Apr2
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I used to weigh myself everyday. Sometimes a couple times a day. I would get upset with the number each day and especially frustrated when the number would be higher than the previous weigh-in. The scale dictated my self-esteem.
I wasn’t always so obsessive about my weight…in fact, the most I ever weighed was in high school and when I started college and I definitely didn’t lack any confidence, despite my larger jeans size.
I unintentionally lost a lot of weight my first year of college and perhaps weighed a little too little by the end of my freshman year. The weight just came off; I was in love, happy with my major, found a new love for running and was just enjoying my relatively care-free life.
But after I graduated from college, got a desk job, blah blah blah the typical story, I started to put back on a little weight. Then a little more. Then a little more. I started to obsess over it and started weighing myself a lot.
Last year, I started meeting with a nutritionist for various reasons and she banned the scale. But…I still secretly weighed myself once in a while (sorry Barb!). However, I’ve done some good work with the good ol’ self esteem in the last year and have started focusing on being healthy instead of being skinny.
I’ve started eating better, I’ve developed a more balanced approach to exercise (no more two-a-days, adding more strength training, cutting back on cardio), and started doing more things for me: small things like taking time to read a book; doing yoga because I love it, not because it’s going to burn the most calories; or just sitting and looking out the window (seriously, it’s nice to just let your mind wander sometimes).
And guess what? My pants are looser. My clothes fit better. Barb was right – once I stopped focusing on losing weight, the weight would come off if it needed to. I have cut back on weighing myself…maybe just once every few weeks. But the real turning point came for me yesterday morning.
I thought, I should weigh myself. No good reason, just wanted to. And then I stopped and thought about what would happen. I’d step on the scale, a number would pop up and I’d either be upset (likely, considering my very indulgent eating in the past week…yum…) or I’d be in a good mood.
And I realized how stupid it was to let a number set my mood for the day. So instead, I left the scale untouched, got dressed, smiled as I slipped on my pants that used to be tight and felt how strong my core has become lately and thought about all the push-ups I’ve done this year.
I probably won’t throw out the scale anytime soon, but I also know that I won’t be getting on it anytime soon. No, I’m not at my lightest weight I’ve ever been. Not even close. I’m not at my heaviest either. But I’m definitely the healthiest I’ve ever been. I feel strong. I feel healthy. I feel balanced. And dammit, I feel sexy. And a number on the scale can’t beat sexy.
Do you own a scale? Do you use it? Do you use it too often?
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91 responses to “Why Weigh? I like the way I am”
Amen. 🙂 No scale. I want to evaluate my life by my health, my heart, and the good I share with the world. Thanks for the great post. Keep up the positive perspective.
The good you share with the world is a great way to evaluate yourself! That is too often overlooked by many, including myself.
Just found your blog through Heather’s Dish and wanted to say hi.
I am in a phase of my life where I seem to be weighing myself too much. I went months without getting on it once and now I am like a moth to a flame. I know I need to chuck it again but I’m struggling with the validation it seems to be giving me about all of the work I have done in learning to listen to my body. Sigh. I was to chop with up with an axe.
Maybe I will.
I think you should chop it up! Think how empowering that would be. (Wear safety goggles. ;))
If you don’t feel like you can chop it up yet, put a post-it on the scale, a la Operation Beautiful. You could even have someone that loves you for YOU write the post-it.
Let me know what you do. Can’t wait to hear.
You go girl! 🙂
Don’t own a scale at all. Stopped weighing myself looong ago. No clue what I weigh. 🙂
That’s awesome that you don’t even own one. Ditching the scale is especially important for me since I found your website full of goodies. mmmm…. 😉
I used to be obsessed with the scale as well. I’d weigh myself ALL the time and be devastated by the number. I stopped weighing myself. Cold turkey!! It had to be done. Now I just weigh myself once a month to check in. I also measure myself.
Good call on the measurements! That’s another good way to track your progress. I feel like the scale can be misleading but measurements will usually give a better picture of how you are donig.
Sorry to contradict you and lovely blogger friends, but I want to speak up for the scale! haha. When I start feeling sluggish, too heavy, unhealthy, etc., I find the scale to be a helpful tool in getting back to where I want to be. Since I don’t own a scale, I currently weigh myself almost every time I go to the gym, and when the number isn’t what I want it to be, it’s a good motivator for my work out! But I think that’s the key, it has to motivate you, not depress you. I also keep in mind how my clothes fit (though if you think about it, how is that really so much different than the scale?), how fast I can run certain distances, how many push-ups (or other exercises) I can do, how strong (and sexy!) I feel, etc.
I don’t have as much experience as you guys, but I don’t think you should rule out the scale as a helpful, and motivating tool. Go scales! 😉
I think that’s an excellent point – the scale CAN be a good motivator, as long as it motivates and doesn’t depress. One thing that I don’t like about the scale though is that it doesn’t tell you what your weight is made up of – ya know, muscle weighs more than fat, etc. etc. so even if the scale tells me I’m weighing more than usual, my clothes will still fit better if it happens to be muscle weight. Make sense? Clothes fitting is a better tool for me since I tend to be numbers obsessed anyway (you know this ;)) and again, the scale might not represent overall health. Lots of girls are very skinny but many don’t have health to back up their slim frame…so even if they don’t weigh a lot, they might not be healthy. So…maybe the moral of the story is don’t use the scale if it upsets you and don’t compare yourself to others (um, not that you mentioned that in your comment at all). Ok, love you love you see you tomorrow! 🙂
i used to own a scale, but i don’t anymore. i too became way too obsessed with the number and just knew it was bad for me to be around them! when we go places where there’s a scale (friend’s and family’s houses) Nate will hide the scale from me just to keep me from obsessing. i love him, and i love that i’m learning to love me!
That is so sweet that Nate is so supportive in helping you. And you have a LOT to love about yourself girl! 🙂
This is a great post! The scale can get addicting. I used to weigh myself daily, but then my roommate threw out our scale bc he wasn’t using it. Now that I live with my boyfriend, he has a scale that he uses a few times a week. I occasionally stand on it, but it’s so different now. I’m not tied to that number bc I know how strong I am and how hard I’m kicking my butt at the gym, boot camp and running.
It’s great that even when you still use it, you aren’t tied to it. I just looked at your blog for the first time – you are so cute! 🙂
I own a scale and weigh myself once every few weeks. I’ve found that I like to know (because I’m actively losing weight…and I *do* NEED to lose weight), but that I don’t need to know every day or even every week. I also find that when I only occasionally weigh myself, I’m happy to see a significantly smaller number! …and if it’s higher, I don’t stress, but try to think about how those weeks have been different eating/training/emotionally. 🙂
I’m glad you wrote this comment because after I posted I was actually thinking about a caveat I should add: that I do believe the scale can be a very helpful tool if you really do have weight to lose (I’m talking more than 10 pounds). It’s a great motivator and the best encouragement to see that their healthy changes are making a difference. I think the problem comes when people monitor little ups and downs in weight, ya know? Keep up your good work! It sounds like you have a good relationship wtih the scale.
LOVE this post. NEEDED this post!!
I’m also not at my lightest weight and not at my heaviest. Yet I have it engrained in my mind that my lightest weight is what I should be aiming for…
In a semi-related subject – I just ran 3 miles for the first time today (part of a challenge I created for myself). And you know what I realized? I don’t like running. And I’m not going to do it anymore. HA! In the same way you’re not going to obsess over the number on the scale, I don’t give two craps if I’m not a runner 😀 I’d much rather focus on being *my personal* healthiest (which will include things you mentioned, like yoga and reading a good book) than how many calories I’m burning or how “fit” I am.
It’s posts like this that I think really do the most good when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. So thanks 🙂 xoxo G
Gracie, you are gorgeous and I think you look fantastic. I think you made a good point that our lightest weight might not be our ideal weight…we get older, our bodies change, we gain muscle, etc. So even though I’ve weighed less in the past, it doesn’t mean I need to go for that again. Thanks for the great thought.
haha! I love that you aren’t going to run because you don’t like it!!! But good job on the 3 miles regardless. 🙂 It’s so important to do things you enjoy.
I never got really into weighing myself. Because of my figure skating, I always had a lot of muscle, which I was told weighed more than fat, so my weight always seemed high, so I ignored it. Now, the measuring tape…that’s another story and one I plan to add to my About page one day…when I’m ready.
Great post! 🙂
I’d be really curious to read about your issue with the measuring tape. Let me know when you put it up. It could be very cathartic.
I stopped weighing myself a few years ago (in college), when it began to affect my mood the way you mentioned. Hubby and I just went through a major life transition and relocation, so in the shuffle I put on a few extra pounds and just wasn’t feeling HEALTHY. Now that I’m back in a consistent workout routine, this week especially I keep remarking that I feel strong and healthy again. (For the last couple of months, while I got into my new routine and life here, I ate poorly and stressed over a lot of things.) Pair this with the fact that I recently moved up one pants size, and by societal standards I probably shouldn’t feel so happy…but I do. My legs feel strong, my back and core feel straighter and tighter, and I’m happy with my body because of what it can do, and how good I can make it look in a flattering blouse and pair of nice-fitting jeans.
I love your comment! I especially love that you feel great even if you aren’t the same size you used to be. Gracie pointed out (above) that your lightest weight might not even be what you have to aim for just because you’ve been there before and that’s a great point. You just need to be at your healthy and HAPPY self.
Hey! I love this post. I’ve been weighing myself everyday for the past oh…three months and YOU ARE SO RIGHT. I let the number dictate my mood. Before I go to bed I think about the highest number the scale can be for me to still be happy. Isn’t that ridiculous. The problem is…I don’t know how to get to a point where it doesn’t matter. I don’t feel like “the weight will come off if I need it to.” How do I get there?
Alright girl, put that scale away for awhile. If you want to keep on track, maybe just check in once a month or something so you don’t focus on minor fluctuations. I’ll do a post in more detail about how I got past the scale, but once you focus on being healthy and eating well, I think you’ll find the weight comes off. Focusing on the scale makes you obsessive about what you eat, which is never good.
Love this post!! Seriously, everyone should read this 🙂 You couldn’t have said it better. I need to take on that mindset more often. It’s all about being healthy…not just losing weight. Hey, if that’s a biproduct, awesome, but it shouldn’t be all about the weight!
I’m so glad you liked this post. It means a lot. 🙂
Teri
Just discovered your blog – so far I really like what I’ve read. I applaud your efforts to eat healthy and am jealous of all the yummy and healthy food you’ve been eating. Related to this post – I’m DELIGHTED that you’ve come to a more realistic approach about weight in your life. Having had more than one friend with eating disorders and obsession about losing weight, I’m very concerned about the pressure young girls and women face to be slim and trim. I’m grateful that I never have felt that kind of pressure and have really sort of laughed in the face of it. (Although some would say that’s easy for me to say since I’ve never been overweight.) Still, I count as one of my greatest blessings having grown up in a family where healthy food and active lifestyles were the norm – and I rarely stepped on a scale growing up. Thanks for sharing your evolution of perspective on weight.
Shannon, thank you so much for your comments. I think it is a blessing that you have never felt that pressure from yourself or others, but it is fairly prevalent. Thanks for being a good example!
I’m REALLY happy you posted this blog article. I’ve been OBSESSED with the scale lately. I let it put me down really quickly and I’m the perfect example of the person that looks at the scale then has a really crappy rest of the day because of it. I do feel I fall in the category of needing (wanting) to lose 10-15 more lbs. but I had a breakthrough the other day…I’m in a intro to personal training and aerobic instructing class and we did a VO2 test in class. I was fortunate enough to be the girl in the class to perform the test. It gives your fitness level, how well your recovery heart rate is, etc. etc. Well the day before the test I was so mad at the world! I had gained 4 lbs. over the week before, and making that a total of 7 lbs. gained in the last month (very VERY upset Addie on Monday) so I get on the tredmill to take the test, still mad at the world mind you, and we print off my results. I was at the HIGHEST fitness level you could be at for my age, weight, height group and I was beaming! Maybe I’m gaining weight and not feeling thinner, but gosh darn I’m in the fitness level and health level I want to be! I’m not chucking the scale at all (because like someone above said I think it’s a good indicator of where you’re at and I do actually want to be in a goal weight RANGE) but my class on Tuesday really helped me realize that my number on the scale isn’t EVERYTHING.
Addie, are you kidding me?? Seriously, you look amazing! I honestly can’t imagine you losing that 10-15 pounds. You have an awesome figure. (And in case Grandma S never told you like she did me, we can thank her for our ample chest. bahahahaha!) You are beautiful. But most importantly, you are a beautiful person on the inside. 🙂 That is SO cool that you measured the best you could be!! That is quite the accomplishment! Love you so much!
Hey
I don’t own a scale; do not like to weigh myself or know my weight when weighed at any of my doctors. I just focus on eating right, exercising for me & health. I just living a balanced lifestyle. When we use to own a scale I used to be obsessed with it and thats when my anorexia started. Now I can say I am healthy and don’t measure happiness on weight. Our bodies know what size we should be so everything is natural!
It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve overcome your anorexia. Congratulations! I love your thought that “our bodies know what size we should be.” SO TRUE!
Hey! I’m new to your blog but after reading this post I’m hooked.. haha.
I do own a scale and I do weigh myself.. every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I’ve been trying to stop though and I can manage to sometimes go a couple days without weighing but then the habit kicks back in and I jump right back onto the scale. After reading this post though, I’m determined to try and stop weighing myself. You’re right though – weighing myself doesn’t make me happy and it’s ridiculous how decides my mood for the day.
PS. Reading about you doing push-ups made me get down and do some. I’m at work.
PPS. The post also made me feel good, don’t know why but thank you anyways. 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m glad that you are determined to back off on the scale. Please keep me posted on your progress. I’d love to hear how you do.
haha! I love that you did pushups at work! 🙂
And thank you so much for letting me know that the post made you feel good. I love hearing that what is so important to me – and this post was very cathartic and important to me – touches others. xoxo
I weighted myself on January 1. I had my husband then hide the scale. I haven’t seen it since, and I’ve been MUCH happier!
good girl! Smart to have your hubby hide the scale. I’ve done that before too. So glad you are happier!
I just read your recent post – love your resolutions!
I too definitely need this post, often times I have weighed myself before bed and agonized about how many food goals I had failed at. Everytime I stop weighing myself and focus of eating healthy I lose weight. Then I get addicted to seeing those lower numbers and start weighing again regularly, as well as, eating more undulgently and then the numbers go up and then depression ensues. It is a terrible cycle.
How are you doing in that cycle right now? I’m always amazed at your posts on your blog – you are so healthy and fit that I can’t imagine you would be tied to the scale at all. I really admire all that you do!
The blog world continues to amaze me. Sometimes you think “you’re the only one.” Like…you’re the only one that was obsessed with the scale. But the blog world makes you realize you’re not alone. It’s sad in a way that so many people have issues/had issues with things like this…myself included. However, it’s so helpful to read other peoples’ take on these types of issues. Your post was amazing and I can obviously relate a LOT. I have gone back and forth with the scale. For the first 4 months we were in Colorado our scale was packed and pat + nat did not have one. I probably only weighed myself a few times…when I was home in Ohio and maybe at the gym or something here in CO. I didn’t miss it at all, and I ended up at the lowest weight I’ve been in years! It was crazy. I’ve put a few lbs back on since but it also could be muscle gain. Now that we’re in our place, we do have our scale out. I try to only step on it once a week at the most. It’s such a silly device because it does just mess with our heads. Like, I’ll step on it when I know I’m bloated and feeling gross…and obviously retaining water…WHY would I do that to myself? I know it’s going to be a higher number than what I really am…what good will this do? In Charlotte, I weighed myself everyday for awhile..and then cut back. I have also pinpointed around “the time of the month” when I tend to weigh more because of whatever is happening with our body…so I really try to stay off the scale then. My body feels strong right now..and clean..and healthy. I think I’ve always had a slight problem because I feel like I weigh more than I look like I weigh…if that makes sense. When I have told friends how much I weigh they are usually surprised. I guess everyone just wears their weight differently. Ohhh, where am I going with this? 😉 Basically like you said..when I stopped focusing on the number, the weight fell off…and in undergrad when I was most obsessed with the number..it kept going UP. Ridiculous!! I could write a book but I’ll probably go to bed instead…love ya girlie xoxo
Loved your comment! [obvi] I never in a million years would have thought that you ever had scale issues – you seem so put together and confident! It is reassuring to hear that so many people understand what I’ve gone through and even better to hear about people getting past it. I, too, sometimes have problems weighing myself when I know it’s not going to be what I want – why do we sabotage ourselves like that???
All of last year I was so focused on losing weight and weighing myself and the number kept going up. Once I started focusing on teaching good classes at the gym, eating REAL food and enjoying life, a little weight came off. We just need to be happy and let our bodies find their happy weight.
And you probably should write a book someday. I’d buy it. 🙂
xoxo
I am on almost the other side of this spectrum. I used to live and die by the scale, and quite literally at a certain point was edging closer to the dying part. And I obsessively weighed myself probably still until the point that I had gained enough and was at a healthy weight. But in the past couple years, as weight has taken a back burner, to oh, say, happiness and living my life, I haven’t weighed myself at all, the only way i knew how much I gained was from going to the doctors every year. And when my weight went from 130 to 140 to 150… And that was when I sort of realized, even though my doctor said my weight was still in the healthy range, that I was too close to the upper end of the healthy range, and I knew it wasn’t because I had been putting on lots of muscle–maybe a little leg muscle but otherwise, not much. So a few weeks ago I bought myself a scale, against my will, but deciding that I would need one if I was ever going to be able to assess if my better eating and exercising were actually working (I tried to buy a tape measure at GNC the other day and they were out, ugh) anyhow I stepped on the scale and realized I basically weighed the same as I did when I first came back from Australia/Fiji and my mom had told me (not at the time, but later, after I spent a couple months working out hard and dropped probably close to 10 lbs) she said, “You look great, I have to say, when you got back from abroad you had put on a little booty.” Well according to my last weigh-in I apparently have put back on that little booty. Which is kind of why I am glad I have the scale, b/c for me it’s a slippery slope either way, and I know in my heart that I will never go back to the way I used to be and restricting like I did in high school and some college. I just wasn’t happy. And I am especially aversive to things that don’t make me happy. So I will use the scale as a tool for measuring progress, but not as a motivator/punisher. I also know not to weigh myself everyday, in fact, I have only stepped on it twice since I got it. If I feel like it’s time to assess where I am at and if I am on track to my goal (and nothing beyond) then I step on. But if not, it just sits there, nearly invisible, since it’s made of glass.
Thanks for the post–sorry to ramble so much!
I loved reading your response!
Thank you so much for your comment! It sounds like you have made so much progress with the scale, which is great! I love that you pointed out that you are now focusing on living your life and being HAPPY! Why can’t we all remember to do that??
I’m really so impressed by the progress it sounds like you’ve made – thanks for the inspiration! And I love that you have a glass scale so it’s almost invisible. 🙂
I love comment “rambling” so feel free anytime! 🙂
I do weigh myself fairly often, but I have learned that the number does not define who I am. It is just a snapshot of that one moment in time. Since I have lost a lot of weight, I have to be very careful to not regain, and the scale can be a checks and balance thing for me.
I used to determine my self worth by the scale, and once I stopped doing that it was no longer the enemy and just a tool in leading a healthy lifestyle.
Awesome comment – “snapshot of one moment in time.” It’s good to use the scale as a checks and balance, but also so great to remember that it’s just one day and it’s not the enemy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This post is GREAT! I have a strange relationship with the scale. I can so relate to the comment about “get rid of the scale and the weight WILL COME OFF if it needs to.” I am currently 50lbs less then my heighest weight and was not so obsessed with my weight until it was lower???? Weird.
I am in a situation, however, where the opposite is true. I need to get rid of the scale and let the weight COME ON if it needs too. I am at a weight, that while not “unhealthy” it is VERY difficult to maintain. That is scary to me – and is why I keep weighing myself. Even though I know that gaining a bit will make maintenance a WHOLE LOT HAPPIER for me I am still really freaked out by it, I think it is because there ALWAYS seems to be so much emphasis on LOSING weight. I don’t want to TRY to gain – but i don’t want to be totally unhappy WHEN (not if) it happens. Any advice on how to get there?? : )
Your blog is awesome! This post was perfectly timed too – I got ready to weigh myself this morning (after a BIG dinner with friends last night) and changed my mind – no weighing this morning : )
My advice is to focus on being healthy instead of your weight. Eat well. Exercise. Relax (yoga, reading, gentle walks, Gossip Girl ;), whatever helps you). Perhaps keep a health journal about everything you are doing well. Don’t touch the scale for a while (like a couple months maybe) and just see what your body wants to do naturally when you are feeding it well and exercising. I think your body knows where it wants to be and when you treat it well, it will find that spot.
Remember, I’m not a certified nutritionist or RD or anything and I think that they can add lots of value to situations like this. So perhaps look into one? A lot of insurance programs will cover it.
And, thanks for sharing that you didn’t weigh yourself after the big dinner! Revel in the deliciousness of the dinner instead of some silly number!
I’d love you to keep me posted on your progress.
http://theblevinsblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/thin/
i think you will find the link above very compelling. it’s from a friend-of-a-friend’s blog – she’s a great writer and her latest post touches upon weight/thinness/self-esteem. The comments and two prior posts are very interesting, too!
Miss ya,
SS
Wow, thanks for providing that link. So heartbreaking but inspiring at the same time.
I miss you too! We need to get together soon!! Are things totally crazy for you lately or could we do lunch or a weekend brunch sometime?
hey teri – just stopped by and im loving this post. i dont own a scale bc i have a very addictive personality and i have a feeling the result of getting one or knowing my weight may lead to obsessive behaviors. you hit the nail on the head…i feel great, so why should a number mean anything to me?? anyways, glad you found my blog bc im loving yours, too!!
Thanks for your comment! I’m glad you liked this post – I love all yours! I’m a dedicated reader. 🙂
Ugh. Nooo scale for me. I’m not even sure how much I weigh. If my jeans start getting tight…it’s time to cut back on treats!
Awesome approach. I’m learning to focus more on my jeans, which is a better measure for me. But man, I don’t think I could resist all the delicious food if I lived in NYC! 😉
Totally agree. I only see my weight when I go to the doctors. What is the big deal if you feel good and know you can do the things you want to do!
Eat healthy and be active and dont worry! 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE your comment: “Eat healthy and be active and don’t worry!” It’s so true, so simple. But why so hard sometimes??
great post! i, too, broke an addiction to the scale. who needs it?!
No kidding! Especially when you look as amazing as you do! 🙂
The issue of scales can go either way in my book. One thing that’s frustrating is how they can report such different numbers. I am not scale obsessive, but certainly use it to double check myself. I’m not at my lightest yet either, however I feel my strongest – whoopie!
Yes, they can report such difference numbers based on the silliest variations – time of day, time of month, previous meal, water intake, exercise, etc.
I love hearing that you feel your strongest! That’s great!
I own a scale, but try to only weigh once a week. Weight fluctuates SO much (my weight can be 7 pounds different at 9pm, to 9am the next morning!) so it is hard to get an accurate representation. I agree, my mood is totally affected by the stupid number on the scale. Eating healthy, active lifestyle…all that taken into account…I could be on cloud 9 pre-weighing, and then be depressed 2 seconds later if I have gained a pound or two from the last scale-session.
I think where I was so extremely overweight in the past, that weighing was SUCH a part of my life, it is tough to let it go mentally.
STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALES PEOPLE! Step awaaaaaaay. 😉
I was wondering when YOU were going to weigh in on the topic! [oops, pun wasn’t intended] 🙂
i never weigh myself anymore, like you i used to weigh alot, sometimes after everything i ate and it just made me depressed, now i’m scared to weigh myself at all, incase it triggers something in my brain and all that comes back. i’d rather just got by how my body looks and changes visually.
It really is a good indicator to just go by how your body looks. You can tell a lot from the mirror.
I’m working on learning to enjoy looking at the mirror and finding things I like instead of picking apart my “flaws.”
Thanks for commenting. 🙂
No scale in this house! Thanks for sharing this, I think it’s a great message for everyone to hear!
Your blog is fantastic, and I can really hear your voice coming through. It’s so “you.” 🙂
Aw, thanks Nicole! That means a lot! 🙂
Good for you girl!!!! I’ve never owned a scale because I know I would weigh myself probably every morning AND every night!! I rarely weigh myself at the gym either. I finally decided it didn’t matter, because usually when I feel like I’m at my “skinniest” I weigh more than I think I should and when I’ve been slacking and eating like crap, it seems I weigh less……go figure!!! Great post girl and GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!
Funny how that works with the scale, huh?? Now that you mention that, when I was at my lightest weight, I didn’t eat very well at all!
What a great post:)
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Dad’s Day! =-.
Thanks! 🙂
Just to give you an update…I am having Tony hide the scale when he gets home tonight. I am going to go two weeks without it and see what happens. I just get too wrapped up in that number. Especially the Monday after a weekend fudge binge. 😉
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Kids Toys =-.
Great!! Thanks for the update and keep me posted. I think it will go well for you.
I just put away my scale for the first time in years. I know that at this time in my life it’s just not healthy for me and will only add one more stress that I definitely DO NOT need! My health is the most important thing to me right now, not the number on the scale. Sometimes, you just need to completely give it up and that is exactly what I plan on doing for the time being.
Your words of encouragement could not have come at a better time! 🙂
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Recovering =-.
I’m so glad to hear that this post helped you. Good job on taking action. Especially with everything you have going on right now, the scale really won’t paint a true picture of your health. Take care of yourself!
I recently (at the suggestion of my husband) gave up the scale indefinitely (it’s currently in my husband’s trunk). It’s been hard – I lost 30 pounds last year and while I feel WAY healthier physically and mentally, the scale still played a role in the day-to-day evaluation of myself. So it’s gone. And a lot of days I still want it, but I also know that it’s good for me to free myself from it.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..homebound =-.
Good for you for trying to get away from the scale!! Good idea to put it in your truck. It’s good to break up with the scale and it will get better. Just focus on being healthy and happy!
And congrats on the 30 pound weight loss! 🙂
I recently banished my scale to the closet. I use to weigh myself everyday and no matter what it said I wasn’t happy. I am now seeing a nutritionist and it’s the best decision I ever made.
.-= Angela @ A Healthy Fit´s last blog ..Weekend WhirlWIND =-.
Good for you! My nutritionist was really helpful too in helping me move past the scale. Good luck with your journey! 🙂
I so needed to read this. I think it’s time to send a Dear John letter to Scale.
Sincerely,
Scale’s best friend (victim)
Let me know when you give John/the scale the boot! You’re too good for him anyway! 😉
I so so soooooooooo glad I read that! 🙂 I to struggle with weighing my self every damn morning! 🙁 It’s driving me insane, to a point where thats all I thought about. What am I going to weigh in the morning, if I eat this is going to making me gain, etc, etc. It was so bad that it got to the point to were if I saw .5 increase in myh weight, I could physically feel the “extra fat” on my body. I have gained a bit more weight now, and even though its driving me a little nutty, I know this is what I need in order to be a healthy fit young women. So I thought I would just say thinks for the inspiration, I too hope one day I can give my scale the boot. You never know the future’s bright :)!
I’m so happy you enjoyed my post. But your story breaks my heart! Have you thought about seeing a nutritionist? I remember feeling so many of the things you are experiencing (and it’s miserable!) and my nutritionist was a HUGE help.
Good luck with your journey!
* thanks
.-= Gigi´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.
Ugh I am at war with the scale. I don’t weigh everyday anymore. But, I don’t know if I will ever break up with the scale for good 😉
Hi Teri,
A friend of mine suggested your blog to me. I LOVE it. Especially your posts about your marathon. I’m training for the St. George Marathon right now. It’s exhausting!
Anyway, I loved this post about the scale. My happiness is determined by the scale. I weigh myself 2x a week and really, either it’s a happy thing or a sad thing. I’m going to take your advice and focus on being healthy rather than being skinny.
Why do we even have scales? 🙂
Great post! I go through stages with the scale, and right now I am in the “weighing myself everyday” stage. I am so happy that you have gotten to the point where you are happy and it gives me inspiration that I too will get there someday 🙂
I really loved this post. You’re such an inspiration and ,sadly, this story is very relatable to me and probably most woman. I don’t weigh myself everyday but the last number I saw on the scale sticks in my head and any food I eat that goes over my arranged calories weighs on my conscious until I’m in tears. At 5’4” and around 100 pounds, I feel like I should feel fine but I still look in my reflection sometimes and just hate every curve. How did you get past that first step? How did you stay certain and confident without knowing those first few weeks?
Hi Maddie, thanks for commenting.
You should feel beautiful and love your curves! Honestly, getting past the first step and not needing to know my weight, took nutritional counseling and some regular counseling to get to the root of why the scale had such a hold on me. If you aren’t seeing someone, I strongly suggest it. It was so eye opening and helpful. You can get to the point where you love yourself and your curves and you deserve it so do what it takes to get there.
xoxo
I’m new to your blog and I just read this. I had to leave a comment because I loved it! I do the exact same thing with the scale about letting it decide my mood! Urg! Your point was so true that’s it’s stupid to let a number decide your mood for the day. I need to read this next time I’m focusing too much on that dang number.
Amen! I used to weigh myself all the time too! Now I barley do, and although I am tempted I just know that it will effect my mood.
I know I’m a couple years late to this party….I just read this post today! However, I felt like I needed to post. I’m currently in that phase of overdoing the cardio, obssessing about what the scale says, and allowing that number to dictate how I feel about myself. If I allow it to let myself feel crummy about myself, it leads to feeling hopeless, which leads to emotional eating. However, I’m making a change for the better! I know it’ll have to be baby steps, but I will no longer allow the scale to make me feel bad or good about myself. I am healthy, I am loved, and I’ve been very blessed throughout my life. Thank you for this post! It’s exactly what I needed!