If you watch your weight, you know how much it can fluctuate from one day to the next. Water retention, digestion, physical activity … Many factors influence the figure displayed on the scale. To obtain a precise and consistent measurement, here is what you need to know.
Using regularly is a common habit when you follow a slimming program. But the figure displayed on the scale does not summarize your progress alone. The total weight includes the muscles, bones, organs and water that your body retains.
At certain periods of the menstrual cycle, for example, it is normal to observe a temporary weight gain due to water retention. Similarly, after a generous meal or a day rich in carbohydrates, the scale can indicate a higher figure, without it means a fat. Also, after an intense session, the weight can be lower due to the loss of water by perspiration. Conversely, intense muscular effort can cause water retention, temporarily increasing the displayed weight.
In addition to these situations, other parameters are to be taken into account to follow your evolution such as your waist, your body composition or the way your clothes fall on you. And to avoid having to weigh yourself too often and slow down your motivation, the experts indicate that it is better to weigh themselves once a week, always under the same conditions, the scale placed on a hard and stable surface, barefoot, without heavy clothes.
But that’s not all, if you want to know your real weight, there is a precise moment when weighing is the most reliable: in the morning, on an empty stomach, after having gone to the toilet and before having drunk or eaten. It is at this point that your body is most “neutral”, without being influenced by digestion, hydration or physical activity.
However, if you notice significant and unexplained weight fluctuations, do not hesitate to consult a healthcare professional. Your weight is not everything, and the scale is only one indicator among others to follow your progress.
