How do you track the results?

[Sweetener12]

I was wondering, how do you track the results of dieting? Do you take measurements of your body? Or do you photograph yourself? And how often do you gather the info? I've heard that weighting every day wouldn't do you any good, so how often do you track the changes?

[LittleBitLove]

I totally love your username, it's very up to the point of the whole discussion
I used to weighting myself every day but it made me even more upset as I was gaining weight because of water and it still felt like I was getting fat. So I just chose a pair of jeans which I use now for tracking down whether my legs and hips got thinner or not. Usually I try them on once or maybe twice a month. Also I take pics of myself wearing the same clothes and in the same lightning and put them into a slideshow program, so that I'll have the whole slideshow to compare the changes. It's much more easy that way. You can also just print them out but I saw no point in doing this, it's too expensive.

[Sweetener12]

@LittleBitLove thanks! I didn't think about checking via clothes. May I ask you what slideshow program did you use? Will Microsoft Power Point be okay?

[Wilma55]

Measure your waist as a minimum and weigh at least monthly. Log these on myfitnesspal which is free and you can add photos too.

[FearlessSwiftie]

Everyday measurements of hips are my thing. I also check on my waist and bust about once a week.

[LittleBitLove]

I used Smartshow 3d but I think Power point will also do

[Gigia]

I weigh myself daily and take progress pictures and measurements weekly.

[Sweetener12]

@Gigia doesn't it make you nervous? I mean weighing every day, it sounds kinda tough

[Cavagirl]

I also weigh every day, for me it's crucial to understand the impact of what I eat/drink especially wrt water retention. You need precise scales if you do this though, and you must do it at the same time for it to be meaningful. Ideally first thing after waking up, after a wee, before drinking anything.
I think whatever works for you though, but the important thing is to have consistency so you can meaningfully compare eg if you weigh only on Mondays but last Monday you weighed after waking up and this Monday you weighed after breakfast, you could easily think you've gained 1lb in a week when in reality it's just the breakfast!

[Cavagirl]

Also should say - and I log in MFP.

[Nacreous]

I agree re consistency and actually I prefer weighing regularly (not every day but most days) because I find it easier to see what's a blip - if I suddenly go up a lb or two I know it's just water whereas if I weighed once a week and it was that day then it might make me feel like my efforts weren't making a difference.

[Cavagirl]

@Nacreous totally agree! If I'd just weighed myself once a week I'd feel like that was my one shot & if I haven't lost I've got to wait again for the following week! I'm too impatient lol!

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

All of it😂
I weight, measure and on occasion take a picture.
Picture once in, I don't know 3-4 weeks? Measure and weight weekly.
It's great to use more than one way. For example my weight didn't move 1 week, but my measurements did and vice versa.

[Gigia]

It doesn't make me nervous, I like to track every day so I can stay focused.