The scale can be a helpful tool for measuring your progress, but many people get in the habit of weighing themselves too often. "While some research shows that people manage (maintain) their weight better by weighing in daily, the same can't be said for losing weight," says Nicole Nichols, editor and fitness expert for SparkPeople.com. "Daily weigh-ins (or multiple weigh-ins per day) will only sap your motivation with a roller coaster of emotions and can cause you to freak out by temporary up-ticks in the scale (that have nothing to do with body mass or body fat)," she says. Instead, Nichols recommends stepping on the scale once a week—or even every two weeks—to better track your progress.
