IMPORTANT INFORMATION
CONCERNING WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Your scale is the best tool for monitoring weight. While not the only measure of weight
loss, scales is the most popular method used to gauge weight-loss success. A scale
measures the sum of your total body weight, which includes bone, muscle, fat and water.
Body weight fluctuates during the day, and from day to day, depending on a
variety of factors.
Salt and carbohydrate intake can affect the body’s water retention.
A large meal adds weight and can cause water retention.
Dehydration from exercise, illness, or low fluid intake can result in weight loss.
Muscle is also a factor. Heavy-duty resistance training can build muscle, which can
affect weight.
The menstrual cycle can cause temporary weight gains and losses.
Here are 5 rules for effectively monitoring your weight – weigh yourself:
Once a week, on the same day of the week
At the same time of day
In the same place
Wearing the same clothes
Using the same scale
To keep track of your weight, record only one number for the week. This will give you a
clear picture of any trend your weight is following.
For Maintaining Weight
Fluctuations in day-to-day weight tend to be smaller when weight is stable, so a more
frequent weight-in pattern is helpful. To maintain a stable weight:
Weigh yourself more often than once a week.
Use the “5-pound rule” – research shows that people who keep weight within a 5-pound
range are more likely to maintain a healthy body weight over the long term.
