Posted by Bobbie | Posted in Fat Pictures, Weight Loss | Posted on Fri May 21, 2010
Focusing on a number that appears on the scale is fool-hearted at best. It’s like playing Russian Roulette or fiddling around with a magic 8-ball. I’m not obsessing over the number on the scale. I take my measurements monthly. I can feel how my clothes fit. I know what performance I am outputting in the gym. I can measure my success in many of those ways.
I will post my weight loss numbers periodically when I feel like getting on the scale, but what I refuse to do is allow that piece of shit to dictate how I feel for any given moment, hour, day or week.
I can honestly say that if I stepped on the scale RIGHT NOW and seen a number I did not like, it would not affect my mood or attitude for the moment or day. That is the truth. It wasn’t always like that, but slowly I changed my attitude and behavior and decided that it will NOT have an affect on me. It’s my choice on what I allow to affect my attitude.
That does not mean I will not weigh in anymore and post my progress on here – I will do that. Probably monthly. I just do not think the constant weighing and scale hopping is an accurate measure or indicator of TRUE success.
IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE POUNDS LOST – But rather what you are gaining in terms of mental fortitude, strength, lesson learning and how to live healthy.
So why make it all about the pounds? Why obsess about it? The pounds will fall off if you are doing it right. It’s inevitable!
Last I checked on the scale I had lost 30 lbs. Granted it’s been awhile since I last checked, but in that 30 lbs I have made some remarkable progress. Let me take you down memory lane.
Fat in 2006…
Fat in 2007…
Fat in 2008…
Fatter in 2009…
Wait! Still fat in 2009. This is the picture my aunt mailed me after our visit to Indiana. And to think I had lost 7 lbs before the trip. I was still trying to hide behind my son. THAT TRICK NEVER WORKS.
Not so fat in January 2010 (only two months after my lifestyle change)…
Less fat in April…
Me last week enjoying an Oberon (yeah, I do that occasionally)…
Here’s hoping that some positive will spill into your life during your journey – and that you do not allow a hunk of metal to dictate your mood or attitude. Cheers!
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Loved this post! I’m an obsessive creature, and I’m trying to get over the scale and not let it dictate my mood.
Laurie´s last blog ..Thursday 13 – Itching to Go Shopping!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:40 pm
I am obsessive too. Can totally relate!
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:07 AM
I love this post! And I agree wholeheartedly. WORD.
For me, I finally came to a point where I realized that getting healthy in the right way is more important than pounds lost in x-amount of time.
I am still not at the point where I can say that the scale wont dictate my mood. If I stand on it, and it shows a bad number… it makes me sad. I hope to get over that and think that I will get over that in time.
~Kellie
The Chubby Girl Diaries´s last blog ..Inspirational quote of the day…
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Yes, yes, yes!!!! The pounds and quickness in loss doesn’t matter as much as the effort and knowledge that it WILL come off and stay off if you are consistent (thank you Roy & Jody for that word).
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:17 AM
What a great post! You are so right, people put way too much pressure on themselves regarding what the number on the scale says or what size their jeans are!
You look awesome! Congrats on your weight loss and healthy lifestyle.
Tami@nutmegnotebook.com´s last blog ..Marathon Shopping
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Thanks Tami. Have a great weekend!
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:35 AM
The scale is like an abusive spouse; it will tell you something wonderful every so often, but will also slap you and insult you regardless of your good intentions. Still, like an abusive spouse, people keep going back for more. This is not love, it’s dependency in a dysfunctional relationship.
You are in a very good place Bobbie — stay there!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:43 pm
What a great analogy. It’s one I agree with whole-heartedly. Although sometimes it’s fun to get smacked around once in awhile, why would someone subject themselves to the smacking day in and day out? I’ve known people that would hop on the scale 10-20 times per day hoping for a new number.
Okay, I was kidding about getting smacked around… :p
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:50 AM
@Emergefit: Hahaha… abusive spouse.
Well as abusive as it may be it’s still a feedback mechanism.
I think it’s best to weight yourself once/week and also learn a bit about body composition/water retention/fat loss plateaus.
Mircea´s last blog ..Hiking – Mount Pilchuck – Trail
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Mircea, if the scale is used as a “tool” that gives your given weight for that very moment in time and understood as such, then yes. I think the issue I meant to convey in today’s post is that I’m reading more and more about people letting that number make or break their day. That to me is abusive, so I do agree with Roy. If you use it as a tool, then I’d say not abusive… :)
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 10:58 AM
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Amen Sister! I frickin’ love this: “IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE POUNDS LOST – But rather what you are gaining in terms of mental fortitude, strength, lesson learning and how to live healthy.”
And I’m telling myself that everyday. Although, admittedly I still occaisionally get caught in the spiral of judging myself by the scale…definitely much less so than ever before though!
Meegan´s last blog ..Quick Update
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Meegan, I’ve been working on the Fitness Warrior logo… Hope you like it. I’ll post it soon!
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Meegan Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 am
Exciting news! I’m sure I’m going to love it!
Meegan´s last blog ..Quick Update
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Wow! You’ve made some great changes!! You look great!!
It is definitely not all about the pounds lost! Great post!
Brittany´s last blog ..Aahhhh… A Breath Of Fresh Air!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Thanks Brittany – have a great weekend!
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 1:41 PM
GREAT post Bobbie! I oh so loved the pics too & you are beautiful in all of them! I think we all have to find our way & you have found what works right for you! It is very important to have many measures of success in this life long journey.
Me, I do use the scale but I also use my clothes & how they fit. Sometimes for me & my weird bod, the scale is nice but the clothes are tight & then sometimes the scale is bad but my clothes fit loose soooooo I have decided in my best interest to use both. I also think for the some, they tend to fool themselves or not be honest so for those, if they are not obsessive about it, might need the scale & how the clothes fit.
Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Protein Cookies
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 1:46 PM
I so totally agree with you! Love the pics by the way! You are doing awesome!
I measure at least once a month. I’ve lost 59 inches overall since January. That to me is an awesome accomplishment! And being able to pull on a size 10 pant and know that it’s lose – and for the first time in my adult life I can see single digit clothing in the near future – that is priceless. Who cares what number is on the scale – I’m tickled pink about the new body!
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Ah… you and I are saying similar things:) But I am still weighing and probably always will. However, I have made that same move from letting the number dictate my mood. Mostly. But I wholeheartedly agree that it really is about everything else….what we do and eat and how we feel. So Amen sister!
Karen @ WaistingTime´s last blog ..Bad Days in Dietville
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 2:35 PM
I used to be SO bad about letting the scale dictate my eating for the day … as in if I lost I could eat what I wanted and if I gained I might as well eat what I wanted. Not a good situation. Now I seem to be able to weigh when I remember and note the number for reference. I try to focus more on eating healthy and pushing myself to exercise a little more every day than I think I can.
Siobhan´s last blog ..the lite version
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 2:36 PM
When I had weight to lose after my babies were born I tended to obsess. Once it clicked that I just needed to make healthy eating and exercise routine and that once in a while I could treat myself, the weight seemed to come off. I remember one day getting weighed at the doctor’s and I was at my pre-pregnancy weight. I realized that it seemed simple once I stopped obsessing. I’m wondering, if you’ve noticed that happening for you too?
karen@fitnessjourney´s last blog ..The Blame Game
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 3:58 PM
My relationship with the scale is one borne out of necessity. I wish I was the type of person that could say I didn’t need to pay attention to it, but – in reality – I do. All my past experiences of losing and gaining were defined by that very relationship. If I stop checking, I start gaining.
I’ve worked diligently to make sure the number that shows on the scale is just that, to understand that the number can vary by day, and to keep whatever number that appears from dictating my mood.
Yes, I do check the scale once a day every day at the same time, but I don’t obsess over it.
Thank you for an insightful post.Â
Zan´s last blog ..Putting on My Big Girl Pants
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Fri May 21, 2010 at 8:16 PM
You already know what I’m going to say: Ditto and Amen! :)
Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Math and Chocolate
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Sat May 22, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Whoa! We posted about the same things today…but in different words. Your post is spot on today Bobbie! But you do that pretty much everyday!
Tara´s last blog ..Food as part of the solution, not the problem / Pre-OWiS week in Review
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