3 Signs you need to ditch the scales
This week I want to share with you three signs you need to ditch those scales.
I’ve worked with a lot of clients where I’ve recommended that they just stop weighing themselves. Yes, the scales can be helpful if your goal is to lose weight. Weighing yourself regularly can help you review your progress and see if the changes you’ve made are working.
The scales are a useful tool, BUT it’s easy to forget that they’re just a tool.
You can attach too much meaning to the number on the scales. It’s easy to become obsessed with what the scales say and do anything to get the result you want, regardless of whether it’s healthy or sustainable.
If any of that sounds familiar, then keep reading.
Here are the signs that it’s time you ditch the scales and stop weighing yourself.
1. You attach your self-worth to the number on the scales
Do you tell yourself that you’re a failure, because the scales aren’t showing the number you want? Or maybe you only think you’re ‘good enough’ when the number is going ‘in the right direction’?
The scales are just a tool, not a measurement of your value as a human being.
Your self-esteem isn’t magically going to improve overnight when you reach your target weight. Try focusing on loving yourself first, before you make changes to try to lose weight. In the meantime, forget weighing yourself unless you can see that the number only shows the weight of your body and has nothing to do with your value. You are more than just a number.
2. Your happiness depends on what your weight is doing
If the number you see on the scales either makes or ruins your day, then alarm bells should be ringing. Yes, it makes sense to feel pleased if you’re getting results from the tweaks you’ve made. You should definitely feel proud of yourself for working hard and getting where you want to be. It’s also understandable if you feel disappointed when you’re not seeing results.
But if it impacts on your mood to the point where you’re completely depressed, just because your weight went up… That’s not a healthy state of mind. You need to get rid of the scales and focus on the other things that bring you joy in your life. You know, things like your hobbies and interests; maybe learning a new language or craft. Life is too damn short to be letting the scales dictate your mood.
3. You’re only concerned about the results regardless of how they’re achieved
I hear so many people say they don’t care what they do, they’ll do anything to get to their target weight. This is a slippery slope to disordered eating and a shitty relationship with food. Especially if you think you’ll just follow a strict plan until you reach your target, then once you’re there, you’ll figure out how you stay there. It never works. I see it over and over. You either struggle to stick to the strict plan or once you get to your target weight, you feel ‘free’ and go overboard on the treats. Either way it results in you over-eating; stuffing your face with all the food you’ve missed while you were dieting. It makes it harder to manage your weight in the long term. You’re more likely to struggle with managing cravings and emotional eating in the long-term.
Forget the results and instead focus on your habits. Building healthy habits will help you feel good and the results on the scales will follow eventually – I promise. Concentrate on feeding and nourishing your body with balanced meals. Let yourself have a little of what you fancy and find ways to move that you enjoy. It just takes a little change in perspective to focus on healthy habits rather than what your weight’s doing. It takes a little effort and perseverance to build healthy habits that get you where you want to be. And it takes patience, because it takes time, especially if you want your results to last forever.
Forget weigh-ins because they’re not helping you, they leave you feeling like shit. Focusing on that number on the scales, sucks you into a cycle of yo-yo dieting that makes it worse for you long-term.
Need help to ditch dieting forever? Want to eat normally again AND lose weight healthily ..? While still enjoying the cake & chocolate? Hell yes!
I can help you ditch dieting forever, either with my 1-2-1 support. Or if you prefer to work independently, you can learn all the skills I teach my 1-2-1 clients, on my ‘No More Diets’ online course.
My Weekly Round-up! AKA; what I’ve been up to recently…
- This week’s blog post is powered by a second coffee for the second day in a row. Not a habit I want to keep up to be honest. I usually stick to just one coffee first thing – I think it’s the cold making me feel a bit tired! I’ve also run out of the Teapigs Earl Grey Extra strong – boooo!
- It was a bit of a shock when I realised at the weekend that we’re over half way through January. One of my goals this year is to try Aerial Hoop. It’s something I’ve wanted to try for ages, but life kept getting in the way Then my husband bought me a voucher for Christmas and I said I’d give it a go this month. So I finally had a look this week at the studio where Sam got the voucher and I’m booked on an 8 week course for beginners – eeek! Both excited and scared!
- I’ve kept up my daily walks by the brook after the morning school run. But had a bit of a panic that I wasn’t ‘ready’ to do Aerial Hoop, so I’ve done pretty well at getting back into doing my little daily exercise routine too. I’ve even added in a few leg raises/kicks like we used to do in kickboxing. Although I probably should be trying something to build my upper body strength! Anyway the Aerial Hoop course is designed to build me up gradually… I’ll let you know how it goes!
- We didn’t manage to walk up another hill at the weekend. But we did go for a walk along the brook round the golf course, for the first time in ages.
- One of the things I realised when I was reflecting on the last year, is that I don’t listen to music as much as I used to. Apart from the music that Genevieve listens to! So I’ve been trying to listen to stuff I haven’t listened to in ages, like a band from Canada called Johnny Hollow. Sam described them as ‘Goth Chamber Music’, so if that sounds interesting to you, go check them out.
- Latest from Shrewsbury Bird-Watch: After not seeing any in ages and wondering if they fly south for the winter!?! I saw a kingfisher – yayay! Also saw a tree-creeper when we were walking along the golf course route by the brook. But I’ve seen the most interesting birds when I’ve been walking along the route by the brook that we call ‘Climbing Trees’ (imaginatively named coz it has a load of trees that Genevieve likes to climb!). I saw a gold crest there yesterday and it really didn’t seem to give a shit that I was there it came so close to me! Then today I saw at least one bullfinch today plus two flocks of my favourite long-tailed tits. It’s always a good start to the day when I see a load of those little guys bobbing around.
