topic Dieting without weighing in Wellness

Dieting without weighing

hyacinth003 — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 17:53:53 GMT

I am ending my 3rd month of dieting. I am being pretty strict and haven't gone off it very much.

I did not weigh myself before starting, and still have not weighed myself. I cannot go much lower in my intake, so I figure I'm doing the best I can.

I have found that "the numbers" have driven me crazy in the past. So I guess the actual number doesn't really matter to me anymore. I can tell by the way I feel and my clothes are letting me know I am losing weight.

I think this has helped me stay on track and not get hung up on being disappointed in what the number says. Just passing it on as a tip for anyone who may need it!

Hyacinth

Re: Dieting without weighing

OKPrincess — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 17:59:59 GMT

@hyacinth003 wrote:
I am ending my 3rd month of dieting. I am being pretty strict and haven't gone off it very much.

I did not weigh myself before starting, and still have not weighed myself. I cannot go much lower in my intake, so I figure I'm doing the best I can.

I have found that "the numbers" have driven me crazy in the past. So I guess the actual number doesn't really matter to me anymore. I can tell by the way I feel and my clothes are letting me know I am losing weight.

I think this has helped me stay on track and not get hung up on being disappointed in what the number says. Just passing it on as a tip for anyone who may need it!

Hyacinth

We don’t own scales so the only way we can tell if we’re doing ok is the way we feel in our clothes.

Re: Dieting without weighing

qualitygal — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 18:01:41 GMT

@hyacinth003 wrote:
I am ending my 3rd month of dieting. I am being pretty strict and haven't gone off it very much.

I did not weigh myself before starting, and still have not weighed myself. I cannot go much lower in my intake, so I figure I'm doing the best I can.

I have found that "the numbers" have driven me crazy in the past. So I guess the actual number doesn't really matter to me anymore. I can tell by the way I feel and my clothes are letting me know I am losing weight.

I think this has helped me stay on track and not get hung up on being disappointed in what the number says. Just passing it on as a tip for anyone who may need it!

Hyacinth

You are doing great!!! In WW they ask often, on ways people are doing their eating and all. Something that has nothing to do with the scale. I agree with go by how you feel and how the clothes fit. Be proud, sounds like you're doing great!

Re: Dieting without weighing

Mominohio — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 18:03:15 GMT

I've struggled with weight all my life. Once when young I lost 100 lbs, but after a decade put it back on. The second time, I lost 135 lbs.

Both times I refused to weigh myself except for the starting time.

All diets and plans I tried that had a regular weigh in schedule did nothing but discourage me terribly.

It all has to be about lifestyle change, change in ones eating habits and foods, about what feels better. Not about the numbers every few days, that go so slowly (or backwards) and derail the process for many of us.

Re: Dieting without weighing

hckynut — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 18:35:50 GMT

@hyacinth003

Good for you! Number watching for many trying to lose weight(fat tissue), a scale just might be their enemy. Weight fluctuates during the day for many "human body" reasons, which I won't go into here.

More times than I can remember I have posted this same or similar things about scale(numbers only)weight readings. Body composition should be the main factor for everyone. This applies to those that are happy with their weight, be it thin/just right, or heavier than they like. Without knowing, or even feeling ones body's composition, numbers can at times, be meaningless.

I don't even get on a scale at home. With all the doctors I see, fairly regularly for one reason or another, they check my weight every visit. I fairly recently had a Submersion Body Fat Analysis Test. I am now a 5'7" male, and on that day weighed in at 138lbs. My body fat percentage came back as 8%, and while I would have been happy with 10%, this is fine with me.

My wife tells me "you are too thin", even that it "makes you look like an old man". My reply: "I am an old man chronologically, and my interest is in how I feel and am able to function. How I look to others means zippo to me".

I think many here are tired of hearing(reading) what I have to say about scales, and numbers only body weights. Now from someone like you, that is saying pretty much the same thing? Maybe more will not be so hooked on scale numbers and go with how they feel/function in their every day life, and how much better their formally "tight clothes" feel so much better on them now.

Keep up this view and whatever program is working towards getting you where you want to be with your weight and your overall life. Your "tip" will surely help more of the ladies here that are tired of this old man rambling on about this topic.

My very best to you,

hckynut(john)

Re: Dieting without weighing

phoenixbrd — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:34:13 GMT

@hyacinth003 I agree with @hckynut....do what you want with the scale and do what works for you, I weigh myself everyday and so does my husband, but then our scale records our body composition. Plus, I understand that your body can carry about 10 pounds of water weight and this can significantly change from day to day depending on salt/water intake, etc. We take our measurements once a month and go about our healthy lifestyle, knowing the scale is just one tool. There are many factors besides diet that go into that number on the scale and what influences your body (exercise is critical and what you do, how/when you do it is another whole subject). It does help keep us motivated. However, doing whatever works for you and keeps you healthy is the best strategy.

Re: Dieting without weighing

chrystaltree — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:45:44 GMT

That works for some people, years ago I had a nutritionist who recommended doing it that way. It takes the pressure of the scale away and that awful feeling we get when we had an excellent week diet-wise and worked out....and didn't lose pound. But that doesn't work for me, perhaps because I never diet to lose 10 or 15lbs. It's always 30 or 40lbs for me and that takes a while. I need the "reward" of the scale and since I know how weightloss works for me, plateaus and even gaining a pound or two doesn't freak me out. That's the thing with weightloss....there is no "one size fits all" approach.

Re: Dieting without weighing

KentuckyWoman — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:08:14 GMT

The doctor told me to lose the scales. He said they add stress and anxiety when you struggle with weight. I told him I would remember that the next time I came to his office and his nurse told me to step on the scales. He laughed and I told him I was dead serious.

Re: Dieting without weighing

chrystaltree — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:26:57 GMT

@KentuckyWoman wrote:
The doctor told me to lose the scales. He said they add stress and anxiety when you struggle with weight. I told him I would remember that the next time I came to his office and his nurse told me to step on the scales. He laughed and I told him I was dead serious.

Why did he laugh? Is he an elderly doctor? Doctors don't require that patients get on the scale for visits in which weight is irrelevant. If you go on for sore throat or ankle sprain there is no reason for a weight check and if they ask, you can refuse. It's a well known fact that those stressful weight checks for no reason at all did more harm than good, they kept people from going into to see their physicians. They were afraid they would get the "diet talk". So, modern doctors stopped doing that...I don't know....about 20 years ago. They do it at the yearly physical and if weight is related to the visit and even then, they ask the patient if they want to discuss their weight. They don't just launch into "you need to lose weight". Rather if a patient says that she/he doesn't want to discuss it or even know how much they weigh; they just advise them to make an appointment if they change their mind. My friend is a physician and she says that 80% of the time, her patients with significant weight issues do make a follow up appointment to discuss it. They are relaxed, they don't feel pressured and it's a better discussion because they had time to think.

Re: Dieting without weighing

Kachina624 — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 22:48:55 GMT

I have for several years refused to get weighed, even when I go to the doctor. In April I had a doctor appointment and on a whim decided to get weighed. Much to my surprise, I discovered I'm down 55 lbs from my high point. As I've gotten older, I've found that my appetite and my yen for sweets and chocolate have decreased considerably. Needless to say, I'm pleased.

Re: Dieting without weighing

hyacinth003 — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 23:11:23 GMT

At one time, I had joined a group with others. Everyone recorded their weight.

I knew I was doing the same hard work, yet many people had much more weight loss than I did. Or their charts showed losses every week when mine possibly did not.

Way more than once it led me to utter discouragement and breaking the diet. You say to yourself "I starved myself and still I don't see the loss." My mind tells me that weight loss is not necessarily linear. You may lose 5 pounds one week and 1 pound (or none) the next. But I found it derailing me too many times. Then, of course, I would hate myself. And I am someone that had trouble with stopping at just one binge.

I have no number for goal weight in mind. I used to joke it would be when someone said you look too thin! The only actual numbers important to me now are blood pressure and A1C as I am diabetic. I just decided to take away the source of something that derailed me too many times.

Hyacinth

Re: Dieting without weighing

phoenixbrd — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:57:10 GMT

@KentuckyWoman @chrystaltree I love this;however, the doctor/Pa has always insisted that I weigh and tell me it is required when I express my desire not to be weighed at the doc's office. I am highly aware of my weight, as I weigh myself every morning first thing. I keep track of my BMI and body composition daily. I don't like being thrown off-track weighing in the afternoon in clothes at the doctor's. If it was critical, I would understand the need. thanks for sharing this information. I'll firmly but politely refuse in the future.

Re: Dieting without weighing

hckynut — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:22:40 GMT

@hyacinth003 wrote:
At one time, I had joined a group with others. Everyone recorded their weight.

I knew I was doing the same hard work, yet many people had much more weight loss than I did. Or their charts showed losses every week when mine possibly did not.

Way more than once it led me to utter discouragement and breaking the diet. You say to yourself "I starved myself and still I don't see the loss." My mind tells me that weight loss is not necessarily linear. You may lose 5 pounds one week and 1 pound (or none) the next. But I found it derailing me too many times. Then, of course, I would hate myself. And I am someone that had trouble with stopping at just one binge.

@I have no number for goal weight in mind. I used to @@joke it would be when someone said you look too thin! The only actual numbers important to me now are blood pressure and A1C as I am diabetic. I just decided to take away the source of something that derailed me too many times

Hyacinth

@hyacinth003,

It's good that you found a way to not beat yourself up by comparing your weight loss with others. Groups are good for some people, and poison for others. I have met many people over many decades, where it takes them several "trials and errors" to find out what is best for them.

I have never been a "group guy", mostly because I did not want to depend on others to be able to reach my goals. The only team(group) I have ever worked with was hockey, a team sport, that required others for practice.

Other than that, I chose running(by myself/auto racing, that I did by myself for myself, and speed skating, which again required just myself to train. Tennis and sports of that nature never interested me. I learned at a single digit age, you cannot depend on others, in any aspects of life, that from my wonderful mother.

Guess I have been party to way more people that went "south" with their plans because of their dependency on others.

I think you will know, without looking at scale numbers when you reach whatever it is you that gives you a goal. For me, always having a goal makes what I do, much more rewarding when I have achieved them.

I also have numbers I keep in the ranges that are best for my overall health, and my physical fitness. No one will ever see me ice skating, or any other type of exerting exercise, where I am not wearing my chest Heart Rate Monitor. I pay close attention to those numbers, before/during, and after these activities.

You got this!

hckynut(john)

Re: Dieting without weighing

fourpaws56 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:30:37 GMT

no scale for me either...I have worn the same size clothing for over 20 yrs, so thats all I need to know...

Re: Dieting without weighing

AuntG — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 01:28:43 GMT

The number I remember is what it says at my annual health assessment. It is mandatory where my DH works. If I think I might be losing weight, I'll step on the scale. Never more often than twice a month.

Re: Dieting without weighing

KentuckyWoman — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 01:49:55 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@KentuckyWoman @chrystaltree I love this;however, the doctor/Pa has always insisted that I weigh and tell me it is required when I express my desire not to be weighed at the doc's office. I am highly aware of my weight, as I weigh myself every morning first thing. I keep track of my BMI and body composition daily. I don't like being thrown off-track weighing in the afternoon in clothes at the doctor's. If it was critical, I would understand the need. thanks for sharing this information. I'll firmly but politely refuse in the future. BTW, I haven't been to a doctor in years since I gave up the linsinopril which kept me going to the emergency clinic years ago.

Alas, I am a slave to my bathroom scales as well. Hubby weighs once a week. I weigh daily usually about thirty minutes after I get up and before breakfast or coffee.

Re: Dieting without weighing

KentuckyWoman — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 01:57:59 GMT

@chrystaltree my doctor is younger than I am. He laughed because I was making a joke. I am weighed every single time I go to the office for anything. I think it is silly but those seem to be the rules for his practice. I know I can refuse to be weighed but for me it's no big deal.

Re: Dieting without weighing

Mj12 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:36:55 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:

Why did he laugh? Is he an elderly doctor? Doctors don't require that patients get on the scale for visits in which weight is irrelevant. If you go on for sore throat or ankle sprain there is no reason for a weight check and if they ask, you can refuse. It's a well known fact that those stressful weight checks for no reason at all did more harm than good, they kept people from going into to see their physicians. They were afraid they would get the "diet talk". So, modern doctors stopped doing that...I don't know....about 20 years ago. They do it at the yearly physical and if weight is related to the visit and even then, they ask the patient if they want to discuss their weight. They don't just launch into "you need to lose weight". Rather if a patient says that she/he doesn't want to discuss it or even know how much they weigh; they just advise them to make an appointment if they change their mind. My friend is a physician and she says that 80% of the time, her patients with significant weight issues do make a follow up appointment to discuss it. They are relaxed, they don't feel pressured and it's a better discussion because they had time to think.

Maybe for your doctor, certainly not true for all. Blanket statements aren't really a good idea.

Re: Dieting without weighing

hyacinth003 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 23:20:16 GMT

@fourpaws56 wrote:
no scale for me either...I have worn the same size clothing for over 20 yrs, so thats all I need to know...

@fourpaws56

That's great!

Hyacinth

Re: Dieting without weighing

hyacinth003 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 23:12:04 GMT

@KentuckyWoman wrote:

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@KentuckyWoman @chrystaltree I love this;however, the doctor/Pa has always insisted that I weigh and tell me it is required when I express my desire not to be weighed at the doc's office. I am highly aware of my weight, as I weigh myself every morning first thing. I keep track of my BMI and body composition daily. I don't like being thrown off-track weighing in the afternoon in clothes at the doctor's. If it was critical, I would understand the need. thanks for sharing this information. I'll firmly but politely refuse in the future. BTW, I haven't been to a doctor in years since I gave up the linsinopril which kept me going to the emergency clinic years ago.
Alas, I am a slave to my bathroom scales as well. Hubby weighs once a week. I weigh daily usually about thirty minutes after I get up and before breakfast or coffee.

I have a friend that does that. Unfortunately, it sets the tone for her mood that day.

If it makes your mood, I wouldn't do it.

Hyacinth