I stepped on the scale today, like I do most mornings. After using the bathroom, I strip down and step on. I don't have a digital scale--just an ordinary one. I step on and off three times to make sure I am getting an accurate reading. Then I record the number in a small diary along with the date and special note about what I ate the day before that might account for a fluctuation up or down.

After years of not weighing myself, probably because I was in denial about just how bad things were, I've found that it's very helpful to have a daily guide to the variations and fluctuations in my weight. I find it helpful in setting the right tone for the day. It puts my day of eating, drinking and socializing, and exercising into perspective. There is nothing like that number to show you where you stand!

If I recall what I ate If I recall what I ate the day before, (a piece of fruit tart, a petite filet, a glass of wine, and so forth), a 2-lb. weight gain is put into perspective very quickly. The weekends are typically more challenging for me, as is the pre-menstral time when I can feel myself eating more and grazing a bit.

For me, weigh-ins have become a way of life. They keep me on track.