Lighten Up about Weighing In
By: Beth Donovan,
SparkPeople Blogger
12/2/2011 10:00 AM
: 72 comments
: 9,257 Views
When I was younger, I would jump on the scale a good 20-30 times a day. I was obsessed. It was like my life’s judge. If the scale tipped upward at anytime, I must be a bad person and a failure. If it dipped downward, I was walking on air! Have you ever played this game, or is it just me?
IF I’m lower on the scale, I’ll be good, bit if I gained even an ounce, I’m eating this _____ and lying around in sweats all day.
That is sure giving a scale a lot of power, almost like a god, which it is not. It is not a judge, jury, nor executioner either. A scale is a tool for seeing only one tiny aspect of a very complex journey.
Weight loss is not just about losing weight. That sounds crazy, right? It’s true though. It wasn’t until I realized that it is the complex journey of self, that I was set free from the scale. I had other measures of success--like walking a 5K with my walker after a ton of training to get there. Measurements, clothes fitting better, getting in and out of restaurant booths easier, wearing a seatbelt--these are all signs of weight loss that the scale may not show. I also measure my success by happiness and willingness to give to others. When I’m closing off, I know I’m in need and therefore, more likely to overeat.
Giving the scale too much power is a mistake. A good goal is to measure your progress in more than one way. Awhile back, I bought a shirt I loved that was two sizes smaller than me at Goodwill. Not a pricey investment at all. Now I almost fit into it. I measure how much more I can do. It feels like doors are opening up to new worlds every time I have a new fitness achievement. I was NEVER the sporty/ exercise type. I found that having friends to workout with helps me, as do workout clothes I like and a hot playlist.
If ANYTHING in your life is better for your weight loss journey and efforts, don’t hand the key to your happiness over to the scale. Weigh as you see fit. I had to go to once a month weigh-ins for a while to gain that focus. Once you have mastered the monthly weighing and put the scale in its place, you may be ready to set your own schedule.
There is no rule for weighing. There is only the journey.
How often do you weigh in and why?
IF I’m lower on the scale, I’ll be good, bit if I gained even an ounce, I’m eating this _____ and lying around in sweats all day.
That is sure giving a scale a lot of power, almost like a god, which it is not. It is not a judge, jury, nor executioner either. A scale is a tool for seeing only one tiny aspect of a very complex journey.
Weight loss is not just about losing weight. That sounds crazy, right? It’s true though. It wasn’t until I realized that it is the complex journey of self, that I was set free from the scale. I had other measures of success--like walking a 5K with my walker after a ton of training to get there. Measurements, clothes fitting better, getting in and out of restaurant booths easier, wearing a seatbelt--these are all signs of weight loss that the scale may not show. I also measure my success by happiness and willingness to give to others. When I’m closing off, I know I’m in need and therefore, more likely to overeat.
Giving the scale too much power is a mistake. A good goal is to measure your progress in more than one way. Awhile back, I bought a shirt I loved that was two sizes smaller than me at Goodwill. Not a pricey investment at all. Now I almost fit into it. I measure how much more I can do. It feels like doors are opening up to new worlds every time I have a new fitness achievement. I was NEVER the sporty/ exercise type. I found that having friends to workout with helps me, as do workout clothes I like and a hot playlist.
If ANYTHING in your life is better for your weight loss journey and efforts, don’t hand the key to your happiness over to the scale. Weigh as you see fit. I had to go to once a month weigh-ins for a while to gain that focus. Once you have mastered the monthly weighing and put the scale in its place, you may be ready to set your own schedule.
There is no rule for weighing. There is only the journey.
How often do you weigh in and why?
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Comments
Love it - what a wise and perceptive person you are. Have set the above as a screensaver for a while.
I was indeed getting far too obsessive about the scales. Thanks for the reminder - and for a great blog
- 12/7/2011 2:30:01 AM
I found when I only got on the scale once a week-it (the scale) seemed to rule my emotions. If I was up on weight, I was down on myself. - 12/5/2011 11:47:34 AM
It might seem counter-intuitive, but It's been much more helpful for me to do it daily because I get a little bit of movement regularly, instead of one big pressured number. It lets me see the patterns in my weight loss...few pounds big loss, then steady, then up a little, then repreat. And it motivates me to keep my food choices in check when I see the scale nudge up a little.
I know it really works for some people, but for me I'm so glad that I took the pressure off of myself by stopping weekly weigh-ins. - 12/5/2011 9:36:21 AM
- 12/4/2011 9:31:08 PM
It's really great to have MANY ways to monitor our progress! I love your thrift-store shirt--I have a few clothes like that too.
Way to go! - 12/3/2011 9:06:42 PM
so for some, it can be a ncessity. NOT the whole picture at all, but one tool to use to maintain or keep tabs on your progresss.
btw - i do weigh myself everyday and record my weight 2x a week. - 12/3/2011 7:24:01 PM
I too have experienced the feelings you expressed about "IF I’m lower on the scale, I’ll be good, bit if I gained even an ounce, I’m eating this _____ and lying around in sweats all day."
I am working on changing that all or nothing mentality, realizing that sometimes, it just means I have to try harder, or change my exercise routines, or stay away from processed foods.
I think, as long as one can realize that the scale should not dictate how you feel about yourself when that number pops up (easier said than done) that the frequency with which one weighs oneself is up to the individual. - 12/3/2011 6:32:20 PM
I think it's almost an OCD thing - if I'm in bed at night and haven't weighed in, I can't stop thinking about it. The first thing I think about in the morning is getting on the scale. I try not to let it set my mood, but I know when I don't see things I like, my negative self-talk kicks in big time. I should probably see a therapist, but it's a hang-up I'm not ready to give up yet (much like a smoker who knows it's bad isn't ready to quit). - 12/3/2011 10:53:25 AM
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