Why do we all obsess about the number on the scale?

mactaffy84

OK, maybe not EVERYONE. But most of us, and I include myself in this, obsess about this number. If it is down, we feel great; if it goes up, we beat ourselves up. I just wonder why! Why do we torture ourselves in this manner? And even if we know the scale is not the be-all and end-all and say "I won't use that thing today", that doesn't last for long and, within a few days, we hop back on it. Any insights on this? Has anyone truly managed to get over this obsession and, if so, how?

hya89

I'm not over it, but I'm learning to not be dependent on it. Over the last month I've only gone up on the scale, but at the same time I can now run 20 mins at a time and I'm losing inches. I know there's progress even if the numbers don't support it.

I think finding other ways of measuring your progress helps. I've been measuring mostly by what I can do, if I run further and faster then the week before I've done well. That doesn't mean stop paying attention to what I eat, but it's not the only thing.

LJSmith1989

I think its just programed into us. If you join a diet club like weight watchers or slimming world then you get weighed. I have never really looked at other ways to measure progress until I started lifting. Now I look at measurements, BF% photos etc.

I think weighing is like any other form of measurement. Shouldn't be used as the sole form of "am I getting to goal" but part of many measurments we take. Including BMI!

If we can get over obsession then your total body weight is still usefull to know.

MsStang02

I am trying to get away from the scale as much as possible. (You know....stop taking peaks every morning, or at the end of the day to see how much I've "gained") And try to limit it to just once a week on my weigh in day.
The scale obviously is not the only way to determine weight loss. For me I have set a physical goal to reach (Run a 5K in January. Gives me plenty of time to train and not overwhelm myself) instead of focusing on a weight loss goal. Losing weight is just an added bonus. Our bodies are always doing something, and a gain could just be water weight. So I look to my progress on my runs, and how my body is responding, and how my clothes are fitting and how i just...FEEL overall. It is definitely a learning experience that is often times very challenging. As other said it is like we are programed to look to the scale for success. But it does not have to be that way! :bigsmile:

onwarddownward

It's so bad for me that I measure and take photos too. I got on the scale two days before weigh in day and was up, but I know it's PMS. So I measured and I'm down all over by a inch here, a half inch there.

I hate scales.

megsmom2

I have obsessions...but the scale isn't one of them. Its a tool. I use it....occasionally. I weigh myself probably less than once a month...and don't fret about it. I honestly don't understand why people weigh themselves so often...its not really giving you good information.

onwarddownward

I have obsessions...but the scale isn't one of them. Its a tool. I use it....occasionally. I weigh myself probably less than once a month...and don't fret about it. I honestly don't understand why people weigh themselves so often...its not really giving you good information.

We weigh often because WE WANT IT NOW!

Honestly, I got this way because I can't see down the long road. I go for immediate gratification, which is how I gained so much. I am learning that this takes time and it will take my whole lifetime.

Still, I wish I had a safe that I could put my scale in and it would only come out once a week.

5n0wbal1

I weigh myself almost every day, but I keep in mind that the number isn't always accurate. I'll notice a two-pound increase one day, and a three-pound decrease the next day. So long as I'm noticing a general downward trend from week to week, I don't concern myself too much with the number on the scale. I know my weight is healthy, even if I do want it to be a little lower, and I know that I'm controlling my portions the way I should be. So even though I'm on the scale a lot, I'm not tied to the number, and I like it that way.

neandermagnon

I used to, but my focus has shifted much more to looks and body fat percentage.... it takes a while to make the mental shift, but when it does you'll be thankful you put the effort in. These days I use my bathroom scales to weigh my barbell for lifting because I suck at mental arithmetic and it's easier to weigh the barbell to check I put the right amount of weight on it. I do weigh myself on it, but consider my weight to be meaningless without other data such as skinfolds and circumference measurements. Even those I'm not obsessing over too much, just using them to make sure I'm not gaining to much fat (currently training for strength and not limiting calories so I can gain strength and hopefully some muscle mass along the way)

Ladyinwaiting4

I obsses over the scale too and like the lady said it seems programmed into us. every program we take to get fit and healthy its always weigh in to see where you are. its kind of like the undereating class I am taking I mentioned about the obbessions I have as they asked me to list them I said the scale and calories. my class stresses you still have to weigh in. if I am obessed with the scale and want to break that obession then how is weighing going to help me?

i personally need to learn to focus on measuring that is where the real results are as well as going by how my clothes fit. that is the real answer to the story.

neandermagnon

I have obsessions...but the scale isn't one of them. Its a tool. I use it....occasionally. I weigh myself probably less than once a month...and don't fret about it. I honestly don't understand why people weigh themselves so often...its not really giving you good information.

We weigh often because WE WANT IT NOW!

Honestly, I got this way because I can't see down the long road. I go for immediate gratification, which is how I gained so much. I am learning that this takes time and it will take my whole lifetime.

Still, I wish I had a safe that I could put my scale in and it would only come out once a week.

put it somewhere very high where you need to use a kitchen step to get it. That gives you time to think twice about whether you really should be weighing yourself right now, and distract yourself away from it rather than going to the kitchen to get the steps... that's one thing that really helped me to stick to once a week weigh ins while I was losing fat. These days I'm not bothered by the number on it so I just step on it from time to time between official weigh ins, out of curiosity and it doesn't mess with my head.

TheBaileyHunter

Still, I wish I had a safe that I could put my scale in and it would only come out once a week.

THIS.

I'm all or nothing when it comes to the scale. Either I'm every day, twice a day, or I forget I have one for months at a time (usually when I know I'm just getting fatter and just Don't. Want To. Know.)

I'm trying to ignore what it says right now because there's no movement even though I'm being very well behaved. Instead I'm pulling out the measuring tape seeing inches lost, and gauging my workouts and how much further/stronger I am getting.

TheBaileyHunter

"put it somewhere very high where you need to use a kitchen step to get it. That gives you time to think twice about whether you really should be weighing yourself right now, and distract yourself away from it rather than going to the kitchen to get the steps..."

Good idea! :glasses:

peaceissues

I weight myself every 2 days O_o

GormanGhaste

It's an easy thing to get caught up in. I try not to even read topics here that I think are overly focused on it, and I decided that I wouldn't display a tracker (even though I went and designed one!).

I do weigh every day, but I don't track it that often, as I know how much it fluctuates and am not impatient about weight loss.

For me, the scale is a ritual committing me to healthy stuff for the day.

onwarddownward

I obsses over the scale too and like the lady said it seems programmed into us. every program we take to get fit and healthy its always weigh in to see where you are. its kind of like the undereating class I am taking I mentioned about the obbessions I have as they asked me to list them I said the scale and calories. my class stresses you still have to weigh in. if I am obessed with the scale and want to break that obession then how is weighing going to help me?

i personally need to learn to focus on measuring that is where the real results are as well as going by how my clothes fit. that is the real answer to the story.

Even every time you step on a treadmill or elliptical it asks for your weight. What pressure!

TheBaileyHunter

I never punch in my weight on the elliptical or the treadmill. None of their F'n business. I know if I'm working hard or not. Just tell me laps, speed and heart rate thanks.

quicklabs

I am so bad about this. Last month, I put my scale in a travel suitcase in the garage. I was much happier. Then, for some stupid, inexplicable reason, I brought it back out. Why, why, why? ITA with @onwardownward's comment that it's about wanting results immediately. I need to bury that scale in my backyard.

1223345

This in particular dives me nuts. It especially drives me nuts when people around here sling insults at those whose tickers have not moved much. The scale can be a good tool if one is only trying to lose weight, but when a person wants to build a body, and the muscle begins to build, the scale may not move. That is my experience. Yet people continue to attack based on the scale. I think there can be too much value placed on the scale for sure.

xstarxdustx

Sometimes, it's all we have to measure by if we are unable to exercise due to injury.