Friday, August 11, 2017

Get Off the Scale

Get Off the Scale

How many images and cartoons can you think of that involve a negative experience with a scale? Example 1, Example 2, Example 3 Yet, so many continue to step on it! If you weigh daily, are emotionally affected by the number reflected, or panic over an increase, you could benefit from abandoning the scale. Like many, I grew up with a scale in the house and purchased one when I was in college. Worst idea of my life! I was on that thing constantly, especially when I started gaining weight my sophomore year. Looking back, I blame my diet of pasta! Hey, it was cheap. When the battery in my digital scale went out about 5 years ago I never replaced it. In fact, I have no idea where my scale is and I don’t care to have it anymore.

Story time, last week I had a doctor’s appointment and I am the heaviest I have ever been. This isn’t shocking because over the last few year I have worked out and gained muscle. We all know muscle weighs more than fat. But in the last few months I haven’t felt comfortable in my clothes and this is for two reasons; my diet has been terrible and my exercising has declined. With adjustments to both I know I’ll be back to fitting comfortably in my clothes. Rather than berating myself with negative self-talk simply because of what the scale has to say I’m doing something about it.

If you are someone who weighs themselves frequently, I challenge you to abandon the scale and consider these thoughts:

Don’t let it define you. A scale cannot measure your IQ, your relationship with others, or your gumption and achievements. Try positive self-talk and see where it gets you mentally. Building self-confidence at any stage in life is so important. While you’re at it, dish out some compliments to others. After all, compliments are free 😉

Stop punishing yourself. That little number at your feet is the source of so much negativity so why are you still stepping on the scale? Save yourself the emotional distress and reward yourself for the positive lifestyle changes you have made. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Everyone has their vice (mine is dessert).

Set goals that are not weight driven. If you set a goal to lose weight, but you don’t meet that goal, are you upset? Instead of weight driven goals, try assessing how your clothes fit, the strength you have gained, or your ability to run a mile when you could barely make the block before.

I realize I am thin, but I too feel self conscious about how I look. Skinny shaming is a thing, so leave your “eat a cheeseburger” comments at home. I wrote this post to remind women (and men) they are worth more than the number they see and if they have weight loss goals to track them through methods beyond the bathroom scale!

Until next post…xoxo Becca


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