I hate the scale

ciacyrus29

Some people have no problem hoping on their scales each morning or even once a week. I try to avoid mine like it's the plague. I realize that as we get older it gets more difficult to lose weight. But I think for women it's worse. All these crazy hormones!
I turned 50 this past December. My goal was to lose 1 pound on my new weight loss plan before my 50th birthday. I lost 5! That sounds great but I was scared to death to step on that scale.
I know what I eat. I know there are times when I'm stressed and that bag of gummy bears are calling my name. I've gotten to the place that if I do buy candy - I eat some at home and take the rest into work for everyone else to eat.
Some people say you should only weigh once a month. I think I could get behind that. But is that realistic and then do you start dividing 4 or 5 into the amount of weight you lost? What happens when you maintained - does that mean you have plateaued and are stuck on the precipice?
If society stopped making the scale so important, I'd probably stop fearing it so much. I never feared it when I was growing up or even in my 20's. Since I hit my 40's I've been scared to death of it. I fear I will never get down to the weight I want to be.
I know logging what I eat on MFP and trying to eat as clean as possible while exercising will all help. But motivation when I get home is so sparse. I don't have a buddy to exercise with. I can't afford a coach. My best friend is my dog and all he wants to do when I take him out is smell any and everything! We can't get 10 steps before he's stopped and smelling or something else.
Why do I or anyone else hate the scale?
I mean am I alone in this? And for all of you who want to say oh, just suck it up and deal - please. I'm not in the mood.
I've had a love hate relationship with the scale as I've said since I turned 40. My yo-yo diet and stress levels have hit some all new heights. So when I have to live my life based on constant numbers - it is just one more thing that dictates how much I can be happy.
I don't want to hate the scale. But I do want to be comfortable in my skin. I'm just saying.

bulk_n_cut

was there a point you were trying to make, or just rambling?

malibu927

Don't just follow what the scale says. Take body measurements every so often. Take before/after pictures. Pay attention to how your clothes fit. All of these are indicators of your progress.

999tigger

err its just data. Scale has been my most useful tool, would you like to ban all scales? kitchen and bathroom?
Its not society that gives it power its you.

You need a rethink in your mindset, if you want to lose the weight then learn how to do it plus learn how to motivate yourself to just moderate your eating. Losing weight can be quite liberating as can getting fitter and healthier.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

runmama411

So don't get on the scale. Use measurements or other indicators like how your clothes fit or physical things you couldn't do-but now can, etc. The scale only measures the pull of gravity on your frame. If you hate it, toss it. Liberation is lovely!

echmainfit619

Blaming the messenger. Generally speaking, not a worthwhile course of action.

ciacyrus29

tryingtogetbigger2015 wrote: »

was there a point you were trying to make, or just rambling?

Both. I think I stated it - I hate the scale.

ciacyrus29

999tigger wrote: »

err its just data. Scale has been my most useful tool, would you like to ban all scales? kitchen and bathroom?
Its not society that gives it power its you.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

No I don't think we should ban all scales. I think scales have their place. I think for some people it helps them. There are times it motivates me and other times it does.

Part of what you're saying is true - I do give it power but perhaps its the media that I meant instead of society. So I am corrected.

ciacyrus29

Thank you everyone for your posts. I do have to find alternative ways to love who I am and enjoy the process of losing weight. I agree if the scale is not my thing then find other avenues/ways to see the results I seek.

My intention for this thread was simply to voice my fear and hate of the scale - if you didn't pick that up - sorry. But I wanted to get other's feedback on if they felt the same way. Was there other ways to get over this hatred and fear and I got that from so many of you. So thank you.

arditarose

My scale likes to fight with me. I tell it to shut up and then go look at my measurements which are always more pleasing.

Lounmoun

It took months before I stopped gritting my teeth before getting on the scale even though I was losing weight. I was scared to see the result. I feel okay about the scale now even if some weeks I don't lose. I know I have made a lot of progress for me and am better off no matter if the scale does not move. I don't think I would've gotten over it if I had stopped weighing myself.

A scale number is one way to set a goal and measure progress. If you set a scale based goal you will have to check a scale at some point to see if you have made progress. You might choose daily, weekly, monthly or every 3 months but it will still be part of your life. Don't set a scale goal if you don't want to weigh yourself ever.
You could go by a change in body measurements instead or the way your clothes fit or monthly progress photos.
You could choose another health goal to focus on.
You could set a nutrition goal. Maybe you want to log everything every day for a month or reduce/eliminate some food or drink or add more servings of vegetables to your day.
You could set a fitness goal. Maybe you want to increase your miles walked each week or lift heavier things or move faster or just exercise regularly. Maybe you just notice how much easier a workout is, that you have more energy, can bend over to touch your toes.

sofaking6

If losing weight is your only goal, then the scale is going to rule you. I really believe that the only way to take power away from it is to set goals besides simply weight loss. @Lounmoun made a nice list for you.

KaysKidz

I know I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing, when I don't weigh. It's like burying my head in the sand....nevermind how tight the jeans are getting....if I'm not SEEING the number rise, I can pretend it's not. I am weighing daily again, just like logging my food. I have to. It keeps me honest and on track.

dopeysmelly

It's just a tool to measure your progress and provide data. It also happens to provide the closest thing to real-time data for me both while I was losing and now I'm maintaining. It's not perfect, but it takes weeks for poor habits to show up visibly or in tighter clothing whereas the scale will indicate the same in days, allowing me to take corrective action more quickly.

Any trepidation, guilt or fear I might feel before I step on it, are usually because I might feel I've let myself down in some way. In other words, I've been fooling myself that I can stuff my face, drink multiple cocktails and get away with it.

SergeantSausage

ciacyrus29 wrote: »

If society stopped making the scale so important, I'd probably stop fearing it so much.

This is not "society('s)" fault so lets just stop this trainwreck right here.

You have a problem with honesty about your weight - you prefer avoidance and denial. Another poster above said it: Sticking the head in the sand (paraphrased). It helps nothing.

Nothing

The fix starts with not blaming others for your problem(s), right?

Weight loss starts and ends with honesty.

DearestWinter

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Weight loss starts and ends with honesty.

Agreed. Avoiding the scale just allows you to continue with your denial about where you are now.

mskinner1091

KaysKidz wrote: »

I know I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing, when I don't weigh. It's like burying my head in the sand....nevermind how tight the jeans are getting....if I'm not SEEING the number rise, I can pretend it's not. I am weighing daily again, just like logging my food. I have to. It keeps me honest and on track.

ME TOOOOOO!!!

sandryc79

About this dog.... you need to be the boss. If he's stopping too often correct the behavior. Mine did that a lot when we started walking for exercise. Now he keeps up most of the time and a jersey of the leash corrects it when he lags.

dopeysmelly

SergeantSausage wrote: »

ciacyrus29 wrote: »

If society stopped making the scale so important, I'd probably stop fearing it so much.

This is not "society('s)" fault so lets just stop this trainwreck right here.

You have a problem with honesty about your weight - you prefer avoidance and denial. Another poster above said it: Sticking the head in the sand (paraphrased). It helps nothing.

Nothing

The fix starts with not blaming others for your problem(s), right?

Weight loss starts and ends with honesty.

Amen.

Christine_72

I've lost a whole 2lbs in the last 6 weeks. My scale refuses to budge!! However my once skin tight jeans have gotten too loose over this same time period. I'm losing inches hand over fist but the scales haven't quite caught up yet..

Keiko385

Your scale is not the enemy, your fear of it is somewhat out of proportion. It sucks being over 50 and trying to lose weight. I use to be able to drop 10-15 lbs so easily now it takes forever and even more work to keep it off.

Set yourself smaller goals, go for those non scale victories, pants are looser, shirt buttons not popping open, eat healthier etc. If you dont want to weigh in every week dont go 2 or even 3 weeks

Your dog is your best friend and coach, teach him the on-by command the 1st 10-15 minutes of your walks are his to do his business,sniff,strut and squirrel after that if he stops you keep moving he'll get the message. I walk 2 huskies 2-3 miles twice a day we are usually back home in less than an hour. My next milestone is to get it down to under 15 minutes to walk a mile, they can handle it, me not so much lol

ninerbuff

For good reading:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/350212/why-scales-lie/p1

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Christine_72

As for the dog thing, i have a very stubborn bull mastiff cross. She walks slower than a slug and is no fitness help to me at all!! It's a trial to even get her out of the driveway. I walk her off leash everywhere and she tries to keep up, but when i put her on the leash she walks even slower because she knows i cant walk ahead and leave her!

GoPerfectHealth

Hey - you're doing awesome, and it's okay to vent about the scale. I use Trendweight.com, and it helps me see natural fluctuations for what they are! Natural fluctuations! Good luck on your weight loss journey!

debsweetcakes

I have been there where I despised jumping on that thing in the morning.. but a few of the other posters said the same thing I was thinking. You have to face the struggles no matter how bad it may appear to you. Just face it, if you face these issues head it it will be so much better for you to fight it. It will take a while and it is hard work, but your overall health will improve and that number will change. Don't let the number completely control your life but if it affects your health you must face it.

Christine_72

I'll be more inclined to rely on the scale when i go into maintenance. Weighing now, i can take or leave... Sometimes i haven't weighed myself for a month.
But once i get down to goal weight, ill be watching those scales like a hawk!

Sarasmaintaining

ciacyrus29 wrote: »

Some people have no problem hoping on their scales each morning or even once a week. I try to avoid mine like it's the plague. I realize that as we get older it gets more difficult to lose weight. But I think for women it's worse. All these crazy hormones!
I turned 50 this past December. My goal was to lose 1 pound on my new weight loss plan before my 50th birthday. I lost 5! That sounds great but I was scared to death to step on that scale.
I know what I eat. I know there are times when I'm stressed and that bag of gummy bears are calling my name. I've gotten to the place that if I do buy candy - I eat some at home and take the rest into work for everyone else to eat.
Some people say you should only weigh once a month. I think I could get behind that. But is that realistic and then do you start dividing 4 or 5 into the amount of weight you lost? What happens when you maintained - does that mean you have plateaued and are stuck on the precipice?
If society stopped making the scale so important, I'd probably stop fearing it so much. I never feared it when I was growing up or even in my 20's. Since I hit my 40's I've been scared to death of it. I fear I will never get down to the weight I want to be.
I know logging what I eat on MFP and trying to eat as clean as possible while exercising will all help. But motivation when I get home is so sparse. I don't have a buddy to exercise with. I can't afford a coach. My best friend is my dog and all he wants to do when I take him out is smell any and everything! We can't get 10 steps before he's stopped and smelling or something else.
Why do I or anyone else hate the scale?
I mean am I alone in this? And for all of you who want to say oh, just suck it up and deal - please. I'm not in the mood.
I've had a love hate relationship with the scale as I've said since I turned 40. My yo-yo diet and stress levels have hit some all new heights. So when I have to live my life based on constant numbers - it is just one more thing that dictates how much I can be happy.
I don't want to hate the scale. But I do want to be comfortable in my skin. I'm just saying.

One of things I needed to do in order to be successful at this whole thing, was to remove emotion from the scale. I've been a daily weigh-er for 3 years now, and the scale has been a useful tool not only during my weight loss phase, but also now that I'm in maintenance. It's part of my morning routine, like brushing my teeth etc. I feel absolutely nothing when I step on the scale, just like I don't feel any sort of emotion when I brush my teeth. Weight loss and maintenance is mostly a mental game and you have to get your mind in the right place, or you're going to fail at this. The scale is a tool and it has no power over you, unless you give it.

vypressme

You don't hate the scale, you hate what it represents. There's a difference. Because whether you step on the scale or not, you still weigh that.

An obese man or woman would be okay with the scale reading that number, if they could just be healthier, or look good in a certain dress/suit, or be fit enough to play with their children. If you would feel content in your body, would you really care if the scale would say 100, 200 or more?

The scale is a unit of measurement. We want to accomplish something, we track our progress. When progress is missing, we reevaluate. We don't hate on the numbers, we hate their meaning.

You are older now. It becomes increasingly difficult. Not many people to support you,and even your dog is unknowingly sabotaging your goals. It's tough but hey, if it would have been easy, then everyone would be fit, right? The harder it is, the more you need to fight, the bigger the satisfaction when you accomplish it. It's difficult but not impossible.

Or at least that's what some people think...

/end ramble.

Begin point:

No one is forcing you to step on the scale. Isn't it a bit ironical that you hate it, but set your goals in lbs? And a bit ironical that you were happy with your weight loss, in lbs. You can set a different goal, like get a tight pair of jeans and see if you can fit two fingers in, a month from now. Set a goal to see how many new holes you need to poke in your belt. Measure your thigh with a piece of thread once every few weeks. Whatever works.

Camarose79

I don't even own a scale. I figure ill know by how my clothes fit. I do weigh two or three times a week when I go to exercise. The last 3 times it has only been going up. Very discouraging. And my dog is the same, he stops to sniff every five feet and I don't really gt my heart rate up with him. But even a slow walk is better than not going out at all. If I really want to walk without stopping, ill just stick to the middle of the road (obviously in a residential area and late with no traffic) and he has nothing to sniff!

csteuter

I have a similar dog ... sniff sniff sniff ... not a matter of training, as I've trained lots of dogs before. Some breeds are just sniffers and it becomes an impediment to exercising the way you want. So, my husband and I (on a good day) take our brisk walk, then come back and pick up Fido for a short one. Otherwise, you're just dragging him around and nobody benefits.

Does a neighbor have a larger breed dog (golden, lab, etc.) that would like to go on walks? Maybe that is an option.

Lady_Grell

To be completely honest, I used to hate the scale. Its presence haunted me each time I went into the bathroom, and each time I felt compelled to stand on it, which always led to me calling it a liar. It took me some time to realize that I didn't really hate the scale. I hated the fact it refused to allow me to lie. When I was away from the scale, I could make excuses. I didn't really weight THAT much. My lifestyle wasn't that bad. What I hated was what I had become. The scale was a cold, hard truth that I just didn't want to face. These days, I've made peace with my scale. I'm working hard to turn my habits around so that I'm healthier, and the scale is showing the results. There are still times I have trepidation to stand on that unforgiving surface, but I know it's the not the scale's fault. It's movements are all my doing.