BLOG 162 BREAK UP WITH THE SCALE
Oh the scale. That number. That statistic. The games that nasty measurement tool can play. Why does it matter so much?? How has our society equated weight to being confident, comfortable, or “in-shape”?? Of course data can be motivating and an indication of progress. It can also be a major deterrent and psychological destroyer. There is so much more to weight than one can imagine, and as I write this Blog that scale is sitting there right next to me with its lonely glare.
Every day, I write down my weight, body fat, and BMI. Does it bother me?? No. My goals are reflected by what I see in the mirror. I write this down so that I know I am building muscle (my goal isn’t to lose weight). The scale doesn’t determine the rest of my day. After all, water retention (sodium), water loss, bathroom use, hormones, activity level, and of course time of day.
There were 2 times in my life that scale messed with me. One, being in college when I tore my ACL and meniscus and went to zero activity, emotional eating, and drank Mike’s Hard Lemonade like it was cool. Second, when I was bulking last year to put on muscle. The scale was uncomfortable reading back to me numbers I hadn’t seen in years.
The scale is not the only reward for your fitness journey.
Your BODY knows what it is doing.
The scale doesn’t show your internal and overall health improvement. Your weight is in constant fluctuation. Muscle weighs more than fat. I bet you wouldn’t be able to guess my weight.
Still, many avoid going to the doctor because the fear of that scale. What’s worse is that most times, the doctor’s scale is not in a private area, rather, right in the hallway as people pass by. Here at the studio we praise every BODY’s successes, but at the doctor, you are there to hear what is wrong with you.
OH and here’s more… did you weigh with clothes or shoes?? How old is that scale?? What surface was it on??
Some common rules to follow would be:
• Same time of day, on the
• Same day each week, wearing the
• Same clothing, and using the
• Same scale
(https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weighing-in-on-scales-find-your-true-weight#1)
I’m not making excuses for that scale. I’m telling you that YOU have more to offer to this world than what a scale reads back at you. Embrace your BODY, embrace the change to be better, and love the process.