Posts: 1,370
8/19/12 11:25 A

Never heard of the moving average before, sounds like a good way to keep track. But once a week, o revery other week, seems to be working ok for me. If I think I "was bad" over a weekend or holiday I wait a week to weigh myself and usually I'm just fine.

current weight: 137.0

152 147.25 142.5 137.75

133

SparkPoints: (32,666)
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Posts: 328
8/19/12 8:12 A

I hadn't thought about tracking this way. I really like it!

Posts: 1,981
8/18/12 10:54 P

for the links.

current weight: -2.9  under

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Posts: 30,372
8/18/12 10:02 P

Why I asked on some other challenges the actual scale weight gave me a big loss for the week and I had the biggest loss on the team then the following week it was back up It really wasn't a real loss and I felt like I was cheating with that one week I think next challenge I will use the running average and see how that goes

156 Days until:  Bride of FrankenFooter 5K

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Posts: 5,096
8/18/12 9:26 P

"When you weigh in for a challenge would it be best to use the moving average weight?"

Well, erm, That is a very interesting question. LOL (cringe)

As the rules for the challenge are written, it is OK to use a moving average weight. And some people do.

Me, for example, this time around (all the other times I've used the actual scale weight). And it "saved" me two weeks ago from going over because the scale weight actually WAS out of the +3% range, while the moving average wasn't.

Is this cheating? Well, technically "no," since the rules have always said you can use an average, as long as you're consistent. Does it make it easier to keep your reported weight from fluctuating? Definitely.

In my case I decided to try this time with a weighted average because I've been such a miserable failure all the other times when I went by the scale weight. LOL. And I've picked a pretty hard range to keep (150 is pretty low for me, historically). There's no chance of me unfairly winning the title, but with the extra help I *might* be able to make it 12 weeks within range.

Other people have sometimes used a 7-day average, or something like that. Which is also allowed.

In the end, I kind of feel like the point of the challenge is to just do it at all, rather than game the system somehow to "win" the title. Maybe that's just rationalization? I'm not sure.

Either way, I can say for me I'm pretty stoked to see if I can keep it going and continue keeping my moving average within range. Stoked enough that I'm encouraged to keep my calories a bit more under control, even today. So I guess it's working. LOL Maybe if I do manage it finally this time, next time I'll take the training wheels off and try it again without the moving average...

current weight: 14.8  over

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Posts: 30,372
8/18/12 9:06 P

Great information ! I use Google 15 to track my weight daily and it shows my moving average

Now for a question that i never thought about until now when you weigh in for a challenge would it be best to use the moving average weight ? RAther then what the scale says for the day this way the weight wouldn't be jumping all over the place on the weekly weigh ins I ask this because BLC challenge will be starting up in a couple of weeks I'd like to get the best / truer weigh ins!

We might have covered this before but never sunk in

156 Days until:  Bride of FrankenFooter 5K

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Posts: 2,259
8/18/12 5:24 P

Thank you for the link. I've printed the article as I'm starting a scrapbook of Maintaining Memos to keep good ideas constantly in mind.

current weight: 149.0

152 149.25 146.5 143.75

141

SparkPoints: (44,765)
Fitness Minutes: (42,884)
Posts: 2,285
8/18/12 12:15 P

I found the Libra android app, too. I forgot to mention that in my initial post. It's pretty good and does all I need it to do: track and "smooth" my weight.

Anja, you are the one who initially got me curious about the moving average for tracking weight. I think it really helps in maintenance.

current weight: 1.2  over

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Posts: 291
8/18/12 12:06 P

Thank you for that link!! it lead me to go look for an app to help me chart my weight ( sometimes I love that there is an app for everything lol ) found a nice one for an android called Libra so far I love it thanks again!!

current weight: 0.0  under

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Posts: 2,411
8/18/12 12:03 P

Thanks for all these links!

I think I have found what I need to arrive at a new goal weight. I have been losing below my former goal weight, but now fluctuating a bit, so want to settle on a number range to maintain.

Edited by: AEHEGE at: 8/18/2012 (12:14)

current weight: -1.1  under

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Posts: 5,096
8/18/12 11:56 A

I love doing that. I've been doing it for years. In fact I just pasted these same links into a different thread here 5 minutes ago:

I weigh daily and smooth the fluctuations with a weighted moving average, ala the Hacker's Diet.
www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=2809697

I can even use those numbers together with my food tracking to estimate my daily calorie burn.
www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=4636113

current weight: 14.8  over

15 7.5 0 -7.5

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SparkPoints: (44,765)
Fitness Minutes: (42,884)
Posts: 2,285
8/18/12 9:47 A

I love The Nutrition Diva. I follow her on twitter and Facebook. I ran across this episode of hers about weigh fluctuation while maintaining and thought I'd share.

nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com/weight
-fluctuation.aspx

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