The Tale of the Scale

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
The Tale of the Scale
7
Fri, 03-09-2007 - 9:22pm

In January, my scale began to act up - soemtimes telling me 'Error', sometimes shutting off the display before I could read it- but I kept fiddling and fiddling with it, and beleiving it whenever it finally told me a number.

I mentioned to my mother that I needed a new scale, and when she came to stay in February, she brought me a new scale - but the kind with the dial, not digital. I shouldn't have opened it, because I knew I wanted a digital scale, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I opened it. And I threw the old one away, because I knew it was broken even though it had seen me through many ups and downs. Every day all month when I weighed I squinted at the dial and had totally no idea what I weighed...

Last Saturday, Mom went home, and I went right out and bought a digital scale...I am evidently the kind of person who needs to know EXACTLY what I weigh. I weighed in all different parts of my house, at different times of day, fully clothed, stark naked...and I didn't even really care what the number was, I just wanted to know it to the tenth of a pound (the old scale only did half and full). Even though I am an everyday weigher, I only count Friday (usually the lowest day because I am still working on the weekend plan)

So, today, first thing in the morning, in the place I always weighed before, wearing not a stitch - 172.

I have no idea if that is actually more or less than what I weighed when the old trusty scale said 169, but it is where I am, so that's where I am, and where I'm working from. And I'm happy to know that I know for sure what the number is...and that's the tale of the scale.

And when Mom comes back...I'll probably put out the dial scale so she'll never know...I'm living proof that our mother's influence never leaves because you all know I'm no spring chicken...

SJ
225-172-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 7:27am

Hey SJ,

I can completely relate as my digital scale has been really inconsistent. It's approaching 10 years old which is the lifetime estimate for the lithium battery powering it. I know I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new one. My cheapness, or more positively "thriftiness" is one of my mom's influences that will ever be with me. LOL I can get pretty neurotic about jumping on and off the scale and my old gray mare of a scale has been so off that I step on and step back on and there can be a 5 pound difference: Same scale position, same stance on the scale, same clothes or lack thereof. Still I don't know what my real weight is because of it so I will have to buy one I'm more sure of soon.

If it's any help, I'd keep the other scale around too just so it wouldn't hurt my mom's feelings. You can have two scales, but you only get one mom. :-) Annie

A
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 10:18am

Thanks for the 'two scales/one mom' comment.

I am actually pretty lucky because I have an 'always skinny' Mom, but I had a fabulous step-mother who struggled with her weight. She would always listen to me when I needed to talk about 'food' feelings, and cheer me on from a place of understanding. My stepmother unfortunaltey died about five years ago, only 60 years old, and we all miss her very much - your comment reminded me of how much love and support she gave me, and of how happy she would be for me to be on this journey. I thank you for jogging that feeling loose today. She and I also shared a passion for NCAA Basketball, and I always miss her a lot at this time of year because even though mosy of us knew very little, she would organize the family into a basketball pool and I would always spend a weekend with she and my Dad during 'March Madness'. I'll add the thoughts of her to what I need to keep me from munching at nervous game moments over the next few weeks!

Hope you find a scale you love that tells you a weight you like....

SJ
225-172-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 11:22am

I hope you don't think that was insensitive of me. I meant it more to emphasize the uniqueness of your mom in your life than to assume that we all only get one mom. (My kids each got two, one biological one and me. ;-) I am grateful every day for the women who brought them into this world and want to raise them to appreciate the gift of life they were given.)

Good luck during March Madness!

A
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 11:57am

Annie,
Not at all insensitive -very supportive of my pack-ratness towards the scale - and reminding me of what a lucky lucky girl I am to have had two wonderful women to guide my life! And we have many 'adoptions' in our extended family, and I think no matter how a family comes together, they are all families - I have a brother who shares both my parents, and a brother and sister who only share one, but we always say 'my sister' and 'my brother', not the 'half' part because the love is the same. I am closer to my brother who is closer to my age, but more because we shared more of our lives and experiences - it has nothing to do with the 'blood relations' - I sometimes thing my younger brother understands me and is more like me, and I love having a sister because I waited years to get one...

I truly meant the 'thank you'!

SJ
225-172-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 03-11-2007 - 12:43pm
SJ, You're a sweetie. I totally agree with you. I've never understood all of that 1/2, step, adopted and in-law relative distinction that everyone makes such a big deal out of. Family is family if you treat everyone as yours! Sometimes it's appropriate to describe a connection based on it's origin, but most of the time it's irrelevant. (We don't keep our kids adoptions a secret, but we come up against the weirdest questions sometimes. People seem obsessed with whether or not they are biological siblings, which they are not. We are often asked if they are "real" brother and sister. I answer "They are not biological siblings, but they are as "real" to each other as a brother and sister can be." :-) )
A
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Sun, 03-11-2007 - 6:08pm

Annie,
And it annoys the heck out of me when the media feels obliged to report that someone is 'the adopted son' (or daughter) of someone - and the person's like 50 years old - Hello, how is that relevant? Just a pet peeve...

SJ
225-172-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 03-11-2007 - 7:13pm
I hear ya! The craziness over the Jolie-Pitt baby who was born to them was a particular abomination. Like it was their first! It's one of the reasons my DH and I try to keep an open dialogue. That way when my kids encounter this bizarre crap the subject is already open.
A