Does having your gas gauge in your car read “empty” ruin your whole day? Do you post about it on your blog and tell all your friends what a failure it makes you?
Do you measure the air in your tires, and sit down on the curb and cry because it doesn’t show the number you wanted?
When you figure out the average number of miles you drive on a gallon of gas and it hasn’t’ changed from the day or week before, do you berate yourself with what an awful person you are—and go find comfort in a donut?
Then why are you doing that after you step on the bathroom scale?
Most women that I work with give way too much of their personal power to the scale. In their minds, not only does it measure how well they’ve done sticking to their exercise and eating plans, but it also measures their self-worth.
In truth, neither of these is the case.
The scale is just a tool—and a faulty one at that—that can be used to help you release weight. Using it consistently gives you a general idea of where you are your journey.
It typically does not accurately measure body fat—which is what you really want to know—and because weight is impacted by things like hormones, salt, sleep, etc., etc., it can go up and down for what feels like no reason.
When it becomes the deciding factor in the quality of your day and crashes your self-esteem, it is actually doing you harm. You might as well throw it away. It is holding you back, keeping you stuck, and making the weight stick to you like glue.
This is because the negative emotions you feel after stepping on the scale are generating catabolic energy that releases the stress hormone cortisol, adrenaline, and other chemicals that literally cannibalize your body. They break down your immune system, stress your heart, and impact your muscles. They also impact your metabolism and other weight-related systems making it easier to gain and harder to release weight.
By giving the scale the power to measure your value you are robbing yourself of the immense power you actually do have to get the body you want.
You can reclaim some of that power right now by deciding that you will no longer allow an inanimate object that at best is an inaccurate tool from dictating how you feel.
Until you can step on the scale and feel good about yourself—regardless of what number it reads—you are better off using a measuring tape, fat-measuring calipers, or even how well your jeans fit as your gauge to determine your progress.
Your value as a person is far greater than the number on the scale. And when you align your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs with your actions, you will be amazed at the progress you make.
How can you measure your progress in a way that will help move your towards your goals, rather than hold you back?
Together we can do it!
Amen!
Thanks again! I appreciate you!
So true! I really try to use the scale simply as a gauge to make sure I’m on the right track, but not get bent out of shape if it goes up 2 or even 5 lbs. If I’m sticking to my wellness plan, it’s not a true gain and the scale will drop again. Instead, I try to focus on how much better I’m feeling…amazing what even a 16 lb loss can do!
Love it! Congratulations on losing 16 pounds! Woot woot! Know you are feeling great! Thanks for sharing!
Goss, I will admit that I’m one of those women who step on a scale and become immediately depressed when I see my weight. To make matters worse, it doesn’t end there. A short while later, the defeatist attitude sets in and I begin to ruminate. Thankfully, this summer has helped to help me change a bit. For the first time, I have worn a bathing suit and have been indifferent to tummy rolls, the size of my derriere, or the span of my hips. I think that in learning to accept ourselves, we are taking the first step in changing negative body issues. I hope I continue on this new path! 🙂
“I think that in learning to accept ourselves, we are taking the first step in changing negative body issues.” Absolutely! Congratulations on the great progress you made this summer. That’s awesome! I hope you will think about the power you are giving to your scale and will focus on your immense beauty and value! Much love!
When I worked as a personal trainer, I went against the other trainers’ tradition and counseled my clients not to step on the scales, but instead to focus on how they felt and how their clothes fit. I didn’t step on a scale for many years – because i know the games that those numbers can play in a head that is not only competitive, but grew up with people eyeing my size critically- even though I was not over-weight but instead a round-faced child who grew up to a curvy bodied girl/woman.
I do step on the scale at the gym now, and I understand how sometimes it will be up some and sometimes it will be down some for all kinds of reasons – mostly, I want it to stay within a reasonable weight where I’m no longer losing weight, but more or less maintaining. Something new for me, as I’m usually moving up, not down 😀
I loved that you listened to your own wisdom instead of spouting the common advice. Congratulations on your self-awareness of the games those numbers play in your head, and for the progress you have made so that you can use the scales as a tool now. Sounds like you are doing amazingly well! Thanks for sharing your example!
I’m a whole sack full-o-crazy, but I am self-aware *laughing!* 😀
Which just means you are not as sack full-o-crazy as you tell yourself! Perhaps your “crazy” is actually wisdom and authenticity? How would it feel to actually begin to own that?
*thinks about this* hmmmmmm~! ;-D