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Ditching the scale: opinions?

SuperSneaky
SuperSneaky Posts: 43
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
I know that the scale *can be* a great motivator for some people, and I realize just about everyone fluctuates quite a bit during the day. Even though I know I'm staying at or under my calorie goal, getting adequate exercise, and generally feeling great, I still have this habit I've got to break: trying to quantify my success with a scale.

My question is, has anyone ditched the scale entirely and just used measurements to track weight loss? How long did you do it for? I imagine I'll step on the scale after I go down a size or something, as a general frame of reference, but I'm thinking about tossing it out all together (not literally, I think you get it...)

Replies

  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    I think it's a great idea. However, as long as you know there will be fluctuations, the scale doesn't have to be a bad thing. I weigh myself a lot. I think it's fun "I just ate 1 lb of food" "I just peed half a pound" etc lol
  • BlowYourMind
    BlowYourMind Posts: 162
    I'm getting a new scale and supposedly it's a really accurate brand, it's good to weigh yourself to get an idea of how much your typically gaining in food during the day and how much you weigh in the morning, but you shouldn't let it dictate your life. You may get to a point where you're not losing anything in pounds but notice inches coming off. Good luck! :happy:
  • SuperSneaky
    SuperSneaky Posts: 43
    I think my scale is terrible anyway, I can step on it and get one reading and a minute later it's four pounds heavier. It's on concrete... I don't base my worth on it, but it's completely demotivating to me in a way.


    I lost half inch off my hips this week, and THAT made me feel awesome. ;)
  • skb12573
    skb12573 Posts: 182 Member
    just use it less frequently, like monthly. if you are on target with diet, staying active, then the inches will fall off before the pounds. good luck. my goal for june is to not weigh but once! :)
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    I know it's not for everyone....but I step on the scale everyday. I drink lots of water. I only eat out maybe once a week and I'm careful what I order (like grilled chicken salad or taco chicken salad. I don't eat processed foods, only foods homemade and from scratch.
    I see a drop on the scale every few days. I have only measured back when I used to eat out alot....so much sodium made it harder to see a weight loss on the scale.
  • fh1951
    fh1951 Posts: 440 Member
    unlike my age, which Is just a number (and i can't do anything about it anyway), my weight is a direct reflection of my adherence to the healthy lifestyle i've been cultivating on mfp for the last year and a half. i need the feedback and weigh myself every day - same time same station :) your idea wouldn't work for me...
  • BlowYourMind
    BlowYourMind Posts: 162
    If it's inconsistent then don't step on it, that just drives me crazy! If you have the financial means, buy the most accurate one you can find. :smile: I'm glad you lost half an inch! :flowerforyou:
  • Misslisat
    Misslisat Posts: 203 Member
    Don't be discouraged because 'that number' isn't moving as quickly as you'd like. I jump on my scale just once per day - just as I'm about to get in the shower each morning. I've learned to never weigh myself throughout the day because it can fluxuate by as much as 3-5 pounds. If you're doing everything right (calories, exercise, water), try weighing yourself just once per week, always the same day. And also take your measurements. In the past 2 weeks, I've only lost 4 pounds, but I feel I did everything just right and even exercised more than the other weeks. Four pounds!! Huh? Then I took my measurements. I was down 2" in my thigh, 1" in calf, 1" in hips, 2" in waist, 2" in chest and .5" in neck. Those are the results that count. :) This whole new lifestyle is a big adjustment for all of us, and we're doing what we can with the food & exercise, we just need to work on the other psychological things that go along with it - like the scale. <smile>
  • fh1951
    fh1951 Posts: 440 Member
    right, i used to have a piece of cr&p scale and decided if i was going take this seriously i needed to invest in a good one. i got a detecto scale like the one in my dr.'s office
  • SuperSneaky
    SuperSneaky Posts: 43
    New Bucket list items:

    Buy a scale that does a full-body scan, including inches, what's bloat, what's in my belly, etc etc. I can dream, right? =D

    Spaceflight! (Hey, with this past week, it'll happen in my lifetime)



    Thanks for the interesting input, everyone. Much appreciated
  • liftingheavy
    liftingheavy Posts: 551 Member
    I weighed once a week on Monday mornings while losing weight. Once I started heavy lifting I reduced it to once a month. The scale makes me nuts sometimes.

    Plus I have one that measures body fat %, hydration level, BMI... It's just too much information that is subject to wild fluctuations.

    My mirror is my new scale.
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