The scale - friend or foe?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
The scale - friend or foe?
11
Mon, 07-17-2006 - 5:55pm

I know I have complained about this before on this board. Today I was out walking and saw my reflection in a window and I thought, wow, I look like I'm slimmer and more fit. Everything I'm doing must be working! It makes sense because for more than three months now I've been exercising regularly and for about six weeks I've

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 4:38pm

Carrie, it sounds like you are reducing your body mass without actually reducing weight - and there could be a lot of reasons for that:


1) Your scale isn't entirely accurate


2) You are weighing at the wrong time of day


3) You are retaining water in the heat


4) You are adding muscle mass (reducing size, but not weight, as muscle weighs more than fat)


I would say keep up the great work - you are obviously doing something right to be looking slimmer!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 5:56pm

Thanks for your encouragement, Miranda! :) The only thing I can think it could be is that I've gained some muscle. I think my scale is accurate because I was weighed at the doctor's office recently, and it was the same as my scale. I guess I just need to focus on how I feel and look and not be so concerned with the number on the scale. In fact, maybe I'll just give up going to the scale for a while. It was just always so easy for me to drop pounds in the past ... even without exercise! I guess I have to accept the fact that I'm 35 and things are not as they used to be. Which is OK!


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-14-2003
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 11:42am

I have the same problem with the scale, if its a good number I get happy and upbeat and if its bad it just pisses me off. But I do that with other things to, I f I try on something and I like it I feel good about myself, until I see a picture of me. I don't know why buy I seem to have a real problem with pictures, I look a lot bigger than I am, I know for a fact becuase I have brought in recent pictures to work and have had co workers ask who is that? I don't know why. I guess we just have to concentrate on getting the weight off. We took a bunch of pictures while on vacation in Ixtapa, and I hate them all. Right now the scale is my freind Its cooperating this week.

Rainey


Rainey



proud owner of:

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 3:38pm

I know what you mean about pictures, I look bigger than I am in them too. Like, quite a bit bigger! Sigh. I'm glad the scale is cooperating for you this week! I'm hoping it will for me too soon.


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-14-2003
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 4:19pm

Hang in there, it will start moving, I know I will be complaing soon to, because cooperates and then stops. I knew I was not the only one with the picture problem, geez i look twice my size!!!

Rainey


Rainey



proud owner of:

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 4:44pm

Thanks! No, you are not the only one with the picture thing, I just talked to a friend of mine who was saying the same thing ... and she is tiny!


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2005
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 8:13pm
Some days I hate that SOB : )
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Thu, 07-20-2006 - 5:57pm

LOL. Yes, it is an SOB! This morning it was cooperating ... it showed three pounds loss from two days ago. Now, you know I didn't lose 3 pounds in two days, which just goes to show how much of this is water weight and how things vary scale-wise from day to day. And how I need to cut the cord of dependency on the scale!


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2006
Thu, 07-20-2006 - 8:31pm

I agree with the picture thing. I should keep a current picture of me in front of my face at all times to motivate me. I can't believe I look as big as I do in pictures. I guess my 'mental image' is much better than reality. (Could it be that I still don't picture myself in my late 30s, and think I still look like I'm in my mid-20s?) I'm not getting any older in my mind, and apparently, neither is my body. Then the pictures slap me squarely in the face.

Tonya

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 07-24-2006 - 7:17am

You know Carrie, if you are happy with progress you see in the mirror (shop window, whatever) go with it!! You know you're working at it and if the *SOB* scale (loved that btw) is not co-operating, look in the mirror again.


I agree with the photo thing too. Recently I had pictures taken of me and a friend. One I look absolutely massive in, and the other- with only a slight twist of my body I look so much slimmer. Apparently it has something to do with angles and stuff, LOL!!!


Plus...I see those extra lbs and some were gone in a couple of days, WO-HOO!!!

~IslandGirl





School's out for summer!


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