Breaking Up With My Scale

thr33martins

I am a compulsive over-weigher. There, I've said it. I'm not talking like, once a day when I get out of bed. I am talking NUMEROUS times a day, every time I happen to be in the same room with my scale. It is a sickness. It controls how I feel about myself, and in my prior life of all-day grazing and late-night snacking, it didn't make me feel very good.

So, at the indirect advice of a new MFP friend, who is guiding me into the the low-carb lifestyle, I am breaking up with my scale. I have replaced it with something kind of scary: BEFORE pictures. I have it written on my calendar, to take another set of pictures in three weeks. I might check the scale then too...not sure yet. But until then, that scale is totally off limits. (...and no, the pictures are not going to get posted on MFP. I haven't even shown them to my husband, and he sees me naked every day. These are for ME.)

I have to say, it is as liberating to me as my new way of eating has been. I no longer feel like a slave to the unhealthy, toxic influences that lurk in the most innocent places in my home. I am pretty much in charge at this point, and though it hasn't been very long and I don't want to "speak too soon," I can say without a doubt that I have never felt like the boss of my own body before, and right now, I do.

Time to focus on the things that actually matter, like, how I feel, how much energy I have, how much of myself I have to give to my family and other loved ones, and (yes, I know) how I look and how my clothes fit. Like my age, my weight is just a number. It is secondary to all of the other things that make life worth living.

Anyone else?

dreaminaway

I think this is a good idea. We don't even have a scale at our house anymore. It stopped working and we never got around to replacing it. (Pre-teen daughter wants one. She is perfectly healthy, but freaks out when she stands on the scale at our grocery store. I am not getting a new one for this reason.) The weight is just a number, but if the number starts to control you, and dictate your feelings, it isn't worth looking at it. The number doesn't control you- YOU control the number. I think going by pictures is a great idea and I hope it works for you.

tdotali

Time to focus on the things that actually matter, like, how I feel, how much energy I have, how much of myself I have to give to my family and other loved ones, and (yes, I know) how I look and how my clothes fit. Like my age, my weight is just a number. It is secondary to all of the other things that make life worth living.

Seems like you're figuring it out Obsessive weigh in's do nothing for you except make you obssessed! The scale means nothing and should be used as a guide, not a measurment.

TexanThom

I weigh everyday. I can handle the truth because I am not weak minded. A scale is only a tool, use it for what it was meant for.

jeffreyjording

I weigh twice a day as a constant reminder that I am NEVER gaining my weight back. I know its somewhat obsessive but hey it works for me.

thr33martins

I weigh everyday. I can handle the truth because I am not weak minded. A scale is only a tool, use it for what it was meant for.

Hmmmm...I'm not weak-minded either. Funny...I was just sharing a personal observation in my journey. For you to feel the need to be this nasty certainly shows a weakness in your character, if not your mind.