Terrified

Hollisamara

Hi, never posted here before but have been using MFP since January. Just wanted to get something off my chest... I am terrified of stepping on the scales every week I have always had issues with my weight and used to weigh myself everyday, get stressed over tiny fluctuations and obsess over it. I stopped weighing myself and relaxed a little when I had my third child nearly 4 years ago. My weight has fluctuated and I've never been truly happy with how my body looks. I have always exercised but after christmas decided to start monitoring my calorie intake. I have noticed subtle changes to my body. I decided to weigh myself two weeks ago and was shocked at how much weight I've actually gained, makes me wonder how much bigger I was straight after Christmas?! Anyway, last week I had lost 5lb, I was shocked as didn't expect to lose such an amount in 7 days. This week has been bad, it's been that time of the month so I've been dipping into sugary snacks and not made very healthy choices. I'm convinced I'll have gained weight and am terrified. I actually feel anxious about stepping on the scales on Monday morning. I feel like it's taking over my life and controlling my moods. Does anyone else feel the same as me?

stephenrhinton

I've experienced some of the same. I wouldn't say I'm terrified of the scale, but I certainly was anxious about the first weigh-on post MFP. And now I keep anticipating the dreaded 'plateau'. I started MFP in late January as the result of a diabetes diagnosis. While I started making some progress I also felt a little guilty about being 'self-obsessed' because was spending so much time thinking about me diet, my condition, logging everything I even thought about eating, obsessively looking up my favorite foods in the database, etc. I intellectually know I have a legit need to be more food and health aware. But I still do feel an occasional twinge of guilt.

My_Butt

I've had an eating disorder since I was 10, and 17 years later, I have retained the habit of stepping on my scale everytime I enter the bathroom. So I weigh myself give times everyday, knowing I will gain from clothes and food. So I started with a weekly goal of not stepping on the scale at all the week. Tomorrow I am allowed since I record Sunday weighs.

If the scale is still scary right now, continue eating healthy and exercising, and ignore the scale. Especially during the monthly visit, women will retain water and can gain up to 5lbs.

999tigger

There are 2 strategies.

1. You weigh often and chart it so you cna see the fluctuations and it just becomes so often, then you know its no hoing to be a shock.
2. Leave a sufficient amount of time so the fluctuations rise and fall without you checking. Lost of people weight fortnightly to aboid the stuff inbetween.
3. I prefer option 1 becayse it kind of gives me the reassurance I know where I am. Please remember weight is only one measure, the tape measure and mirror are another.

The longer term solution is to stip being passive and do soemthing about the weight by getting serious about posting consistent deficits, which will mean your weight and weighing can be something you look forward to as you see the scale reading fall.

spzjlb

I understand. I'm not so afraid now that I log all my food and exercise on MFP, because if I stay within my range, I don't usually gain. BUT - I also have a pair of jeans that are my gauge. They were way too tight at the start of my journey and I try them on every week or two. They are getting looser, so that encourages me. They are still not a perfect fit, though.

Maybe body measurements would be less stressful to you.

Hollisamara

Thanks for the replies I have logged everything as accurately as I can this week and am 665 calories over my weekly target- I set my daily calorie target as 1200, some days I am under, some over. So it's averaged out that I've had 1295 calories a day, so technically I should still lose. Think I will start taking body measurements as suggested. Hopefully monday I can get back on track!

Lounmoun

Worst case you may weigh in a little more this time due to going over calories and normal period weight gain but nothing is permanent. Just move foward.
You will not lose weight every time you step on the scale. Sometimes it will go up a little. That is normal.

never2bstopped

Just to give you a visual this is my last two months....
Can you spot when I was on my period?

krysmuree

Just remember that you would have to eat an insane amount of calories to actually gain. A pound is 3,500 calories in and of itself. I can't really reach that even on my really bad days! Even so, the body has a lot of fluctuations. I weigh myself every day and sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm the same, and sometimes, I drop! Dramatically! Don't look at the scale as an enemy. It's only a number. I weigh myself often because a sudden increase tells me I need to drink more water and try to sweat it out. I know my calories aren't out of control and even when they are during my time of the month, I know not to record the weight gained in that week because it ALWAYS drops back off.

A scale is a scale, nothing more, and does not record your value as a person. It's nothing to be afraid of. If you see an increase, eat better, weigh your food, drink plenty of water and exercise. It'll come back down. Tomorrow is always a new day.

macgurlnet

If seeing a number on the scale may not be good for you yet, I would definitely suggest you start measuring! Take measurements every 2-4 weeks, make sure you accurately log your food and you stay around your calorie goal, and the weight will come off! Maybe just pop on the scale at the end of the month to see what's happened.

If you find that sticking to your calories is tough (1200 isn't much to work with!) change your weight loss goal per week so you get a few more calories.

You can do this

~Lyssa

Hollisamara

never2bstopped wrote: »

Just to give you a visual this is my last two months....
Can you spot when I was on my period?

Wow! They are some fluctuations. Has helped me see a lot clearer, Thankyou for sharing x

Leana088

Maybe switch from weighing yourself to meassuring instead, or go by how your clothes feel? That worked for me. I weigh myself once a month. Well, my trainer does. And it doesn't bother me anymore at all.