Did You Break Up With Your Scale?

Mine is sort of shiny, with a big round dial.  I’ve always had one. It’s how I start my day. Mornings after pizza I’m a bit hesitant to engage, and quietly try to sneak one toe at a time on the platform.  But a day after a good workout and a healthful plate of veggies, I’m ready to fully commit.  Like any relationship, attitudes change daily.  But my scale and I have good communication and a degree of intimacy that is healthy. 

A lot of people shun the scale.  Break up with the daily ritual.  And many people are afraid to connect.  Some diet plans encourage their use and some say, “Forget it”.  So do you use a scale?  Should you step on every day?

My ultimate daily goal is to feel well.  I’m a wellness coach, it’s what I do.  And part of feeling well is maintaining my healthy weight.  We shun the scale because we equate the number with self-image or lack of control or disappointment.  Wow, the scale sounds like part of a destructive relationship.  But, while self-image or disappointment can be driving forces in maintaining or losing weight, they shouldn’t be the ultimate reason we care about the number.  Our health is represented by that red needle precariously bouncing higher.  Our health is the goal, not a number on a dial.

But we need the numbers. Our health is defined by numbers.  Your chart at the doctor’s office is really just a series of numbers: cholesterol, heart rate, blood pressure, and the dozens of numbers represented by blood work.  The numbers go up or down depending on how well your body is working.  Same goes for weight.  Our bodies do not work well if we aren’t at a healthy weight. 

Get on the scale.  Okay, be discouraged.  Then get motivated.  This is not about the number. If you must, cover up the numbers and replace them with your own labels.  “Not Too Healthy”, “Working Towards Healthy”, “Starting to Feel Good”, “Ultimate Health!” Do you want to feel well?  Do you want to move easily and keep up with life?  Weight is not just a vanity issue.  It is time to get friendly with the scale.  

Obesity and weight gain are unfortunately too prevalent in our society.  I’ll be examining this fat trend in the next several weeks.   

Kathy Gillen is a Wellness Coach and Nutritional Instructor.  To read more, find recipes, and get helpful tactics, visit Kathy’s Website www.wellnessroadtrip.com