Do you wake up and weigh yourself? That's fine but does it
determine what mood you're in and set the pace for your
day? Are you in a good mood or bad mood depending on the
scale? Is the tone of your day based on the number
reflected on the scale? Break the ties that bind you from
being a slave to the scale.
For people that diet and are on a quest for weight loss, we
just can't stay away from the scale. It is as though we
can't start our day without hopping on this device that
sits on the floor that we stand on. There we are, giving
our power to the scale standing on the scale staring down
at the display waiting for the verdict. For some it is a
compulsion for others it is mere curiosity. The problem
occurs when the results begin to dictate our mood, our
self-worth, and our self-esteem.
What is our compulsion with the scale? For some it's a
measurement of success. It is a form of validation when we
have been eating healthy on our diet program and regularly
working out. Why do we need a little box that sits on the
floor to give us the validation we want? You know what
you've done, how you've stuck to your diet, exercised, and
resisted temptations throughout your day. The scale
doesn't give you the compliments or "way to go" for those
aspects of your daily successes. The scale is just that -
a scale that measures your body weight including temporary
body fluctuations.
Scales don't tell you how much fat you are losing. A
regular scale doesn't reflect your muscle or water weight
either. Our weight can fluctuate from day to day. Water
retention from sodium, retention of bodily waste, hormonal
changes, bloating, and other temporary bodily adjustments
all register on the scale either up or down. Rather than
jump on and off the scale many times throughout the day so
often to count as aerobic activity, weigh yourself once a
week (or once a month) at the same time of day on the same
scale.
If you weigh yourself every day, you can be frustrated
because weight can swing two to three pounds up or down due
to temporary body functions and changes. You'll get a more
realistic picture of your weight loss if you weigh once a
week.
There are very good reasons for this. Your weight
fluctuates all the time, at different times of the day and
month, depending on if you have just eaten, if you are
dehydrated, etc. This can be misleading and cause much
frustration. When you weigh yourself, if you have lost
weight, also give yourself credit for what you have gained
in losing weight. Gains include feeling better about
yourself, being in control over food rather than food
controlling you, and being closer to your weight loss goal.
If you haven't lost weight, or have put a small amount on,
use this as motivation to keep going. Increase your
exercise and activity, check what you're eating and the
portions.
It is interesting how those little numbers representing
your weight can dictate your entire day. The scale can
make you feel thin and great or large and awful. Do not
weigh yourself several times a day. It makes no sense and
can lead to scale neurosis.
For true validation of your weight loss and healthy
lifestyle changes, take body measurements. Seeing proof of
decreasing measurements is a more accurate way of
acknowledging your success. Another great way to validate
yourself is by your clothes. Are you clothes fitting
better, getting baggier or wearing a different size? Both
of these are true gauges and great pats on the back that
you deserve.
Take your focus from looking down to the scale on the floor
and look up. Look at all of the tremendous changes you've
made in your life, how great you feel physically and
emotionally. Put it in perspective and don't think about
weight as the only issue. Reflect on how great you feel,
how you look, do you have more energy, and all of the many
things that have changed for the better in your life since
you started making healthy changes. Those are the ultimate
measures of your success!
----------------------------------------------------
Cathy Wilson is a certified life coach specializing in
weight loss. Cathy lost 147 pounds seven years ago. Her
passion is to help clients achieve weight loss and life
goals. Cathy works with clients to create a weight loss
life plan custom to each client. Cathy is a member of the
International Coaching Federation, International
Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition.
Visit Cathy's website:
http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com
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