Avoid the Scale to Get Over a Weight Loss Plateau

A while ago, (quite awhile ago actually) I talked about some ways to get over a weight loss plateau.  But over this past year, I've come up with one more and it's pretty easy.

The little trick is this: Stop Weighing Yourself.

As a disclaimer, I actually weigh myself twice a day. But, I only do that in the name of science. I like to review and track the daily fluctuations of my weight. If you’re curious, my weight goes up about 5 pounds through the day, and then back down by the morning. That's why if you were to weigh yourself on a regular basis, do it at the same time each day, preferably in the morning).

But back to why you shouldn’t weigh yourself.

People can put way too much emphasis on the number on that scale. Granted, it is important. But, chances are, you’re setting yourself up to be disappointed.

You get on the scale Friday morning, go through the week eating right, working out hard, then get on the scale again the following Friday morning and you’re only down .5 or 1 pound or worse, it’s EXACTLY the same as the prior week, and you get frustrated.

You might even get so frustrated that you just give up right there on the spot and ask: “What’s the point? All that hard work and all I lose is ONE POUND?? FORGET IT!!!”

The reality is that one week isn’t anything to gauge your weight loss on. Two weeks isn’t even anything to go on.

So here’s my suggestions:

• If you have 25 pounds or less to lose, weight yourself once a month.
• If you have 25-50 pounds to lose, weigh yourself once every two months.
• If you have more than 50 pounds to lose, weigh yourself only once every three months.

This way, you won’t actually see yourself going through the various plateaus that are bound to happen.

Worried that that is too long to see if what you are doing is working?

Don’t be. You’ll know by how your clothes are feeling. If they are looser, then you know you’re going in the right direction. If they’re getting tighter, well, you know you need to make some adjustments.

And take pictures, too. Take a picture before you start your weight loss program and then take one every month and compare them and that will give you a really good visual of how your body composition is changing.

Here are  some examples of the best shots to take to see how your body is transforming.

Don’t be afraid of the weight loss plateau as it’s going to happen. Just follow this simple rule to make sure you don’t actually see it happening to deflate your drive for the body transformation you’re looking for.