beyond body weight

[char]

I find that measuring just body weight isn’t really a great or accurate way for me to tell if a diet is really working. Depending on the day, I might be slightly lighter or I could be slightly heavier from retaining water, even if I am steadily losing body fat. It’s the fluid levels that seem to fluctuate the most in me, even if I lose weight at a good pace. This means that some of my weekly weigh ins don’t look nearly as good as they could. Even a day later I could have far better results.

What else can be used beyond a scale to help to measure the success of a diet. The amount that I weigh is helpful, but it isn’t everything. I’m looking for some advice, please.

[Penny]

Why don't you measure your problem areas? Then you'll knwo when they shrink

[Nelly]

Why don't you measure your problem areas? Then you'll knwo when they shrink

That's a really great idea but it's really hard to measure yourself. I find it very challenging to measure the same place in the same way week after week. You might try just using a pair of pants that used to fit you and trying them on every week.

[Gina]

some scales actually have body fat calculators worked right into them. I guess that could be considered a more accurate way of measuring yoruself since then you won't have to worry about water weight.

[PaulLo]

Do those body fat monitoring scales actually work?

[chefmel]

Do those body fat monitoring scales actually work?

I don't think that they are completely accurate, but I think that htey give you an idea of where you stand. I wouldn't believe that what those scales say is the be-all and end -all but I think that it can help you to know if you're headed in the right direction

[tammybear]

it's good to use this kind of tool but only take it as a guideline and not completely precise. You need to go by how you feel, how your clothes fit, how your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are, how much you are improving in your fitness. Don't get lost in the numbers.

[bigbobby]

You can take pictures of yourself from the front, back, and side. That helps.