Why I'm Breaking Up With My Scale

cici1028

My scale and I have been through everything together... ups and downs. (Mostly downs!)

My scale was with me through 50 pounds of weight loss. My scale kept me accountable and made sure I was aware of my progress (or backsliding!) I spent time every day with my scale. There was laughter... there were tears... the scale was there for all of it.

However, our relationship has soured over the years. Suddenly the number on the scale became more important than me as a person. I could be feeling great about the way I looked but step on the scale... see a bad number... and suddenly my entire body image distorted. Just because of a number.

Today I weighed in 5 pounds above my weight Saturday. I know for a fact that I didn't eat 17,500 calories over my TDEE in 3 days. Damned sure. My clothes fit well and I feel good. SO.

Scale, we're through. You were a very necessary part of my life and helped me reach success. But you and I are through now. Maybe we can see each other once a month or something to make sure I'm on track, but other than that, I know how to make good choices whether or not I'm accountable to you. So kiss off!

porcelain_doll

:drinker:

Critty44

Hi, Cici. Great post! Don't let the numbers get you down, only you - not a number - can tell how good you look and feel. Nowadays we want everything to be quantifiable and measurable and it's just unnecessary. Listen to your body from the inside out and you will be just fine. I've decide to hide my scale away, too, and only bring it out for weekly weigh-ins. Best wishes!

lavieboheme1229

aahhhh. exactly! I've made this transition with you Cici! I haven't stepped on the thing in 2 weeks (which as you know, is a big deal :-P) Good for you for reaching this level of comfort with yourself! I am so very proud of you, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support!

ThereseIShere

I am still co-dependent relationship with scale, but I hope to get to where you are. Great job!

jody664

Love this! :flowerforyou:

IIISpartacusIII

The scale's just a tool. The rest is all contrived by those who make use of it. The same holds true with tape measures, the way clothes fit (even more subjective), skin calipers, Bodpod readouts, Hydrostatic weighing, et. al.

itsHealthy

:flowerforyou:

Eyesblu

love this

libertychoury

I should break up with my scale, too. I don't know how I got into the habit of weighing daily. It's become a habit. Time to step off...

kmchambers64

Love this! Sometimes we just grow apart :laugh:

hifi898

Cheers to your breakup. I broke up with mine sometime ago when I started realizing my scale was becoming emotionally abusive toward me, taunting me to step on it every day. I knew I needed that number "fix" in the morning first thing, or I wouldn't be worth anything after that. I realized my problem and understood it to be me, not the scale. I said sayanora by this past Christmas and haven't looked back.

Oh sure, we still see each other every so often, just to keep in touch with each other. But it's more like once every 3 weeks or so. I found a new friend in my tape measure, which is a lot kinder and easier for me to understand. It's easier for me to wrap my head around a 1-2 inch increase in my waist vs. a 30lb increase in the same period of time

Good luck with your post-breakup successes. You will be glad you cut the cord

feefeefish

Mine is depressing too, it seems to go up when I exercise and I have to near starve myself to make the numbers go down again. Getting way too obsessed with numbers these days though

ButterflyKristen

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! I just told my trainer today that I was going to break up with my scale. Reading your post reminded me to do it. I actually think that the scale causes me to sabotage myself. For instance, if I lose weight, I think I can cheat a little more (which I cannot b/c I'm still trying to shed about 10 - 15 lbs of fat). The other thing I do is when I gain for apparently no reason, I get frustrated and start stress eating.

My scale and I are all wrong for eachother. Scale needs to find someone who can handle scale's swings, ups and downs.

Good-bye scale. Maybe we talk in 6 weeks or so.

Yours,
Kristen

fstender

best advice i ever read was to get a pair of smaller sized pants....and use them to measure your progress. They will not lie, malfunction, or even change on you. It' s you that will change. I've been very discouraged to not see my number drop as i've been stuck at the 7# loss...but i tell you i dropped two sizes in pants and i've really toned up. Jillian michaels really worked me good...I still have a goal in mind...but when i get there...i get there...until then im working on my next size jeans!

ParkerH47

best post ever!

Italiano7

i am also in a love/hate relationship with my scale:grumble: There are times when I love it then there are times when I hate it. i think I need to start weighing myself once a month instead of daily or weekly. Easier said than done.

lafilleavectoi

YES! Me too. I am working my butt off exercising and eating below my calories, but I am in a major plateau...well, according to the scale. But, I know I am progressing. I kicked my scale to the curb.

Bownzi

Nope scales are Eeeeevvvvviiiillll... And shouldn't be trusted...lol

LadyBeryl

I don't weigh myself. My doctor weighs me and told me that I lost over 80 lbs (I thought it was about 75lbs). If I had weighed, I would have experienced the ups and downs and gotten depressed.

Nope. I don't even have a scale -- for humans.

ladylass89

Shawnzgirl78

I should think about doing the same!!! My scale makes me angry!

Hawk600us

It is different for each person. I really believe we cannot be scale dependent and if it is interfering with your mood or becoming an obsession it definitively needs to be put aside.
To me, the scale is a toll that I really need right now. Seeing positive or even negative results is what is giving me strength to continue pushing myself to fight overweight.
I also think that we cannot totally blame the scale as it is just an instrument that reflects our behavior, good or bad.