Bearybeans's Journal, 26 May 2016

I'm not a fan of ditching the scales, as people tend to fool themselves when they say "I just go by how my clothes fit"...which could be anywhere from 5-20lbs additional. One option you could use instead of a scale is a tape measure. Measure mid-calf, mid-thigh, waist at narrowest, waist at widest, chest, and mid-triceps. Look at where you typically gain most of your weight and keep an eye on those numbers. More time consuming that the scale...but again, it's still a way of measuring/counting. 

Better to use a tape measure for inches lost, and a bodyfat caliper which is more important than how much we weigh. 

I think it only projects negative thoughts when it goes up. Most of us get elated when it goes down. Your scales is the best tool for measuring progress. You want to watch the trend not the daily/weekly fluctuations. Trust your plan. 

Unfortunately, I live and die by the scale. I can gain or lose 15 pounds without really noticing because I lose it from head to toe. I do take measurements from time to time, especially if I feel discouraged because muscle weighs more than fat and if I'm toning, the scale doesn't really register progress. Best of luck! 

its hard to do wihtout a reliable way of measuring our progress. You could use a pair of pants? 

I am addicted to my scale, beans, but for me it works. I couldn't keep to my plan without it. And I agree with Mahjohn that if I base my weight on how my clothes fit, it is usually too late by the time I admit it. As long as you can wrap your head around the fact that there will ALWAYS be ups as well as downs, and that they all will even out, you will be okay. There are factors that will always cause a few gains, but if you stick to your plan, the scale will show you truly how well it is working or not working. 

Ditching the Scale = Self Delusion 99% of the Time. Instead try this.... 

The scale is one of three things I use. Scale, Myotape (the cheap one is cheap) and the Accurameasure calipers. I could never give up the scale. It doesn't rule me any more.  

1) Marry the Process; Divorce the Scale - This means practicing separating yourself emotionally from the scale. You are in the business of losing fat. Scale weight is a necessary input to your understanding of how much fat you are losing. Its a fact. A data point. Nothing more. Not good or bad. 

2) Track a Moving Average of Your Scale Weight - Your Mean Scale Weight over the Past 7-10 Days is a Much Surer Indicator of Your Actual Progress than Today's Scale Weight 

3) Measure Body Fat% - Start with Inexpensive Calipers; Learn to Use them Effectively; Track Over Time. I started with these - http://www.amazon.com/AccuFitness-MyoTape-Body-Tape-Caliper/dp/B0040LAHH6/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1464273036&sr=1 

I was following the scale for a few weeks. I did lose some weight but I became obsessed. I like to track body fat and follow that. But i have to say the scale made me depressed and crazy, I stopped weighing myself again and obsessing. I feel a lot better and happier now. 

4) Measure You Waist - Of All the Tape Measurements you can take, I believe that WAIST is the most important when trying to lose fat. Using the Myotape that comes packaged with the calipers in the link above, you can measure your waist in about 30 sec.  

5) Tracking - Roll it all up. I use excel, but you can easily do by hand. Scale weigh in daily in exactly the same manner. Once you have 7 days of weigh-ins, calulate your 7Day Moving Average every day. Measure Body Fat & Waist Every Week. In 3 Weeks your understanding of your status and results will improve 10X. 

Beary---I have a little memo pad where I track my measurements once a month. (waist, neck, arms, hips, etc) I have found over the past 5 years I can lose inches with the scale going up. In fact this happens quite often. You may find that things are "shifting" and you dont notice till you measure. Dont get discouraged!! A number doesn't define you :) 

I hate the scale. I have to weigh daily now, for the doctor, and I hate it! 

I'm with Northernmusician.....calipers, scale and myotape. Using these three things gives you a more complete picture. Don't ditch the scale because you don't like the numbers. Face it and embrace it.