my scale hates me

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mapnerd2005
mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm yelling at myself right now....."GET OFF THE SCALE!!!!" because I've been on this journey a while, with a little detour for the past year or so, but I'm back on the right road now. I know I need to do weigh-ins about once a week. But the problem is my scale hates me. It won't budge. Some mornings (yes, I get on the blasted thing every day, which I know I should not) it goes up, especially if I had a particularly intense workout the evening before and am feeling sooorrrrrreeeeee.

Well, this morning I stepped on the scale. It hasn't budged in over a week, and this morning it went UP a pound. So the obvious answer is that it hates me. That's all. I went and got dressed, put my jeans on and they were a little loose in the waist. Progress! I put my shirt on and it was a little looser in the sleeves. Progress! My clothes like me, my scale just hates me.

I also know I was way over on sodium yesterday. And today. And everyday. I don't add any salt to any food, but I do eat some processed foods that are high in sodium and I LOVE buffalo sauce, and I am craving it, so I'm eating it today. I will drink more water.

I am also SORE today, like holy cow, my armpits are sore. I didn't even remember I had muscles in my armpits. But I used them last night, and it felt good. And I know repairing muscles hold on to water and electrolites for the repair process. So maybe that pound is a sign of progress.........but the scale still hates me.

I'm also a female, and thinking about where I am in my cycle (yep, guys, deal with it - we don't like it either). The low-grade nauseousness and sore boobs have set in (there, I said boobs, that makes up for me talking about PMS, right?), and I know my body likes to hold onto a little extra in the 2nd half of my cycle....

But my scale still hates me. I will not give up. I will not back down. I stand up to bullies. I will continue to face this bully every single day. And I will make notes to drink more water today. And I will try to cut some sodium out of my diet. And I will keep walking to work like I do every day. And my jeans will be a little loser. And the next thing I know they will fall off. And hopefully my scale will change and come to love me.
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Replies

  • Mane1972
    Mane1972 Posts: 26 Member
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    Love it! And I am right there with you! :wink:
  • MartyHumphrey
    MartyHumphrey Posts: 2 Member
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    Sometimes I believe that my scale hates me also. I too have been weighing myself daily this week. It is not a good thing. Yesterday I was down and today I am up. It is completely frustrating. Don't give up and please stop weighing yourself daily. I just made a promise to myself to stop this as it only serves to frustrate me.
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    I get on it daily because like how much my weight fluctuates on a day to day basis. I am a researcher by nature, and in this journey I have my very own guinea pig (me). I take notes. I record things like mood, energy levels, body aches and pains, and how my hair feels. I compare those notes with my food and exercise diary. It has helped me learn more about my own body. I consider myself fortunate that I have noticed things like the 7 POUND (or stall) monthly fluctuation I experience because of my normal hormone cycle. (TMI coming up, guys may want to skip ahead to the next paragraph) I like it because it has helped me keep better track of my cycle, and I can predict the onset of my period almost to the HOUR.

    That being said, I only record my weight once a week, and I weight myself at the same time every morning. As long as the trend is a downward one, I don't sweat it. Or I do sweat it (off) in my workouts!
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
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    The scale is unbiased and is merely confirming the source of weight fluctuations you have noted. Don't let it get to you emotionally or else another adaptation, elevated cortisol, will further mask fat loss and induce even greater fluctuations and frustration.
  • btracy01
    btracy01 Posts: 49
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    Probably just water. After a huge workout water will be in your muscles to help them heal or something like that.

    Anywho, if the scale is still mean next week, take it outside and beat it with a baseball bat, shovel, or drill. Then set it on fire. You'll feel better and get a good exercise! Win win. (ps you can add me as a friend if you want :D)
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    The scale is unbiased and is merely confirming the source of weight fluctuations you have noted. Don't let it get to you emotionally or else another adaptation, elevated cortisol, will further mask fat loss and induce even greater fluctuations and frustration.

    Ah yes, the whole "inanimate objects are not capable of showing emotion" argument. :wink:
    It kinda ruins the point of the post to point out the (maybe not so obvious) intent of saying, "hey, even though my scale isn't showing a loss, there are all these other measures of progress, and that the human body takes steps to help repair itself while making itself stronger, including retaining fluids". That's the "having to explain the joke" makes it less so, thing. Anyway, :drinker: raise your glass (of water)!
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    Probably just water. After a huge workout water will be in your muscles to help them heal or something like that.

    Anywho, if the scale is still mean next week, take it outside and beat it with a baseball bat, shovel, or drill. Then set it on fire. You'll feel better and get a good exercise! Win win. (ps you can add me as a friend if you want :D)

    I will absolutely beat that thing with a bat if it doesn't start cooperating next week. It should be TOM anyway, I'll be looking to get rid of a little extra aggression and something to take my moodiness out on.
  • paleojoe
    paleojoe Posts: 442 Member
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    Well if the clothes are getting looser and the weight is staying the same (or possibly going up) then the answer most likely is added muscle. We know muscle weighs more then fat so don't sweat it. You are the same weight in a smaller, tighter package!

    =)P

    35390739.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    Yep, muscle tissue is denser than fatty tissue, and the clothes are definitely fitting differently. I call it progress :tongue:
  • CaliSteph
    CaliSteph Posts: 142 Member
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    [/quote]

    I will absolutely beat that thing with a bat if it doesn't start cooperating next week. It should be TOM anyway, I'll be looking to get rid of a little extra aggression and something to take my moodiness out on.
    [/quote]

    You can borrow my bat. This morning I went to weigh in and the damn thing wasn't working. At first, I panicked and thought, oh my god I broke it I'm so big. And then common sense hit me that it was just broken. Now I'm upset at it for making me think such a horrible thought. Curse you scale!
  • danibu98
    danibu98 Posts: 281 Member
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    I made my husband hide my scale because I was an obsessive scale hopper! I'm only allowed on it on Monday now :)
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
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    Mine hates me too and like you, I'm in the throes of PMS. It really sucks.
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    I made my husband hide my scale because I was an obsessive scale hopper! I'm only allowed on it on Monday now :)

    ahhh, yeah, I don't have one of those "husband" things anymore. And if I hide something from myself, it's gone forever :-)
  • AngieCarcel
    AngieCarcel Posts: 13
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    Hey there :)
    I'm having the same problem actually.
    Just curious- do you use a digital or non-digital scale?
    My husband and I have a digital scale and not only do the readings fluctuate, but our scale is insanely "off" from what my doctor's scale said when I went the other day. My scale made me 4 lbs heavier the SAME DAY that I weighed in at the Dr!.
    So if you're using a digital scale, I might suggest switching back to the ole' non digi scale. That's what I'm doing ASAP. It's never failed me. I mean, I still freaking HATE all scales , lol , but the digital scales are so moody. If you're using a non-digital scale, then maybe then maybe it's time for an upgrade to a higher quality scale of the same type? Just a few suggestions. I know how frustrating it is to see that you made even the *slightest* progress, and then the next day see the weight (AND some) come right back. It might not be 100% biological. Machines are faulty :)
  • lkocher01
    lkocher01 Posts: 10 Member
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    I just got on the scale this morning and ended up in tears. I am eating right (too low according to the log on some days) and I am up .6 pounds. I am about to throw in the towel, but i know that's not the answer. If anyone can help, I would appreciate. I just really need some encouragement today.
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    I just got on the scale this morning and ended up in tears. I am eating right (too low according to the log on some days) and I am up .6 pounds. I am about to throw in the towel, but i know that's not the answer. If anyone can help, I would appreciate. I just really need some encouragement today.

    .6 pounds is nothing to worry about. This morning, yes, I hate getting on my (digital) scale and not seeing it drop 10 pounds overnight (wouldn't that be awesome???), but there were soooo many other signs of progress this morning that what the scale said didn't get me down. It is scientifically proven that the human body can fluctuate up to 5 lbs a day, that's why it is recommended to weight yourself at the same time of day when you do weight and not hop on the scale every 30 minutes (like I do, hahahaha). Don't give up. Look for other signs of progress (do a forum search of NSV - non-scale victories), because it is very likely they are there. Make sure you eat enough. I know it's hard when you want to see progress. Last night after my workout I know I probably should've eaten more than I did, but I was not hungry and it was hard enough to eat the dinner and snack I had planned for the day prior to working out. Stick to it. It will happen. I started this journey a long time ago and lost over 100 pounds. I didn't follow through to my final goal, and when I gained 20 back I decided it was time to jump back on the wagon and get through to my final goal....which is to be in excellent shape no matter what my weight.

    Here is what progress can look like:
    BEFORE: April, 2009
    DSC_0015.jpg

    At my lowest of my adult life (and 40 pounds to go til goal of my "ideal" weight....)
    March2011.jpg

    And Current (I reset my ticker to my current weight when I jumped back on the wagon)
    422361_10150580055582600_1270145720_n_zpsbbec8eda.jpg

    Feel free to add me as a friend. I love giving encouragement!
  • paleojoe
    paleojoe Posts: 442 Member
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    You look fantastic! Great work!
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    Thanks :-)

    Actually, I'm glad I got to looking for pics, because I haven't looked at my before pic for probably almost 2 years, HELLO MOTIVATION!!!
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
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    And....it hated me even more this morning. It went up ANOTHER pound. I know there is no way I can "actually" gain 2 pounds in two days unless I went over my TDEE by 3500 calories each day, so I know this has to be day-to-day fluctuation. So, further evidence that I need to put the scale away except for once a week. And I am going to. My official weigh-in day/time is Monday morning. So no more scale until Monday morning.
  • Danni1585
    Danni1585 Posts: 250 Member
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    sound advice here, lets break the culture together of scales being the only measure of success. We all know the before and after pics show real success. eat less, move more and everyday you will move nearer to your goal. Its a long haul but with MFP it can be fun too x good luck

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