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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Best time to weigh?

52 replies

moonstarsuns · 08/04/2026 21:53

So I’m on a diet.. yesterday at boots weighing scales in store I was 10 stone 8. Today I got digital scales in Tesco which this evening , 2 hours after eating and no snacks or drinks, showed 10 stone 9 but half an hour later it showed 10 stone 10. How can half an hour make a difference when I haven’t done anything? I’m so confused

OP posts:
Samanabanana · 08/04/2026 21:56

A) all scales are different, B) weight is not just fat, it's water retention, inflammation, etc.

You always weigh more in the morning than you do in the evening. To get a true picture of weight loss, weigh yourself on the same scales at the same time of day. It's recommended not to weigh yourself daily, but I always do and it helps me to regulate my calorie intake daily.

moonstarsuns · 08/04/2026 21:59

But that doesn’t answer my question of how the scales can differ in half an hour

OP posts:
moonstarsuns · 08/04/2026 22:36

Bump

OP posts:
BIWI · 08/04/2026 22:39

Who knows?! As PP have said, weigh first thing in the morning, naked and after you've been to the loo.

Don't use anyone else's scales, just stick with your own, for consistency.

And finally, are your scales on a hard surface? If they're on carpet then they may not way consistently.

Buscake · 08/04/2026 22:40

I always weigh less in the morning. I weigh every day it helps me stay on track.

moonstarsuns · 08/04/2026 22:40

Yes they are on a hard surface

OP posts:
nellibet · 08/04/2026 22:44

Same. I weigh less in the morning. My weight can sometimes fluctuates by 1kg during the day. A bit of a mystery, but I’m ensure it’s to do with water retention.

JaneGrint · 08/04/2026 22:44

Could it down to the scales rounding to the nearest pound?
Like if you were something like 10st 9.49lb the first time and 10st 9.51lb the second time, and the weight was slightly different because you weren’t stood in the exact same place?

moonstarsuns · 08/04/2026 22:50

@JaneGrintperhaps…

OP posts:
BeigeBanana · 08/04/2026 23:01

Do the scales need calibrating? Did you bump them? Drink or eat something? Lean/stand differently?
regardless, it’s best to weigh around once a week

Whydidyouletmedown · 08/04/2026 23:05

Don’t worry about a pound difference. The important thing is to make sure you wee, poo and, most importantly, fart and burp before weighing yourself first thing in the morning 😀

moonstarsuns · 09/04/2026 07:50

Well I followed advice and weighed myself this morning after a wee and being naked , and I hadn’t eaten either, and it showed 10 8 which is what it showed on the other weighing scales a couple days ago so clearly it’s accurate.. just is confusing tho as I ate dinner at 6pm last night,. No snacks and yet at 9pm it showed a pound or 2 difference,. Don’t understand why that happens

OP posts:
BIWI · 09/04/2026 07:52

If you're weighing later in the day, then logically you will weigh more as you have eaten and drunk!

user7463246787 · 09/04/2026 07:57

Because they’re cheap scales. Proper weights and measures scales that are used by businesses are calibrated and checked on a regular basis. A £30 from Tesco’s isn’t ever going to be 100% accurate, but itll be near enough. Make sure it level, and kept in the same place.

CherryogDog · 09/04/2026 08:03

I'm trying to lose weight. It fluctuates by about a pound in one day. I weigh almost daily, always after my one tea, 2 coffees and a poo.
I then see to my horses, walk the dogs, and if I weigh myself then I'm about 1lb lighter.
After lunch that 1lb is back, before bed it's gone.
I'm honestly not an obsessive weigher, just curious.
If I weighed weekly and it coincided with a heavy day I'd be upset. If it was on a lighter day I'd probably think I could eat some chocolate.
Do you measure yourself? That might help.
I took my eye off the ball after losing loads of weight following the low carb threads on here that @BIWI runs. Wearing stretchy lycra clothes meant I was never conscious of my clothes getting too tight!

Didimum · 09/04/2026 08:25

Does it really matter, OP?

moonstarsuns · 09/04/2026 08:52

@Didimumyes it does matter.. if u aren’t interested then move on from the thread

OP posts:
Lemonthyme · 09/04/2026 10:43

I have some weight watchers scales I bought years ago. They weigh to the nearest quarter lb. I like that as it shows progress (or not) quickly.

But weight isn't a great measure, albeit it's that or taking measurements of your body (e.g. waist circumference). Weight is more impacted by daily water fluctuations than actual fat loss.

Personally I always weigh first thing in PJs before anything to eat as that's going to be something I can consistently do daily. I weigh daily and (try to) accept that there is more fluctuation in daily measures than will be accounted for by weight loss. I used to weigh fortnightly (Paul McKenna, I can make you thin method) but I founded that didn't work for me. I record one weight per week on a spreadsheet and use an app for my daily weights. I've also recently started to record my lowest weight over the week on the same spreadsheet which motivates me a little if there's no loss that week as the lowest weight is consistently showing a reduction week on week on week.

So all in all I accept it's an inaccurate measure and live with it.

While I don't follow the Paul McKenna book anymore, he did have some views on daily weighing which I think puts some of it into perspective (albeit it's a work in progress). He described it like a flightpath. When you look at a plane flight path they get from A to B but are often turning slightly left or right. Same if you're driving. So few roads in the UK are direct. You often have to go slightly left or right to get to where you want to go. Same with weight, it's the overall trend that matters, not each turn.

He also describes weighing daily as being like pulling up a plant to check it's roots every day. I do get that but I found his suggestion to weigh less often meant I could easily gain. So in a way I've tried a combo. I weigh daily but try not to stress about it and record "officially" weekly.

As others have said. When you weigh is less important than being consistent about it.

Lemonthyme · 09/04/2026 10:45

Thank you @CherryogDog for saying this: "Wearing stretchy lycra clothes meant I was never conscious of my clothes getting too tight!" I had been puzzling the last few days how I could lose a stone and not have needed to buy new clothes yet. Reading that comment, I realise I've been doing exactly that. My clothes weren't telling me anything because they were just stretching.

I do have the odd top which isn't stretchy. I tried one on recently. It felt like a tent! I'm pleased in a way I don't have to buy new clothes already in general though. I can't afford it but also it's nice to think that with two more stones to go, that really will make a difference, even with my stretchy tops.

springintospring26 · 09/04/2026 10:49

I was up
four times last night ( recently bereaved) Each time I thought I may as well have a wee. After each tiny wee I weighed myself ( just for something to do! So I started off at 10 st 10lbs at around midnight and interestingly went down to 10.8 by the morning. The scales were in the same position and I didn’t eat or drink. I usually weigh in the morning in underwear and t shirt. Over a week I usually only lose a pound.

cantgardenintherain · 09/04/2026 10:50

Buscake · 08/04/2026 22:40

I always weigh less in the morning. I weigh every day it helps me stay on track.

Agree

morbidcuriosity · 09/04/2026 11:50

I weigh 3lb more in the evening than from my morning weigh in. And sometimes 1st thing i can be 10.8 then half hour later 10.9 .
For research over 2 days I stood on the scales everytime I walked past them to see the difference and it does go up to 3lb more by evening.
I just weigh every morning now as trying to maintain within a half stone difference.

BIWI · 09/04/2026 11:56

I weigh 3lb more in the evening than from my morning weigh in

Well of course you do! Because during the day, after your morning weigh-in, you've eaten food and had various drinks. So you're weighing yourself plus stuff you've consumed.

ainsleysanob · 09/04/2026 12:55

I always weigh less in a morning, considerably less in fact, and I get weighed every day. Out of bed, naked, get weighed, shower!

morbidcuriosity · 09/04/2026 12:58

@BIWI yeah I get that. It's just its always 3lb when I was fatter it was always 4lb . Now 3 everytime.

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