Why I don't rely on my scale....

mcflat29

Two separate doctor's offices, two different medical scales. Only three hours apart.

(home) Thursday: 225lbs
Friday 9am: 228lbs (And, yeah, I was under calorie yesterday)
Friday 12pm: 225lbs
(home) Friday 3pm: 222lbs
(home) just now: 227lbs

So, yeah, I don't focus so much on the scale because my weight fluctuates throughout the day and if I had to keep seeing the above every day I'd go postal. What matters (to me) is that my body fat % is getting better, my clothes fit better, all my medical numbers (BP, cholesterol, etc) are amazing, and I feel better.

It was an interesting day though. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

BlackPup

You go crazy if you weigh yourself to often! But I can't resist getting on the scales. I've learnt not to sweat the fluctuations but I only use one set of scales. I measure with a tape measure. It is a bit inaccurate at times when you measure in a different spot but you get to see a trend at least.
Your right though its how the clothes fit and how you feel that matters.

sarahrbraun

Two separate doctor's offices, two different medical scales. Only three hours apart.

(home) Thursday: 225lbs
Friday 9am: 228lbs (And, yeah, I was under calorie yesterday)
Friday 12pm: 225lbs
(home) Friday 3pm: 222lbs
(home) just now: 227lbs

So, yeah, I don't focus so much on the scale because my weight fluctuates throughout the day and if I had to keep seeing the above every day I'd go postal. What matters (to me) is that my body fat % is getting better, my clothes fit better, all my medical numbers (BP, cholesterol, etc) are amazing, and I feel better.

It was an interesting day though. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

You are totally correct!

. I actually DO weigh myself several times a day, just to see how my body reacts to different things ( foods, water levels, etc). measuring tapes are good, but pictures are even better.


gray top pics by crochetmom2010, on Flickr

mcflat29

It's always funny when my mom or dad asks how much I've lost and I get to answer, "According to my scale, nothing. According to my closet, a lot." It's funny how we change as how we carry the weight shifts.

I've tried to stop obsessing about the weight aspect but every time I have a Dr appointment I have to hear about it and it sets up this shame spiral again.
At least my one doctor broke it down and asked how I was feeling, how I was eating, how I was exercising. Then she said not to worry about it. I'm generally healthy and BMI is not a determining factor alone. I'm in physical therapy for a sprained knee and my therapist said I show a lot of strength, something they usually don't expect to see in a person of my "size" but it paints a good picture of my overall health, better than BMI.

It's just our society is so focused on weight and, really, it's just a number. It's not a whole picture. :flowerforyou:

JADEPH0EN1X

I know what you mean with nothing much happening on the scale but definatly noticing difference in clothes - so much so I am in the process of "donating " my bigger clothes to charity !!! Even my husband has noticed ( in less than a month )

NordicAlien

My doctor's scale weighs me as 9lbs lighter than my home one. My dietician's and my gym's are right in the middle. I've learned to only rely on one scale (home, since I'm there most often) - I find that the losses (or, God forbid, gains) will be the same on each scale but it throws me off to try and remember to add or subtract those nine pounds.

Also, when I'm at a lower weight than I am now, I gain muscle fast and lose fat slowly, so often the numbers start off going up as I get in shape, before they go down. That doesn't happen at my current level of obesity, but it does when I'm at a lower starting point.

And yes, weighing too often can muck with your head. People are affected by salt (and women by their time of month) but I think I'm affected more than most - I can vary as much as 12 pounds on the SAME scales in a couple of hours if I eat a cheeseburger or a plate of nachos, even if I'm well under my sodium recommendation. Tape measures don't work for me right now either; my waist measurement can change 8-9 inches in a day if I eat something that doesn't agree. Although if it works for others, great.

I guess the only answer for me is to weigh weekly, on my own scales, and plot it on a graph (or let MFP do it) and watch over a period of months. It's a pain though, I'm not the most patient person!