Scale Obsession: What's in a Number?

A common dieter's disease that you see running rampant: Scale-itis. As in: How can I lose 2 kajillion pounds in three minutes? Or something along those lines.

Now I get this. I so get it. But if you stop for a second and think about where it comes from, it may change your perspective a bit.

See, it's like this: You've seen people who have EVERY SINGLE indication of being successful at losing weight, short having the scale read what they want, and what happens? Blind panic, right?

You'll hear, "Well, yes, I know I've lost 500 inches and I feel great and I can climb the Matterhorn now and I know that I've gained lots of muscle and I now wear clothes 19 sizes smaller...but I wanna lose WEIGHT! The scaaaaalllllllle! The scale doesn't say the number I want it to say!"

Now, you gotta wonder why? Why is that number all that matters to folks? And after giving the matter some thought, I think I got it: That number is what they're using as self-definition, entirely. Forget "you are what you eat." These people are thinking, "I am what I weigh"

While numbers are a convenient way of measuring success, they're not to be mistaken for the ACTUAL success. We use them as a way to communicate our goals, a common language that folks can understand and quantify. But the real goals aren't-or at least shouldn't be- those stupid numbers that read out on a hunk of gears and metal. Numbers which, I may add, will change depending on the time of day, water retention, the time of the month, where on the floor the contraption sits, and which way you lean when hopping on the evil little contraption.

That tiny little scale becomes the evil dictator by which we judge our entire self worth, and it needs to stop!  Yes, I know you have your vacation-reunion-birthday-anniversary party coming up in about ten minutes now. Whatever. You think there isn't always some kind of milestone coming up?

Now, I'm as human as the rest of you. You think it doesn't feel good to say, "I've lost a hundred pounds"? Think again! Think I don't get excited to see those numbers falling on the scale along with everybody else? Well, heck yeah I do! But of course, it's never a problem when the numbers are going DOWN, is it? It's only the upward swings that we take panic-stricken notice of.

Nonetheless, those fluctuations ARE part of the process for all of us, like it or not, Sparky.  If you weigh yourself regularly, you will see normal fluctuations. Or even not-so-normal fluctuations, if you've stuffed yourself with birthday cake or something recently. Whatever  you see, you see. There's no reason to throw a fit like a petulant child about it. There's no cause for panic (or exercising 12 hours a day or trying to live on 3 letttuce leaves and some nasty ol' Tab, man). Extreme measures are nonsense.

All extreme measures actually do is guarentee that you will not consistently follow through on your half-baked "plan" to get that scale reading down. If you're concerned about losses moving slowly, how about doing something sensible? You could up your water intake, add some movement to your routine, start following your chosen plan more closely, or even put that scale in a closet for a month while you work on making healthy, obsession-free choices.

Frankly, if you can't see the numbers fluctuate without freaking out, then throw out your bloody scale and get on with your life!

It's sort of like money. Some people get fixated on getting more and more and more money and forget exactly what money's for: to enjoy! You could have all the money in the world, but if you didn't know how to spend it in a way that brought you comfort and satisfaction, why bother? Weight loss is like that, too. It's something you do for your health, and to look better and feel better. And if you're constantly on yourself about how you haven't met your silly little number...well, you're missing the point in a major way. What about all the progress you've made? What about how you feel more energy now, or can wear those old pants from 5 years ago that you never thought you'd get into again, or just being happier because you feel better about the choices you make?

If you are having trouble staying grounded and repeatedly turning into panic mode (which, at least half the time, will progress into binging-mode), stop. Take a minute to remind yourself of the reasons why you decided you wanted to do this in the first place. I'll bet you money it wasn't because of a number itself. Even if it was a reading on the scale that got your attention, it wasn't the number per se, but the meaning that number has to you. Chances are, you started this journey was because you were concerned about your health or your appearance or the example you're setting for your children or any one of a million other things. The number has whatever meaning you give it. Once person may feel fat at 125; somebody else may feel thin at 225. It's not the number, folks.

Don't get fixated on an arbitrary measure of success, especially at the expense everything else that you started the journey for to begin with. If you feel great, are looking good, are in control of your eating, and are healthy...well, who gives a flying rodent's backside whether the scale reads 103 or 143? What difference could it possibly make?

And even if you aren't where you want, scale-wise or otherwise, so what? Just keep moving in the direction you want to go and you'll get there in due time. Stop complaining about the speed you're going and start enjoying the ride, man. Life isn't the destination, anyway. It's the trip. So enjoy your trip.