No scales this time

waggs72
waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
edited November 9 in Getting Started
Back at square one for the umpteenth time. I'm trying to lose the same stone and a half for years. Well even ten pounds would be nice. This time I have to try something different. I'm not going to weigh myself. I'm blaming the scales for previous failures. When I didn't like what they said - I gave up. So this time, with this photo to inspire me, I'm simply going to eat less and move more for three months and see what happens. Obviously I want to eat less and move more forever but I'm not going to measure anything for a full three months. Instead I hope to return here and update on how I'm doing.
- I am also going to try without logging all foods. Counting calories had worked for me and I know it would work again but I think it's unsustainable for me in the long term - plus I suspect I have a tendency to under eat when doing it so I'm going to see if I can manage without it. However if discipline slips I might reconsider.
- So that's my story. Feel free to advise, comment, or ignore. Fingers crossed! n2u4do8et543.jpg
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Replies

  • debubbie
    debubbie Posts: 767 Member
    I ditched the scale too as my main tool for measuring my weight loss success, it brought me down when it didn't show a loss after hard work and staying under my calories. I have decided to still count calories, take body measurements to keep track of inches lost, the fit of my clothes, and accomplishing fitness goals that I have set up for myself as measures of my success. I believe that if I stay under my calorie goal and reach my fitness goals then the weight will come off.

    You can add me if you would like a friend on this journey.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    I wish you luck!! But I can't ignore the no logging, it really does work:) By the time you reach your goal weight you should have some general idea of your calorie needs. By weighing and logging everyday you kind of understand how much food you need to sustain you.
  • farfromthetree
    farfromthetree Posts: 982 Member
    I weigh myself daily and log daily. I weigh/measure everything I eat and I actually enjoy it. It takes me just a minute per meal and trust me, I spend much more time doing silly things like Facebook and reading these forums. I would never know how many calories I was eating without doing this. In fact, I under eat if I don't log because I fear I am going way over. It keeps me focused, and motivated. I hope it works for you...honestly, but I wonder how serious you were about it since your diary is private, and you only have 6 posts. It seems like you are relatively new at this unless you did it another way.
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    I take the point about logging and I am prepared to concede it is a big mistake. I also know I need to use something as accountability so if I am not logging everything I eat I am at least going to have to come on here reasonably regularly to update how I am getting on. Logging works but I know from experience that I can get bored of it very quickly. I want to at least try the theory that eating less and moving more works. The hardest part of what I am about to do will not be avoiding high calorie foods, cutting down on treats and alcohol, watching portions or exercising regularly. The hardest part, without a doubt, will be not weighing myself. I am not as new to mfp as my profile suggests - i have given it 100 percent with success in the past but ultimately the scales, I believe, were what made me pack it in. Logging and weighing is great when the scales go the right way but when you are doing everything right and they don't, it is so demoralising. in the past that was probably due to hormones, temporary water retention or something minor but a tiny blip was often enough to cUse major derailment. Not going to let thAt happen this time.
  • Cinderella_82
    Cinderella_82 Posts: 20 Member
    Hey Waggs,
    I wish you all the best for your journey. For me it sounds like a good idea to try something new and give yourself the chance to start without ungood feelings.
    Feel free to add me.
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Well so far so good although I accept it's early days. One week in and I am definitely eating better, eating less and moving more. My only problem is I've damaged my back which could make exercise difficult. But I'm determined not to give up. The scales tempt me every day but I am staying strong and ignoring them.
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Serious back pain has meant no exercise which is a dreadful start but at least I have been eating right -mostly. Back to physio tomorrow and I am hoping I can get running soon as I have signed up for a 10k at the beginning of March. Next goal is to try and work in a small bit of gentle weight training. I think it was ambitious weights that messed the back up in the first place.
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Not sure anyone is interested in this thread and I can understand - I'm not weighing so I can't tell you my progress. But I'm going to keep coming back anyway whether anyone reads it or not. What I can say is that despite the back injury I'm staying active and walking lots. I had a bad weekend food wise which was almost inevitable as I was away visiting my Dad and he likes company when he eats and drinks! Not too much bad food but lots of wine. Before, the punishment I would see on the scales for a weekend like that could be enough to derail me but not this time. I swapped lunch for a home made kale and strawberry smoothie and I might do that a few more days to make up for weekend sins. I want to wait to the end of March before I step on a scales but I'm really hoping that by then my clothes and the mirror will tell me I've lost weight and I won't need a scales to prove it. I'm really hoping I can get back running soon.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Well guess what, I'm interested. I've bookmarked this and am interested in how you do. Keeping my fingers crossed :)
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited January 2015
    So. Last year there were a few plane crashes. We should remove all navigation data because that will help pilots get there on good wishes and intentions.

    This is what you post sounds like to me.

    Best of luck, but I think the issue isn't taking the weight off, it's the adherence after. You are focusing on the part you already know how to do....

    I wish you luck, I just hope you figure out how info can help.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    farfromthetree wrote: »
    I weigh myself daily and log daily. I weigh/measure everything I eat and I actually enjoy it. It takes me just a minute per meal and trust me, I spend much more time doing silly things like Facebook and reading these forums. I would never know how many calories I was eating without doing this. In fact, I under eat if I don't log because I fear I am going way over. It keeps me focused, and motivated. I hope it works for you...honestly, but I wonder how serious you were about it since your diary is private, and you only have 6 posts. It seems like you are relatively new at this unless you did it another way.

    ^this seems like a reasonably sound approach to take...

    ...on a website that is centered around tracking net calories.

    Because intuitive eating is really hard to do when you're trying to eat at a deficit. It's way too easy to seriously undereat for a while and then binge as a natural reaction to the prolonged undereating.

    Best of luck to you, OP, but...this current approach seems less than optimal.
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    edited January 2015
    waggs72 wrote: »
    Serious back pain has meant no exercise which is a dreadful start but at least I have been eating right -mostly. Back to physio tomorrow and I am hoping I can get running soon as I have signed up for a 10k at the beginning of March. Next goal is to try and work in a small bit of gentle weight training. I think it was ambitious weights that messed the back up in the first place.

    I injured my back a few months into my weight loss. I didn't exercise much because of that in the traditional sense, but I walked to and from work every day which equated to 5 miles a day. I recommend walking. It helped a lot.

    Also don't recommend ditching the logging though. That's the only way I could lose weight. I mostly ditched it when in maintenance mode though and it's worked for me.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    emily_stew wrote: »
    So...you're just going to wing it?

    Basically. Book marked.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    #yolo
  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    In, because I'm curious.
  • 4leighbee
    4leighbee Posts: 1,275 Member
    in re: "winging it" versus "consistent and accurate data" ...... it seems to me that it depends an awful lot on factors like personality and motivation to succeed. I tend to be a wing it kind of person, but when it's time to get serious, I care enough about my success that I will make my choices sustainable - and not because I'm analyzing my every move. If I get too tightly wound about counting/measuring etc. everything, I will surely fail which will lead to a self-esteem tumble which will lead to a desire to comfort myself which will lead to over-eating and under-running. I guess I'm just saying to each their own. If winging it works for you, OP, more power to you (literally)! Good luck!
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I would agree with not weighing yourself, but I would definitely NOT do the not logging or weighing food. Eyeballing is so inaccurate, and because you want to stay within a deficit you're going to risk eating way too little, which will be counterproductive.

    But whatever you choose to do, good luck.
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Well surprise, surprise some people are interested. I'm kind of delighted that a few almost seem convinced I will fail as that will spur me on! I've done the logging and I've done the daily stepping on the scales. So I know it works but it just didnt work long term for me. I did say was prepared to reconsider the logging and I did actually do it two days last week and I may continue to do it on the odd occasion or I may return to it daily. But I'm not stepping on scales under any circumstances - at least not until the end of March at the earliest. I am not trying to lose a tonne of weight. Ideally, over the course of the year I am aiming to go from 156 to about 138 I'd like to reach the 138 by sometime in September and maintain for the rest. My problem is I've been putting on and losing the same ten pounds for years. I have always been happy enough when I've shifted the ten, not really cared about shifting any more and because it wasn't that hard to lose I haven't tried hard enough to keep it off. The idea is this time if I lose enough that I need to change a good deal of my wardrobe I will work harder to keep it off. I am walking lots - I have the up24 jawbone and have logged more than 10,000 steps the last three days in a row - not easy with a full time sitting down job and three kids. I do think the jawbone is helping a lot - while I only logged food a couple of times I keep track of daily movement and sleep and I believe that lack of sleep was a major factor in previous weight gains and weight loss failures. With that in mind, good night everyone - and thanks for reading!
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    :)
  • as5811
    as5811 Posts: 62 Member
    I've had a battle with the scale, too. I would weigh my self and if I was losing I'd think I could cheat. This time I'm weighing once a week and exercising. Logging in food and exercise has helped me ...so far. Whatever works for you, good luck.
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    I need to hide my scales because the temptation to step on them is driving me nuts. In fact, what I need is for someone in my family to hide them for me so I don't even know where they are and can put them out of my mind entirely. I know I have lost something - I can definitely feel it, and something would be seriously wrong if I hadn't because I have been moving more 90 percent of the time and eating better and less 80 percent of the time. The only question is how much. And then I try to remind myself does it really matter? As long as I am eating well and exercising - I have to be moving towards my goal and what does it matter how long that takes? I read once that a survey of dieters showed that those who were asked to celebrate their commitment did much better than those who were asked to celebrate their progress. So, the irony is that celebrating progress might hinder progress!
    So, how am I doing apart from that? Weekends are always a struggle because I like a few drinks which of course means calories but the drinks also lead to munchies which means more calories but I am very happy with how I have handled them - no major sacrifices and no mjor binges either. I have broken the cycle of a bad few days leading to another bad few days - because there are no scales to depress me with the damage I caused. Month 1 nearly over. Physiotherapist says I can start back running at the weekend. I am looking forward to that. I think. :)
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Just checking in to keep myself accountable. Bit boring for anyone reading cos I can't yet tell you whether I've lost anything. Clothes definitely feel looser but not by much. Haven't logged in ages. I've been picking quite a bit - mostly fruit and nuts but a bit of chocolate too. But I still reckon I'm eating a lot less overall and much better than before and I'm moving a lot more so there has to be some impact. Went for 10k run last weekend - another short fast one during the week plus a spin class and I'm averaging almost 12,000 steps a day on the pedometer. Going out for dinner tomorrow with my lushy in laws so that could be dangerous! Still dying to weight myself but the fear that the result could derail all my good work is keeping me away from the scales.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Looser clothing is good sign :)
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    A little concerned about how the not logging will work for you, but fully in support of not weighing. I can't count the threads here about how people gained 5 pounds overnight and aren't going to eat for a month because of it. I think it's important to recognize when something does more harm than good and it sounds like you've done that so good luck!!

  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Another check-in. I can see and feel a difference. Guessing 10lbs down but not tempting fate by weighing myself. Another 6 weeks before I can do that. Exercising plenty and generally eating well. I would like to log more but it is just too much effort. I am a snacker and a grazer and I couldn't be bothered working out how many calories are in three almonds or 7 cranberries or two chocolate covered hazelnuts. Today I went for a run and we went for breakfast and I had two pancakes with nutella - no idea how many calories and it would just be a guess so I figure why bother? I do sort of track a bit in my head - and when I occasionally log out of curiosity I find I am doing ok - but in general my rule is just to eat less than I did before. If I achieve that - it is a victory, no matter what I weigh..
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    I'm sorry now that I didn't take more before photos - not sure if the difference is obvious. I promise there is no 'sucking in' in either picture. 5nvsmdkg6elg.jpg
    AFTER. m3yoz0gqkcu7.jpg
  • waggs72
    waggs72 Posts: 27 Member
    Whoops - got those photos mixed up - the first one is the after pic - although it should be called 'during' not 'after'!
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    edited March 2015
    I see a difference, you are doing great!!
This discussion has been closed.

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