Scale Worshipers

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Replies

  • kitkatwag
    kitkatwag Posts: 82 Member
    "The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman." - Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave.

    Thanks so much for sharing this!
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    People often say things like: just put the scale away.
    Don't worry about the numbers!

    But when you started as obese and are overweight the numbers DO matter... and they can only stop mattering when you've hit that blessed 'healthy' number... then it's easier to put it away (but not permanently. I think those of us who hit obese will always be concerned about gaining it back).

    Yes, they certainly do matter, and not just if you're obese. They matter if you're sedentary, pregnant, getting older. If you don't know what your weight is ( and, one hopes, your body fat percentage, as well as many other indicia relating to health), you don't know what adjustments to make or if your diet and fitness plan is working.

    Unless you have a turbo-charged metabolism all your life and a very physical lifestyle your weight is something you have to measure. Maybe not every day, but certainly several times a month. I think that some people who have maintained weight loss or never gained a lot of weight have assimilated this to the point of it being almost second nature.
  • Sunshiny2
    Sunshiny2 Posts: 24 Member
    I used to be a scale worshipper when I did fad diets that would work very quickly. It was satisfying then, but now that I'm losing weight the healthy way, it's MUCH slower so I can't stand to weigh myself too often or I'll get discouraged. I'm committed to weighing in only once a month. I put the scale away in the closet so it's not taunting me and it's been surprisingly easy to stay away from it. I do my measurements and body fat% weekly and that gives me a good idea of what's going on :)
  • fugaj01
    fugaj01 Posts: 171 Member
    "The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman." - Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave.

    Love this!
  • applekoko19
    applekoko19 Posts: 85 Member
    Love my scale... I weigh in every morning. Yesterday was a bad day and I overate but I weighed in this morning even though I didn't want to and I saw that I had hardly put on any weight. It gave me lots of encouragement for today to know that weightloss isn't as fickle as we fear it might be :D
  • Lissakaye81
    Lissakaye81 Posts: 224 Member
    I weigh everyday, everytime I am in the bathroom. I only use my weigh in and measurements on Sundays. I also measure body fat, bmi, and use a tape for everything. I have been consistantly loosing so it has been a great motivator. I understand I can fluctuate by as much as 3lbs in a day. I am really happy that my weight is always under 200 now, even after eating and drinking all day.
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    Scales are lying *kitten*.

    I want to be smaller and fitter and IDGAF about what the scale says.

    Would you rather base your success on your pants size - or be gutted when you have some soy sauce and the scale says you're up in weight? Water weight is not fat weight - you're basing your success on something you have no control over. You do have control over body composition and fitness.

    p.s. I have upped my goal weight TWICE because I am much "thinner" at 137 now than I was at 125 before. I never hit my "goal" weight and I don't want to, so the argument that numbers matter until you hit your goal is invalid.
  • elishabeish
    elishabeish Posts: 175 Member
    I think it's harder for us who have been larger/obese to let go of the number on the scale -- it defined our fitness level before, and we want it to define it now. I've slowly come to the realization that the lucky people who don't have weight issues aren't like that... they define their fitness level by their strength, endurance, and the mirror. I'm trying to transition toward the latter, but it's definitely hard!

    Congratulations on all of your progress so far. Keep it up :)

    and as penrbrown said
    People often say things like: just put the scale away.
    Don't worry about the numbers!

    But when you started as obese and are overweight the numbers DO matter... and they can only stop mattering when you've hit that blessed 'healthy' number... then it's easier to put it away (but not permanently. I think those of us who hit obese will always be concerned about gaining it back).

    I yet to get a tape, gonna have to get one and see if it will replace my scale like it did for others.
  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    Allowing yourself to measure your own happiness and success by a number on the scale is really sad to me.
  • supermumincanada
    supermumincanada Posts: 59 Member
    I think that's maybe the reason why I never did buy a set of scales for my house. Having 2 daughters ( don't think my sons would bother much) I didn't want them to weigh themselves every opportunity they had and I knew that I would given half a chance! I weigh myself once per week in the Boots store on a Tuesday and so far have managed to stick to that.
  • Pifflesmom
    Pifflesmom Posts: 134 Member
    I wrote a blog about this topic this past week - I too 'live and die' by the scale, but I KNEW something had to be done when I got on it the other night and I was 5 lbs heavier than I thought I should be, so ... I killed it. Literally. I jumped up and down on it and it died. Dead and deceased. I was so proud for beating up on a bathroom scale. I'm such a bully.

    AND I KNOW BETTER THAN TO LET A PIECE OF METAL DETERMINE MY SELF WORTH!!!! :grumble:

    But aha! A new plan! I have arranged with my next door neighbour to visit Genghis, my NEW bathroom scale - once a week. She came over and kidnapped Genghis yesterday while I was at work and is holding him hostage.

    So - just a thought - maybe a kind hearted neighbour would do the same for you?!

    Good luck and remember (and I will too) that our self worth is only determined by how we feel...don't let a hunk of metal ruin your day!
  • booboorocksout
    booboorocksout Posts: 14
    People often say things like: just put the scale away.
    Don't worry about the numbers!

    But when you started as obese and are overweight the numbers DO matter... and they can only stop mattering when you've hit that blessed 'healthy' number... then it's easier to put it away (but not permanently. I think those of us who hit obese will always be concerned about gaining it back).

    I totally get this. I was a worshiped the scale for a long time. Then I lived without one for over a year. That was great! I was active and losing weight. But when I met my bf we got comfy and here I am. Now I limit myself to once a week. It helps that we don't actually have a bathroom scale, I use my wii fit board. It requires more setup so I only use it once a week.
  • mykahlio1
    mykahlio1 Posts: 40 Member
    i am also a scale worshipper , i weigh myself 2 or 3 times a day but i only count the first one of the day right before i eat or shower as the correct weight . i hate that i worship the scale because if the number isnt steadily going down at a rate i like i get really cranky and nasty and i get in this bad funk thats hard to get out of .
  • TiffanyAching
    TiffanyAching Posts: 50 Member
    i love mine. i weigh myself every time i go in the bathroom. i dont think about it except when i'm there and i dont make special trips to visit it. i dont freak out at normal fluctuations. last time my scale broke and i didnt replace it i gained back 35lb in 4 months :ohwell: since i bought a new one i'm down 26lb. slowly, but if i see me gain 1lb one week it reels me back in. there are downsides, when i see a few lbs drop between official weigh ins my brain says 'yipee, i can have something naughty!' :embarassed: which needs work. overall i am better off weighing daily.
  • Neiges
    Neiges Posts: 6
    The scale is my best friend and my worst enemy. I try not to overdo it and only limit myself to the weekly weigh-in, but it's a tough fight.
  • Xabsentimentalx
    Xabsentimentalx Posts: 67 Member
    I try to weigh myself at least 2 times a week... it makes me more motivated to lose weight because makes me really look at how i am.
  • Xabsentimentalx
    Xabsentimentalx Posts: 67 Member
    i love mine. i weigh myself every time i go in the bathroom. i dont think about it except when i'm there and i dont make special trips to visit it. i dont freak out at normal fluctuations. last time my scale broke and i didnt replace it i gained back 35lb in 4 months :ohwell: since i bought a new one i'm down 26lb. slowly, but if i see me gain 1lb one week it reels me back in. there are downsides, when i see a few lbs drop between official weigh ins my brain says 'yipee, i can have something naughty!' :embarassed: which needs work. overall i am better off weighing daily.
  • strandedj
    strandedj Posts: 128
    okay I weighed myself today, not my weigh in day, went a quick #1 (sorry people) and weighed myself again, and I weighed 1.5 pounds less! Now it was a real quick deal, I don't get it!! I haven't had much luck with my scale as it is, but now its playing games!
  • japruzze
    japruzze Posts: 453 Member
    It's great to know I'm not alone in my sick obsession with my scale. I am working very hard to just weigh in once a week. I don't think I can actually give it up totally. Its been such a part of my life for so long. Thanks for helping me realize I'm not alone!
  • 2manyshoes
    2manyshoes Posts: 6 Member
    I step on my scale every morning before I get in the shower. At one point I did get on it several times a day, but now I weigh once, log it and start my day. It's kind of my rope in the dark so to speak. It keeps me on track. I have 3 ways I measure my success. (1) the daily weigh in (2) I measure myself evertime I lose 5 lbs. (3) I take a picture everytime I lose 10 lbs. This keeps me focused on small goals and lets me see my progress not only on paper but in photos as well. So far I've lost 17 in. & 46 lbs. Perhaps I will toss my scale one day, but right now it keeps me on the weight loss straight & narrow.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    Uhm, I like to weight myself every day so I can track my progress.

    But I no means "worship" it or let a gain or loss dictate how I feel about myself and ruin my day, especially since there are so many things beyond your control that could make small changes to your weight.

    That mentality cannot be healthy. :sad:

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • A_New_Horizon
    A_New_Horizon Posts: 1,555 Member
    I too was a scale worshipper. I stepped on the scale multiple times a day, and I was getting to the point that it was starting to define who I was. If I wasn't happy with the number, I wasn't happy with myself. So, I took a big step over a month ago, and put the scale away for Lent - it is the best thing I could have done. I still have been faithful with my eating and exercising, and I won't be stepping back on the scale until April 8. Actually, my scale isn't even in my house - it keeps the temptation down that way. Now, I haave had to step on the scale once since putting it away for my son at the dr's. So, I know I have made progress. Just remember, you AREN'T defined by the number. I know it is hard, but be proud of your accomplishment - not the number on the scale.
  • TiffanyAching
    TiffanyAching Posts: 50 Member
    did you mean to say something about my post Xabsentimentalx or did you quote me by accident?
  • christineandgeno
    christineandgeno Posts: 33
    And I thought I was the only compulsive weigher. I own three scales. I have a digital one in my bedroom. A doctor's type scale and a digital in my bathroom. I literally weigh myself 10+ times a day. I dont know why but I;ve always done this. Since before I can remember. I was thin and weighing myself all the time. With my clothes, with my clothes off etc. It's weird but when I was thinner I never really cared about what I weighed as long as my clothes fit. It was just interesting to me to see how much you gain after drinking water or eating. Now its a habit that I would love to break but feel like I will fail to do. If they made a scale that could fit in your purse and fold out, I would own one. I even take my scale with me on vacation.
  • christineandgeno
    christineandgeno Posts: 33
    "The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman." - Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave.

    Thanks so much for sharing this!


    I totally agree I should probably start doing this instead of being a compulsive weigher.
  • NancyNiles
    NancyNiles Posts: 145 Member
    People often say things like: just put the scale away.
    Don't worry about the numbers!

    But when you started as obese and are overweight the numbers DO matter... and they can only stop mattering when you've hit that blessed 'healthy' number... then it's easier to put it away (but not permanently. I think those of us who hit obese will always be concerned about gaining it back).

    ^^^This!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,021 Member
    Behaviors can be changed. People are overweight because of behavior. Scale worshiping is a behavior. Change the behavior by first by taking out the batteries and throwing them away. You can leave the scale there and then when you step on on it an see nothing and continue (don't buy batteries), you'll slowly start getting over having to see the number on a daily basis.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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