A healthy diet and regular exercise will keep you healthy, but another reason for adopting a healthy lifestyle is weight loss. The easiest way to know when you are losing weight is to weigh yourself, with a bathroom scale, at weekly intervals. If you do not have a scale, or if you suspect that your scale may be inaccurate, there are other ways to determine if your weight loss efforts are successful.
Step 1
Track your waist measurements. Measure the circumference of the most narrow part of your waist, just above your belly button, and record that number in your notebook. Each week, measure your waist in the same area and record your progress. If the number gets smaller, you are losing weight.
Step 2
Pay attention to how your clothes fit. If you have a pair of pants that fits tightly, try them on once a week to see if they fit better. Make sure the pants are clean and fresh from the dryer. Pants that have been worn may not be an accurate gauge because they will have stretched.
Step 3
Ask a friend. You may lose weight in your face, however, if you look at yourself every day, you may not notice. A friend may be more likely to tell if your face, or other parts of you, look thinner.
Step 4
Take a bath. Tape or glue a ruler inside your bath tub. Fill the tub half way with hot water, get in the tub and mark the spot on the ruler where the water rises with a permanent marker. Mark the water line with a different-colored marker each time. As you lose weight, you will displace less water and the water will not rise as much.
Tips and Warnings
- Consult your physician if you experience sudden weight loss with no apparent cause.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Notebook
- Bath tub
- Ruler
- Permanent markers, multiple colors
References
- "Trail Guide to the Body"; Andrew R. Biel; September 1997
- "Personal Trainer Manual"; American Council on Exercise; December 1996
- "Physiology of Sport and Exercise" Dr. Jack H. Wilmore, et al; November 2007
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