Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

[focus83]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Hey guys and girls, always wanted to do this challenge but could never resist jumping on anyway, started on monday at 269 went down to 265.8 and now back up to 268 and i didnt even cheat so i know i cant rely on the scales so much. im going to give my mums the scales and get her to keep them at her house so i am not tempted to weight myself. I need to do my measurements tonight as have read its a better guide. do you think it matters where i measure as i never seem to do them at the exact places again.

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Hi Focus,
Great to see you here. I know what you mean about not measuring exactly where you measured before. For me, I measure my neck, under my arm pits for my chest, around my waiste where my pants set at my waiste (going by the same pair each time), right above my pubic line for my hips and I measure from the top of my knees up with a measuring tape 4 inches to measure around my thighs. That way it keeps the measurements pretty accurate.
Hope that helps.
Wishing you much success being scale free.
Sherri

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Could the Scale Lie?

Don't be discouraged if your weight fluctuates day by day. Shifts in water weight, constipation, and even the food you just ate can cause the daily changes you see on the scale. To avoid confusion and disappointment, weigh yourself only once a week. Let how much healthier you feel and how your clothes are fitting become your "scale."
You may also notice that you weigh more immediately after a meal. This is due to the actual weight of the food and not to any fat weight you've gained. Remember that it takes time for your body to digest food, and it can take a couple of days for weight loss or weight gain to register on the scale.

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Scales Can Sabotage a Diet

Are you ruining your chances of achieving a healthy weight by relying too much on the scale?


By Dennis Thompson Jr.
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

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If you're trying to lose weight, it's important to keep track of how much you weigh. But can you ruin your attempt to get to a healthy weight by stepping on the scales too often?
Yes, says Keri Gans, RD, a nutrition consultant in New York City and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Weighing yourself every day, or multiple times a day, can become frustrating and sabotage your eating plan for a healthy weight.
"People get frustrated with the movement of the scale, and it might take them away from sticking with their plan," Gans says of individuals who hop on the scale frequently. "Especially if they see it going up one day — that could affect their sticking to their plan."
Scale-Obsession and Healthy Weight
Research backs up Gans's assertion about healthy weight. One study of Minnesota junior high and high school students found that girls who frequently weighed themselves often resorted to unhealthy dieting tactics such as skipping meals, smoking, and using diet pills or laxatives to reach a healthy weight. Frequent self-weighers also tended to gain more weight than girls who did not weigh themselves that often.
The problem is that a person's body weight can fluctuate wildly day to day, and even hour to hour. "If you weigh yourself first thing in the morning, you're going to have a different weight than if you weigh yourself at 5:30 p.m.," Gans says. "You weigh less in the morning because you're on an empty stomach, and you're usually a little bit dehydrated."
What you eat also makes a difference. For example, if your meal the night before was high in sodium, you might be a little bloated, with water affecting the weight on the scale. In addition, women's menstrual cycles can play havoc with the amount of water they are retaining. These hormonal variations can cause the scale to tip in a way not reflective of your overall healthy weight.
How to Weigh Yourself Appropriately
"I recommend an individual weigh themselves once a week," Gans says. "Once a week is a good time to check in and see if the scale is moving in the desired direction." You should always weigh yourself at the same time on the same day so there's consistency in your measurements.
Stephanie Wiseman, 23, one of Gans's clients, finds that weighing herself regularly is a helpful tool in reaching a healthy weight. "It gives me a good gauge as to how I'm doing," says Wiseman. "If you're not losing, you need to switch something — like your diet or exercise."
However, she follows Gans's recommendation and doesn't weigh herself too often. "There's too much variation, depending on what you've eaten and the time of day," Wiseman says. "If you're not on track, you can get discouraged and not want to continue the plan that day. And when you're trying to eat healthy, it's a day-to-day commitment."
So stay focused, stay active — and stay away from the scale but once a week.

[FLdoodette]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Thanks for that info, Sherri ... it only reinforces my opinion that scales are inherently EVIL ... well, maybe not that bad but they can make you crazy. I've stuffed mine back under the bed and rely now on how my clothes fit and how I feel .... zipper goes up? Good! Energy level ok? Great! Belly bloat? Not good ... then I make a few adjustments. That's all!

Miss you, Sherri! HUG!

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Bumping this thread up!
I'm in need of it and will be putting the scale up .
Will be weighing on Sundays starting tomorrow.
Sherri xoxo
How's everyone else doing?

[JulieB]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Hi,

I have always weighed 'officially' on Wednesday mornings, but I have been known to 'peek' several times a week...I'm giving this up as of now! I pledge to weigh on Wednesdays only, with the exception of the Sunday at the end of the 6WEC, with no peeking, from now on. Uugh...this is gonna be hard!!! I want to go jump on the scale before I hit 'post'!!!

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Hi Julie,
I'm so glad you joined me here! I love this- Uugh...this is gonna be hard!!! I want to go jump on the scale before I hit 'post'!!!
LOL, I know what you mean.
Once the days pass without the scale, you'll notice how much easier it will get.
Another thing you will notice is, rather than focusing on the scale, your focus will turn on how your clothes are fitting. As well as paying more attention on portion control and getting that extra minute on exercise. For some reason it really helps you to step it up a notch.
Remember, the scale isn't in control, YOU ARE!
I look forward to doing this challenge with you.
Sherri

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Day 1 No scale.
1/7

[JulieB]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

So far...so good. I thought about peeking, but didn't

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Hi Julie
Great job girl! You're the one in control. Discipline is everything.

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Day 2 No scale

[JulieB]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

I measure tonight & weigh in the morning. Haven't peeked

[JulieB]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

It was my weigh-in day today. Down 2 more pounds I'm off the scale until next Wednesday

[Sherri]

Re: Ongoing Scale Free Challenge

Yay Julie! Great Job!