The weighting Game
I have a confession to make…I have become a scale junkie. I weigh myself everyday and sometimes twice a day as if my hard work and dedication will be immediately reflected on the scale which is most definitely not the case. I a highly disappointed by the numbers I see on the scale daily. One day I will be down .5lbs. I may go to the gym or meet/exceed my recommended amount of water intake (1/2 my body weight in ounces minimum) and weigh myself that same night or the next day and be up 2lbs.
I don’t want to play mental games with myself by weighing myself too often. There are normal weight shifts that occur throughout the week and especially through out the day. I tell my clients very good advice- pick a day in the week and weigh yourself every week on the same scale, same time after you get up without clothing. Use the restroom prior to weighing yourself , before you begin consuming food/bevarages and log this weight-good or bad. I also believe you should pick a day to weigh yourself on YOUR Monday. Most of my clients do not work 9a-5p jobs Monday- Friday. If your off days are Wednesdays and Thursdays – weigh yourself Friday morning.
Weighing yourself after your off days may help keep you on track with food/drink consumption amounts and help you make better choices so you don’t lie your entire week of hard work in 2 days- literally. Weekends/off days can be tricky. You want to enjoy your time off. For some people that may be a nice long run without having a specific time to return, for others that may be a thought like “I haven’t had (fill in the blank) all week long, I deserve it! One won’t hurt…which in turn sends you on a 2 day hiatus of poor choices.
The crazy thing is I use to struggle with scale phobia. I would avoid the scale all together. As long as I could fit into my favorite pair of Jean’s or favorite outfit I thought I was good until I went to the doctor for a yearly physical only to find out I had gained 10lbs. Ignorance can be bliss- until reality hits!
Lesson of this blog post is weigh yourself 1-2 times a week (2 times is MAX) at the same time of day without clothing whenever your “morning” is prior to consuming food or beverages. Don’t avoid the scale all together. Even if weighing yourself isn’t your thing, get on that scale once every other week or at LEAST once a month. Still pick a time frame and time. An example would be weighing yourself the 1st Monday of every month. This will keep you from ignorantly gaining or losing weight. The right kind of knowledge can be power.