A lot of advice out there when it comes to scales is "Don't weigh yourself every day", "Put the scale up", "Throw out the full length mirror", etc. And this works for some people, no doubt about it. Not for this girl though. Do you know one thing I did both the last time I got this heavy and this time (besides eat a bunch of junk and sit on my ass)? I stopped stepping on the scale. If I'm not seeing those numbers go up I can ignore them, and ignoring the problem was easier than facing the issue.
What helped me last time, and what I'm continuing to do today, is stepping on that scale every single day. I definitely can understand how that can be dangerous for some people, if you can't fully acknowledge the fact that weight fluctuates and not freak out and the non-loss or small gains, then this isn't a recommendation for you. But for me, it helps me to see how my body weight fluctuates day to day, even multiple times a day. I know that there can be a 5lb difference in my body between morning and night, and that doesn't mean that I've actually gained 5lbs. I can see that if I went over my sodium intake, that it's probably causing a bunch of water retention in that 2lb gain the next day. And I can see that my period continues to be an evil bitch by adding up to 7 freaking lbs onto my body that week. But those numbers always go back down. For me, being able to see how I eat and my activity affect the number helps me to better understand my body and what works and doesn't work for it.
The number on the scale is definitely not a deciding factor on success, though. Numbers just work at helping motivate me, even when they don't move. Measurements are definitely the key and most important measurement on this journey. I only measure myself in one month intervals though, because those numbers are smaller and are going to be smaller drops (but bigger rewards) than the scale's much larger numbers.
Today, I'm down 3.2lbs since last week! Now, had I done a weekly weigh in like most people that would have been on Sunday which showed like a .8lb loss at the time. Since I step on it every morning, I'm able to catch the losses when they happen and it definitely feels rewarding. Some people will look at 3.2 and not see a great success, but it's awesome. Stop watching Biggest Loser and comparing yourselves to others losses. It is possible to get the big numbers in the beginning, especially the heavier you are, but most of that is just going to be your initial water weight drop and it's going to balance out to normal numbers. 1-2lb losses per week is your goal. And even if you lose just .5lbs, that's freaking fantastic that's half a pound less to go!
More important than the scale and the measurements to me is how strong my body is. My back is sore, my arms are sore, my ass freaking hurts, and I know that all of this is because I'm getting muscle and getting stronger. It's a really great feeling, and when I can do more reps and run longer or faster it's so much more of an accomplishment than smaller numbers.
Checking in
Yesterday wasn't that great of a day for me, that lack of sleep just knocked everything out of whack and being so tired had me craving carbs all day long. I went way over carbs, a little over calories, and didn't hit the gym. But I got my BBM in, did a little bit of dancing...it was an off day but it happens. Today I'm rested and going to do better.
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