Now I have to confess, the person on the scale above has never really been me. Sure, I'd like to not gain weight, but my weight has never really affected my happiness one way or another.
However, I have a habit of weighing myself in the morning before I get in the shower. I don't have to do it. I never do it when I am away, most weekends I don't because I've usually already worked out and eaten breakfast by the time I shower etc. However, I just do it, it's a habit of sorts. The reason why I continue to do it is because it keeps me on track. The times in my life when I have gained the most weight are times when I was pretty much oblivious to the number on the scale either because I didn't own one or because in Australia converting kilograms to pounds was a massive pain in the butt! Weighing myself so consistently means that if I gain 2-3 pounds I know I should probably be a little more careful for a few days etc. Basically, I catch any slip ups before they become really big.
I have read all those articles about not weighing yourself so often, but for me it is always worked.
Except now. I've noticed I've fallen into this little pattern. On a daily basis I have been sort of changing what I eat based on what the scale said that morning. Did I lose a pound? Good, then I can have more ice cream tonight. Did I gain a pound? No ice cream Kelly! You can imagine this is really not productive or helpful. The scale is still not determining my happiness that day (though this ENDLESS rain really is, grr!), but it is determining how healthy I am.
I am not saying I shouldn't be able to have ice cream some nights, or go out to dinner. I just think it should be determined by my other healthy choices rather than what my scale said that morning. Right?
So my plan for the next couple of weeks is to put the scale away in a closet and not check it for the rest of March. I'll let you know how it goes!
What is your relationship with the scale? Do you weigh yourself? How often? Do you find the number affects your mood, or the choices you make that day?
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When I was cheering, we would have sporadic weigh-ins. So back then I really struggled with the scale. The number really affected me.
ReplyDeleteNow I weigh myself to make sure I'm maintaining. But the stress level is MUCH lower than it was before. And I don't change my life based on the #s I see.
I weigh myself once a week about just to make sure I'm on track. But I don't stress about it too much!
ReplyDeleteThe scale has been an unhealrthy habit for me in the past, but now I just step on once or twice a week and it seems to work.
ReplyDeleteGood luck resisting the temptation to check!!!
I go through phases with the scale. It sits in the bathroom so I always see it - I just choose whether or not to get on it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I weigh myself every week - sometimes every day. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I got on the scale. I probably should just for a reality check but to be honest, my clothes still fit and that's all I need to know.
I have to admit, the scale was starting to become part of my morning routine and I didn't like how it usually set off my day. Thus, I gave it up for Lent and haven't regretted it at all. Sure, I am curious as to where I am at, if I have had any changes in either direction, but I am teaching myself to listen to my body, not pay attention to a number on a scale.
ReplyDeleteI aim for once a week, but sometimes I check in a little early if I think I'm not on track. My mother is known for weighing herself daily. She says it keeps her on track, and maybe it does, but it can also make or break her day and I don't think that's a good thing. I guess you need to do what's right for you, but I find going by how my clothes fit is a better indicator than the number on the scale.
ReplyDeleteIt varies. Sometimes I weigh myself every day and other times I don't for a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteI weigh myself when I'm feeling extra "thin" - I guess to give myself a little ego boost for the day. I stay away if I'm having a fat day. I typically go by how my clothes fit, as opposed to what the scale says.
ReplyDeleteI think you really stated what I think too.. I weigh daily to feel on track, but i should probably stop because it just somedays makes me feel bad for no reason
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand the scale, I swear my weight fluctuates like 10 pounds within hours, days, whatever. haha.
ReplyDeleteI used to never weigh myself, now I weigh myself once a week ish.
Good luck, I hope it works for you!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same as you: it's not a necessity, more of a habit. And it keeps me in check! When I stop weighing myself it's because I know I haven't been eating as well. I don't think I'll ever be able to be one of those people who can tell if she's at the same weight just by how clothes fit though!
Well, since I'm currently trying to lose weight, I have weekly weigh-ins. I get weighed every Sunday morning and don't step on the scale throughout the week. My mom has this problem where she has to weigh herself every day and gets so upset by the number.
ReplyDeleteI don't ever feel the need to step on the scale otherwise.
I think its really great that you recognized that the scale has been something negative for a little bit. I think many people would just brush pass it and keep on with the newly formed bad habit.
ReplyDeleteI tend to weigh myself about once every two weeks. I'm the same way that you have been recently, and let the scale dictate my day in terms of what I eat/dont eat so I really try to avoid it.
I'm super lazy so I NEVER weigh myself unless I go to the doctors or something, but I think its probably best to check in once a week or something. Scales always range in how right they are, as well as your weight usually fluctuates, so its dumb to put an exact number on exactly WHAT you weigh everyday. Just try to fit your clothes :)
ReplyDeleteI weight myself about once a month. I don't have a scale at my apartment, but my parents have one at their house. Sometimes when I visit, I'll hop on. I will say, when I look at the number, if it's "in range" I have a "phew, all that chocolate didn't stick" moment.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if my weight seems high, I kind of write it off as I must be bloated or wearing too many clothes.
i weigh daily to try and monitor myself. its kind of obsessive but ive been better when i weigh. when i dont, my weight spirals out of control. i know i could take control another way, but when i actually see that number its like an affirmation that maybe im doing something right or something wrong.
ReplyDeleteI actually went to weigh myself today - or maybe it was yesterday - anyways I thought, "oh I should weigh myself and make sure I'm staying on track" or something to that effect and then I thought "NO, I will not let a stupid number determine my happiness!"
ReplyDeleteI'll continue to weigh myself every few weeks to keep myself somewhat on track, but I won't ever let myself become obsessed with something as silly as a NUMBER!!
Oh boy, I weigh myself a lot--everyday. I have read those same articles, yet I feel like I want to check in, but I know it's not super great because it does affect my mood. I agree that when I see a decent number, I feel like I am more entitled to eat something a little naughty which is not a great habit. I have always had issues with eating and weight, so I feel like I should probably change my weigh in habits. I am just afraid it will get away from me. I know I am at a very healthy weight, but I am always striving to be healthier and get more fit which would probably result in losing a few pounds.
ReplyDeleteI weigh myself too, mostly out of habit. But you're right....I can think of time when I turn down or accept a treat because of the number. That's not good. Right now I will continue to weigh myself regularly to keep track of pregnancy weight.
ReplyDeleteI've never actually owned a scale and just weigh myself every once in a while at the gym, doctor, etc - I go more by how my clothes fit and how I'm feeling...
ReplyDeleteI think many women, subconsciously are effected by the scale more than they think. Just like you said, I used to get on the scale and think it didn't effect what I did during the day, but I know it did. I would think more carefully about what I put in my mouth on days that the scale said I had "Gained" a pound. Because of that, and my past with ED, I no longer weigh myself on a consistent basis. I really only do it to make sure I'm not losing weight. I maybe do it once a month. It's so much better, for me, that way.
ReplyDeleteI think we can easily get attached to the scale for judging our health because it's the only thing that gives us a number/value/black-and-white answer! And I have definitely been guilty of it in the past.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when I started weight training about a year ago -- I started realize that the scale was crap. Since the better shape I was in, the more I weighed. So now I got for more of the "feel-good" test. I do step on it every once in awhile (monthly?), just to see where I am.
I weigh myself all the time (like 4 times a day sometimes, lol) but I don't take the number to heart. For one thing, I'm pretty sure our scale is broken, since the number changes sometimes pretty drastically if I step on, then off, then back on again - and for another, I'm pregnant, and I'm supposed to be gaining weight - so the scale definitely doesn't control my happiness! I've never been able to gain weight before this, so I'm loving it :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is something that is personal to a lot of people and there really isn't a right or a wrong answer. For me, I weigh once a week usually just to check in and see. Truthfully, I weigh to make sure I am NOT losing weight. You see how much I run...I weigh to make sure I stay in a healthy range.
ReplyDeleteI weigh myself once a week at the most. I don't own a scale so I weigh myself at the gym. I use it as a gauge for how i am doing, but I know it doesn't tell the whole story. When I do weigh myself, it's at the end of the dya, so it doesn't really affect my behavior!
ReplyDeletei tend to only weigh myself if i happen to be in a bathroom with a scale. i tend to trust my pants over the scale mostly b/c when i'm in shape, and my pants fit well or even loosly, i weigh more. when i'm not in shape and slacking off, the numbers on the scale drop and my pants get snugger.
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