Say NO to the scale!

NicoleS9

nurseinthenorth wrote: »

I am overweight, and I know it. I started back to MFP almost 5 weeks ago. I haven't weighed myself in quite a number of days. When I get on the scale, more often than not I feel discouraged. I've made a decision to not let that number define me. Maybe there are others who want to follow this path as well. Document accomplishments, document the positives, the other milestones and goals that have nothing to do with that blasted number on the scale. Truth is, balanced, reasonable diet and calorie intake and regular exercise will do nothing but improve overall fitness and improve quality of life. The number on the scale will go down eventually and incidentally. So... Today I'm celebrating that I had a terrific workout! I've had a healthy breakfast, and after more than 4 weeks of working out I do believe I can see some defined abs starting to become visible. I feel fantastic and strong and I sleep great with no aches and pains when I get up in the morning! i hope others will find inspiration and motivation with this group!

If you do better not using a scale, then go for it! I have friends who don't own one because of the negative connotation.
We all know if our clothes fit or not.
Me though, I do like my scale. I constant to be caught off guard at the doctor's office!

azulvioleta6

jkoch6599 wrote: »

Strongly disagree. The scale is an objective measure of progress. It's too easy to fool yourself with the rest.

Yep.

Of course it does not DEFINE you, but it does provide good concrete data that you can use. I would argue that you NEED this data in order to see which approaches (with food and with exercise) are actually working for you. I would never have figured out how sensitive I am to carbs if I had not been tracking as well as weighing every day.

Gillian00louise

I haven't weighed myself for 6 weeks and feel great.
In the past I would weigh myself and if I lost weight I'd treat myself to a binge if I didn't lose weight I'd binge so no weighing is better for me.

nurseinthenorth

Gillian00louise wrote: »

I haven't weighed myself for 6 weeks and feel great.
In the past I would weigh myself and if I lost weight I'd treat myself to a binge if I didn't lose weight I'd binge so no weighing is better for me.

I'm the same.

squigglylot

Years ago, we were doing a weight-loss challenge in our group at the office ... and I learned to calculate my actual loss without the scale. When we would weigh in on the scale, my calculation was within a pound of what the scale said (usually).

While there is something to the nutrient makeup of food, the simpler the formula the better ... and I've found that calories in minus calories out allows for a good measure of weight loss without the scale.

Calories in is obviously the food you eat. Calories out includes both your exercise and the number of calories your body burns naturally just to subsist (your "base metabolic rate" x your weight). I used to use a general BMR formula of 12 calories per pound per day; women would use 11 calories per pound. There are BMR calculators and formulas that will help tailor the number specifically to your body.

3500 calories equals a pound, so adding up your calories-in minus calories-out and dividing by 3500 will give you your loss (or gain). (CI - CO)/3500 = loss(gain)

This method has always seemed to be more objective than the scale, since food composition/combination and water can significantly affect the #'s on the scale.

obscuremusicreference

I think people just starting out should weigh themselves every day, multiple times a day, so that they get used to their fluctuations and don't freak out when they don't lose or put on four pounds overnight.

I'm doing everything right and I've been stuck at this weight for almost two weeks. But the jeans I bought snug last month are now loose. So I just shrug it off when the scale doesn't validate my behavior.

margieshoe

I think it's important to weigh yourself everyday and log it. The more data you have, the better you will get to know your body and how your weight fluctuates. It's important to look at trends over 1 week and over a month and ask yourself ....Are you heading in the right direction? Are you meeting your goals? and if not...why?
Are your goals unrealistic?
Are you tracking honestly or cutting corners?
The scale and the data trends are great tools if used correctly.

aarar

I've been maintaining my 100lbs loss since September 2013 (so nearly a year and a half) and although I had stopped weighing in daily, I was still using the scale at least once every week or two. I stopped weighing myself completely in early October and as of the beginning of January I had gained a little over 10lbs (or I guess if you count the water weight I lost from my race in October I actually gained a total 17lbs). I'm now working to get back down to where I was maintaining and have about 5lbs to go. If I had been more aware, this wouldn't have happened in the first place.

I definitely don't agree with a general "say no to the scale". I don't let those numbers scare me or define me or determine whether I'm successful or not. In the end it's just a very useful tool to ensure that I'm staying on track with my goals.

papayahed

I'm totally with younurseinthenorth! I don't look at the scale either. I used to look at the scale and make projections based on loses and when I didn't live up to the projections I'd get discouraged. What I do know is that I just moved another notch in my belt, I can climb a ladder without getting winded, and my sugars have been awesome. The main goal isn't weight loss, my main goal is to continue to eat healthy and work out regularly (4xweek) if I do that everything else should fall into place.

AmigaMaria001

jkoch6599 wrote: »

Strongly disagree. The scale is an objective measure of progress. It's too easy to fool yourself with the rest.

^ THIS ^
I weigh myself every day to keep track of where I'm at. I don't guess because It's too easy to fool myself into think "All is Well!"

999tigger

Whatever floats your boat OP. If you cnat handle the scale then dont use it and hope your other ways of measuring give you enough of what you want.

Im with the people who says it gives them objective data and I look carefully how I deal with such information. I use all the other pefromance measures for health and fitness, but I find the scale a very useful motivator and encouragement on how far I have progressed and a warning radar in case the trend starts going in the wrong direction.

If I lose weight and that corresponds with efforts I have put in then I find that rewarding.
If I gain weight, then I analyse and work hard to keep doing the right things.

Not knowing would drive me nuts and would impair my ability to plan and progress. Throwing away the scale just makes the diet more clumsy imo.

nurseinthenorth

I don't know when I'll weigh in. Maybe in a few weeks. I do track faithfully and honestly as possible. Even if I have a rare day that I eat beyond my calorie allowance. I still log it in. So not weighing in does not mean not logging in or not tracking. For me tracking is the most important part.

ibamosaserreinas

OP thanks for your post. I have recently come to similar conclusions and we agree on many points. I will still weigh in weekly because I want the data but am focusing on other things too.

ilovemypeekapug

I had my husband hide the scales last night because my mood would depend on what it said. I've read all the posts about the reasons for weight fluctuations and that weight loss is not linear, etc. but for ME, the scale was discouraging me from continuing on. I am going to keep eating at a deficit and exercising and check my weight in 2 weeks.