Friday, February 8, 2013

Here's what I hate about the scale

I thought I was having a GREAT week. You know that feeling when you first wake up, before you actually get up, when you know you've done everything right and all's well with the world? And your body just feels thinner?

And it's Friday and you weigh yourself on Fridays and the &%@)%$&^% scale says you've gained a pound?

Please tell me you know that feeling, too.

I haven't gained a pound. I KNOW I haven't gained a pound. I pulled the other scale down off the shelf and it said I've lost two pounds. Yes, I know the other scale would show a gain if I'd been using it all along, but still. I suppose I should dance with the scale I came with.

Oh, but I'm so tempted to switch. It weighs in half-pound increments and calculates body fat. I would have to read the manual again to figure that part out, however.

This week was STELLAR. I ate much closer to the calorie goals. (Still under the goals, but by a much narrower margin.) And I hit two high spots with my walking:

If only I hadn't gotten on the scale.

If I hadn't weighed myself, I'd be writing about how AMAZING it felt to be running yesterday. Well, jogging, but still. And I might be writing about dinner or the dentist appointment or drones or crazy Republicans.

Instead, I'm feeling cheated and lied to by that damned scale. And I'm in a snit. I believe I shall flounce away and pout for the rest of the day. At least until it's time to go walking.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I kniw (and hate) that feeling. The scale I use calculates body fat, and often when my weight is up but I feel better, I can see that the change is in lean body mass -- probably water retention. I am guessing that is what is going on for you.

I like to graph my weight so I can pay attention to the trends and not focus too much on fluctuations. If you have been following my weigh-ins, I have had a lot of ups and downs, but the overall trend has been down lately. You just had a great weigh-in last week, so I bet you are still down overall.

Diandra said...

Okay, then stop weighing yourself for a month. I know this place, it is pretty ugly. (And tempts you with that bag of chocolates you stayed away from *all* effing week.) If you eat close to your calorie level, you cannot gain a pound of fat. You know it, a pound equals 3,500kcal MORE than what your body needs. Unless you sleep-ate half a dozen pizzas, that is highly unlikely.

(It could be water, you know. Or your bathroom floor is uneven and someone shifted your scale.)

Make this journey about health and fitness. Forget about the numbers. You are great just the way you are.

Unknown said...

P.S. Are you sore from your run? Soreness = inflammation = fluid around the sore muscles.

Debbi said...

So should I switch scales? And I've only had three weigh-ins since Dec. 26, so it's hard to spot trends at this point. But I can definitely see the advantage of weekly weigh-ins from a data standpoint. Emotionally, however, it's making me crazy.

Debbi said...

Well I started out planning to weigh myself once a month and that worked out HORRIBLY the first month. And the journey IS about health and fitness, but as I wrote after that first weigh-in, numbers are important. And, yes, I AM great just the way I am. I appreciate your pointing that out.

Winnie said...

Oh boy! Sorry you felt bad when you started your day. I step on mine and one moment it says something, and they I redo it and it tells me another number..UGh. So I decided to average them together, and if I am having a bad day, I just take the lower one.. Seriously, enjoy your runs, that alone is GREAT, and I know sometimes the "gains" on a scale are just water...

I gave myself a day off work for this storm, hoping it isn't going to be as bad as they say..ugh. I have a tea pot ready with my tea. Enjoy the weekend.

Debbi said...

I ALWAYS weigh myself more than once. If it says the same thing twice, I quit. If it shows different numbers, I'm like you and take the lower one. I think this scale remembers the original number, however.

Seems like water is getting all the blame for today's number. I wouldn't be surprised, as it's one of the things I have the most trouble with. I really need to develop the habit of drinking more, more, more water.

Debbi said...

I'm not especially sore, but I'm pretty convinced I need to be drinking more water. It's one of the hardest habits for me to establish.

Mindy said...

I do so understand where you are. I must confess I am a daily weigher. I know ALL the reasons why that is not good but I've been doing it for about 30 years and I'm not going to stop now. I do officially weigh in at Weight Watchers once a week and take that as the recorded weight (good or bad). I have now come to accept the daily fluctuations as information only. I've worked really hard to do that. I'm not suggesting you start weighing yourself daily but as others said, you might see that pound gone and more tomorrow for seemingly no apparent reason.

You KNOW you're doing the right things and the scales are only information for that moment in time.

Debbi said...

First, welcome to Instagram, Mindy! Can't wait to see your pix!

Information only would be a wonderful place to be when it comes to the numbers on the scale. I've suggested it to others MANY times. Now it's time to apply my advice to myself. Thanks for commenting, understanding and encouraging.

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