I get so many questions asking if someone gained weight because the scale went up x amount since the previous morning. And I read so many posts about people being upset due to an increase in the scale, or NO decrease in the scale. When really, day-to-day numbers are meaningless. 

There are so many factors in your body, and externally, that can cause weight fluctuations.

• The weather! The cold can cause the scale to go down, and heat can cause you to bloat up.
• How much you eat (bulk wise not calories). If you had a day where you ate significantly more than usual, or significantly less, than can be expressed on the scale.
• If you haven’t pooped, where do you think the excess waste is? Inside your body and reflected on the scale! Doesn’t mean you got fatter.
• If you drank significantly more that can cause water retention. If you drank significantly less, that can also cause water retention or vice versa. 
• If you had an intense workout the scale can go up due to fluid retention (but believe me you’ll be losing body fat as your body repairs itself!)
• If you’re stressed or have poor sleep, you’re likely to see an increase on the scale, or no decrease.
• Hormonal changes in your body (monthly cycles) can cause the scale to fluctuate.

There are so many more variables it’s not even funny. I just wish everyone would stop worrying about the scale. 

Using a scale is an awesome tool to measure progress. But like any tool, it needs to be used wisely. This means not weighing yourself 3 times a day and then stressing yourself out that you gained weight. That’s just silly.

I used to weigh myself daily and record the number, but only because the numbers didn’t get to me. I later switched to only weighing myself once a week. I would compare my weight loss graph AT THE END OF EACH MONTH. It gave me a better picture of how I was doing than doing it on a daily or weekly basis. 

Focus on the overall trend line to keep track of your progress, instead of specific numbers. More importantly, focus on non-scale victories because those are the most satisfying accomplishments of all—that moment when you fit into a smaller pair of jeans. No scale and no number will tell you when you’ll be able to fit into those smaller jeans…. only your body that was accomplished through your efforts. 

Keep calm and stop worrying about the scale!