Stop focusing on your Weight Only!!!

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Replies

  • millyvanilli321
    millyvanilli321 Posts: 236 Member
    Great post! I'm trying to persuade myself that the scale doesn't dominate at the moment! It's tricky though.

    My problem is that I've always been overweight, since I can remember I've been uncomfortable with my body. This means I have no idea what my body will look like at a healthy bf%, weight, bmi or whatever scale is used. Other than using BMI to establish a 'healthy weight' for my height, I'm not too sure what to aim for! Without a goal in mind it is difficult to stay motivated. Becoming 'fit and healthy' is a little bit too vague for me tbh :ohwell: If i'm going to carry on as I am now ( ~600 cal deficit, 30DS every day, c25k 3 times a week and swimming once a week) I feel like I need something to shoot towards. An arbitrary number on the scale fills this hole, but I'd rather have something more accurate/realistic...

    if you have any advice that would be great :)
  • Pamela0963
    Pamela0963 Posts: 1 Member
    I totally needed this post today!!!!! I started working out (cardio) last week and have worked out every other day so far and have watched my calories but still no weight loss. I am getting really discouraged since I am truely motivated this time to stick with my workouts and eating right but the scale doesn't seem to reflect my efforts. I read through most of the posts and was glad to see I'm not the only one addicted to getting on the scale (naked after peeing :)) every morning. I am going to ditch the scale for a week and take my meausrements and see if I start seeing results. I also plan on adding weights to my routine for strength training since I know this helps burn more calories after working out. Keep up the good work and love the inspiration from the posts!
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Great post! And I'm an advocate for daily weigh-ins - only because I'm a data guy and feel that more data is never a bad thing. How that data is used is often the issue - if averaged, compared, and trended it is quite useful. If a single data point is agonized over it is not a good thing.

    And as you pointed out - there are so many other data points that should be collected: bf, measurements, strenthg gains, miles run, cardio minutes, lipids, bp & hr, etc. All of this data points to a holistic picture of health and fitness. Focusing on any one data set (i.e. weight) to the exclusion of the others can set you up for disappointment and be demotivating.
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    Great post! And I'm an advocate for daily weigh-ins - only because I'm a data guy and feel that more data is never a bad thing. How that data is used is often the issue - if averaged, compared, and trended it is quite useful. If a single data point is agonized over it is not a good thing.

    And as you pointed out - there are so many other data points that should be collected: bf, measurements, strenthg gains, miles run, cardio minutes, lipids, bp & hr, etc. All of this data points to a holistic picture of health and fitness. Focusing on any one data set (i.e. weight) to the exclusion of the others can set you up for disappointment and be demotivating.

    I understand. Data is good...it's just that some people are not as good processing it and can tend to get discouraged I think. If that's what you do, obviously that will work for you!!!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    Great post! I'm trying to persuade myself that the scale doesn't dominate at the moment! It's tricky though.

    My problem is that I've always been overweight, since I can remember I've been uncomfortable with my body. This means I have no idea what my body will look like at a healthy bf%, weight, bmi or whatever scale is used. Other than using BMI to establish a 'healthy weight' for my height, I'm not too sure what to aim for! Without a goal in mind it is difficult to stay motivated. Becoming 'fit and healthy' is a little bit too vague for me tbh :ohwell: If i'm going to carry on as I am now ( ~600 cal deficit, 30DS every day, c25k 3 times a week and swimming once a week) I feel like I need something to shoot towards. An arbitrary number on the scale fills this hole, but I'd rather have something more accurate/realistic...

    if you have any advice that would be great :)

    MilliVanilli (nice name ;-) Step on the scale, but also use the tape measure. If you are gaining some muscle from workouts then you may not see the weight shed off. Eat good, do what you are doing on cals, and I would encourage you to set an achievable goal. Something to push you, but not something ridiculous. then have friends on MFP to encourage you!
  • allisonmrn
    allisonmrn Posts: 721 Member
    What a great post.. I had to stop that vicious cycle of staring at the scale every day and being obsessed with the fluctuations.... Because there were many and they were unpredictable and disheartening. I finally got it, that success is measured in the right balance of foods that give your body energy to power through tough workouts. Other things help me measure my progress, such as noticing how clothes fit differently on me and losing inches off places like my waist and around my belly button. I never totally deprive myself from fun foods, but I never give in to my food cravings all the time either. Its a balance. This philosophy of "stop focusing on weight" really helped the lbs fly off and maintain energy and endurance. Thanks for your support and encouragement. :-)
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    What a great post.. I had to stop that vicious cycle of staring at the scale every day and being obsessed with the fluctuations.... Because there were many and they were unpredictable and disheartening. I finally got it, that success is measured in the right balance of foods that give your body energy to power through tough workouts. Other things help me measure my progress, such as noticing how clothes fit differently on me and losing inches off places like my waist and around my belly button. I never totally deprive myself from fun foods, but I never give in to my food cravings all the time either. Its a balance. This philosophy of "stop focusing on weight" really helped the lbs fly off and maintain energy and endurance. Thanks for your support and encouragement. :-)

    Great feedback Allison! Keep it up!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I weigh 8 pounds more than I did a year ago. I can see a difference in the photos, and it's not for the worse. :happy:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LorinaLynn/view/one-year-of-strength-training-367482
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    I weigh 8 pounds more than I did a year ago. I can see a difference in the photos, and it's not for the worse. :happy:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LorinaLynn/view/one-year-of-strength-training-367482

    Awesome!
  • ktb1962
    ktb1962 Posts: 33 Member
    Great post, great reminder, great motivator! I stopped focusing on the scale when I picked up the weights several years ago after realizing that you can be skinny and unhealthy and with no shape! it's not about the "weight", it's about lean muscle mass and being healthy. You can't change your body with diet alone and I love the changes that lifting has done. It's been the best motivator for me.

    Thanks for the reminder!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    Great post, great reminder, great motivator! I stopped focusing on the scale when I picked up the weights several years ago after realizing that you can be skinny and unhealthy and with no shape! it's not about the "weight", it's about lean muscle mass and being healthy. You can't change your body with diet alone and I love the changes that lifting has done. It's been the best motivator for me.

    Thanks for the reminder!

    Glad it helped. :smile:
  • littlebutcurvy
    littlebutcurvy Posts: 35
    i need to do this!!!!!

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