How important is your scale?

[Sygma]

Since I was about fourteen until recently, I weighed myself almost daily. Back then, that number was so powerful and had the tightest grip on my life, and practically controlled every feeling toward myself. If I gained weight when I started my day, it was hard to have a good day. It was so hard to love myself all those years.

I decided that it was time to throw out the scale and free myself from the slavery of that number. I keep reading threads about weight gain/loss and I see a ton of signatures with weight recordings. Have we really reduced ourselves to this number? I feel that I should encourage everyone to stop focusing on gaining or losing and just start defining your body in other, more respectful, ways or even just how great you are FEELING (instead of looking).

Maybe this is offensive, but I just want to say that since I stopped worrying about my weight, I have been happier...I have finally been able to accept myself, and I want everyone to feel that. :)

[Veronica01]

I don't think it's offensive at all. It is far better to gauge how you feel about yourself and feel comfortable in your own clothes than what a number says. Especially since water weight is always going to fluctuate every day, and your digestion and eliminations can move numbers by a few pounds. I weigh myself maybe once a week just to see where i'm at, but if i did it every day i'd probably be frustrated. That negative energy you project about your weight can cause your body to be stressed and attract more weight gain... Very bad cycle. A number is not going to tell you how happy or fit you are at all. Judge how you feel, and how you feel about your health as the benchmark

[Sygma]

Exactly, very well said.

[qfmother]

I agree with everything that's been said, but personally I am at a place right now where I need to monitor my weight at least once a week. When I don't do that, it is too easy to get lax about how much I eat and start back in the wrong direction again. We definitely can't allow the number to determine our happiness though.

[Ilse W.]

I weigh myself every now and then, but only use it as a general guide. The number really does not mean much to me, but as qfmother said, it is a good way to keep from going too far in the "wrong" direction. I certainly do not tie my emotional wellbeing to a number on the scale.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i seldom weigh myself... perhaps once a month? i can feel when i am releasing... but really it's how we look and feel that matters... not the size of clothing or a number on a scale!

[ViolinCyndee]

I must admit to obsessivly weighing myself (morning and night)! And yeah.. if I gain, I am completely stressed, and happier if I lose. Though, I am not happy wth my weight and will not ever be happy until I get down into my
120s. Seems so far away right now! :(

[Jehote]

I'm a scale junkie. 3-4 times a week I weigh at the gym. Ok coming out of a baaaad place and I need to stay on track.
M

[T-Bird]

While I agree some can be compulsive and beat themselves up, I do think a scale is a useful tool for health.

Even if you are at your perfect weight, a once a month weigh in can help make sure you don't "get out of hand" so to speak.

After I moved the last time - I probably went 2 years w/out a scale. Big shocker - I gained 30lbs! That never would have happened if I'd had a scale, I'm still kind of confused that it actually happened, but several years later....most of it is still here!

I don't beat myself up about whatever nombre du jour pops up. I monitor the trends, and take stock the first of each month. I can gain 3-5 lbs in a day very easily - but it is not fat - but random fluid action. Those same 5 lbs can actually stick around for 2-3 weeks. Infuriating, but I know the score. Evaluating once a month, on the first, gives me a realistic idea of the how things are panning out.

Throwing out the scale - if it works for you fine - but my question would be what other metric is your self-esteem coming from? How your jeans fit? How your face or hair looks? How many men look at you or ask you out?? How much money you make? <insert your weakness here>

Throwing out the scale is like throwing out all the mirrors. An external attempt to eliminate an internal process.

When your self-esteem truly comes from your soul, your heart, your good deeds, scales and mirrors are just tools like pens and pencils. Not demons.

[The French One]

I'm afraid to say that I weigh myself everyday and feel quite anguished if I can't. The number won't settle my mood for the day, but it helps me regulate my food intake according to how the number evolves.

[Eva]

I don't have a scale any more. I do still weigh myself if I happen to be at a place with a scale, mostly out of curiosity. But I don't attach anything to the number.

It's just a number. Heck, since I went raw BIGGER is usually good because it means more muscle!

Feeling good, living life, taking care of myself = so much more important than the number on a scale.

[Irish_Vegan_Girl]

We don't have one at my home, but I gauge by looking at myself and how my clothes fit and how I feel, if I feel one with myself and within and am eating well and only when necessary or if I feel I can, then I feel great, and it's not about weight or food for me it's about how I feel - that's what I am trying to teach myself. I want to make a habit out of feeling good and free.

Bcos, I no if I had a scale it would be bad news. I use to, and I was just a bit obsessed.

[rawstrength]

Amen to that. I feel so good since I've ditched the scale!

[Myca]

Well, it is true life without the scale is happier. As a matter of fact, two weeks into the 30 day challenge, I have not lost a pound,:(

[Colorawdo girl]

No scale for me at all. Never.Just like I have no rules,no numbers, for my raw life.. I am free to beeeeeeee...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Oh...on raw I need not count calories and my weight is best ever!! Rawk on.

[LotsaRaw]

I have never owned a scale. They make me get on one twice a year for my semi-annual physical stuff with the military, and when I am at the doctor's office. In 21 years I can say I am 7 pounds heavier than I was at 17 (just had weigh-ins/physical test last week - compared to my military entrance physical)

[klomasius]

What's a scale? ;)

I've lost lots of weight lately, and when people comment on it and ask how much I've lost, I honestly can't tell them as I don't know!

I should go and find out to satisfy my curiosity, but I simply go on how healthy I look/feel and if I can fit into my clothes.

[commoncents]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I weigh myself daily and it makes me miserable or joyful depending on the number. I know I am losing inches and look slimmer and feel so much better. I was thinking the other day that I should just toss it.

[commoncents]

When your self-esteem truly comes from your soul, your heart, your good deeds, scales and mirrors are just tools like pens and pencils. Not demons.

Beautiful!!!!

[Shona]

I have never owned a scale.

I have never owned a scale either.

I eat healthy and I get lots of exercise. I am fairly thin. What I weigh in numbers isn't important to me. I am happy with who I am. :)

[tylerdurden]

I have finally been able to accept myself, and I want everyone to feel that. :)


I totally agree with everyone that you shouldn’t focus on a number on a scale to make you happy. You should stride to feel great and look great by your definitions of the word great.

However, I’ve never liked the idea of simple accepting yourself. As someone that has struggled greatly with self image I don’t think trying to trick ourselves into accepting something we can manage is healthy in the long run.

Where would be if we just accepted things. Not accepting things pushes us to be strong and better individuals. Not just when it comes to weight but every aspect of life. So don’t focus on the number on the scale so much but don’t give up in any way shape or form!