Here's Why You Need to Stay Off the Scale

Posted by Joe Q on July 22, 2013 6 comments

Back in 2008 I had a moment of "I've had it" and decided it was time to lose weight.

And I did.

Before all was said and done I'd lost about sixty pounds.

It took more than a year.

I went to Planet Fitness EVERY DAY.

I walked on the treadmill. I put in hours on the elliptical. I did the weight circuit.

I was there religiously. I went to OTHER Planet Fitness gyms when I was on vacation and visiting my mother.

I was committed and it was working.

Here's the problem: my diet was still crap. And this led to two other problems:

First, it was taking forever to lose the weight. Second, It was hard to see a measurable difference in my appearance even though my clothes were all fitting better and I was obviously losing.

I just didn't think I looked very good.

So after a while I started going every other day. Then it was twice a week, then I wound up paying for another six months and never went... but I didn't want to "quit" so I kept paying.

Does this story sound familiar?

I just realized that my frame is now smaller than it was then. I can actually get into clothes I fit into then.

(By "clothes" I mean a pair of jeans I used to be able to pull up over my belly because they got too big and are now too big once again)

Logically speaking, there's no way I've lost over 100 pounds in a couple months.

See, back in 2008 and 2009 I was losing weight but it was mostly water weight.

I wasn't losing fat because I kept eating carbs and unbalanced meals and fast food... I slowed it down a little but I was still eating it.

My estimation (based on a few factors, some of which I've already shared, some of which are more personal) is that I'm probably hovering around the 300 mark right now, maybe a little less.

And yet I'm smaller than I was five years ago at about 255.

This is why we all need to stay off the scale.

Because if I convince myself that I'm 255 and I'm 295... game over, baby. I'll be headed for the nearest pizza and washing it down with the first available beer.

So it doesn't matter. I look now like I did then. It's all good.

I remember Julie talking about two people who had about the same physique but one was 20-30 pounds heavier.

She also talked about two people who were the same weight. One looked to be the right weight for his height, the other looked chubby. Same height, same weight, totally different bodies.

It's not about numbers. It's about looking good and being well.

What number equals "well?"

Precisely.

6 comments:

Anonymous7/23/2013
What a great post.

Isn't it so true that we get aught up in the number? And whatever that number is, or you thought it should be, backfires when you step on the scale.

If your below the number you thought you were, you reward yourself with eating something bad because you are doing so good. But if the number is higher than expected, you spin into feeling sorry for yourself and again eat badly. So what do you do?

Stay off the scale. I'm determined to not get on the scale again. But, I do want to see those lower numbers. I do want to cheer when I hit another milestone of weightless. But now, I will go by how my body feels. How are my clothes fitting? Can I get out some of my smaller sizes and start wearing them?

My goal is to drop 3/4 sizes. When I do that, I will feel fantastic and not care what the scale says.

Last night at my second session, Julie talked about losing the bad fat around the middle first. The fat that is pushing all your insides around and making our life miserable. I believe it is happening. I feel better. I can almost say I feel smaller. Just a wee bit, but smaller all the same.

So, throw out the scale, judge based on our clothes and enjoy the ride to a healthier you.
Unknown7/23/2013
Love this!!! Thank you Joel!!!

I would be right with you on the pizza (not the beer) the scale is my enemy BIG TIME!!!

I have more people going crazy because I won't weigh myself, they just want so bad to know what I have lost. It actually drives them nuts. Now the question of the week is, when will you weigh yourself to see what you have lost?

LOL!! I tell them NEVER! Their reply is REALLY? Why not!

I thought my weight loss was a personal journey, guess it is a world wide event like the royal baby! LOL!!!

Scales are hidden in my house!!! Have NO DESIRE whatsoever to know what I have lost!

Keep up the good work!!!
Joe Q7/23/2013
See, I really DO want to know but I understand why I shouldn't and staying off the scale is a choice just like not eating rice pudding. I'm a weird bird in this little Key Hypnosis culture. I'll readily admit to still wanting junk food and mashed potatoes and all the stuff I'm living without which only proves to me how necessary the hypnosis was. I am VERY strong-willed. No one will ever take away my desire for chocolate cake but Julie has effectively removed the emotional NEED for it. I also like being in control and that's where the weight thing comes into play. I want to be able to define milestones. When will I take my weight? I won't say never but I will say that it will not be until I'm absolutely 100% where I want to be and stay weight-wise. Julie knows her weight so eventually I get the feeling it's safe to know... for me, that's a long way down the road.
Theresa7/24/2013
I agree with all of you about the scale. Joel, Anonymous, Linda, you're all on the right track. Keep up the great work and off the scale!

I once saw my weight when I went online to look at my medical stuff. I told 1 person, but I knew right then I did I shouldn't have. Every time you think about the number you are reminding yourself how much weight you've lost and how much to GAIN BACK. My online medical info. no longer has my weight. Ask your doctor to make sure your isn't there too!

How did I feel about the number? Both excited and bummed. Excited because I hadn't been that low in more than a decade. Bummed because I wanted it to be so much lower. Bummed was the stronger emotion and the one that stayed with me the longest.

"Is that all I've lost? I thought it would be more. Sigh."

That's it right there - it's never (low) enough.

I even hesitate writing this, as I'm reminded of the number as I type. But I have moved on. I don't know what the number is on the scale today and I don't want to know.

Knowing your weight really messes with your head. If you hear or see it - forget it, don't share it, and move on asap. Being stuck in "bummed out mode" can cause more trouble than it's worth.

Besides, it's so much fun watching people's puzzled expressions when I tell them I don't know how much I've lost or how many more pounds I want to lose. Right Linda?
Jane7/24/2013
Hi, it is an interesting dilemma. We all want to be at that Golden Number, that lowest of low, that OMG, I'm here. But then, you have to process it... And that is where the crap hits the fan.

Keep up the great work. No number is good enough. That's why we are here. Shifting our paradigm is slow, but can be done.

Jane
Alanna7/24/2013
All of this is so true! I'm just finishing my first week, and on a regular "diet" I would have probably been on the scale 10 times already, and in doing so would have sabotaged myself.