Stepping on the scale daily may be key to long term weight loss
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A study out of Cornell University says people who weigh themselves every day are more successful at long term weight loss than people who don’t.
Overweight participants who weighed themselves daily and tracked their progress on a chart lost significantly more than those who didn’t and kept it off.
Exercise psychologist Kathleen Martin-Ginis says the frequent feedback can work as a motivator if people are losing they’ll keep up the good habits. “You’re getting that immediate feedback that tells you stay the course or make some changes and get back on track. Some people might see that the weight isn’t coming off and that’ll inspire them to get on track and start doing things the way that they need to be doing them.”
Registered dietitian Helen VandeMark from St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton says it’s important to measure your progress in order to achieve and maintain goals, but for some people, daily weigh ins can cause anxiety.
“Getting on the scale and looking at that number may not actually help you meet a health goal that you have in mind but may actually have a more negative impact on you.”
She recommends weighing yourself twice a week and charting your transformation. “Trending is more important than looking at a weight one day versus the next.”
Seeing those numbers get smaller can help you reach your ultimate goal and keep you from falling off the wagon.
