Why You Can Trust CNET The Best Time to Weigh Yourself for the Most Accurate Reading
It's very natural for weight to fluctuate throughout the day, to get the most accurate reading follow these instructions.
- Registered Dietitian
- Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
- New York University, BS in Nutrition & Dietetics
- Russell Sage College, MS in Applied Nutrition
In addition to weighing yourself at the right time, make sure you're doing so while barefoot as well.
When trying to lose weight, an accurate reading of your weight on the scale is helpful. While your weight isn't actually the most important thing to know when trying to lose weight, it is still important that this data is as accurate as possible if you're tracking it. What you may not know, is there is a certain way and even a certain time you should weigh yourself to get a precise reading.
As long as you have a healthy relationship with the scale, this number can offer some good insight into your progress and can also help you focus your attention on body recomposition.
Below are some easy steps to follow when you weigh yourself so you get consistent results each time.
For more wellness tips, learn why weightlifting might be the key to losing weight and a visual guide to help you determine if you're getting enough protein.
When is the best time to weigh yourself?
You'll get the most accurate reading from your scale if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning. Do it after using the restroom and before eating breakfast or chugging any water. According to experts, morning is the best time because you've given your body the chance to properly digest everything you ate and drank the previous day, leaving your stomach relatively empty.
Read more: Boost Your Health and Wallet: The Power of Intermittent Fasting
When is the worst time to weigh yourself?
There is no "worst" time to weigh yourself, but you may want to avoid weighing after activities that could throw off your weight. This might be something like eating a large meal or drinking a large amount of liquid, which can in turn cause you to "weigh more" temporarily. You may also want to avoid weighing yourself after exercise because you will weigh less due to the water lost through sweating, so time your weigh in at a different time than your workout time for the day.
If you experience menstruation, you may want to avoid weighing yourself in the days leading up to your period. That is because your hormones can cause weight fluctuations that would affect the number on the scale. You should also note that it is normal for your weight to fluctuate throughout the day, and from day to day. If you are concerned about sudden changes in your weight, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
More tips on getting an accurate reading
Besides weighing yourself at an ideal time of day, there are more ways to ensure you regularly get an accurate reading from your scale, which is especially important when tracking weight loss or gain.
- Weigh yourself once a week at the same time of day.
- Store and use your weight scale on a solid, flat surface.
- Stand barefoot on your scale, keeping your weight distributed evenly between both feet.
- Wear little to no 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
Like any unhealthy relationship, you can walk away from weighing yourself if you think it's negatively impacting your life. Don't hesitate to ditch your scale if you're experiencing:
- Negative thoughts triggered by weighing yourself.
- Regular anxiety or sadness after weighing yourself.
- Unsafe or unhealthy habits triggered by weighing yourself.
- An eating disorder, whether you're developing one, recovering from one or previously had one.
Read more: Your Weight Isn't Everything: 6 Health Metrics That Are More Important
In search of more health-related tips? Read up on how to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet and why you should eat more carbs, not fewer.