Fit Phobia Part I: The Scale

So you weigh yourself everyday, right?  I know you do.  Did you gain or lose a pound since yesterday?  Before you start pondering why you gained or lost a pound over 24 hours, how about let’s just stop the daily weigh in.  For real.  Stop it. 

Unfortunately, for all of us who are overly impatient (that’s me), results from working out and eating healthy just don’t happen quick enough.  We weigh ourselves daily, looking for immediate confirmation that what we are doing is working.  Well, I don’t do that anymore.  Ever.  That picture of the scale above…yes, that is mine.  Look real close and you’ll see dust/dirt.  I found it when I was moving things out of my basement before the hurricane. 

Anyhow, why not do a daily weigh in?  Let me give you a few things that can give you a false sense of gain or loss:

• fluid retention or excretion (always pee before you weigh in for better results, right)
• “water weight” loss is not the same as fat loss
• muscle weighs more than fat
• salt intake (assists in fluid retention)
• timing of meals and weigh in — did you weigh in the morning or afternoon?  Is there food in your stomach, adding that whole half a pound? (8 oz steak anyone? — which = 1/2 lb)

Okay, so that’s my non-professional opinion on why a daily weigh in makes no sense and just messes with your mind.

HOWEVER, now that I found my scale, I’ll hop on it once a month or when I know I’ve had an excellent run with my eating and workouts.  It’s for positive reinforcement.  You won’t find me on that thing when I had a cake-eating meltdown, trust me.  Nonetheless, weighing in does help you bench mark, just not on a daily basis.

Capiche?