Question:
What do you do to avoid jumping on the scale every five minutes?
I am 9 weeks post op and COMPLETELY obsessed with the scale. I jump on it at LEAST five times a day. Did any of you out there go through this stage and if so, what did you do to stop? I thought about getting rid of my scale and only weighing in at the doctors office but when it comes time for maintenance I will need to weigh myself every so often to keep within my targeted range. Please offer any advice you can. Thank you! — vbenedict0208 (posted on January 3, 2002)
January 3, 2002
I put mine away in the bathroom cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind. I also
only weigh first thing in the morning. That is the only one that means
anything--once you start eating and drinking it affects your weight. If I
forget to weigh before I eat, I have to wait until the next morning. I used
to never miss, but now that I am at goal, I find that I only weigh once a
week or so cuz I keep forgetting. :)
— ctyst
January 3, 2002
I think we all experience scale obsession in the beginning.
I wouldn't even try to fight it. Why? Watching the numbers is
fun and rewarding. Once your weightloss slows down, the scale ]
obsession will diminish.
— [Anonymous]
January 3, 2002
I love my scale. I always have. I have weighed everyday since I can
remember. Some think that it is an unhealthy love, but we all have our
vices huh? I would rather be addicted to a scale than food, alcohol, or
something else unhealthy. If its the worst thing that I do all day, then
I'm doing pretty good. Weighing every day helps me calculate exactly how I
am doing with my intake/activity level. I can figure out what works best
for me by the trends on the scale. I do only weigh once a day, first thing
in the morning after going to the bathroom and practically naked for the
lightest weight possible. I do fluctuate around 3 lbs. during the day,
evening is highest. So naturally I chose to weigh in the morning. Maybe
when my weight isn't as much as an issue in my life will I give it up every
day. I think weekly would work for maintenence. Also, I expect plateaus
on a regular basis and don't get all freaked out like some people do when
they hit one. Plateaus are unavoidable and a fact of losing weight. When
I get on the scale and it doesn't move for a while, I know that eventually
it will move and I will be there when it happens. When you expect a
plateau, its no surprise when it hits.
— Cheri M.
January 3, 2002
I have the same problem, but just once a day. I keep my scale in the
kitchen. As soon as I feed the dogs each AM, off comes the robe, or
anything else that could weigh me down, and I hop right on. I've tried not
to, but I just can't. I don't think I'm obsessed. I just couldn't go
weeks(or even days) without seeing the numbers go down, down, down... I've
lost 60 lbs so far(9/21/01 open RNY).
I HATE weighing later in the day...always 1 or 2 lbs more that AM.
Lyn
— Lyn R.
January 3, 2002
Home scales tend to be inaccurate so I started getting weighed at a local
pet store with a very accurate digital scale, used for weighing pets. If I
get on and off 10 times ALL numbers will be within a pound, unlike home
scales. The store is convenient, but not too convenient. Early on I got
weigfhed every few days, now perhaps once a week. Its WONDERFUL watching my
weight drop!!! Scales are finally my friend:)
— bob-haller
January 3, 2002
Hide it under your bed... out of sight, out of mind. Then when you really
DO need it for maintenance, you can drag it back out. I went through the
obsession (and for me it WAS an obsession) for about a month, but quickly
found the will power to not weigh myself daily, just once a week on Sunday
morning. Now that I have gotten that down, I am going to work on only
weighing myself twice a month. I also found that I like seeing bigger
amounts of weight loss gone rather than only a pound every couple of days.
By weighing myself once a week, I will get on and see 3 pounds gone all at
once, or maybe 0 pounds gone one week and the next week 8 pounds all of a
sudden gone! Good luck!!!
— Kellie Jo B.
January 3, 2002
I threw away my scale and started weighing only when I worked out at the
YMCA. The more often I work out, the more often I can weigh myself. It's
been quite a motivator!!!
— Terissa R.
January 3, 2002
I don't own a scale. I have resolved to weigh myself once a month. Today
was the first time (two months post op) in a while and I'm down 40. I
figure this way if I reach a plateau I won't even know it. One less thing
to beat myself about. Best wishes to you on YOUR journey.
— Annie H.
January 3, 2002
I am still pre-op, but I found that whenever I would get on a diet I would
do the same thing. I couldn't stop myself, but I made a deal to myself that
I could weigh myself as much as I wanted, but I would only consider the
loss "official" once a week when I would write it down. That way,
it was encouraging to see the weight come off every day, but I didn't get
too excited until I got that final number on Sunday morning (my weigh-day).
— Jennifer Y.
January 3, 2002
easy, I dont own one. I am only weighed at my surgeon visits or pcp visits.
Life is stressful enough adjusting to wls I dont need any more obsessions
— Gwen M.
January 3, 2002
Is it bothering you to weigh this much, really? Or are you just bothered
because you hear so many people say "get rid of the scale" and
you feel guilty? I weigh myself all the time too. My scale is in the
kitchen so I jump on it all the time. I like to see what it says. Simple
as that. There's nothing wrong with what you are doing. It's fun to watch
those numbers fall. Don't worry about "scale obsession" unless
the numbers its giving you dictates how you're feeling about yourself. So
go ahead weigh yourself fifty times a day if you feel like it. Happy
Loosing!
— Jennifer H.
January 3, 2002
I too am COMPLETELY obsessed with the scale. I weigh three or four times a
day normally then I beat myself up because it fluctuates up to four pounds
during the day (it is a cheap dial scale) and I am almost NINE MONTHS post
op. I am down 104 pounds but think I should be down a little more maybe
that just makes it worse? I just can't bear to give it up!
— Virginia N.
January 3, 2002
Lee - I weigh every morning. As soon as I get up. Just about the same
time every day. But only once a day, because it did bother me to have the
numbers change during the day.... Now, one thing I have noticed. I will
weigh in - and then the next day be two pounds up when I KNOW I haven't
gained two pounds. Example: I weighed in at 214.5 on Wednesday this week,
Thursday it said 216, and today 217.5. I have NOT gained three pounds - I
know that. However, 214.5 was my "low" after surgery weight so
far. So, I have discussed this at great length with myself (LOL) and have
decided that since I am still in my "losing" months and since I
am doing basically all the right things, I am considering my low weight
"what I weigh." Any slight fluctuation above that is just a
bounce-back adjustment while my body gets used to that lower number. (Now,
if the scale stayed at the higher number - or started to climb - I'd be
worried and need to change something.) I'm not obsessed about the number,
I just like to see it moving in the right direction!! Good luck to you.
OPEN RNY 7/17/01
— blee01
January 3, 2002
Lee, I am 30 months postop and up until about 18 months I too was obsessed
about weighing every day. I'm not sure that there is a solution except to
say that you must know that some days you will be higher than others. I
agree that you have to take the "once a week" weight approach and
that being, that no matter what you weigh every day, pick a day and that is
the day of the week that is official. I now, am lucky if I get on the
scale once every 5 days or so as my weight just doesn't fluctuate anymore.
Good luck to you.
— Barbara H.
January 4, 2002
HI.. that being said. I too am a scale junkie. I have tossed out and broken
more scales trying to curb the "NEED" to weigh in the 14 months I
have been post op. My deal now (which is harder to do in winter) is to walk
to my pharmacy (1 mile each way) to weigh. It keeps me to once a week (I do
walk more but tend to do it now on a treadmill or moving elsewhere). What
was suggested to me when I had a scale at home was to weigh ONE week out of
a month every day in the morning after using the restroom. (same time of
day for 7 days) then take the weights and average them. That will give you
the weight for the month. This takes into account the flexuation for fluid
buildup and release that can happen to ANYONE regardless of cycle time. I
know I gain 5 pounds before my cycle and tend to AVOID the scale for those
three weeks.. (one before, one during, one after) and do my weight the last
week available. It works for me, but each of us are individuals so find
what works for you! Best wishes!
— blank first name B.
January 4, 2002
my surgeons scale rule is...u can only weigh urself once a week. sure u can
go home & proceed to do whatever u want...whos to know? but i didnt
want to be a slave to the scale because that meant i was still being a
slave to my morbidly obese body. the first 2 weeks were sooooooo hard!! but
by the time the 2nd weigh day came & i saw another good size pound
loss, it is no longer hard to wait for my mondays. i enjoy seeing more than
just a few pounds come off. i think if i weighed myself every day & i
lost only 1/2 lb today & 2 lbs tomorrow, i would be very very
frustrated. (gee. how come 2 lbs today & only 1/2 yest). for me, &
my honey too, weighing in on mondays is an event! & i dont beat myself
up comparing one day to the next.
— sheryl titone
Click Here to Return