Weigh in Daily to Keep Lost Pounds at Bay

While I'm still losing weight, I can't even begin to imagine weighing in every day. Weight fluctuations used to drive me crazy. Sometimes I'd weigh myself too often and obsess about the slightest gain; or I'd have three different scales and three different weights. I decided to quit weighing in every week.

In time, you learn to pay attention to other signs you are losing weight -- being less breathless when climbing a staircase; clothes fitting more loosely; rings fitting a different finger.

But ... when those buttons don't seem to quite meet or I find myself just feeling a little out of sorts, I return to weekly weigh-ins. I always thought I'd continue them once I met my goal weight. Turns out I may be weighing in more often than ever when that day comes.

Recently, a study showed that weighing in daily during maintenance may be more effective than even weekly weigh-ins because it allows you to see unfavorable changes sooner and therefore, act upon them (and prevent them from getting worse) sooner.

In a press release, the study's author, Rena R. Wing, Ph.D., said "If you want to keep lost pounds off, daily weighing is critical.".

Of course, just stepping on the scale every day isn't the key to keeping the pounds at bay. The way you react is: "You have to use that information to change your behavior, " Dr. Wing added.

You can check out the entire study at Eurekalert.org.

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