does anyone here NOT...

[KristinCB]

own a scale?

I'm just curious.. i'm very scale obsessed and part of me would like to just abandon the whole weight thing altogether and try to make choices that are healthier for me (often my weight loss etc doesn't end up on the healthy side of things).. I'm very frustrated this go around with trying to lose weight and i'm just ending up upset. My weight/size will always be a lifelong battle so its not as if i need to try to rush to lose so fast and I'm thinking maybe if i didn't rely on a number but instead measurements I would do better..

[Misty Cato]

I don't own a scale. We have Wii Fit so if I really want to weigh myself, I can do it that way, but I don't very often. No real reason behind it though - just never got around to buying one.

[ZaCola3]

I do not own one-and never even think of buying one...is that weird?

[tuneskids]

we just bought one in November. We had never had one until then.

[aggiefamily]

No scale here. We check our weight at the gym or Dr. office.

I am glad we don't have one because it would give me one more thing to obsess over.

[Kiki]

ahhh....weight/size you wrote...very telling. Tell me Kristin...if you lost 20 pounds but it was all from your feet, ankles, fingers, wrists and maybe a little off your calves, but your tummy, thighs, hips, were still the same size, would you be happy? Everyone measures health and weightloss by a scale because that's how the BMI works, right? Weight and height, but not hip measurement, waist measurement, thigh measurement by height... we are socialized to think that a certain weight equals a certain appearance, but that's not always the true measurement of what people deem successful weight loss. Most times, people want to be down a size, or reduce inches. So why care about weight? When it's the inches you really want to see disappear and not the pounds. Get rid of the scale, and take your measurements. Use that. The only reason I have a scale is because of weight watchers. But it isn't my measure of success. I measure how my clothes fit and getting into clothes I haven't worn in over 3 years. That feels better than seeing a number on a block of metal staring back at me.

ETA: My coworker is healthy and slim and is absolutely OBSESSED with losing another 5 pounds. Now I wonder how she would know she lost 5 pounds if she didn't weigh herself?

[nietis]

I don't own a scale. Have thought of having one, but never get around to buy one...

[joelsgirl]

I don't have one; I always thought I was in the minority, but I guess I'm not!

I'm totally not weight obsessed at all, though. I gained 10 lbs in the 6 months we were in the US, and it made Joel and I giggle how big my belly had gotten. I suppose it probably helped that I knew I would lose it all once I got back here and stopped having free refills on my soda.

[mariewilcox]

I don't own one either. The only scale I DO own is a food scale. I go by how my clothes fit - if they are getting a bit too snug I add a bit more exercise and a few less calories each day for a few weeks until they feel good again. (Doesn't take much more exercise either since I don't exercise much anyway - that's what I need to work on!)

[ColleenSwerb]

Originally Posted by Kiki

ahhh....weight/size you wrote...very telling. Tell me Kristin...if you lost 20 pounds but it was all from your feet, ankles, fingers, wrists and maybe a little off your calves, but your tummy, thighs, hips, were still the same size, would you be happy? Everyone measures health and weightloss by a scale because that's how the BMI works, right? Weight and height, but not hip measurement, waist measurement, thigh measurement by height... we are socialized to think that a certain weight equals a certain appearance, but that's not always the true measurement of what people deem successful weight loss. Most times, people want to be down a size, or reduce inches. So why care about weight? When it's the inches you really want to see disappear and not the pounds. Get rid of the scale, and take your measurements. Use that. The only reason I have a scale is because of weight watchers. But it isn't my measure of success. I measure how my clothes fit and getting into clothes I haven't worn in over 3 years. That feels better than seeing a number on a block of metal staring back at me.

ETA: My coworker is healthy and slim and is absolutely OBSESSED with losing another 5 pounds. Now I wonder how she would know she lost 5 pounds if she didn't weigh herself?

This. We do own a scale, but Jordan uses it more than I do. I go by how I FEEL and how things FIT more than anything else.

[nanienamou]

I didn't have a scale before having weight-loss surgery. Maybe if I had had a scale, I would not have let my weight go out of controls, who knows.

That being sad, I totally splurged and got a medical scale and I weigh myself each morning. I'm totally scale-obsessed and DH is also getting that way, even though it's not a good thing.

[terrab]

I don't own one and never have owned one of my own. I weigh myself at the gym and even then I only weigh myself max once per week. I prefer to measure myself by how my clothes fit or I would just get way too obsessed with the number on the scale.

[jessica31876]

I do not own a scale and honestly my weight does tend to fluctuate with what I ate that day, how close it is to my time of the month (seriously I have like 10 extra pounds for a week,,,its insane!!) and what I am wearing. I know what I normally weigh is between 160 and 172ish. I went to my doctor and stepped on the scale and with my boots on, jeans on, a heavy sweater and my jacket I was up to 184 I think? So that number means nothing to me really. I know I could stand to lose some weight but if I dont I am happy with how I look. The main reason I would want to lose is to see if it improves my cholesterol and blood pressure.

[ripal]

I own one, but hardly ever use it. If you ask me today, I have no idea how much I weigh right now. However, I do know that after excercising with 30-days Shread DVD just for a week, my pants were loose and I had to return one and get a size smaller. That's where my focus is.. to loose the belly from having a baby 11 yrs ago!

[LibbysMommy]

Nope. No scale here and I am A-OK with that!!

[Stacey42]

I have a scale but it's battery operated & has needed new batteries for 5 years. :

I go by how things fit.I have a couple pairs of pants I rarely wear but use as guides when I feel uncomfortable in my skin. If they are tight I need to cut back on what I eat for a few weeks. If they fit fine then it is all in my head.

[SeattleSheri]

I use both a scale and a tape measure. While people of the same height and weight may not have the same body type and appearance, clearly there is a correlation between weight and appearance, so I frequently weigh myself. I've lost close to 20 lbs in the last several months. Plus studies show that people that are cognizant of their actual weight tend to weigh less.

[jacinda]

We have bathroom scales, and I weigh myself all the time. Not that it made me eat any more or less in the past, but I recently joined the Skinny Jeans Club, and I'm kinda obsessed now. For ME, whenever I see a slight loss in weight, it motivates me even more, so for now it's a good thing. My main aim for skinny jeans is to get active and make healthier food choices - weight loss is a side issue and bonus. That said, I still find myself hopping on the scales every day.

[nun69]

nope...I use to have one but the battery died and I never replaced it...I was obsessed when I was in Kuwait cause all I did was go to work, eat and to the gym! I lost roughly 20-25 lbs but I am sure I put it back on...but I a ok with that....having to stress over my weight for the past 20 years was enough {military weight standards!}...

[hollyxann]

No scale.

But it's definitely on my list of things to purchase.

[taracotta7]

Originally Posted by ZaCola3

I do not own one-and never even think of buying one...is that weird?

No!!! Because if you are weird then it means I am too!

[mpatry]

I have one, but it's one of those older ones with the needle? So it's not very accurate. I just use it to get a general idea where I am... but I'll go months without ever stepping on it. I'm more concerned about how my clothes fit and how I feel than I am about some silly number. And I don't listen to those online calculators that tell you how much you should weigh. Because I'm under 5 feet tall I'm supposed to be under 100lbs, anything over and I'm supposedly overweight... which is nuts!

If you feel good, clothes fit - then who cares what the number on the scale says?

[misfitinmn]

No scale here! We had one but the batteries died and we just never replaced them. That said, I do work in a place with scales, so I can weigh myself there if I want to. I only ever did when I was on Weight Watchers. I'm really sensitive about my weight, AND I am constantly weighing other people at work, so the more I know MY weight, the more I compare myself with THEIRS and it just doesn't work.

[jendavey]

I do not, however I work at a weight management clinic that has calibrated scales, so I weigh myself there often...

[Jengerbread88]

I owned one when I lived in the dorms, and one day it got stolen. I kid you not-- they left the laptop, the television, the dvd player, everything, and stole my scale.

I never bothered to buy a new one, because I never used it.

[Leah]

Umm I like my scale. Just bought a new one this week. I step on it every day, sometimes twice. I need a constant reminder. LOL

[crecia27]

Originally Posted by paperboutique

Umm I like my scale. Just bought a new one this week. I step on it every day, sometimes twice. I need a constant reminder. LOL

I'm with you. I'll only admit to twice. When I'm focused it keeps me in line, its a tool I use in addition to how my clothes fit and tape measurements.

[KristinCB]

If i could find a way to do it healthy and not obsess and let it affect how my day will be then i know it would be good.. I just don't know how to get to that point :/

[Leah]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

If i could find a way to do it healthy and not obsess and let it affect how my day will be then i know it would be good.. I just don't know how to get to that point :/

If it's not broken, don't fix it. Do what works best for you. I don't think I can ever go back to not using my scale - the constant reminder just works.

[mrshobbes]

Don't own a scale Interesting thoughts brought up here. I once attended a health & fitness talk and the main speaker was this fit, confident woman who was decidedly NOT of waif-ish proportions. One lady kept peppering the speaker with all kinds of questions on how to lose the pounds, get back to her weight before her pregnancies (the last time she was that weight was over 10 years ago!),etc.

The speaker said something I'll never forget. She said "Are you sure you want to get back to that particular number? Is that what you really want, or do you want to recapture how you FELT about yourself when you were that weight?" As some of you already mention often people fixate on a weight when in reality it just comes down to being in a place where they can be comfortable with themselves and love their bodies.

Kristin mentioned how to get to that point where you don't obsess and let the numbers affect you. Maybe it's more a matter of perspective? Instead of thinking you're XX weight, what can you be grateful for in your body? Can you walk, run, jump? Can you carry your children? Can you hug them? Because there are those who can't. If you come at workouts and your healthy eating as "I'm doing this because I love myself and my family" instead of "I MUST reach this weight to be happy," I think that's more productive, right?

Sorry to kinda get all rahah there. I was just sitting here thinking about it because I'm very conscious that I've gained something like 10-15 pounds since I last weighed last year and the other week I spotted stretch marks on my legs/butt. And I don't even have kids yet!!!! Eep.

[maryinaz]

Unfortunately doctors DO care what you weigh - or maybe it's just MY doctor. I have a scale that the batteries ran out, and I know I've gained weight this past year. I have my yearly in about 2 weeks and I'm scared to death to step on that scale. Last year she told me I was at the top of my range and shouldn't go higher. But I did. :P

Once I get past that appt, I will only care how I feel and how my clothes fit.

[KyRainbow]

Nope....no scale here. I am too OCD about things and would make myself sick obsessing over it if I had one.

[SeattleSheri]

Mary brings up a very valid point. While people might not care about their weight (which can be indicative of their overall health), it can still be an issue. Take Americans for example, a significant percentage of the population is not only overweight, but clinically obese. Think about how much we spend on medical care for conditions that are related to weight ... diabetes, heart disease, back pain, acid reflux, etc ... just to name a few. Not to say that weight and/or obesity are the only cause of those conditions, but without a doubt, weight can be contributory to those conditions in many cases. It is no fluke that the cost of healthcare has risen as the incidence of obesity has increased. Clearly scale ownership isn't the issue, but I think there is an opportunity to increase awareness of why living a healthy lifestyle is so important. I was recently ridiculed by my SIL for "caring" about my appearance, but in reality, I'm just trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I'm not striving for a number per se, but I do use a scale to gauge my progress. Just my 2+ cents, lol

[Gemma]

I don't. I used to a few years ago andI was weighing myself every day and not eating properly because of it so I got rid of them, now I only weigh my self every weeks/months!

[litabells]

No scale in my house -too damn depressing!

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

own a scale?

I'm just curious.. i'm very scale obsessed and part of me would like to just abandon the whole weight thing altogether and try to make choices that are healthier for me (often my weight loss etc doesn't end up on the healthy side of things).. I'm very frustrated this go around with trying to lose weight and i'm just ending up upset. My weight/size will always be a lifelong battle so its not as if i need to try to rush to lose so fast and I'm thinking maybe if i didn't rely on a number but instead measurements I would do better..

You've voiced my opinion now. Any stress is unhealthy, so fretting about weight loss is not healthy, either. Healthy choices that can be kept life-long and a happy attitude are a much better option IMHO.

I own a scale, but I rarely use it. Like, once in 3 months maybe.

[SmallMoments]

We just weigh ourselves on the Wii balance board each Saturday morning for our check ins. If I could find any of our tape measures, I'd do that, too, but they've all come up missing... again.

[ColleenSwerb]

Originally Posted by SeattleSheri

Mary brings up a very valid point. While people might not care about their weight (which can be indicative of their overall health), it can still be an issue. Take Americans for example, a significant percentage of the population is not only overweight, but clinically obese. Think about how much we spend on medical care for conditions that are related to weight ... diabetes, heart disease, back pain, acid reflux, etc ... just to name a few. Not to say that weight and/or obesity are the only cause of those conditions, but without a doubt, weight can be contributory to those conditions in many cases. It is no fluke that the cost of healthcare has risen as the incidence of obesity has increased. Clearly scale ownership isn't the issue, but I think there is an opportunity to increase awareness of why living a healthy lifestyle is so important. I was recently ridiculed by my SIL for "caring" about my appearance, but in reality, I'm just trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I'm not striving for a number per se, but I do use a scale to gauge my progress. Just my 2+ cents, lol

I think that plenty of people out there can own a scale, and use it moderately, and it's a good thing. Several people in here have mentioned that it helps them out a lot.
On the flip side, I think a lot of people can get stuck in that place where only the scale and moving it matters. And that's not a good place to be. So if getting rid of the scale can help someone lead a healthier lifestyle, I think it's important to do that. The important part is the healthy lifestyle, the rest will fall into place after that (well no fall, it takes work, but you know what I mean).
I used to get on that thing every morning. And depending on what it said absolutely affected my mood for the day. I realized this, and decided that I needed to stop obsessing over the scale and the number. So I stopped using it. I get on it once every few weeks (more like 3 or 4 months), usually after either a long period of being good with my workouts and eating, or a long period of being bad about my workouts and eating. I see the number, reconcile it with how my clothes are fitting and how I'm feeling, and use it as another tool in my arsenal to get where I want to be. I've all but given up on seeing a "goal weight" show up on the scale. I'm not obese, and I don't have health issues, so the number isn't important. The lifestyle and the healthy decisions I make (or don't make) each day are what's important.

[ColleenSwerb]

Kristen, why don't you toss the scale in the garage, or the back of a closet, or in the attic. Some place where it's a huge PITA to get it out and use it, so you can stop focusing on it. Then get a tape measure, or even just some string and take your measurements. Take new measurements once a week. See what happens.

You'll never know if a change is what you need if you don't give it a try, you know?

[MommaTrish]

We didn't have one for like a loooooong time. Then when John started worrying about my weight this summer he bought one to convince me I was losing too much so I would go into the doctor. Now I only use it once a week to keep track of my weight to make sure I'm either maintaining or gaining weight and not losing it.

[farrijc]

I don't own one and probably never will... mostly because I know if I did that I would weigh myself all the time, and I don't think that's good for me. I've done weight watchers after each of my three kids were born, and I know from that experience that the scale doesn't always reflect the work I've put in. I could have a really good week of making good food choices and exercising regularly,only to find out the scale went up a pound. Then, the next week it might go down two pounds after I've done basically the same thing... So, I've found it makes much more sense to go with how my clothes are fitting and to realize that if I'm eating healthy and exercising, that is what really matters!

[Giseli Freitas]

I don't and never had before, but I confess sometimes I think in to buy one. Then I think again and remember I'm an 'obsessed with everything' kinda person and I don't need one more temptation.

[KristinCB]

This was a really interesting thread to read..

I DO think I am going to put my scale away for a little while and concentrate on being as healthy as I can be.. maybe I can revisit in a few months or so after I've gone down in size a little ways.

I do want to just comment on one point by sherri.. Weight is important etc however.. I don't think that the health of a person should be determined so much by what they weight. I think it is way more important for people to have their checkups to make sure their cholesterol etc are in check as people could be in the healthy BMI range and still have multiple issues with their health.. right?

[mrshobbes]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

This was a really interesting thread to read..
I do want to just comment on one point by sherri.. Weight is important etc however.. I don't think that the health of a person should be determined so much by what they weight. I think it is way more important for people to have their checkups to make sure their cholesterol etc are in check as people could be in the healthy BMI range and still have multiple issues with their health.. right?

THIS. Exactly And I realize it's been a while since I've done that--need to schedule a checkup now.

[SeattleSheri]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

I do want to just comment on one point by Sheri.. Weight is important etc however.. I don't think that the health of a person should be determined so much by what they weight. I think it is way more important for people to have their checkups to make sure their cholesterol etc are in check as people could be in the healthy BMI range and still have multiple issues with their health.. right?

I was worried that my words might be misinterpreted and not be taken in spirit in which my post was intended. My intention was to point out that a person can't have blatant disregard for a healthy lifestyle (which includes their weight). Weight will always be contributory to that. Almost any doctor will comment on a patient that is not within a healthy weight range. Of course weight is not mutually inclusive of health, but there is no denying that obesity increases your chance of health issues.