Everyone is looking for the fastest way to lose weight, but most people realize that there's no easy way to win the "battle of the bulge." Persistence is key because results don't happen overnight. To persist, you must stay motivated, and to stay motivated, weigh yourself at least once every week, a study recommends.
The weigh-in must be done ideally on a Wednesday. That's the day people are the lightest, and weights checked on that day are likely to be an accurate measure of how a weight loss journey is turning out. When an individual has a clear grasp of the progress, the person will know whether or not it's time to incorporate changes to make sure they stay on track.
Researchers from Finland's Tempere University of Technology analyzed more than 2,800 weight measurements from 40 overweight subjects, each one with a body mass index of at least 25. Subjects also had to treat weight loss as a personal concern or goal.
According to Elina Helander, the study's lead author, how much weight is lost is associated with how often a subject checked his or her weight. This means that the more often weight is checked, the more weight is lost by a subject.
Researchers cannot prove causation, but the results of the study may have to do with how serious a subject is with losing weight. It's true that not much will change from day to day, but checking one's weight often is also a good way to make sure that extra pounds are not sneaking back in.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, showed that the average period that subjects can go between weighing sessions without gaining weight is 5.8 days, fitting right in with a weekly weigh-in to facilitate weight loss.
Brian Wansink, Ph.D. has a more rigid suggestion to ensure dieters don't slip up.
"The bottom line is: If you want to lose weight, it's best to weigh yourself every day," said the Cornell Food and Brand Lab director.
The loss of around one to two pounds is healthy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighting that weight loss requires a lifestyle change. Once healthy weight is achieved, engaging in moderately intense physical activity on most days of the week and eating proper diet are necessary to maintaining the weight.
