The Scale

Is there anything more intimidating than the sight of a scale? I suppose actually stepping on said scale would rank up there, but I get rattled just seeing the cheeky bugger on the floor in the bathroom.

You should know that up until last week there was never a scale in my house. My mom got rid of the scale when I was a teenager- said that she didn’t want me to become obsessed about weighing myself. That it would lead to anorexia. I suspect it was more that my mom didn’t want to be reminded of her own burgeoning weight at the time (to be fair she was pregnant). So I grew up with a healthy aversion to scales and weighing myself.

Well obviously not healthy. I loathe scales. I break into a cold sweat at the sight of this scale. And although I forced my boyfriend to go out and buy one (there was no way that I was going to be seen buying a scale!) I have yet to actually stand on it. Because standing on will tell me what I actually weigh. And I haven’t known what I actually weigh…ever.

If the scale inspires such fear and unease why did I bring one into my house? Because I have heard that it is the single most important tool in effective weight loss. Friends (and my mom) that have lost a significant amount of weight all swear that it works. Its not about becoming obsessive about stepping on it 12 times a day, or starving yourself to get to a goal weight. Its more about encouragement and management.

I have been told that the one thing that spurns people on to keep going, to stick to a diet, to maintain a consistent exercise schedule is the scale. Because you can see progress. You have a concrete measurement of your success (and alternatively your failures). While you can lie to yourself, rationalize decisions about diet and lack of exercise, the scale lays it out for you the way it really is. And this is supposed to inspire you to keep going.

The other side of this is maintenance. Once you have reached your goal, the challenge is not slipping back into old habits. A friend of mine, who lost at least 40lbs recently told me that she steps on the scale every day. At first I thought this was excessive and told her so. She explained that it was a way to keep herself in check. If her weight is down she can indulge a little bit that day. If she has gained a pound or 2 she knows she needs to make time to take an extra aerobics class, go for a long walk, or watch her snacking.

For me, this was all enlightening. I had never thought that a scale could be so…helpful! I still haven’t stood on it. But I am sure that I will soon. At least I have one in my house now! And I could definitely do with some positive reinforcement!