Don’t use just any scale when you weigh…

First and foremost, when talking about weighing yourself, my first statement would be to make sure you do NOT become a slave to the scale. Use the number on that scale to help with accountability, but make sure to keep that number in perspective. With technology these days, I would encourage you to look into a smart scale.

Now like everything else, you can get a smart scale for $30-50, or you can spend several hundreds of dollars. I would recommend something in the middle of the road. Here are some qualities to take into consideration, other than your budget:

• Accuracy–of course this is an important component to any scale. If you’re relying on this to gauge your progress, make sure that it is as close to accurate as possible.
• Metrics tracked–More important than your actual weight, a good smart scale will also measure your body fat percentage. The fancier ones may even measure muscle mass, bone mass, and water percentage.
• Number of users–if anyone in your household is using the scale, make sure your scale allows multiple profiles or accounts.
• Bluetooth connectivity–it is super helpful if your scale can automatically sync to your smart device.
• App compatibility–make sure the smart scale either has its own app or connects with common apps that you may already be familiar with. Apple Health, Google Fit, or Fitbit are just a few of those common ones. This will streamline your data in one place.

So to wrap this up, if you decide to weigh yourself on a regular basis, try to make it 1-2x/week at the most, make sure to weigh yourself at about the same time of day each time, and wear the same thing (or nothing) every time you step on the scale. If you have a smart scale that can tell you your body fat %, really reward yourself if/when you get that number to go down; even if it’s the smallest amount. Lowering your body fat percentage can help make weight maintenance a whole lot easier because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat.