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    VALKYRIA-   33,404
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Stepping Away from the Scale for a While

Thursday, July 19, 2012

I have been doing much better recently with staying in calorie range and working out... unfortunately, my efforts are not showing on the scale yet.

This past week and a half, I have consistently gained weight while losing inches. I know the myriad of reasons why this could be happening; I am not really asking to be educated or comforted on the subject... I know I can push through it. My main issue is: I do not like how negatively that number affects my mood and my day, especially when I KNOW I am improving my health. Apparently, I have not been able to distance myself 100% from that number.. and really, if it affects me negatively, why should I put myself through that?

Thus, I think I need to put it away for a while and focus on my health and my shrinking jeans size. So, starting now, I am just going to do my best each day to be healthy, and measure my progress with inches, energy level, fitness benchmarks, and general well-being.

My next weigh-in dates will be:
Aug 3rd (the day before visiting family,
Aug 26th (for the end of the BLC.. my goal is 349 by this date)

As for the weekly weigh-ins for the BLC, I will still do them.. I will just be posting the same number each week until my designated weigh-in day.

Byebye scale + frustrations emoticon, hello tape measure + liberation emoticon
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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DATMAMA4 7/20/2012 2:31PM

    When I joined SP at the beginning of 2012, I decided I would only weigh myself once a week so I wouldn't have "that" number make or break my day. In the past, if I weighed less, I tended to overeat that day, and if I weighed more, I felt guilty.

Now I look forward to Thursdays (my weigh-in day) and even if I've gained or stayed the same, I try really hard to stay focused on what I've done for the week to be healthy. If I've done my cardio and strength training and ate reasonably, then I shrug off any plateau, knowing I've done the right things. If I've lost weight, I figure it's the good habits catching up with me.

I was never like this before -- I would weigh myself multiple times a day and was always discouraged, no matter what. Now I'm being more reasonable about what the scale can and can't tell me with a number. Seeing a friend's teenage son classified as "obese" on Wii Fit helped my "scale number" perception -- he is about 5'8", very slim & trim, muscular due to working on their dairy farm, and as far from obese as anyone could be...but the Wii didn't consider anything but how much he weighed, regardless that it was all muscle.

Good for you that you're no longer going to be a slave to the scale! The fit of your clothing can tell you more about the result of your efforts, anyway.

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EVER-HOPEFUL 7/20/2012 12:19PM

    think that is a good idea loveyou can do that and you canīt beat those NSV anyway. emoticon emoticon emoticon emoticon emoticon

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THALIA_RAYNNE 7/20/2012 10:36AM

    I too know the feeling when you see the number either go up or not change...I probably wont step on the scale for a few days...

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ANGELIQUE271 7/20/2012 12:45AM

    I've been considering this myself since I have been having so many problems breathing! You do what you need to - the results will come. The scale has no choice but to acknowledge our hard work eventually!

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BOOKWORM27S 7/20/2012 12:42AM

    I know exactly what you mean! I'm trying to weigh-in once a week now.

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DUMBBELLE84 7/20/2012 12:20AM

    Sounds like a good plan! Good luck with your goal for BLC - emoticon

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HABROWN 7/19/2012 10:31PM

    I love that you are putting that scale in it place. You are right that you shouldn't have to deal with the negativity that come with the number. So many of us have the problem so emoticon on taking that out of you life for a bit. I wish you luck and know that you will continue and that those pounds will drop off...they gotta!
emoticon emoticon emoticon

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DEBBIEDAY 7/19/2012 9:15PM

    I haven't gotten totally away from the scale but have stopped stepping on it daily ( or several times a day!) Concentrating on healthy lifestyle choces and knowing I am on track food wise and making progress with exercise.

So true...we should not be ruled by a TOOL for evaluating just one aspect of a healthy lifestyle!!!!

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MONPETITCHOU 7/19/2012 9:12PM

  Oh my gosh, I've been having the exact same problem and then when I see my weight go up it totally derails me emotionally and sometimes backtracks me into an unhealthy habit. This is what happened at the last weigh-in with my maintain weight. I worked so hard and I was so upset not to even see .1 pound loss (I too know all the reasons this happens) but ended up messing up bad this week from frustration!
I love that you are going to focus on your health and reduce your weight checks. I think this is a smart move, it may be something I need to try as well.

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KIPPER15 7/19/2012 8:51PM

    This is what keeps me going. I don't weigh more than once every two to three weeks. My clothes and energy level tells me more about how I'm doing. emoticon emoticon

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EUEK098 7/19/2012 7:05PM

    In the same pool myself, just do what you feel comfortable with, and continue being your hard working self and you'll be amazed when you weigh in.

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SONIA260 7/19/2012 5:27PM

    love the attitude, and I think you're wise to still hold some sort of accountability with the sporadic weigh in dates

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MADAME-NOT-MISS 7/19/2012 4:50PM

    Kick it to the curb for now. emoticon

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TSINCLAIR1965 7/19/2012 4:33PM

    I agree! I've gone from weighing weekly to monthly. It's less frustrating. Thanks for shring your story!

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ANGRITTER 7/19/2012 4:15PM

    I have the same issue occasionally, so I break out the measuring tape instead and try to avoid the scale until I have a team weigh in or something. I get so depressed when I gain a pound that I've found it counterproductive. So I leave it in the corner of the dining room until I am ready to speak to it.

Kind of like putting my scale on a time-out (in the corner, facing the corner!). Makes me feel like I am the boss of my scale instead of the other way around.

Keep moving forward!

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STLADEE 7/19/2012 3:51PM

    Hey all you can do is try and see what works for you!

so throw that emoticon emoticon ! Well not really! emoticon

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CHANGING-VICKI 7/19/2012 2:38PM

  Hope it works out for you. I tried it and ended up gaining weight. So I'm back using the scale. Keeps me more focused. emoticon

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ERLYWA 7/19/2012 2:23PM

    Really smart move, to recognize when the scale is harming, not helping, you and your mood. I love looking for non-scale related signs of progress! It becomes sort of like an easter egg hunt :)

Keep up the great work, and congrats on those jeans!!

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ZIGGY7611 7/19/2012 2:12PM

    I had a similar problem a while back. I felt like the numbers on the scale were overwhelming my good efforts/results. I was becoming obsessed with the stupid thing. Once I took a scale vacation, I was much happier. I continued with my journey and didn't let the numbers dictate my mood. Hope your scale vacation works as well for you! emoticon

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_POISON_IVY_ 7/19/2012 1:56PM

    What a fabulous outlook! I'm definitely going to need to try this. And think about how happy you'll be next time you weigh in and see a bigger drop in numbers. This way of thinking will definitely turn it into a lifestyle change rather than just a diet for you as well. Way to go emoticon

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NEWLEAF16 7/19/2012 1:28PM

    Thanks for sharing your insights, they came at the perfect time-I was getting so frustrated because the number on the scale has not been moving but this is a great reminder of the reasons why I should not just say 'forget it'. Thank you-- and keep the good momentum going!

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MIRAGE727 7/19/2012 12:56PM

    I found that whatever works for you is important. I will also add that I evaluate exactly what I've done daily/weekly to see if I slipped in any way, whether it's exercise or the wrong food. That's why I feel my logging is vital to my success! Stay strong!
emoticon

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ADAMM9 7/19/2012 12:49PM

    Absolutely! The scale isn't the only indicator. :)

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EMMYLOU010409 7/19/2012 12:28PM

    Once again, I really admire how you listen to yourself. Stepping away is difficult because we feel like we need that number to validate what we're doing. I really like that instead you're watching your body and how you feel. You're doing so well, you're such an inspiration! Thank you!

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GRETA242 7/19/2012 12:19PM

    Even so...here's to all the positive changes you are making!! :)

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HOLLYS_NEW_LIFE 7/19/2012 12:13PM

    We all need to break up with the scale once in a while. If it's affecting you this way, it's for the best. It's awesome that you recognize it too.

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TANYA210 7/19/2012 11:55AM

    I need to follow your lead on stepping awy from the scale. I have found that it affects my attitude way too much. I know it will be hard because it is such a habit. But it just takes a little refocus. Keep up your good work.

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LRK4CHRIST 7/19/2012 11:38AM

    YES! I found out when I stepped away from the scale I started living. No longer was it about the scale. It became about how I feel. I now don't do my weigh-ins till two weeks. I've gone as long as 1 month of not touching the scale. LOL! U can do it. Just continue to eat healthy and do your workouts. It's better to live the lifestyle and not go by the scale. The lifestyle will cause you to have good measurements and scale tracking. Keep us posted!

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