Are you afraid to weigh yourself?

flippy1234

I am afraid to weigh myself. I have been on this eating path for almost 3 weeks now. I feel leaner and my clothes fit better so I know that the scale should not matter. But I have been so good and usually eating under my calories. Sometimes really hungry too. Exercising a good deal. Not a lot because I have a bum knee so I walk...a lot. Plus some upper body weight stuff. I do feel better but I am so afraid that I have not lost as much as I hope with all of the effort I have put in. I don't want to be discouraged. Do any of you feel that way too?

yazecita

Of course! All the time, but maybe your best bet is to measure yourself. If you say your clothes fit better there has been a difference. I can tell you that the scale bums me out very often since my expectations are too high. The truth is that my body needs time to lose weight, more than to gain it so I must keep reminding myself I need to stick to my program. I've just restarted again 5 days ago...I have spent months not even wanting to open My Fitness Pal. So wish me luck! You are not alone.

Need2Exerc1se

Not me. I'm a numbers freak. I weigh often.

Afura

If your hungry, make sure you're eating back your exercise calories appropriately (most people recommend not eating back the full amount because MFP over exaggerates your burn). You have to let go of the # on the scale (but you're not alone in feeling this way, do a search of the forums and you'll see). Measure yourself, that's a way you can track your progress without working about another #, you're already seeing that progress in a better clothing fit!.

PeachyPlum

So, don't weigh yourself?

You feel slimmer. Your clothes fit better. You're eating better, and you're getting more exercise.

Win. Win. Win, and win.

It sounds like you're already starting to achieve your objective. Who gives a rip what the scale says about it?

strong_curves

Don't weigh yourself, take body measurements instead.

Leighkai76

I weigh daily, but that's what works for me.
If you feel good and you think the scale is going to ruin that then don't get on it, just keep doing what you are doing.

SmellyHippy

I refused to weigh myself for about 6 months. As my pants kept getting tighter I told myself I was just gaining muscle (i know...i know). Finally got on it and found out I was 10 lbs heavier than I'd ever been, including my pregnancy weights.
Now I weigh (several times) each day. Weighing and tracking, I realize now, are the tools that will keep me from denying my reality again.

RaeBeeBaby

I have a love/hate relationship with the scale. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to break up. We have been programmed for life (by our mothers, doctors, society, TV shows) to care about what the scale says.

Personally, I weigh weekly with mixed emotions of trepidation and excitement. I try hard not to be bummed if the number doesn't go down. That being said, I agree with the measuring. SO GLAD I did the week I started MFP because I have seen inches lost when the number on the scale remained the same.

flippy1234 - you don't have a lot of weight to lose (according to your profile) so just having the clothes fitting better is an indication that you're making progress towards your goal. With so little to lose your progress may be slower than you hoped, but don't get discouraged!

shadow2soul

Nope, can't say that I do. I weigh daily.

You don't have to weigh in if you don't want to. Go by how you feel or measurements or how clothes fit or any combination of them. There is no need to step on the scale if you don't want to.

flippy1234

yazecita wrote: »

Of course! All the time, but maybe your best bet is to measure yourself. If you say your clothes fit better there has been a difference. I can tell you that the scale bums me out very often since my expectations are too high. The truth is that my body needs time to lose weight, more than to gain it so I must keep reminding myself I need to stick to my program. I've just restarted again 5 days ago...I have spent months not even wanting to open My Fitness Pal. So wish me luck! You are not alone.

Good for you and good luck!!

flippy1234

PeachyPlum wrote: »

So, don't weigh yourself?

You feel slimmer. Your clothes fit better. You're eating better, and you're getting more exercise.

Win. Win. Win, and win.

It sounds like you're already starting to achieve your objective. Who gives a rip what the scale says about it?

Thank you and you are right but numbers are so hard to ignore!

AME1025

Yes. My doctor made me and it was shocking. I weigh more now than I ever did when I was pregnant. It was a harsh dose of reality. I weighed myself after the first week of eating better and I gained a pound. I won't weigh myself again until I see my doctor in June. I want to focus more on portion control and measurements. If you feel better though that is huge! Congratulations!! It's something to be excited about. Good job!!!!

bpetrosky

Nope, I got into the habit of weighing daily (first thing in the morning) and keeping a record. Periodic measurements of other factors (body fat & dimensions) are also extremely helpful, since weight alone does not reflect body composition changes. I noted my weight climbing back up pretty significantly recently, so that encouraged me to start logging meals again and set a better plan.

Just remember that body weight fluctuates during the day as you eat and drink, so it help me to weight at a consistent time every day. The important thing is not to worry about the small day-to-day differences, but look at the overall trend over time. Also, when you notice a plateau, or reach certain milestones, you should review your goals to be sure your daily menu is in line with the state of your body now (as opposed to where you started).

flippy1234

RaeBeeBaby wrote: »

I have a love/hate relationship with the scale. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to break up. We have been programmed for life (by our mothers, doctors, society, TV shows) to care about what the scale says.

Personally, I weigh weekly with mixed emotions of trepidation and excitement. I try hard not to be bummed if the number doesn't go down. That being said, I agree with the measuring. SO GLAD I did the week I started MFP because I have seen inches lost when the number on the scale remained the same.

flippy1234 - you don't have a lot of weight to lose (according to your profile) so just having the clothes fitting better is an indication that you're making progress towards your goal. With so little to lose your progress may be slower than you hoped, but don't get discouraged!

Thank you so much!

Amerielle

Nope, I weigh myself every morning. It's a useful number to know.

TheVirgoddess

I love my scale, so no I'm not afraid to weigh. It's one part of a big picture.

If you're pleased with your progress, and feel comfortable not weighing - then don't

sofaking6

No - as some others have mentioned, I'm more afraid of not weighing myself and gaining weight without being aware of it. I don't weigh daily though, every 3-4 days maybe, and log every other Friday.

Allelito

I used to, but now I weigh every day so I'm used to the weight going up and down a lot, and since I do it so often it's not such a big deal anymore. When I used to weigh only once a week I could feel really down when the scale didn't show a lower number last time, I didn't consider the fact that it was most likely just normal flunctuations.

ExRelaySprinter

RaeBeeBaby wrote: »

I have a love/hate relationship with the scale.......
I have seen inches lost when the number on the scale remained the same.

Same here.
Which is one of the reasons why i'm now maintaining instead of continuing to lose.
As others have said, maybe it's best you take measurements instead OP.

TiffanyR71

Amerielle wrote: »

Nope, I weigh myself every morning. It's a useful number to know.

Same here- measurements are useful, too - but then there's also that unquantifiable "feeling" of well-being, strength, health, slimming... All are good. You may not hit all 3 at once, though!

I used to let a little fluctuation upward ruin my mood (and sometimes derail me) - but now, because I know that I'm making progress and feeling great, I tell myself all the scale "truths" of water weight, non-linear loss, etc., and shrug it off if it's a slight gain (provided that the trend is still downward!).

DSFfit

Most of my life I've been in the 130s (I'm 5'3"). When I'm active and not obsessing too much about food I would naturally go down in the high 120s. After the birth of my third child when I was 40 years old I struggled a lot to loose weight. I was stuck at 155 for several years. It was so discouraging I quit weighing myself. Last year I started working out again intensely and I got down to 142 last I checked. But I can't weigh myself for fear the number will discourage me. I am healthier than I have been in years. And in the smallest clothing sizes of my adult life. And I feel really strong so I think I'll wait until I get the courage to weigh myself.

Unknown

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kclay1021

I am always afraid to weigh myself. . .. if the scale says what I want it to say or better then will I ruin it with an unhealthy treat and spiral into a binge? If it doesnt say what I want I can start to think "whats the point?" and just go out of control. . .. and on occasion I am a sane person and I just say "oh okay" step off the scale and continue to live my life. . . . this last option doesn't happen often. . . .

natedoglara

Some people say weight in once a week, I do every day just curious. I am having a competition at work, we weighed in with uniforms, work boots I came in at 319 the biggest out of them all. $20 per person one month, to see who loses the most weight %. Competition started 4-15-15 to 5-15-15, today I weighed in today at 301lbs at home. I am looking for others to talk to and become workout buddies -ADD ME

North44

No but I become afraid as I get into maintenance and that's why I keep gaining the same stupid 10 pounds back. Eventually I do get back on the scale though which is good- the scale is my friend, it's a tool not the enemy, lol

Coachconni

I am afraid of weighing myself because even though I work out alot I eat alot and I don't want to know if I am fluctuating upwards. The last time I bit the bullet and got on the scale expecting the worse, I actually lost 4 lbs.

I think being afraid of weighing has everything to do with a lack of commitment.

Merkavar

Afraid to weigh yourself? That seems silly.

Are you afraid to know how tall you are?

It's just a number and the number can be used to determine you are heading in the right direction.

If your gaining weight or maintaining it can tell you you might need to adjust the foods you eat.

If the number is going down it may be a sign your in the right track.

Just weigh yourself. Knowing has to be better than not knowing and worrying.

You might find your losing too fast and starving your self.

Ocrgrrrl

asflatasapancake wrote: »

I am not afraid to weight myself. I am afraid of snakes.

Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes!

teagirlmedium

Kind of, but not really. I gain weight when I visit friends. I do not like that and I don't want to get on the scale because I think I will see an increase, but I also want to get on the scale to find out what I have actually done. I am visiting my friends now and I brought my scale with me. If you do not want to weigh yourself then don't. Take measurements. Use your clothes to measure if you have lost weight. That or weigh yourself once a month or every 5 weeks to see if you are on track with what this website says after you post your calories for the day.

999tigger

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

Not me. I'm a numbers freak. I weigh often.

This. I like data. Regular weighing motivates me, but it also has the opposite effect of what you are suffering from at the moment. If I know my weight then I keep on top of it and dont worry its changed dramatically. Not knowing woul drive me mad. It depends what suits your personality. Fluctuations are irksome, but interesting.