Although an inanimate object cannot measure self-worth, the scale’s reign continues to torment the masses with its number, indirectly taunting, praising, and/or impeding progress by its numeric response. When witnessing the pounds settles visually beneath our feet elation or despair are the emotional results. Heightened influence weighs on the psyche affecting future actions and stress levels.
A scale’s limited utility cannot be overstated. Without measurements of a body’s shape, size, and percentage of muscle and fat, meeting the scale with dubious trust and skepticism is necessary. Should I tweak, change, or alter my behavior based upon a number? Is there an eating habit or one time task interfering directly or indirectly with the displayed pounds? Am I constipated, my hormonal cycle looming, a heavy meal or metal contributing to a slow metabolism and progression to my goal? Have I strayed from the exercise, food, guidelines or goals set before me?
Instead, watching non-scale signs of progress, looser clothing, body measurements, fat percentages decreasing, belt notches changing, or energy levels lifting are superior assessments. Yet without size shifting smaller, and the scale showing a downward trend, confidence often declines and doubt grows in the process. The scale’s hold upon many of us is still the greatest, negative power awaiting release.
Victory is enabling the number, the scale, and any emotional dependence for its validation or assessment to vanish from existence. Allowing it to remain a tool in the shed of loss or gain measurement is an unhealthy component ready for banishment from protocol. It serves no positive purpose currently while an emotional hold and influence remains. When the scale’s power diminishes, its relevance insignificant, we win a major victory along the weight loss journey.