Whether you’re trying to drop a few pounds or looking for motivation for your workouts, an essential part of the process is getting an accurate weight reading to monitor your progress. Otherwise, it’s very easy to get discouraged and give up before you reach your goals.
Before you step on the weigh scale, remember that the number isn’t the “end-all, be-all” measure of your health. If you have a healthy relationship with weighing yourself, the number can be a tool that gives you valuable insight into your progress toward your overall health goals.
weigh 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 master your weight.
Looking for more health tips? Read about how to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet and why you should be eating more carbs, not less.
Weigh yourself at this time
You will get the most accurate reading from your scale if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning. Do it after using the toilet and before eating breakfast or drinking water.
According to experts, morning is the best time because you have given your body a chance to properly digest everything you ate and drank the previous day, and your stomach is relatively empty.
read more: Expert tips to reduce body fat
More tips for getting an accurate reading
In addition to weighing yourself at the ideal time of day, there are more ways to ensure you regularly get accurate readings from your scale, which is especially important when tracking weight loss or gain.
- Weigh yourself once a week at the same time of day.
- Place your scale on a solid, flat surface.
- Stand barefoot on your scale, with your weight evenly distributed between both feet.
- Wear minimal clothing when you weigh yourself. Whatever you decide, keep it consistent each time you weigh yourself for better accuracy.
When to break up with your scale
As with any unhealthy relationship, if you feel like it’s negatively impacting your life, you can walk away from giving yourself weight. Don’t hesitate to ditch your scale if you’re experiencing:
- Weighing yourself down starts negative thoughts
- Unsafe or unhealthy habits fuel themselves through weight
- Regular anxiety or sadness after weighing yourself
- An eating disorder, whether you’re developing one, recovering from one, or previously had one