I have a love hate relationship with the scales. I used to be a proponent of daily weighing (and I will probably do that again when I am at my goal weight...to keep myself focused). But this go round, I'm sitting back and trying to take the pressure off the number. So once a week is what I'm trying to do. I admit that I sneak a peak here and there, but I'm for the most part trying to stay away from the scales because I don't want to obsess. This past weekend I decided to move my weigh in day until Sunday. I had originally been emailing weights out to a Sunday challenge and also a Monday challenge...and I was using my Monday challenge as my official weight. But the Monday challenge has folded and while the group is still around and making small noises, the Monday weigh in has sunk into the pits of oblivion. Not a problem. So I decided to make Sunday my official. I weighed on Sunday. I showed a loss! In fact, I hit my next 10 pound goal! (new charm is ordered for my charm reward bracelet already). 21 pounds gone since January 1. (83.2 pounds total from my highest). I stayed away from the scales on Monday...no problem. This morning though. I don't know what possessed me. First of all I was dressed (Yes, I weigh in the nude!) and secondly I had tacos last night. Do you know how much sodium is in the taco seasoning alone?????? My weight was up...substantially My heart sank and I'm fighting off the spiraling negative thoughts. I don't want another week of 'maintain'. I want to lose again. I want to blow this weight out of the water. And I'm depressed about seeing the higher number again. GRRRR But that is all self destructive. If I allow myself to wallow in the NUMBERS I will begin to believe that I can't do it. I KNOW I can. This journey really is won in the mind.
Exercise today was scheduled to be a run this morning and zumba this evening. I woke up and Todd wanted/needed breakfast at about 7:30. I would have had to go out running at 6 or 6:30 this morning in order to eat first...I won't make the mistake of running after I eat twice) I would have been fine..but that early scared me. Slipping on ice is NOT conducive to health. So I postponed my run until tomorrow morning. (meaning I'll have two back to back runs, but that's OK also). I wallowed a bit in my depressive thoughts about the number on the scale...but then I said "screw that" and I got up. (enough time and passed and I knew that I could get in a 1/2 hour exercise...just not enough time to get out and run) I dug out my steps and the original step aerobic DVD that I purchased years upon years ago. I had religiously done step aerobics at one point during my original weight loss efforts but I eventually put it aside and never came back to it. Today was the day to resurrect step aerobics. I set everything up and I was
I'm not really sure how I want to integrate the scales into my life this go round. The obsession to check my weight is too great to ignore. I know this. I just have to make my obsession (I never was one to weigh throughout the day...just once...in the morning) coexist in a peaceful way with my psyche. Maybe it WOULD be better if i weighed daily again. At least then I would be seeing a TRUE number instead of these stupid 'bobbles' that I am catching a glimpse of!
This is my battle too.. I obsess about the scale but at least I can record my ups and downs and find a pattern. As we get older it seems that there are more fluctuations but at least for me, they seem to be predictable. Sorry I can't offer advise on this one but I can offer you company. Chin up girl!
ReplyDeleteI like weighing every day. I like knowing that what I ate the night before really affected my weight the next morning. For example, as a snack last night, I ate a handful of salty shelled peanuts, and my weight was up 1.6 lbs today. However, I know that it was just because of all the salt I ate because I've seen that very trend before and (as long as I'm good tonight) my weight will be back to it's lower number tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am guilty of getting on the scale later in the day and I'm always annoyed to see the higher number then. But I know that it's because of water and food I've eaten all day (and my clothes). I also like to weigh myself after I work out because it's always low (sometimes really low) but I know that is a fluke too, I just need some water and it goes back up.
By weighing everyday I feel like I have a good idea on what my "true" number is. If I weigh myself 5 days and 4 of those days I'm at one number and one day I'm at a higher (or lower) number, I know that most likely my actual weight is the one that shows most often.
Good luck deciding what's best for you! I know my way of doing it isn't what works for a lot of people. =)
I weigh every morning. I hear your true weight is sort of an average of all the fluctuating throughout the week. Baha - I don't really care about that. I find the morning weigh-in motivating. If it's up, I'm motivated to try harder. If it's down, I'm shown that it's working and to keep going!
ReplyDeleteNever ever weight with clothes on!! Unless you're at a WW meeting, hehe.
I was doing it weekly but now that I'm back at meetings I'm only doing it once a week because I really do think it plays with the mind!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great week!
Ah, the salt plays mind games. At least you know what it is. :D
ReplyDeleteHave faith in the calorie system, if you follow your daily calorie amount the weight eventually comes off.
:-) Marion
I have thought of hiding the scales for a will and just eating healthly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I certain number on the scale shouldn't depress us so much. The body has constant change, so it is going to be at different amounts, it the long term that matters.
ReplyDeleteI hope your feeling better this week!
I thought I remembered a homemade taco seasoning recipe, it took me a while to remember where I had seen it. As it turns out I have a very good memory, Roni posted it in April of 2008.
ReplyDeletehttp://greenlitebites.com/2008/04/06/taco-seasoning/
I do not ad sodium to anything I cook. So I use all the other spices she listed, and just skip the salt.