What is my true weight? My weight on the scales fluctuates all the time and I have no idea what it really is. Does that sound familiar? When you are on a weight loss mission the scales seem to be the all powerful being of the universe and can start off a great day or bring you to tears in a second.

The first thing I must emphasise is, the scales are not the most important thing here, in fact they are one of the least important. Scales won’t tell you how much fat you have, how much muscle you comprise of. Why do you need to know you true weight? It won’t let you know if you are at risk of ill health, if you look good, it can’t tell you how you feel or how long you have left to live. The scales only tell you how much you weigh.

I will get on to telling you how to find your true weight but I just want to absolutely make sure that although it is nice to see the number on the scales go down, it is not something that should impact your day and become obsessed about. Measurements such as your body fat percentage and waist line are far more important to your health and your clothes size, how you look in the mirror, and how you feel are much better indicators of weather you are getting closer to your goal. Because how you feel is much more important.

How Do I Find My True Weight?

Follow these 8 simple steps-

Get Naked – To make sure all your measurements are consistent always weigh yourself without clothes on. Different articles of clothing have different weights so if you can’t or don’t want to weight in the nude then try to get as close to the same clothes as possible each time.

Timing – Stopping the fluctuations in the scales is impossible because that’s the way our bodies work, but weighing in at the same time of the day each time will make it much more consistent.

Early Bird – The best time to find your true weight is first thing in the morning, That way there are less factors that can impact on your weight such as what you have eaten, when you are it, exercise and physical activity and hydration levels.

Pre Brekkie – Make sure you jump on before you eat or drink anything that morning, it can affect your reading but more to the point, it eliminates some extra excuses if it goes up!

Consistent Movements – Bowel movements that is. Either go to the toilet before you get on the scales each time or after, but be consistent. Do it the same way each time because it will change your true weight.

How Often? – That is up to you. I recommend fortnightly for the pure fact it takes away the obsession you can develop with the scales. Weekly is ok and daily can give you information on what in particular days has caused your weight to drop or increase, but if you do this expect to see your weight go up every now and then, and don’t freak out.

If you use it as a guide and are not emotionally attached then daily is fine. If you stress and go crazy when you see the numbers go up (and they will sometimes) then definitely go to weekly weigh-ins or more.

Same-Same – Just as everything else has to be consistent, so does the scales you use. Use the same scales all the time and make sure they are on the same surface. By changing from the smooth bathroom tiles to a rough outdoor ground, you will not get your true weight. And changing scales will give completely different results.

Number Or Direction? – Last of all, it is not the number you should be focussing on, because many scales will give you a different weight. As long as they are reliable scales the most important thing to look at is if the number is going up or down. That way you’ll know if you are putting on or losing weight.

Don’t forget the number on the scales should not be the end result. It is how you feel, what you do and your health that is the most important. Now you know how to get your true weight, pout it together with waist measurements, clothes size, fitness tests and how you look and feel.

Work harder, work smarter

Kieran Sernig