Obsessed with the scale

res119
res119 Posts: 27
in Health and Weight Loss
I just started to really commit to eating well and exercising about a week into February, and I have already lost 7 lbs. (woo!) I set the goal to lose 10 by March 1st. I realize that is a little steep, but for the first couple weeks it seemed totally possible, so I was super excited to finally achieve a set weight loss goal for once in my life; however this week my weight hasn't budged, and I am already starting to hit that wall that I always hit of being discouraged by what the scale says. I realize I am completely delusional, because of course losing 7 lbs. over the course of about three weeks is amazing! And I really am genuinely happy with that, yet some part of me cannot help but to get instantly frustrated when the scale stops moving.

And yes, hence the title of this post, I am obsessed with weighing myself. I do it at least once a day, and I know it's a problem!!! My boyfriend is even threatening to take my scale away and only let me weigh in weekly or biweekly. I really do feel like it keeps me on track though! I feel like this whole thing might be a self-sabotage cycle I keep putting myself through, so I need some support!

Can any of you relate to this, and if so, what do you do to deal with it?
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Replies

  • 6302getsfit
    6302getsfit Posts: 10 Member
    Hey! I try and weigh myself 1 a week. So I don't weight my self everyday because, you know your water weight shifts daily!
    It doesn't matter what you weight though, it more matters of what you look like you weight :)
    Congrats on your weight loss!!

    xx
    -Emalee
  • annapcc
    annapcc Posts: 34
    I totally can relate. I was weighing myself every time I would walk into the bathroom! I finally put my scale in my living room under the couch and picked a weigh-in day. (Friday). So far it has helped with the constant urge to weigh myself. Don't let the scale determine your mood. You're not doing this just to have the numbers on the scale go down.... It's a lifestyle change and takes time. Live your life and don't let it be ruled by a number. :-)
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    I have to get on mine once first thing everymorning. I wish someone would take mine away for a week! Let him, it'll be a good thing for you.
  • MissJanet55
    MissJanet55 Posts: 457 Member
    I weighed myself constantly, probably half a dozen times a day. I tucked my scale away for the month of February.

    The first week was brutal, I was wildly anxious. I somehow thought that without checking I was in danger of gaining 20 lbs overnight (yeah, I know). After that I settled down. And the odd thing was that it really helped me stick to my daily goals.

    I planned to not weigh myself until this Saturday, but pulled the scale out yesterday. My official weigh in day won't be until Saturday, but it has been wonderful to be free of it. It takes a lot of energy to try to control your weigh every minute of every day, and the normal fluctuations we all have became ridiculously important.

    Put your scale away for a few weeks. You won't regret it.
  • Grognit
    Grognit Posts: 50
    When I log my food for the day it says you will weigh xxx by xxx. Well the weight it says is my next goal so that's when I will weigh. It's 24 days from now. I hate the scale. It didn't move for weeks but my clothes fit better and I felt different.
  • res119
    res119 Posts: 27
    Thank you so much for the support and advice! I think I am going to get rid of it for a little while. It is for sure a lifestyle, and that is what I want it to be. I know I have to learn to just go by feeling healthy more so than worrying about the number on the scale. Thanks everyone! :)
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    I totally can relate. I was weighing myself every time I would walk into the bathroom! I finally put my scale in my living room under the couch and picked a weigh-in day. (Friday). So far it has helped with the constant urge to weigh myself. Don't let the scale determine your mood. You're not doing this just to have the numbers on the scale go down.... It's a lifestyle change and takes time. Live your life and don't let it be ruled by a number. :-)

    Well said.......Hide them, and weigh once a week : )

    Good luck!
  • kellster111
    kellster111 Posts: 113 Member
    I used to weigh once a week and then it started to be twice a week and then everyday! I was getting so frustrated with the fluctuations, so I took measurements and stopped weighing so often. I still weigh once per week but if I get disheartened I then check measurements and the tape is moving even if the scale isn't. I have lost 2 inches from my waist in 6 weeks and not lost a pound.
    Weight isn't everything its how you look and feel that is just as important as a number on a scale.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    I don't weigh myself at all! I go by how my clothes fit.
  • stella1314
    stella1314 Posts: 66 Member
    I am exactly like you, i need to weigh myself at least once a day. I trIed zig-zag diet and it worked for me.
  • hannah_ryann
    hannah_ryann Posts: 259 Member
    I weigh almost every day when I remember, but I've been able to separate myself emotionally from the number. I log about once a week, or whenever I get a new low, whichever comes first. I used to go round and round in my head with the scale numbers because I had an eating disorder in high school, but now it's just one of the many tools (including measurements, how my clothes fit, and how I feel mentally and physically) that i use to track my progress. I'm doing everything right and if the scale doesn't agree, I just say "whatevs."
  • shunta864
    shunta864 Posts: 52
    i was horrible when it came to the scale. i just recently moved to a new place and left the scale there! lol i told myself that i would wait at least a month before i would weigh myself. i also have a crazy little secret. the first few months of my weight lose i wouldn't buy one because i knew how bad i was with weighing myself. so what i did is went to a big lots right down the street once a week and they had a scale that was already out of the box, i guess for display. i would go in and walk directly to the scale weigh myself and leave. lol. i mean it worked. why not..{dont judge me}
  • agggie550
    agggie550 Posts: 281 Member
    I weigh myself 3 times a day, first thing in the morning when i get home from work, and before i go to bed. Why I dont know, because i really dont care what the number says, maybe i gained or lost, or am the exact same, im still getting up going to the gym next day because I wanna be healthy... I base my success on my weights, and how my clothes fit... a scale is just a number, a new pair of smaller jeans, or a looser fitting tshirt feels just as good as a lower weight, and getting an extra rep in, or adding 25 lbs to your squat, feels just as good as a lower scale number. So some times the scale isnt the only way to judge success, its just the easiest. Good luck.
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    scales aren't accurate.

    Doesn't count your bones structure,water,muscle mass etc...
    Even your poop (sorry but yes, you can have a total of 5 pounds of poop in you without knowing). That's why you need to eat fiber lol.
    Use a mirror and a measuring tape.... This is the best best best way.
    So many proof of this everywhere.

    If you get toner and gain 5 pounds of muscles you will be heavier on the scale but not in front of the mirror or with a measuring tape...you will be more cut and lean that's 100% true.

    I didn't lose many pounds myself (30 lbs at the moment) BUT I've lost 8 inches of waist and over 15% body fat.
    Not super major on the scale but on pictures etc.....big big difference.

    Just my opinion here ;)

    Take care everyone.
  • ljmiller11
    ljmiller11 Posts: 67 Member
    I found myself feeling like this too and so I have set myself a challenge. No weighing at all in March! I know it's going to be so hard to do but I'm up for the challenge and I'm sick of being down when the scale shows a tiny loss or nothing at all. Feel free to add me as a friend if you fancy joining in on the challenge.

    Good luck :)
  • plynn54
    plynn54 Posts: 912 Member
    If you live with somone just get them to hide away the scale and get it out once a week for you
  • Weighinginwithmy02
    Weighinginwithmy02 Posts: 369 Member
    by setting an unatainable goal, you set yourself up for failure. Why would you do that when you have done it before in the past and you know how it works out for you? Set yourself up for winning! Set an attainable, achievable, realistic goal and stick with it. Even if you don't achieve your target weight by ___ date, who cares? It's just a number you're plucking out of the air to give you a goal to shoot at. Sometimes our goals need to be adjusted. The real prize is getting healthy, regardless of when it is achieved, be it a week or a month late.
  • mfoy94
    mfoy94 Posts: 228 Member
    If it affects your weight loss and you are getting de motivated and want to quit then put the scale away. I know its tempting, I weigh myself every day but I know I cant let that number rule my life
  • StephTanis
    StephTanis Posts: 18 Member
    I was obsessed with scale numbers last time I set out to lose weight. This time I am taking measurements and calculating body fat percentage with my weight. Trying to only weigh in and measure once a week! Last weigh in I gained a pound but according to bf% I lost two pounds of fat and went down a full percentage because my measurements were smaller. It helped my psyche to know that I was still losing bf% even if I gained a pound!
  • workoutchick
    workoutchick Posts: 93 Member
    yep .i can relate to you. I weigh myslef aleast every day or every other day. I'm getting a little better at it though. I probably should hide the thing. it's only a number. i've been feeling better since i started exercising 5 -6 days a week.
  • erin4455
    erin4455 Posts: 135
    Some friends and I on here have vowed to give up the scale for one month - we weighed in for the last time yesterday and won't weigh in again until March 31st. I think everyone gets caught up in the numbers and it's a good idea to take a step back - even if you have to force yourself - and start tracking your progress on other ways that don't cause as much stress (i.e. progress photos, measurements, noting how clothing fits differently, etc.). Good luck!
  • DylanJM1985
    DylanJM1985 Posts: 3
    I know exactly how you mean, and feel about weighing in frequently. I also had a problem with easily being discouraged when I see the scale plateau making me feel like I am not making progress and want to give up! So I thought of a great idea, and this is what I ended up doing... I put up my favorite inspiring quotes such as e.g. “The only bad workout is the one you don’t let happen” to simply, e.g. "smile today". If you set different goals other than the weight loss and being easily discouraged when every day is progress though your # doesn't feel like it, you can stop obsessing and use other positive outlooks on your life and know you should be proud, and happy about trying then disappointing yourself all together and have regret. Once I was able to understand this concept I built for myself day to day, I started noticing how less I was stepping on the scale, and being more proud of my progress then ever! Here is another great quote you may like to post on your mirror in your bathroom or on your front door "Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow."-Plato

    FYI (Sorry if i wasnt 100% making sense... its still 5a in the morning, and start my day everyday @3:50a, so i hope you get it : )
  • 111sqy
    111sqy Posts: 4 Member
    I understand but Im afraid that if I dont stand on I will do something wrong eat something wrong. but If i see that smaller its that number I see in my head when I say no to the cookie. I guess its my will power till I get stronger !
  • shakeupyourdiet
    shakeupyourdiet Posts: 12
    i totally relate to this and depending what they say sets my mod for the day !!!
    I would recommend measuring yourself as that also helps :)
  • ForABetterMe89
    ForABetterMe89 Posts: 196
    I weigh myself everyday. Everyday at the same time, after I go to the bathroom, wearing the same thing, nothing. So many people tell me to weigh in once a week, but it being daily gets me in the mindset of the day. The slightest fluctuation helps me see my loss or gain. We all have to figure out what's right for us. You lost 7 lbs in 3 weeks, that's great. Don't give up, you're body is adjusting and lost it's initial weight, continue what you're doing and you'll see more change. If for some reason you don't feel like what you're doing is helping, change it up at little, throw your body off.

    Good luck in your weight loss. Remember you can do it.
  • palmerar
    palmerar Posts: 489 Member
    I was weighing weekly in January and saw the numbers stay the same and go totally discouraged. In February I decided to start monthly weigh-ins, so my first one was today. I lost 4 lbs!!! You know what is better than seeing .5 or 1 or 2 lbs drop......seeing 4lbs gone. Try to let it go, I was absolutely terrified that I had gained but I am so happy that I waited to weigh. Also please note that this brings me up to a total of 5 lbs down since Jan 1......it takes a while, especially if you don't have a lot to lose.
  • DylanJM1985
    DylanJM1985 Posts: 3
    I know exactly how you mean, and feel about weighing in frequently. I also had a problem with easily being discouraged when I see the scale plateau making me feel like I am not making progress and want to give up! So I thought of a great idea, and this is what I ended up doing... I put up my favorite inspiring quotes such as e.g. “The only bad workout is the one you don’t let happen” to simply, e.g. "smile today". If you set different goals other than the weight loss and being easily discouraged when every day is progress though your # doesn't feel like it, you can stop obsessing and use other positive outlooks on your life and know you should be proud, and happy about trying then disappointing yourself all together and have regret. Once I was able to understand this concept I built for myself day to day, I started noticing how less I was stepping on the scale, and being more proud of my progress then ever! Here is another great quote you may like to post on your mirror in your bathroom or on your front door "Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow."-Plato
  • Erika44095
    Erika44095 Posts: 9 Member
    I'm guilty. I step on the scale every morning & then every night. I know based on my weight at the end of the day that genrally I'm two pounds lighter in the morning, then I know what to expect in the morning. My husband knows I weigh myself everyday, but if he knew I did this, he would probably hide my scale from me
  • AshS1050
    AshS1050 Posts: 43 Member
    this is almost my exact same story. i started in january and lost 7 lbs by Feb 1 and wanted to lose 10 by March 1 and i'm SOOO discouraged b/c it is March 1 and i'm 3 lbs away. So same deal. i didn't hit a wall, but i kept gaining & losing the same 5lbs over and over again. i too weigh everyday and when i don't weigh i gain more or lose less. i need that constant reminder of where i am and how much harder i need to work. if i stop weighing myself, i lose focus and eat like a fat kid.

    i think different people are motivated differently. so watching numbers can be helpful if it motivates you, but don't let it keep you from pushing forward. if you keep up the healthy lifestyle, the numbers will go down eventually.

    7 lbs is a great loss! just keep up the determination
  • msmichelelynn
    msmichelelynn Posts: 15
    I do weigh myself pretty frequently. I try not to obsess about the number, particularly three pounds either way. This seems pretty normal for me and water seems to even it out more. I also keep a tape measure handy because I am doing a lot of aerobic activity these days and I'm building muscle. So even though the scale may not be moving, it doesn't mean that I'm not making progress.

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