I shower, after I pee, and before I eat or drink ANYTHING. That way, I know I am minimizing any outside elements that may affect my weight. Also, weighing right after exercising can either make the scale go up (your muscles retain water from working out) or down (from sweating), so it's not the best time to weigh. If the gym is the only scale you have access to, try weighing before your workout to be more accurate and consistent.

Yes, it is possible for clothes to feel looser even though you have not lost much weight. I have this happen every time I start a diet--my shirts hang a little better and my jeans fit a little nicer, but I haven't lost much weight. This is because your body is changing and adjusting--basically, things can shift and transform in your body without actually going away...that's the simplest way I can think of to explain it. That's also why one woman who is 5'4, 120 pounds may be a size 2 while another who is 5'4, 120 pounds may be a size 8. All of our bodies are unique and complex, and as you begin a healthier lifestyle, your body may change even though the scale does not