Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

[disgal]

Hi everyone.

OK. Tuesday is the end of the two week induction period for me. I've already decided I'm going to do two more weeks of induction because I'm feeling good and I have almost 170 lbs to lose in total. But that's not what I have a question about.

First........I'm scared. I finally have the attitude that this WOE is for my LIFETIME. I have tinkered with it before, knew I felt great on it, but went back to my old WOE and had disasterous results. This time it is doctor's orders and my orders. Atkins is just going to be a way of life for me now. Period.

But I'm scared that when I step on that scale on Tuesday that I'm not going to show a big number and I'm going to go through that mental game again. You know....the one that says even though you've done everything according to plan, you didn't lose what you thought you would, so every bad food becomes MORE of a temptation to you. It's like the food is talking to you, "come on, a little bit won't hurt......look at what happened last week.....you did great and where did it get you...nowhere".

So............with that in mind, does anyone on here NOT weigh themselves? I'll get weighed by my doctor every few months and ofcourse, I would see results eventually in my clothing.

I just don't want to risk losing this mental challenge that I happen to be winning right now. I even asked my DH.....if I stick to it 100% and only lose a pound, what more could I have done? I mean, no matter how fast or slow I lose on this, it's for life so what does it matter what speed I go at? He agreed.

Thanks for listening. I actually cried about this today with my DH, that's how nervous I am. I don't want to FAIL this time. I want to WIN. I've been struggling for over 20 years and I want to win.

[Momtofour]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Ditch the scale. Like you said, you'll be getting weighed by your doctor every few months. It just isn't worth the head games.

You can do this! I look forward to reading your posts.

[GaynorA]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Hey there Disgal. The scales can really mess you up. I've just been through a stall and it played games with my HEAD. I say go for it without the scales if you can. The fact that the doctor is weighing you every few months will give you a much better perspective. You'll be able to see your clothes getting lose and a tape measure at home will show you dropping inches (cm). A lot of people have failed on other diets - but this is a win, win situation. Like you say - this is a lifelong commitment. You'll see a change in your body and your doctor will definitely see a change in your blood work. You've done really well luv. You've stuck to induction. Well done. Don't worry - you'll see positive changes. Luv to you.

[Grant]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Well, I think I'm going to play devil's advocate here. I feel like too much weighing can certainly be a bad thing BUT I also find that it's a useful tool to see if you are on track. If I weigh myself and I havn't lost as much as I think I should have (or heaven forbid, gained) I look back on the last week or two and think about what changes I have introduced in my eating or exercise that may have slowed or stopped me.

It's definately helped me figure out what works for me and what doesn't as I go along.

I can definately see the point the other posters have made but just wanted to get the other side across too: the scale doesn't have to be your enemy, it can help you make smart choices along the way.

[Adena]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Disgal, glad to hear your great attitidue and dedication to make "this time" different. About the scale, I favor staying away from it, if you can. Yes, there are people here who don't weigh regularly. If you choose not to weight, I would strongly encourage you to take and record your measurements every couple of weeks -- that will be much more accurate evidence of your progress, and could address the valid concerns that Grant raised. A good site that tells you where to measure and helps you keep track is www.fitogether.net.

Take care, and best of luck!

[moniegail]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

i agree with grant, the scale can be helpful. this is my third time on this woe, but the other times i did this woe i had great success, however went off the wagon both times. anyways the scale is not bad as long as it's not an everyday thing. when i weigh myself i made a goal to only get on the scale once a week and it was a great way to access my food intake. especially when you start going up the rungs. it'll give you more of an idea if you should scale back on things you've started to add.

wishing you luck and good health regardless of what your decision will be.

moniegail

[disgal]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Well, I think I'm going to play devil's advocate here. I feel like too much weighing can certainly be a bad thing BUT I also find that it's a useful tool to see if you are on track. If I weigh myself and I havn't lost as much as I think I should have (or heaven forbid, gained) I look back on the last week or two and think about what changes I have introduced in my eating or exercise that may have slowed or stopped me.

It's definately helped me figure out what works for me and what doesn't as I go along.

I can definately see the point the other posters have made but just wanted to get the other side across too: the scale doesn't have to be your enemy, it can help you make smart choices along the way.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and thank you, Grant for yours also. And part of it I totally agree with........being a tool. But, ya see, I think the part highlighted above is what I've been wrestling with. Aren't there times that someone could be 100% on the program but the scale isn't going to tell them that THAT week? For example, someone, following all the rules and doing what they should be doing weighs themselves and the scale only shows a pound loss. The next week it shows a 4 pound loss but they might have ruined that if they had changed anything from the week before. Am I making sense?

Especially being a woman....we have weeks that just aren't going to show the loss. It doesn't mean we've done anything wrong.

But I know what you are saying. And please, don't anyone think that I think there is a right/wrong side to this. We all have to figure this out for ourselves. I'm just thinking outloud to you all. I appreciate you ALL "listening" to me and giving me your time and opinion. You all make me feel like I can do this already and I can't thank you enough for that.

[fearbrandon]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

i am going to weigh myself everyday, i can take the good or bad news mentally, no loss equals i will go that extra 30 mins walking cuz i didn't lose it, not saying when i start losing i will stop walking, i do a min of 1 hour with the dog, and work in a kitchen sweating a lot over a grill.

[Sera]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

If I could, I would probably stop using the scale for a while but yeah, I'm addicted to it.
Instead of checking my weight every day, I now do it every second day though and what can I say, I've only lost a 100 grams (3 oz) in the last 2 days and that doesn't make me feel good at all LOL.
If you can really do it, just stop using the scale and measure instead, I imagine it feels a lot better

[Tack Candy]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Disgal,

Whatever works for you is the right way. You can always gauge how your are doing by the way your clothes fit. Why risk the disapointment of the scale? I cheated a couple weeks ago and decided to stay away from the scale. Why punish yourself with a gain on the scale? The way I see it a gain is one step closer to feeling like a failure. And failure (to me) is one more step closer to giving up. Just because we gain a lb or 2 or 5 doesn't mean we are failures. And it doesn't mean we have to give this WOL up. It just means we need to get back to what we know is the best for us. (and it might mean we will reach goal slower...but that isn't the main reason we chose this way of eating, is it?)

Measure your successes with Atkins any way that makes you feel good. Good LUCK.

Candy

[disgal]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Thank you everyone for your words of wisdom. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen.

I have taken all you have said into consideration, along with talking to DH and thoughts in my own head, and have come to a conclusion. I will weigh myself on the 1st of each month. So my first weigh in day will be August 1st. That will be about 35 days from the day I started. We'll see what happens.

If there comes a point when I think I need to give up the scale totally, I will do it.

I must say, this is a free-ing feeling not to be a slave to that metal thing.

Everyone, have a great day!

[Momtofour]

Re: Would giving up the scale be a bad thing?

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and thank you, Grant for yours also. And part of it I totally agree with........being a tool. But, ya see, I think the part highlighted above is what I've been wrestling with. Aren't there times that someone could be 100% on the program but the scale isn't going to tell them that THAT week? For example, someone, following all the rules and doing what they should be doing weighs themselves and the scale only shows a pound loss. The next week it shows a 4 pound loss but they might have ruined that if they had changed anything from the week before. Am I making sense?

Especially being a woman....we have weeks that just aren't going to show the loss. It doesn't mean we've done anything wrong.

But I know what you are saying. And please, don't anyone think that I think there is a right/wrong side to this. We all have to figure this out for ourselves. I'm just thinking outloud to you all. I appreciate you ALL "listening" to me and giving me your time and opinion. You all make me feel like I can do this already and I can't thank you enough for that.

Exactly. I weigh often because I like the motivation while I'm losing, but once I stall for awhile I am going to stop weighing. I was doing everthing right last winter and yet stalled big time. Then I started eating high carb foods because I wasn't losing anyway. That was a baaaaad atttitude. I vow not to do that this time.