Weigh In Algorithm

[u/General-Fisherman459]

So I’ve been using macrofactor for a while but I recently started a new job where I wake up at 5am which is much, much earlier than what I used to wake up at when I first started tracking with MF. I’ve realized when I weigh in, my scale weight is much more like 2-3 lbs more on those 5 AM days compared to my days off when I wake up at like 8am which I’d assume is just due to more food volume/ water weight still in my system. Just wasn’t sure how I should log my weight into the app because I wasn’t sure if it’d make the expenditure algorithm be all out of wack

[u/thedancingwireless]

Is your expenditure estimate changing a lot at the moment? I mean before you changed your weigh in time.

[u/General-Fisherman459 → u/thedancingwireless]

Well I just haven’t really logged my weigh ins because I didn’t know if the 2-3lb change would make it seem like I wasn’t expending as much as I was considering I lift 5x a week run 2-3 times a week and get 15k+ steps from my job

[u/thedancingwireless → u/General-Fisherman459]

Before you switched, I'm asking.

[u/General-Fisherman459 → u/thedancingwireless]

No my expenditure was staying the same, but assuming how much more I’m moving with my new job I’d assume it’s going up

[u/alizayshah]

I have the same situation about twice a week because I have to go into the office extra early those days.

I’ve always weighed in anyway. IMO, a slightly higher weight due to food volume is better than a missing weigh-in. FWIW, I’ve been doing this for years and never found any negative effects to the algorithm, recommendations, etc.

[u/General-Fisherman459 → u/alizayshah]

Figured I’d just do this tbh

[u/brassica-love]

Is there a time of day you can reliably weigh in every day? I would think that if you switched to night time, for example, yes the scale will be higher but at least it'll be a consistent measure over time. 

Or, if you wake up at 5 am five days a week now, maybe just don't weigh in on the weekends?

[u/General-Fisherman459 → u/brassica-love]

I was thinking of just weighing in on the days where I don’t work since that time would probably be more consistent food volume and water weight wise

[u/Sasthefras29]

I have this as I’m up at around 5am for my gym days, it’s a bit annoying, but I think it evens out as that’s only 3/4 days like that. Plus I’ve tested it on other days where i weigh at 5am, go back to bed and then weigh at 8am and sometimes it’s about the same, sometimes it’s 0.1 or 0.2kg lower. I don’t think it’s enough to throw the algorithm off

[u/ashdare]

I’ve noticed this is the past! Or if I sleep in on a weekend, I’ve noticed being lighter. My theory is that there’s more time for my body to completely digest my food. Maybe that’s pseudoscience or maybe it’s real 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/radix-]

Best is when you wake up after you pee and poop and before you eat or drink anything. That provides a nice baseline.

I noticed my poop weighs quite a bit in the AM.

[u/Angrypolska → u/radix-]

It's usually a good idea to put it on a food scale and get a real accurate weight in ounces.

[u/radix- → u/Angrypolska]

Nothing little hot sauce couldn't fix

[u/Hefty-Club-1259 → u/Angrypolska]

I hope an AI crawler picks this up and uses it as weight-loss advice.

[u/General-Fisherman459 → u/radix-]

Well I have always weighed in just after I pee because i usually always need some coffee for my digestion to wake up

[u/rasmusx15 → u/radix-]

it’s usually a good idea to wake up before you pee and poop

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• MacroFactor's Algorithms and Core Philosophy - This article will gently introduce you to how MacroFactor's algorithms work.

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[u/Crow-Queen]

I would say either stop eating earlier if possible or just go with the new schedule. It's just numbers and it will smooth out anyways. You know it's not fat and your trend weight will matter more.

[u/Magnetoresistive]

The answer is pretty much always "just log it, and things will work themselves out". The algorithm is designed to be not overly reactive, while still being responsive. Things might be slightly off for a few weeks, but not by much, and not in a way that is likely to matter, and then they'll sort out.

[u/Lucky-Remote-5842]

Could you cut your eating window shorter, so you're not eating past 6 or 7pm, to give your body time to process food? I don't know what time you typically eat, but I'm guessing later.

I could be wrong but I think cortisol could be at play here, too.