IzzyFit Personal Training - Evanston - Private Personal Trainer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Personal Training
    • Rates
    • Location
  • Reviews
    • About

Read My Blog.
​Stay a While.

Ditch the Scale, You Might Lose Weight

4/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I challenged a client — let’s call her Anna — to put the scale away for 7 days. Even though she knows the number on the scale doesn't tell the whole story of what her body is made of, she's been weighing in daily for years. She’s not the only one. I have many clients who have kept logs over the years with their daily scale weights or circumference measurements written down. 

Anna came in for her session two weeks ago. Bummed about what the scale said, she said she was frustrated that she hadn’t been making a lot of progress since we started working together in January. 

“I’m sorry you feel that way. Can I ask you a few questions about that?” I asked. 

“Sure,” she said. 

“Have your clothes been fitting differently?” 

“Yes, clothes are looser.” 

“Does your body feel different?” 

“Yes, I definitely feel stronger and tighter.” 

“But you still don’t feel like you’ve made progress?” 

“I know, it’s crazy. The scale plays tricks with my head!” 

Does this sound familiar at all?

Here’s the thing: Our weight naturally goes up and down day to day. Weighing yourself (or measuring yourself another way) every single day makes you lose perspective of the big picture and can drive you BONKERS, making you believe the number is a direct reflection of your soul. Those weight logs? They become Gospel. Once we move away from where we may have been in college, we punish ourselves for not living up to our documented expectations.

Am I anti-scale? Pretty much. But not completely. I understand the need to measure results. If you have some weight to lose (more than those “last 5-10” lbs), the scale can work as one method of measurement. Sometimes a circumference measurement around the waist is more telling. But regardless of the method you employ, I would strongly urge you to look at the numbers every 2-3 weeks. Not every day. Not even every week. Every 2-3. Why? Because weight loss is not linear. Like I said earlier, our weight fluctuates day to day (even DURING the day), not to mention certain times in the month where we might be prone to hang on to things.

Back to Anna. When I saw her for her weekly session the following week, she reported that she was able to stay away from the scale for 6 our of the 7 days. She revealed that putting that mean-ass piece of electronic BS helped her focus MORE on more productive habits that could lead to her feeling good and healthy and strong. She had more time to dedicate to meal planning and prepping and exercise. She went those 6 days without starting the day off cursing at the scale and at herself. And at the end of the 6 days the number was down 4 lbs.

So what can you do if you’re a chronic measurer? Ask yourself how long you can put off the next measurement. If you’ve been weighing yourself every day, see if you can go ever other day. Don’t feel like you have to jump to every 3 weeks but be comfortable enough with the length of time. Then do what Anna did: Focus on productive activities, the stuff that lifts you up.  

I won't ever celebrate the number on the scale. I will, however, always cheer on the sustainable, sane, caring actions taken to get you closer to your goals. Now, go get it!
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Client Of The Month
    Delicious Food Of The Month
    Exercise
    Meredith
    Micah
    Nutrition
    Recipes
    Tips

    Archives

    November 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    RSS Feed

Join IzzyFit on Social Media!

Or connect with Izzy by email at izzy@izzyfit.com
Copyright © 2020 IzzyFit Personal Training, LLC, All rights reserved. 

Become a Part of IzzyFit Nation!

Subscribe to our mailing list

Find IzzyFit!

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Personal Training
    • Rates
    • Location
  • Reviews
    • About