Today is Day 1 of my diet and I don't want to weigh myself

[GingerSnaps]

Can someone lose weight by taking your measurements instead of weighing yourself?

I am more comfortable with loosing inches instead of pounds. My measurements are "36 32 38" and I want to get down to "32 28 30".

I hate getting on the scales and I would prefer not to know how much I weigh.

Is it better to measure yourself instead of weighing yourself?

[kikiek]

1. You don't have to weigh yourself. You will know when you start to

lose weight. You'll be buying new clothes. Sometimes you may not lose as much weight scale wise. Don't get hung up on the scale go by how you feel.

[UrbScotty]

3. That's how I do it.

And another thing: You know you are losing weight when people compliment you on losing weight. I can't tell you how many people have told me that I've lost weight. :D

[calico1]

2. Measuring yourself is often a better indicator,

especially if you are exercising too (which I hope you are). If you gain more muscle mass for example, you can stay at the same weight but be smaller because the muscles are tighter. So the scale does not tell the whole story. Plus during the day our weight fluctuates anyway. I never weigh myself more than once a week. What I do is I have a pair of jeans that I want to get back into. I keep trying them on and use them as a gauge of my progress. You may have some item of clothing you can do this with.

[wryter2000]

7. Exactly

What I do is I have a pair of jeans that I want to get back into. I keep trying them on and use them as a gauge of my progress.

Get some pants one size smaller and try them on from time to time.

[Ratty]

4. Belt holes

The number of free holes on my belt has turned out to be the best indicator, if not the finest detailed. I'm lifting weights at the same time as I'm trying to lose fat so weight has not been a very reliable indicator. But my belt does not lie.

I tried a measuring tape but I can't seem to get it to work right.

[pagerbear]

5. Put the scale in the closet, out of reach.

The temptation is very great, and many of us just get crazy over numbers. (For me, a number I like leads to a sense of entitlement around food and a number I don't like leads to a "Fuck it all!" attitude around food.)

Focus on the actions you're taking and not on the results. Let your clothes be your gauge.

[wryter2000]

6. Don't weigh yourself.

Can someone lose weight by taking your measurements instead of weighing yourself?

Yesssssss! In fact, weighing yourself can often be misleading. If you start an exercise program, you'll put on 5 pounds first thing. Because you'll be gaining muscle, which weighs more than fat. If you're weighing yourself, you may become discouraged.

Weight will vary 2 - 4 pounds from day to day, anyway. Probably water retention. Measuring yourself is much more accurate, although it takes a while to see changes. You can also go by how your clothes fit. If they start to get loose, you're losing weight.

I've lost 70 pounds and kept it off for a couple of years. I know whereof I speak.

[redqueen]

8. I don't weigh or measure

If you get to a point where you're physically active on a regular basis, and are eating right, then your body will naturally slim down.

If six months after you've been consistently active and eating right, you still aren't happy with the results, then you might consider adding more aerobic exercise to your routines, or alternately modifying your diet so that you lose more body fat.

IMO measuring and weighing do more harm than good, because I always expected results faster than they're possible without going on one of those fad diets.

[GingerSnaps]

9. I am screwing up right now

Someone in my house didn't toss out the ENTENMANN'S chocolate covered butter cookies :argh:.

[coreystone]

10. Not an expert, but,..........

OK! I used to weigh 240 pounds when I was in High School during the sixties. Eventually, I got sick and tired of all the verbal abuse and lack of self esteem. In about 5 months I got down to the low 150’s. I am male and am five foot seven. I had to work like the dickens, but, sooner or later I arrived! It has been a battle ever since. I am 54 years old, and I am still fighting.

It really is good to get on the scales to get a “baseline” of where you are….it may not be what you would like to see, but, it important to see if anything is happening with whatever weight reduction plan you intend upon utilizing. I can’t tell you what is the best way for YOU, but, I let you know some of the behaviors that have been successful for me.

Key points to keep in mind: drink a lot of water, cut the poly fats, EXERCISE, and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, grain, etc.

Now! In terms of measuring inches, I wouldn’t bother, unless you want to go through a complete body fat analysis, etc, etc. What works for me is to buy some inexpensive clothes which are slightly smaller that I can wear. As I exercise, diet, cut the alcohol, sugars, etc., I occasionally try them on. For me being male, I might use a tight T-shirt for the top areas, and an inexpensive pair of jeans for the lower abdominal, hips, and thighs.

Exercise is so important to a good weight loss program. Start slowly at first. Personally, I usually swim about 5 miles a week. In addition, when on my game, I will do a lot of bicycling during the summer. In the winter I join health spas. Spinning and body pump are really good if you get into a spa.

I could go on and on, but, you have to remember; if you start to diet and exercise, you may find that you will gain weight at first. Remember muscle tissue is denser than fat, so, even though you are losing fat you may feel frustrated on the scales. Keep at it. This soon will pass. Counting calories can be deceiving. Also, salty foods will temporarily inflate the numbers on the scales. Try to weigh yourself on the SAME scales in the nude, that way you will have eliminated two confounding variables which may obscure the measurement.

GOOD LUCK!

And, be patient!!!!

[Kahuna]

11. 32, 28,30???? Seems an odd configuration. Waist practically the

same size as chest and hips. :shrug:

[GingerSnaps]

12. I don't know measurements

I am trying to be realistic and If I say a waist size of 25 it might be too small.

I am out of proportion and I deducted 4 or 5 inches off of every area.

[coreystone]

15. I wouldn't worry about the that....

You have some work to do. To put yourself into an unrealistic goal of what your body measurements are could be counter productive. The first thing is cut the "bulk" carbs which lack fiber and try to program your mind to "detox" yourself from the "make me feel good" cookies.

In high school, I was in a never ending loop of loaded carbohydrates and sugars. I would stuff down all the potatoe chips and "milky ways", etc, that I could after school before I went home. Then I would take a whole loaf of that white fluffy nonsense bread, put it through a meat grinder, add salt, and watch reruns of "Gilligan's Island", or whatever. Depression was a really big "ring around the rosies" for me. The extra carbs with the sugar was like a "merry go 'round". There are some things YOU need to simply CUT OUT until you have control of them. Do not be afraid of some real "grain" bread", this is so good for you intestinal tract. In moderation!

Power walking would be really good for the extra hip weight. Be assertive when power walking. Try to maintain the same pace up the hills as on level ground. BUT....set realistic goals, and, be quick to realize when they need to be modified.

[GingerSnaps]

17. I looked at my chewable vitamins from GNC

They have 30 calories and 3 carbs in each one and I take 6 different ones a day. I will have to cut them out and I don't know what a good carb or a bad carb is and they might be a good carb.

[Lisa0825]

13. Absolutely!!!

I didn't want to weigh at first, so I started eating better and walking for a couple months without ever weighing OR measuring. But I could feel my clothes fitting looser and my energy level going up. Finally, the end of July, I joined a gym and started a more rigorous diet, and I decided I was ready to have a "before" weight. I have lost 16 pounds since then, and probably another 15 before I ever weighed. I am perfectly happy not knowing my original weight! I know it was my highest ever, and I just didn't want to face it, but I am doing the right things NOW, and that is what really counts!!!

[liontamer]

14. then don't weigh yourself

your measurements are what you're concerned with so take them instead

[Samurai_Writer]

16. Throw the scale OUT!!!

And the measuring tape too! If you FEEL good and are HEALTHY, then don't worry about a stupid number or set of measurements!

I have not had a scale in my home for 15 years now. It was the most liberating thing I've ever done! And I only measure myself when I'm having clothes made or altered.

BBW and proud of it!

[GingerSnaps]

18. I don't own a scale

I tossed it out a while back and I don't want to purchase another one.