Giving up on numbers

[BluegrassMama]

Good morning fellow Atkineers!

So a lot of you can probably relate to scale obsession. I know that I was totally hooked on that little square of digital h*** on my bathroom floor. Then I discovered the tape measure--well, great! Something else to obsess over.

Then last week, my husband startled me with an odd request: Would I *please* stop weighing myself first thing in the morning??? Turns out he waited with bated breath for me to come out of the bathroom each day--if the scale had gone down, I was in a great mood. If it stayed the same or--heaven forbid--went UP, my day (and his, unfortunately) started off on a bad note. So I promised him on Thursday that, yes, I would give up the scale and the tape measure for two weeks (knowing that my TOM is coming up soon, I figured that would save my sanity as well).

It drove me *nuts* this weekend, not being able to check my numbers. I mean, loony, crazy-insane, NUTS! I used the scale as a measure as to how well I had tolerated my food and exercise the previous day and without it I felt very "in the dark". I didn't know if my WOE was working. To make things worse, I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. My pre-baby clothes were still too little, and my post-baby basics are now too big.

So I pick up a cute-cute-cute denim skirt in 3 sizes--10, 8 and--just for laughs--a 6. Go into the dressing room with the 8 and hope for the best. Guess what? TOO BIG! The haha-size-6? ALSO too big! I left the store yesterday with FOUR skirts--two size 4, one size 8 and a medium!!! To say that I was pleased would be an understatement.

It showed me that 1) scale and tape measure numbers for me mean crap. And 2) I am a much happier person concentrating on how I look and feel rather than having the scale or tape measure dictate my mood each day. So I am gladly sticking to my promise and not weighing or measuring myself for the next two weeks. Not even once.

Sorry for the long post--but I wanted to bring this up in case there are others in the same scale-h*** boat as me. Give it up for a couple of weeks!! Just try it! Then, before you do weight yourself, go to a clothing store and try on some new clothes. It will probably make your day

[*Emma*]

great post! yup, numbers dont matter!!

i'm gonna try and do this no weighing things this week....

[apple]

What a nice surprise!!!

[tyler90cali]

Yea I decided I am not gonna weigh myself till sep 1st.

[kelly50]

Great post. Nobody sees our weight number on the scale but people do notice a smaller, toned body. Size 4 is terrific. Keep up the good work.

[Laurenfra]

This WOL is not about the numbers its about 1. Getting healthy and 2. looking our best,
Your doing a great job

[Tomorrow_I'll_Be_Perfect]

Man I wish I could give it up. Unfortunately, when I stop weighing myself I stop paying attention to what I eat....at least that's the trend. I guess something goes wonky in my mind and what I'm not seeing doesn't hurt me (for the short term). It helps me stay on track.

I chart my weight every day and keep track of the monthly and weekly averages, then I can look back and see what I was doing right (or wrong). It sounds weird, but it works for me.

[thexproject]

Need help breaking the scale habit? Have someone hide the scale from you. LOL you will burn tons of fat just trying to find it on hot days I had to do this for someone. Was quite funny watching them run around moving stuff and climbing through things lol

[Hoping]

I can compeltely relate to your post--on the whole scale/measurement obsession. I go through the same ups and downs based on what the scale or tape read. I think you're right, it's best to just get rid of the scale and tape measure.

[BluegrassMama]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I swear, I just *love* hearing how/what everyone is doing with thier own WOL. And it is so helpful to know that there are people who feel like me. I know myself too well to swear off the scale forever. And, oddly, it keeps me "legal"--I won't cheat for fear of *really* screwing up my one shot at weighing in/measuring

Hey, haven't I seen some siggies with a No-Weigh Challenge icon??? There isn't one going on now, is there?

Maybe we should start one???