The Scale: Friend or Foe

   The scale seems to be a hot button issue with many women I know who are trying to lose weight. A majority of my friends do not weigh themselves, at all. Instead, they measure their progress by the fit of their current clothing (too tight, a little loose). Many of them find the scale to be intimidating and discouraging which are two emotions that can have a very negative impact on your weight loss progress. This works for them and I am all for it.

    Those who aren't opposed to using a scale, usually do a weekly or monthly weigh in. I, however, am a little obsessed with the scale. Yup, I admit it. My scale and I have a dysfunctional, love hate relationship and it works for me. We meet in my bathroom every morning at the same time for my unofficial morning weigh in. Now, before you start gasping and clutching your pearls, let me explain why I do this and why it works for me. Remember, this is only my experience. I am an expert in the field of 'MEology' only as I have been studying it for 33 years so I'm very well versed in the subject. I cannot speak for anyone else and what they do, but this works for me. The reason I weigh in each day is because I like to see my progress on a daily basis. I know that a healthy weight loss rate is between 1-2 pounds per week ( I prefer 2) in order to reach long term goals and keep the weight off. Since my goal is 2 pounds per week, I know that ideally I need to lose about 4.6 ounces a day in order to meet that goal. So, I weigh myself each morning to make sure that I am staying on track. Although, I may not lose that exact amount each day (some days are more, some less, some none at all) I do this to keep myself accountable and to remind me of the goal I'm working towards. Now, I don't record my weight daily, I just make a mental note of it. My official weigh in, the one that I actually document and will be sharing here, is done on a weekly basis. If I get on the scale and I have gained weight from the previous day, I know that I need to take a look at my food and exercise journal from that day and evaluate what I did and where I may have gone wrong. Sometimes I'll find an explanation (sugar splurge) and sometimes there's no explanation at all and I know I just need to continue to eat right and exercise. The most important part of all is to not get discouraged. Not every weigh in is going to be great and you have to keep that in mind and not let the bad outweigh the good (see what I did there).  For me personally, my morning weigh in motivates me and sets the tone for my day, regardless of the outcome. It makes me workout a little harder and take an extra look at what I am eating that day. I will admit that I'd like to try a weekly weigh in, but I have not gotten there yet. I guess my fear is that if I only do it once a week, I won't be able to see where I may have fallen short during the week in time enough to make an adjustment before my weekly weigh in. Silly, I know, but I'm a work in progress. I think that after my weigh in this weekend, I'm going to go cold turkey and not weigh myself at all for 1 week just to try something different. Can't hurt to try, right?

   If scales intimidate you and could possibly discourage you from continuing on your weight loss journey, then don't use them. It's not about the scale, it's not about the clothes, it's about a better, healthier you. Whatever makes you the most comfortable is what you should do. Just make sure that whatever you do, you are consistent. Remember, you didn't gain the weight overnight and you are not going to lose it overnight either. So, don't feel defeated if your weigh in wasn't as good as expected or if you still can't fit in to your old skinny jeans yet. Instead feel good knowing that your a sticking to your weight loss plan and getting closer to reaching your goal everyday. No scale or skinny jeans can determine your self worth, only you can do that.

   How do you track your weight loss? Are you 'Team Scale' or Team No Scale'? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.


Corrin K. Jones

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