I think it’s time I end a long-lasting relationship. Yes, I’m breaking up with my bathroom scale. Fascinated with all things health and fitness, I am constantly bombarded with contradicting viewpoints on whether the scale is a helpful or hurtful wellness tool. Some days I understand the reasoning behind the method of occasional weigh-ins; though, I think it’s accurate to say that most either avoid the scale at all costs or end up with an unhealthy obsession of daily (maybe even multiple) weigh-ins.
I am smart enough to know that the number on the scale is influenced by many factors and that my gravitational number isn’t responsible for dictating my innocent days that are worthy of happiness in more ways than one. Rational knowledge versus emotions. #storyofmylife
Hold up… what is the root of this rant?
I stepped onto the evil device this evening to have it show a 1.5lb. increase in 24 hours. Was it the salty dinner I ate last night or the all of the fluid I’ve chugged today? I don’t know. The scale keeps that a secret and only lets your mind wander to unnecessary, negative thoughts.
Tonight I let a triple digit number override the smashing HIIT workout, track sprints and powerful push-ups I had done minutes earlier at the WREC… a mistake I’ve made one too many times in the past, yet have failed to learn my lesson.
Why do I allow the weight of my strong, leafy greens and chia seed-fueled muscles get me down?
With a month away from the gym, I let my strength training slip while I enjoyed a bounty of beautiful outdoor runs. I covered 94 miles in 19 days and my first two weeks of half-marathon training were solid; still, I scrutinize the larger circumference of my thighs after all the work they’ve done? #unfair
From previous experience, I’m aware that the number on the scale is typically higher during training. I ran my fastest half-marathon last spring at one of my heavier weights: tight jeans are OK. PR or booty-hugging bottoms – what would you chose?
I’m working on the relationship I have with my – one and only – body every day; I learn new things about myself every day – what it needs and what it needs to let go. I think it’s time I let my tie with the bathroom scale go for the better… for faster running, for heavier squatting, for a happier mind, for proudly filling in my designer jeans.
What’s your relationship like with the scale?
Wishing you many more strong Running Tuesdays…
Sincerely,
Hillary
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I’ve made the same mistake in the past, too, until I realized that those heavier numbers are all about the amazing muscle we work so hard to achieve. Losing the scale is probably the best thing I’ve done!
I was definitely guilty of being prisoner of the scale as well. It’s amazing how much it can affect your day and outlook on yourself. Imagine if we were to weigh our attitudes every morning. Perhaps they should make a scale for that!
I have not weighed myself in over a year actually! I hate scales :)
Great post! I agree, you should definitely not let the scale get into your head!
My relationship with the scale is up and down. In general, I think it’s a good check in every once in a while, but sometimes I can get a little obsessive over it and do it every day. It sucks the days when you see a higher number than you were expecting, but I think for me it’s really motivating too, as long as I don’t let it go to my head too much.
Ugh, the dreaded scale. I have a love hate relationship with the scale. I think it keeps me honest with how I am doing with my diet and exercise routine, but at the same time it drives me crazy and makes me think unhealthy, negative thoughts. Lately, I have been avoiding it at all costs. I am not sure if it is because I am scared of what it will say or because I just don’t want to know. eek.
I never weight myself – I truly don’t think the number matters. As long as my clothes fit (and that goes both ways) and I’m confident with what I see in the mirror, that is all that matters. The only exception to this was when I was gaining weight, I checked it about every other week until I hit my goal weight… Congrats on your decision to banish the little effer from your bathroom!
Great post! Completely agree, I stepped on the scale this a.m. and saw the number was higher. I know I have been eating correctly and exercising, including adding more weight training; my clothes fit fine, in fact a little loose, but seeing that number go up is hard! I need to work on that mindset.
i love this honest and thought provoking post! i completely agree. i used to be a compulsive scale user — until i realized it literally means nothing! when i cut back on running last year and switched to a more regular yoga routing i gained 6 pounds… but, shocker, my clothes fit better, my muscles were longer, i looked more fit overall and felt amazing. it was about that time i realized that the number means nothing. now i go by how my favorite pair of black skinny jeans fit :) a much better barometer!
I don’t weigh myself anymore either… sometimes I’m tempted to, just to see, but I know that in the past I have not had a good relationship with the scale and it wouldn’t be any different this time around. This was a great post to read! I just found your blog and I love it!
I weigh myself once a week and it can be either a great feeling or a bad feeling. Either way, I let it keep me on track to see how I’m doing in reaching my goals. Jeans aren’t a bad way to judge either :)
Recently I have stopped jumping on the scale every morning. I used to freak out when it went up a pound or two but clothes still fit and I know that I am in shape and healthy. As you said there are so many different factors that affect the number that appears on the scale and it’s not worth ruining your day over 3 digits. Avoiding the scale is something I still struggle with but I am learning that the way you feel is more important than dictating your day based on a contraption that you step on :)
I stopped using my scale daily a few years ago and it’s been a great change for me mentally. Now I occasionally check just for curiosity sake once every few weeks and I no longer have this doom and gloom relationship with the scale and the number it tells me. I know I’m working my butt off daily and the number can’t always tell me that.
i love everything about this. i used to weigh myself daily. it became so obsessive that i let it determine how my day was going to be.
but now, i don’t know my weight. i haven’t weighed myself in about 6 months and i couldn’t be happier. as long as my jeans fit, i’m good.
I weighted myself every day for 4 years… it dictated my life and I HATED IT… I stopped weighing myself two years ago… I actually just got the ZERO scale today because I am trying to lose a little weight for my wedding and needed something to track some progress… It doesn’t tell you your weight (the problem I always had was obsessing over the number), it just tells you if you have lost of gained since the last time you were on… I am interested and pretty excited about using it!
I hadn’t heard of the ZERO scale — interesting concept.
Same thing happens to me when I train and run faster! I’m trying to let go of the numbers on the scale and pant size as well. So much easier said than done. Good luck!!
Thank you for this! I was at an event for work a few weeks ago, having people “weigh-in” as part of a Wellness program. Some people got SO UPSET with what the scale told them – arguing that it was inaccurate, that their clothes add weight (um, obviously), that they had just had lunch (another obvious factor), etc – and I tried to explain how much weight can fluctuate, and say, in so many words, that it didn’t really matter what the scale read.
It’s almost an impossible argument to win, especially in that moment. But I tried…
I stopped weighing myself years ago, and I go solely by how my clothes are fitting. We do have a scale (it’s the boy’s, surprisingly), and I’ll step on it now and again purely out of curiosity. I feel lucky, and appreciate the personal growth it took me to get to a point where I can say that the number means absolutely nothing. If I feel strong, know that I’m staying active for the right reasons & eating healthy? That’s all I need to know.
Keep your insightful thoughts coming! The internet sure could use a few doses of this perspective :)
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Heather. There’s so much to say about something so “simple” as a scale.
What are you doing for work these days? :)
Hey girl, finally got over here to read this post after you left it on my blog a couple of weeks ago. (I’m so behind on reading.)
I’ve come to conclusion over the past few weeks that the scale is actually something that isn’t working for me this time around. I was weighing daily…and that’s been counterproductive. It hasn’t budged much, but inches have fallen off. I think it’ll be best for me to use it every week or more just as a secondary tool. :)
I had a crazy 24 hours with my scale the other day.
https://lifeisnoyoke.com/scale/
I’ve come to realize there’s a time and a place for using the scale. And it’s not 40 times in 24 hours. :)