I have decided not to weigh myself until the end of the year. I am sick of defining myself by the number on the scale. I tend to let what I weigh change how I feel about myself. If I weigh 108 kilos then I don't want to go out with friends and I even feel less confident at work. I start to change my behaviour the day before I weigh myself by avoiding eating out and eating a light dinner. I normally drink a lot of water during the night and I won't let myself do this if I am going to weigh myself the next day.
The turning point was when a friend sent me a hysterical email because she had weighed herself that morning and gained 200 grams. She had started exercising twice a day and cut her calories right back to try and lose weight. She only has 5 kilos to lose and her body fat percentage had gone down and she had lost centimetres from her waist, thighs and stomach. So it was obvious that she had lost weight and probably gained muscle yet she was crying and upset because the scales had said she had gained weight. I really felt for her because we have all been in that place, but it took seeing it happen to someone else to realise how crazy it is.
There are so many factors that can influence the numbers on the scale and make them inaccurate so it is ridiculous for me to place so much importance on them. I want to get fit, lose weight and eat some delicious foods while doing it and I don't need the scales to help me with any of that.
Well said Tully! I'm not sure that I could not weigh myself for so long though...........
ReplyDeleteGood decision :-) I can't remember the last time I weighed myself, I honestly have no idea how much I weigh now! I *can*, however, can tell you how far I can swim, how far I can run, and how many kilos I can bench press.
ReplyDeleteThe scales are a simple representation of a complex object. There are much more beneficial ways to assess your progress and hopefully by breaking away from the scales till the end of the year, you'll be able to find the method that suits you best. *HUGZ*
Good for you! The best weight loss I ever had, I didn't weigh for like 5 or 6 months and I had lost 80 pounds! After getting on scale I reacted by binging. :-P
ReplyDeleteI hate the scales. they never give me what I want to c. I tend to fluctuate within a few kilos and its very annoying. How I feel about myself also influences what I eat. I try to cut out most carbs and count calories when I feel I have gained weight.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do agree that there are better ways of measuring your progress, as I tend to rely mostly on how my skinny jeans and other clothes fit.
I have felt very passionate about not weighing and have gone the other way and weighed myself twice daily just to see the effects some foods have on my body.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have to say is do what you feel is right in your heart.
Marshmallow summed it up superbly. If you have other measures in place, you won't be tempted to climb back on the scales.
Some measurements are;
- sit and reach test
- lunges
- sit ups
- distance walked in 10 minutes
- running tests
- flexibility tests
- centimetres lost
- Body fat caliper tests
There is so many other ways to measure your health successes. Thanks for reminding me to do the same.
:)
I have felt very passionate about not weighing and have gone the other way and weighed myself twice daily just to see the effects some foods have on my body.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have to say is do what you feel is right in your heart.
Marshmallow summed it up superbly. If you have other measures in place, you won't be tempted to climb back on the scales.
Some measurements are;
- sit and reach test
- lunges
- sit ups
- distance walked in 10 minutes
- running tests
- flexibility tests
- centimetres lost
- Body fat caliper tests
There is so many other ways to measure your health successes. Thanks for reminding me to do the same.
:)
I weigh myself twice a week. At the gym on sunday, and the machine spews out this whole list of numbers. And at weigh in on wednesday.
ReplyDeleteWe have been conditioned to take the nu,bers on a scale as holy information, determining if we should feel good or bad about ourselves.
And this is where common sense or emotionalism kicks in. Three weeks ago, I gained nearly 4lbs, despite the fact that I was doing the right thing food wise and excercise wise. I had actually just started excercising (4x a week) 5 weeks beore that. I cannot tell you how angry and frustrated I was. I made me feel bad for near a week! This of cpurse is all emotion and just "feeling".
Practically I knew it was muscle build up, slight case of constipation, monthly rigmaroll, waering different clothes. You name it and it was a factor.
BUT it did not matter, the scales showed me I was UP, F&%K! Today I am almost sure I will not have lost weight, and I even suspect a gain. Why do I feel like I can deal with it now?
Heck if I know! Perhaps because the last two weeks have proven all will balance out and as long as I keep to my diet and my excercise it will show itself in the end.........ON THE SCALE.
Well, to each her/his own. I hoep you can keep off the scales.
Willow
It seems that the scale becomes our enemy when it's not going our way, but our best friend when the numbers are dropping.
ReplyDeleteYou do need to have some measures in place. I weigh myself twice per day and can note a 2.5 kilo difference in one day alone. Yes the numbers can be discouraging sometimes, but all the more motivating when they're going down. I'm confident that you will find something that works for you, scale or not.
Hi Tully
ReplyDeleteYou are just fabulous and I love your blog. Do you mind if i read? Please say yes.....
Sarah ( friend of Begsy's bride)
ps: my blog is private but i can invite you if you like. Email me at nyngansarah@hotmail.com if you like