Nightmare on Scale street

[vek]

Or, nightmare with my new scale.
So, since 4-5 years I have a cheap mechanical scale. You know, the classic type, with a disc and a pointer. It is always very important if you put it on a wooden floor or on the bathroom floor or on the carpet. It is also very important how you climb on it, not too in front or too at the back of it because you risk to see some differences of weight.

I told myself I have had enough of this scale, and, to reward myself for loosing more than 20lbs I decided to buy myself a new one, a digital expensive scale. And I did. And that's how my nightmare started.

At the beginning of my diet I was 203bs and the day I bought the new scale I was 176lbs. 27lbs lost, so, congratulations, Vek! I needed to lose only 11lbs to be able to say:"GOOD BYE, OBESITY!" I was even planning on doing it at the end of this month when my hollydays are starting...
So, proud of myself, I climbed on the new scale... 187lbs!!!!
I tought I was blind! I climbed on the old one: 176! The new one: 187! C'mmon! It is not a 2-3lbs difference, it's a HUGE difference of 11lbs.

Since two days I'm depressed and I'm crying. I made all kind of tests with different objects and I concluded that my new scale works PERFECTLY and my old one is realy broken. So, I was not blind. That's how fat I really am!
You will probably say: yes, dear, but 11lbs are not so hard to loose, you will loose them prety soon. Maybe. But I was planning not to be obese anymore during my summer hollydays. It was a very strong ideea that kept me motivated. Now, I feel I'm losing my motivation. I'm depressed. I'm crying and today I ordered a LAAAARGE portion of french fries...

I feel like all the efforts I struggled for were nothing, no matter what I do, no matter where I run, I can not escape Fatty Krueger...

[SueSue1212]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

But, you have to remember that no matter which scales you were on you were losing weight! I always weigh on the same scales for that very reason. What your choosen scale says is what you weigh! Don't beat yourself up, your doing great!!! Hang in there!
SueSue1212

[regandy]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

That WOULD be very frustrating. My scale is digital, but it can be cranky too. I discovered I have a little bump in my bathroom floor. I discovered it much the same way you did -- One day I was down 3 pounds and the next day up 5!! ARGH

I hope you can get a grip and not let this derail you for more than this moment!!

I have heard many others say to be sure and take measurement too. That way even if the scale lies to you, you can have the inches to prove that you are the "Incredible Shrinking" warrior!

[vek]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

Honestly, I was so down because of this, (it's not funny at all to gain 11 lbs in 3 seconds without cheating on your diet), so down, that yesterday I did not want to go to work, I was crying all morning... And I wanted to starve...I haven't eat ANYTHING all day long. Today, I felt like fainting and, in my frustration I ordered fries...

[jimmie 48]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

we see this type of frustration quite often. i agree with the comments that although the numbers changed, you will still losing. you said it yourself that it was hard to get a good reading ....

It is always very important if you put it on a wooden floor or on the bathroom floor or on the carpet. It is also very important how you climb on it, not too in front or too at the back of it because you risk to see some differences of weight.

age of the scale my play a part too. but here's the good thing, you had a great scale now and it's going to be more accurate for you. you've still lost those pounds and that is great!

[joee5]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

I dont see how this is possilble. I ran upstairs and stepped on both me scale(digital) and me girls(antique) just to see the difference and it was only maybe 2 pounds. How can this be?? God Bless, jJe

[fat4now]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

no matter where I run, I can not escape Fatty Krueger...

still rolling on the floor...sorry...

[quotidianlight]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

Vek, I am sorry you are in so much pain right now. I know this had to be a shock to you. But think of this, if you weigh 11 pound more now... you weighed 11 pounds more when you began. So by giving your scale control over your emotions you are setting yourself up to go back to where you were and this time, you'll have an even more accurate reading! If you get so upset that you beeline for fries and think, "this was all for nothing" you won't see 203, you'll see 214. You are stronger than that. You don't need a scale to lie to you. Please, go into the bathroom and step on that scale and then say a mantra. Tell that scale that you are strong enough for the truth because you love yourself and you will work together to get healthy. write down the numbers and do some measurements and then put it away and keep doing what you know is working until you are stronger. It might mean not getting on it for a week or maybe it will take 3 months. But you cannot give control of your health, happiness and motivation to a scale. Take it by the horns and ride that bull all the way to goal. I know you can do it, but you have to know it too.

[Dotultimate]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

Lets be positive about this - you still lost 11lbs.... you were just 11lbs heavier that you thought when you started. Think how much more depressing it would have been to see THAT number? Now you've lost that 11lbs, i bet you're looking smokin' hot and in another 3 months you'll be even skinnier!!!

[sanoukee]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

Well consider this.

Old scale: start 203, end 176.
New scale: start unknown, end 187.

Means that you may have been heavier than 203 if you had used the new scale.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

You're losing... and that's what counts. Alter your sights (numberwise) and carry on. Look to the future, not the past. You'll be fine. Numbers are just that... it's what you look like and how you feel that are important.

When people look at you they aren't going to see a scale number, they're going to see someone who is getting trimmer and healthier by the day!

Take your measurements. They're far more reliable than any scale. Digital ones can be ultra cranky too. If I step on my digital scale three times, I get three different readings.

Hang in there and don't do the "starving yourself for a day and then eat fries" thing. That would just sabotage everything you've achieved so far. You deserve better than that.

You can do it! We'll help!

[Chicklady]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

The first time I did Atkins, I went from 250 to 150 pounds. or so I thought. Except that at the DR office I was actually 160. I just figured that I actually started at 260, and 100 pounds gone was 100 pounds gone.

[vek]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

Thank you all for your encouragements! I will do as you say: check my weight today, write down the numbers and hide the scale away for a month. Then, we will see who's stronger: me or the scale?

But, yesterday I've eaten french fries. How many days it will take me to be in lypolise (ketose) again?

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

There's no way of putting an exact number on days to ketosis -- if there were, Dr Atkin's would have said, "Plan on 'X' days for Induction." Instead he says to go 14 days figuring that that is the MOST time it should take for an individual to achieve ketosis.

I suggest getting back on the horse and starting with Induction. When you see the scale moving down (who cares about numbers -- just as long as they are moving downward), you'll know you are back on track!

Of course, I'd also point out that the scale MIGHT go up over the next couple of days as those fries settle in for a *temporary* stay. It would be best if you just ignore that new scale for a week or so (let it get used to it's new surroundings before you put it to work!)

[Elsie150]

Re: Nightmare on Scale street

Congrats on losing 27 pounds!!! That is a great accomplishment. Take pride in that. I hope you are not down too long and see the bright side of all that you have accomplished. Realize that you were feeling good and proud before you stepped on that new scale and nothing has changed. You still lost the 27 pounds. Your clothes are still fitting better. You are feeling better than ever before. You look so much better. Nothing changed except that number on the scale...don't get caught in that head game and give your power to that machine. Don't turn to junk food for solace. You have done awesome work!! Unless you were already on induction, (and I hope you are not if you have been following Atkins for awhile...you stand a better chance of success following the rungs and learning how to eat to keep the weight off) I am going to disagree with Eric and say you should not start induction over just because you had 1 cheat. I think that is not a healthy way to do Atkins...and a very bad habit to get into. "Oh I had a drink last night...have to do 2 weeks of induction"..."Oh had a bite of Johnny's birthday cake...need to do 2 weeks of induction". I think you should continue on with whatever rung you at. If it is induction then finish off the week and move on to the rungs and start learning how to feed your body instead of your emotions. JMO. You are worth the fight!!! Big hugs....