Week 2 - Shoot the Scales

[Andrea]

I don't weigh in twice a day but I don't have a bad relationship with my scale either.  Up is motivation to try harder, no change is reinforcement that I'll be able to maintain and motivation to keep up the good work and down is motivation to keep it up.

It's all kinda the same reaction.  It's information that reinforces what I'm accomplishing. 

[BigTex]

You are right Andrea that's how I look at it too

[umpa]

No owensmath you are incorrect You can chose to weigh yourself all day everyday. The issue with that are most scales arent accurate and your weight constantly fluctuates.We tell people(some) only weigh once a week or every two weeks because if not they will give up if they weigh everyday because of the fluctuations.With me personally,it was setting my mood for the day.Bad weigh in,bad day.I finally was talking to my dad and he said "why do you do this everyday to yourself with the scale?You don't know when your jeans are getting tight?If they are tight back up from the table! If they are loose buy new jeans!"It sounds too simple but I was in tears 4 times a week.I refuse to buy a bigger size,I am a 8-10.I only weigh in once a year at the doctors.But I keep my carbs as low as possible everyday.I want everybody to do whats right for them,but if the scale is getting to your emotions  throw it away! I think you love the scale because your a math teacher,a numbers girl

[Andrea]

I think the real message is that everyone should understand what their relationship to the scale is.  I need to think about this some more because I think it is actually a very important issue.  We joked about the turtles and somehow, putting a fun name to it, made it easier to explain to other people.  Turtles take longer to get to their goal.  If we can describe a range of "scale relationships," maybe we can be more effective in helping people over that psychological hump.  It's not just love-hate and, like Umpa said, we lose people because of the scale.

Just food for thought.  I, too, am a numbers person, like Donna.  I'm an accountant, Donna's a math teacher.  I don't think it's a coincidence that we have similar reactions to numbers on the scale.

I think I'm a "scale geek."  Take the number and analyze the beejessus out of it. 

[owensmath]

Yes, yes, yes! She "gets" me! Yay!

I also analyze the crap out of my blood work results every six months. 

I track the weight numbers and then compare it to the day before, the week before, and I look for trends like.... Do I do better at the beginning of the week or the end of the week? If I am always up a little on a certain day of the week, is it because we are always too busy to eat at home that day and the carbs crept in at a restaurant?

[Andrea]

Soulmates!

[mouseissue]

Knowledge is power!
Using the scale to help you learn about how your body responds to certain foods and certain quantities is a good thing.

However, some folks take that "number" and attach an emotional value to it.
This is what drove Umpa to tears and others away from FTS entirely.
Most of us have had many "bad" experiences reading a scale, so this is easy to understand.

We all need to remember that the reading on the scale is simply a number, and nothing else.
But if it ever bothers you, take your scale and hide it, toss it, or give it to someone else.

We've spent too long being miserable about being FAT.
There's no sense in unnecessarily torturing ourselves.
Life is far too short for that nonsense!

Know that everyday you're living FTS, your getting healthier and healing from years of sugar abuse.
Every day, we get another chance.
So count your blessings and be happy!

[Waterlilly]

Knowledge is power!

Know that everyday you're living FTS, your getting healthier and healing from years of sugar abuse.
Every day, we get another chance.
So count your blessings and be happy!

Yes! Absolutley! I struggle with the same issues but the weird part is that I am so NOT a numbers girl . I'm actually a "word" girl and I try to avoid numbers as often as possible  . I should have  a bumper sticker that says "I'd rather be writing".

I think what's different here (and based on what I've read) is that FTS or any other LC diet done right, does SO MUCH MORE than just shed pounds. I truly believe there is an adjustment period where biochemical changes take place that we can't see and that fat can drop off of our bodies with the scale staying the same. I've also read that LC preserves LOTS of muscle tone.

Now for me, I'm certainly not going to "retain 40 lbs" of muscle in exchange for that much fat!    Still, I am trying to remind myself that this diet is so much more than that. Like Mouseissue said, its actually a healing process.

For me, I decided that I am going to eat 3 squares, not eat after dinner, and watch portions as they pertain to carbs only. I will refocus my efforts on pants sizes. I've actually seen the scale go DOWN before when my pants got TIGHTER! What the heck?

My goal is to wear a size 4/6. I could care less what the scale says if those are the numbers on the tag in my jeans! In fact, looking cute in jeans and a shirt is my main goal. That's all I want. For me, I can't find that kind of happiness on the digital scale readout.

[Andrea]

I'm ecstatic to be in a size 8 so that's a demonstration that we are all different.  It takes time for habits to be re-formed and attitudes to be adjusted, but it is so worth the effort. 

[Waterlilly]

I'm ecstatic to be in a size 8 so that's a demonstration that we are all different.  It takes time for habits to be re-formed and attitudes to be adjusted, but it is so worth the effort. 

Size 8? Good for you Andrea! You've got me beat right now. I'm about 4 sizes away from that goal. It's nice to know it can be done.

[Andrea]

I started at a tight 16 so comfortably loose 8s are a huge accomplishment for me.  I started this thinking staying the same would be good so I've exceeded my own expectations.

[mouseissue]

Hi Andrea!

You're so right that it takes time for habits to be re-formed and attitudes adjusted.
We MUST be patient with the process AND ourselves!

Kudos on being the Incredible Shrinking Woman!

[Waterlilly]

I started at a tight 16 so comfortably loose 8s are a huge accomplishment for me.  I started this thinking staying the same would be good so I've exceeded my own expectations.

Excellent! Do you have pictures?

[Andrea]

My girls and their families are all coming over and have promised to take pictures.  I'll try to post tonight. 

[BigTex]

My girls and their families are all coming over and have promised to take pictures.  I'll try to post tonight.