THROW AWAY THE SCALE!

CoachReddy
CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hey everyone - I'm new here, but I wanted to throw this out there for you all to think about.

I've been coaching people with their fitness goals for some time now, and one of the most common complaints I hear is "I'm working so hard but I'm not losing any weight!" or even worse "I'm gaining weight!" Almost ALWAYS, this is accompanied by "well... I've lost two inches on my waist and my pants are looser, but I'm still not losing the weight I want to!"

At the early stages of a new workout regimen, your body goes through an adaptive phase, where it's reacting to all these new stimuli that it's not used to receiving. You'll retain water and your weight will fluctuate - sometimes dramatically. But it doesn't mean anything. More than that, as you probably all know (but maybe you don't), muscle weighs more than fat, so when you drop fat, and gain muscle, your weight won't change EVEN THOUGH you're getting leaner and more fit. And here's the important part - don't you just FEEL so much better?

That's the kicker. I urge everyone to forget about the scale. Use it at big check in points - after a month, two months, etc, etc, but stop jumping on it every day. The only - and I mean ONLY - thing it can possibly do is demotivate you. After all, it's just a number, right? If you focus on FEELING GOOD, the weight will come with it.

It doesn't help that the numbers are constantly being thrown in our face. "So and so lost 100 pounds", "I want to lose 25 pounds to get back to my high school weight", hell, the Biggest Loser is all about who lost the MOST WEIGHT! But you know what? Who gives a crap? EVERY ONE of those people are winners because they have completely changed their lives and they all feel unbelievable. And I guarantee every ONE of them would gladly take that FEELING over the number any day of the week.

So do it for YOU. Do it for the way you'll FEEL. Don't do it for a number. What does that get you anyway when it's all said and done?

Happy Friday y'all. :)

Andrew
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Replies

  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    Can I say this: These topics get posted every so often, but often enough, and it seems NOBODY LISTENS. Are we so brainwashed to see things so black/white when it comes to health that we ignore facts and science? 125=happy or healthy but 137=fat and miserable?! Seriously, we are a messed up culture. Don't just throw away the scale, blow it the damn UP!
  • thompkie
    thompkie Posts: 1 Member
    Great post! I agree yet, find myself stepping on it more than I should. However, I do know from personal training in the past, teaching physical education and health classes and just in general that a person should never revolve their fitness goals around the scale! I actually told a friend today that i'm more concerned with getting to a certain "size" than what the scale says when I step on it. :)
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    This will disappoint you, but I'm keeping my scale and daily weigh-ins. Despite my failures at math, I like crunching data and looking at weekly and monthly averages. The more data I have, the more accurate (I feel) my long-term outlooks are. I can see on a daily basis what I need to tweak to keep the weight dropping.
  • poetictraveller
    poetictraveller Posts: 47 Member
    I think I love you! Thanks for making my day....!
  • nturner612
    nturner612 Posts: 710 Member
    NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • positivepineapple
    positivepineapple Posts: 87 Member
    Totally agree a scale is inaccurate on a daily basis. I never weigh myself the day after I've had too much sodium because I know I'll just feel disappointed. I'm just going by how I look and feel for now :-)
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    This will disappoint you, but I'm keeping my scale and daily weigh-ins. Despite my failures at math, I like crunching data and looking at weekly and monthly averages. The more data I have, the more accurate (I feel) my long-term outlooks are. I can see on a daily basis what I need to tweak to keep the weight dropping.

    not disappointed at all! we all have our things that work for us, and we're all different! if the scale motivates you, then GO FOR IT!

    just for most, it DE-motivates more than it motivates. :)
  • tr33p1g
    tr33p1g Posts: 85
    Great post - the scale is a lie!! I've just learned and won't look back now.
  • C_Lopez
    C_Lopez Posts: 74 Member
    Love it!!! Just what I needed to hear!!! Thanks!!
  • nefbaker
    nefbaker Posts: 79

    So do it for YOU. Do it for the way you'll FEEL. Don't do it for a number. What does that get you anyway when it's all said and done?

    Happy Friday y'all. :)

    Andrew

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Over the past four months I've lost perhaps a pound. I'm in a size 14 (from a high of 24 a year and a half ago) and I've run two half marathons, and yet I find I base my self worth not on the number of miles I've run this week, but on the number on the scale. I need to work on that.

    Mindy
  • jill1765
    jill1765 Posts: 13
    Thank You for this post!! I have noticed a change in pictures of getting smaller, but not so much on the scale recently.
  • thekyleo
    thekyleo Posts: 632 Member
    Well then shouldn't we get rid of MFP then? They constantly have our numbers up there, I think that people should leave well alone and not post anything like this on boards
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Use it at big check in points - after a month, two months, etc, etc, but stop jumping on it every day.

    If I throw it away, what am I supposed to to, buy a new one at every checkpoint?
  • healthyJenn0915
    healthyJenn0915 Posts: 185 Member
    Thank you for posting! This is exactly what I needed to hear today!
  • ShmoozyQ
    ShmoozyQ Posts: 390 Member
    Word.

    Those with a significant amount of weight to lose will see it on the scale. Not so much for those with a small amount of weight to drop!
  • deevatude
    deevatude Posts: 322 Member
    people just want to look good, most dont care about feeling healthy
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    This will disappoint you, but I'm keeping my scale and daily weigh-ins. Despite my failures at math, I like crunching data and looking at weekly and monthly averages. The more data I have, the more accurate (I feel) my long-term outlooks are. I can see on a daily basis what I need to tweak to keep the weight dropping.

    Glad it works for you ....If I have to weigh myself every day and take any notice of the number, I would have been miserable for the last year.... I have picked up around 10lbs, no idea why and how, but perimenopause might have something to do with it....

    BUT...I still wear the same size jeans (for some brands a size smaller as well as a size smaller top YAY for lifting heavy!!
    :flowerforyou: ). For the last week the scale have gone bonkers and added another 5lbs (IBS flaring up)- although my measurements are exactly the same....And my tightest jeans still fits....
    If I have to do the "woe me, I'm getting fat" routine and eat a whole pizza to drown my sorrows, I would have a real problem.....
  • madlittleoldme
    madlittleoldme Posts: 19
    i think i may do that i nearly threw my scales out the window today lying machine told me i had put on a pound how very dare it :P
  • Compudad
    Compudad Posts: 54 Member
    I don't advocate getting rid of the scale, we just need to understand it.

    I understand my numbers go up and down, When I weigh myself every day I am looking to see where the trend is going. I then use that trend to adjust my activities to keep moving in the right direction.

    My scale is my biggest motivator because it is the easiest way to keep score so that I can get to the other indicators like feeling healthier and smaller measurements.
  • Rhia55
    Rhia55 Posts: 247
    I'm not throwing mine away.. it cost too much, but I only weigh in once a month. I am judging weight loss by how clothes fit and how I look in the mirror and how I feel.
  • dalgal26
    dalgal26 Posts: 781 Member
    Well, the same thing does not work for everyone. It it works for you, then throw out your scale.:smile:

    For me, I weigh every morning. And it has helped me to get through this journey. Sometimes I love my scale and some days I don't...but, it keeps me on the straight and narrow and FOR ME, it works.:love:

    Wishing you continued success in your journey to a healthier you. :flowerforyou:
  • FDwife153
    FDwife153 Posts: 15 Member
    this is exactly what i needed to hear right now. the scale is truthfully one of the most discouraging things for me...to go through ALL of that hardwork and not see the "numbered" results. society puts so much pressure on women to look like the models on the magazine and to be a size 0-2. it's difficult not to be hard on ourselves. but you're right (and i knew it all along, but it's nice to have the reminder) that as long as i feel great and am getting healthy and fit, who cares about that stupid number. :) not always the easiest concept for me to grasp, but it is a concept that i am going to try harder to live apon.

    thanks again for the inspirational post!
  • gombolyu
    gombolyu Posts: 136 Member
    Yes, scale doesn't motivates me, but when I look in the mirror, and I can see and feel all the changes, that's the thing.:)
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    I paid $60 for my scale and it gives me some valuable information every time I step on it (and hold the hand grips). I think I'll keep it, thanks.
  • lallaloolly
    lallaloolly Posts: 228 Member
    yes, thank you! six weeks of consistent hard work and while my body has shaped up incredibly (bye bye inches) i've lost one pound. if i was relying on the scale to motivate me, i would have given up weeks ago.
  • BrieLP
    BrieLP Posts: 300 Member
    I'm not going to throw it away but may use your advice to only do it once a month..... well after Monday that is :bigsmile:
  • gazelleintraining
    gazelleintraining Posts: 107
    It doesn't help that the numbers are constantly being thrown in our face. "So and so lost 100 pounds", "I want to lose 25 pounds to get back to my high school weight", hell, the Biggest Loser is all about who lost the MOST WEIGHT! But you know what? Who gives a crap? EVERY ONE of those people are winners because they have completely changed their lives and they all feel unbelievable. And I guarantee every ONE of them would gladly take that FEELING over the number any day of the week.

    Happy Friday y'all. :)

    Thank you so much for this post. It was just what I needed to hear. I joined this site about a month ago and saw an initial 4-lb loss right away, following by a 6-pound gain from going from sedentary to about 60-90 minutes of workout videos daily. Not understanding how new habits affect the body, I was so frustrated by the scale that I even considered quitting--yikes! In the past I have lost large amounts of weight through simply not eating a whole lot but ignoring fitness (dumb, I know, but now much older and wiser albeit bigger, I'm going to do it the right way). Now I think I'll just weigh in a little less often instead, because frankly, I was feeling much more confident, energetic, and happy than before I started, and then I stepped on the scale and ruined everything . . . Thank you for the reminder. ;)
  • Off10h8ed
    Off10h8ed Posts: 282 Member
    My scale hasn't budged much these past couple of weeks! However, my belt has to be a couple of notches tighter so that is good enough for me right now! :)
  • littlebuddy84
    littlebuddy84 Posts: 995 Member
    You're so right. Brilliant post :-)
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    When I moved to a new apartment this past spring, I forgot my scale. I took that as a sign I dont even think about it enough to need it anymore. I use the measuring tape, my own clothing, the mirror and the number of plates on the barbell and how long I can go til I start feeling whoosie.

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