The Scale Is Depressing

PeachyPlum

I'm trying to lose somewhere around ten pounds, and I find that with so little to lose, the scale is nothing but depressing.

I weighed in on Thursday at 115.2 my plan was to weigh in weekly, but I was feeling like I was doing great, so for a little motivation boost I thought I'd hop on the scale and see if I was down to 115 even yet.

117.4

Seriously?

It's totally possible that it's accurate... a two pound fluctuation due to water retention is pretty normal. But it's super discouraging!

How do you all stay motivated?

faithnna

I try to focus on how my body looks. I've been at 122-123 for the past 2ish weeks but I can feel and see my body changing. I am so much stronger than I was before and for the first time in my life I can feel muscles in my arms when I flex. Also, maybe try measuring yourself once a week and keep track of that. For me that is more encouraging than the scale at this point because those numbers change for me.

Swissmiss

You have the right answer for why the scales are up a bit. Our weight does flexuate daily. I will admit that I usually weigh daily. But, only to make sure that things are not getting away from me. I don't want to step on the scale and see that I have gained several pounds. Most people will tell you to not weigh more than once a week. What you are experiencing is what all people who don't have a lot to lose do. I don't understand it. But, it is frustrating.

rmhand

I use it as motivation to work harder or if I know I have been working super hard since my last weigh in then I just say its a normal fluctuation but know that I have to working to make that number smaller.

RisOnTheRun

There are lots of non-scale ways to measure your sucess--you could actually take measurements of yourself or just pick an article of clothing that's a little snug that you can try on.

As far as motiviation, keep in mind that it can take a LONG time to lose those last few pounds--a lot longer than it would take for someone who is overweight to lose the first few pounds. Remind yourself that every time you make a good choice (eating healthy or exercise), you're building good habits. Even if you don't see the result immediately, if you continue to make good choices then eventually the weight will come off.

Also, I know it sounds counterintuitive, and it might not make sense for everyone, but I weigh myself just about every day and I find that it actually makes the scale seem a little less depressing. As you said, water weight can cause a few pounds of fluctuations, so if you weigh yourself just once a week, you risk weighing yourself on a day when you're carrying extra water weight or when you're dehydrated. For me, if I'm up one day, I don't sweat it unless I'm still up the next day and the day after that. On the other side, if I'm down one day I don't get too excited unless I'm still down the next day and the day after that. I consider it a big victory if I lose weight and it stays off, but I still consider it a small victory if I just stay the same weight.

solarpower4

I weighed 122 lb in high school and had a 25 inch waist (I was VERY densely muscular) so I know that weight isn't as important as size and blood health indicators (triglycerides, HDL, LDL, etc.). but it IS the easiest and quickest to check!

My weight fluctuates by almost 5 pounds every day. I, too, was discouraged when I would feel that things were going well (healthy eating and regular exercise), then step on the scale and see an increase or no change. For a while I weighed myself every morning and every night. That's when I saw the 5 lb-every-day fluctuation. Now I weigh a couple times a week, mostly when I feel either fat (from really splurging on some yummy high-carb GF food I just made and so I'm bloated) or lean (e.g. my jeans are suddenly too loose on my waist). Like Ris, I like when I see the number go down however I don't get excited unless it stays down for 2 weeks. Just as often, for me, it goes back up the next week. I stay motivated because this isn't a diet for me; it's a lifestyle. I make daily choices to be healthier so I'll be around longer and remain in good health.

All that to say I trust my measurements as my true guide though I generally use my "thermometer" jeans and my "thermometer" blouse to measure progress now. Pictures will be next...as soon as Chloe takes hers!

KL124

Have you tried getting a scale that shows fat and water percentages as well as weight? That way you can tell exactly what part of that number is fat and how much is just water weight. I think that's helped me the most. Good luck

MissXFit13

I've been there, too. Especially on those days were I was so dilligent and ate healthy, whole foods, even going to bed feeling maybe a bit hungry, only to wake up the next morning and find, oops, the scale went up a bit.

This is especially devastating when I'm PMSing. And while I understand that we naturally gain water weight around that time of the month, I'm also craving sweets like crazy and over-indulge sometimes. Add that to my emotionally heightened state, and that moment when I step on the scale can turn into a full fledged freak-out session.