Post # 1

Member
5217 posts
Bee Keeper
What is “ the sign” for you to cut back on weight? I am feeling a little frumpy, but I weigh myself every morning and although my weight only fluctuates by 1-3 pounds, I FEEL like I am gaining weight. I religiously weigh myself every single morning, and i haven’t gained anything out of the ordinary. However; my clothes feel like they look differently on me, and I feel larger…but the scale hasn’t moved at all.
Dh thinks I should ditch the scale and rely on measurements for complete accuracy and how my clothes fit to loosely judge if I am going up or down on the scale.
What is your indicator? The scale? Your measurements? How your clothes fit?
Post # 3

Member
2103 posts
Buzzing bee
Totally how my clothes fit. Ugh, I’m 10-15# over my comfortable weight right now (I don’t weigh myself, it’s not good for me). I would be okay at this weight if a.) my clothes weren’t uncomfortable and b.) it didn’t slow me down so much as a runner.
Post # 4

Member
456 posts
Helper bee
primarily I go by how my clothes fit.. although I tend to gain weight in my face first so if I’m in bed and looking at my ipad and I get a lot of puffiness under my chin then I know it’s time to do something 🙂
Post # 5

Member
15277 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Both. What the scale says and how my clothes fit. I’m about 5 lbs over what my typical weight has been the last few years, even though the clothes still feel the same, I’m cautious of the number. Though I dont actively try to lose the weight through exercise, I’m more cautious of food I eat and control intake.
Post # 6

Member
7643 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Mostly how my clothes fit and how my face looks. I have lost 9 pounds so far, and I am feeling better and better every day when my clothes get a little big baggier. I still step on the scale, but I am not going to let that rule my weight loss because you can gain muscle. Some people look better at 165 than they do at 150.
If anything, I would go by measurements and how you feel.
Post # 7

Member
9795 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Mine is both the number on the scale and how my clothes fit. I’ve actually been weighing myself everyday for a few years now. I know some people say to only do it once a week, but I found by doing it everyday I can actually see what my normal daily fluctuations are. It is usually about a 3-lb fluctuation or so.
I know what number I feel comfortable with and that is based on how my clothes fit. I’m to the point where I have about a 5-lb range where I am comfortable in how my clothes fit. So if I get towards the higher end of that range I will start making more of an effort to drop it down to that lower end.
It’s much easier to lose 5 lbs as soon as you notice it than it is to lose 30+ lbs when you’ve been not paying attention to it.
Another tool for me is just visual from the side.
Post # 8

Member
2065 posts
Buzzing bee
Definitely clothes. Around this time last year I looked in the mirror at 175lbs and was like oh good god when did this happen? My favorite shirt was straining and looked funny on me and I had been ignoring it. I hadn’t been that weight in years. So I got my butt in gear and started actually paying attention to what I ate again and working out more regularly. Happily down to 155 at the moment and trying not the let the scale rule my life!
Post # 9

Member
13094 posts
Honey Beekeeper
For me, it is more how I see myself in the mirror. I don’t really care what the number on the scale says so long as I’m alright with the way my body looks.
Post # 10

Member
11231 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
We don’t own a scale, so I go by how my clothes fit (though usually I go, “This is too small, Goodwill pile it goes, hello new [item of clothing]!”
Post # 11

Member
1548 posts
Bumble bee
For me its all about how my clothes fit, the scale is just a number. The reason your clothes may be fitting differently, if you’re not working out is because you are probably losing muscle tone.
Post # 12

Member
2129 posts
Buzzing bee
I go by how my clothes fit and right now they are tight so I’m starting workout classes this Sunday!
Post # 13

Member
4272 posts
Honey bee
How my clothes fit and what I look like in pictures. I do not own a scale
Post # 14

Member
2892 posts
Sugar bee
My clothes determine my weight. Wardrobes are freaking expensive to replace so the last thing I want is to out-grow mine, so to speak. The moment I feel my tummy start to peak over the waist of my jeans when I sit down is when I start exercising a litle more and keeping a closer eye on my consumption. I probably weight myself annually but I know about what I weigh based on how my clothes feel.
Post # 15

Member
8469 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Once my pants start feeling tight and the scale is over 130, I’m not too happy, which is NOW! ARG!
Post # 16

Member
8035 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@Mrs_Amanda: How my clothes fit is probably the biggest thing… and just how I feel in general. I have gained around 20 lbs in the last 2 years and I am not happy about that. Even before then I wanted to lose 10-15 lbs. so now I have a goal to lose 35 lbs. eeek!
We have a more active lifestyle than we used to… we’ve been going to the gym fairly regularly for the best part of a year now, but it’s a work in progress. Also, since I love food, it can be a struggle to eat smaller portions. We generally eat pretty healthy, I think it’s mostly the portion size in my case anyway. I guess you don’t gain the weight overnight so you won’t lose it overnight.
I was always slim, and now I’m not quite so slim so it is hard but I am hoping I can keep turning things around gradually. I have lost some weight but I still have lots to go.