Scared to lose weight??

Utrecht11

Hi there,

I have a kinda odd question... I have lost around 9 kg (19 lbs) in the past 2 years. I still hope to shed the last 5 kg (11 lbs).

However, whenever I weighed myself in the past, and saw the weight drop, I got 'scared' and ate some more over the next days. It's quite easy for me to lose weight without being hungry.

So now I'm at the point where I can tell that I've lost some more weight buuuut I am too scared to stand on the scale. Part of me is scared I haven't lost as much as I want to (guess still feeling a like a 'fat' person). Part of me is scared my body changes I think.. Does anyone have a similar experience?

Thanks

cmriverside

You've let your anxiety take over.

The best solution would be to stay off the scale. Just keep doing what you know you need to do to get the results.

Lots of people have scale anxiety, for one reason or another. I think if you are one of those, go to once a week weighing or even once a month. You're not mush overweight, right? You can judge your progress by how your pants fit. There is no reason to weigh yourself frequently.

My scale broke about 10 lbs into my weight loss, and I did the rest of the 45 lbs without one. It's not a necessary tool, and it's obviously not one that is helpful to you.

Utrecht11

Thank you, that is the kindest reply. Really

You're right, I am not overweight even, but just hope to lose just a bit. Congrats on losing the weight so far!!

Angie_1991

Not sure why anyone would be scared to lose weight unless you think you are sick or skinny already.....but you can do it...don't be afraid...............

JesterMFP

Yeah, I'd recommend staying off the scale if it's doing that to you. Why do you actually want to lose weight? Do you want to be a smaller size? If so, forget the scale, measure yourself and go from there. If you're happy with your size the way it is, then maybe you don't need to lose any at all.

tehzephyrsong

So don't weigh yourself. Do you feel good? Are you satisfied with the appearance of your body? Are you healthy on the whole? Then what does it matter what number the scale shows?

That said, I know that feel. There have been times on this journey where I've been afraid to keep going because I have no idea how to exist as someone who isn't fat. It's been such a big part (pun totally intended) of my identity pretty much since I was able to conceive of myself as an independent being - I've been fat all my life, I don't know any other way to be. It's frightening. I'm the size of a normal human being now (more or less, at least as far as Americans go, lol), but I still feel uncomfortable browsing the "straight sizes" in clothing stores. I feel like I don't belong, even though I can wear that stuff now. My body has burned nearly 70 pounds of fat, but my brain is holding onto them for dear life.

cmriverside

Thank you, that is the kindest reply. Really

You're right, I am not overweight even, but just hope to lose just a bit. Congrats on losing the weight so far!!

The other part of this is that with only 10 kg to lose, it is going to be very slow going. Those last pounds are what the body likes to hang onto - in case of emergency, such as illness. The small padding of fat is a good buffer against infection, immune problems, famine, etc.

So to keep weighing yourself at this point is going to be excrutiating. Try setting other goals instead: like walk or run faster or farther, lift heavier weights, ride further on your bike or swim further. Whatever it is you like to do, do it better. It's a much more rewarding experience.

slkehl

I hate the scale too! Too much anxiety attached to that number! So I hardly ever weigh myself. I figure I don't need to if I'm logging consistently and getting regular exercise. If I'm good about those things, I at least won't be gaining. I might lose more slowly than people who have a better grasp on whether or not they're plateauing, but like you, I'm not trying to lose much so if it comes off slowly, no big