Weight and Scale Slavery!!!

[LiLiSwen]

From the day we are born,  the scales that measure how much we weigh become our slave masters.

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with the numbers on the scale. I remember the pink scale in my mother's bathroom that you had to dial in to make sure it started at zero. How many times did I dial that the opposite direction, just so it would show a lower number when I weighed myself. Give me a break! Who did I think I was fooling?

Then there was the scale at the doctor's office. I would try and remove every bit of clothing possible, just hoping that I wouldn't be totally humiliated when the nurse wrote down that 3 digit number. Unfortunately, that didn't help.

 Then came the digital scale that you couldn't fudge on. No matter how hard I tried to hold my breath or lean to one side, I just couldn't get that number to change. Then to make matters worse, they came out with the digital scale that also measures your body fat. Great! It wasn't bad enough that the numbers were blaring at me in red, but I also got to see this percentage number that confirmed that I was not where I should be.

Being a member of Weight Watchers, I have had to weigh in on a weekly basis for many years. This is just part of the deal and something you do. So often I have asked people "How are you?" in a meeting and the reply is, "Ask me after I weigh in". It's amazing that we allow a small electronic device to have that much power over us.

I'm not saying that I'm perfect at this, but over the years I have found ways to loosen the reign of terror the scale has had over me. The following are just a few of the things I do to measure my success.

1. I graph my weight. Even when the numbers on the scale don't go down, I can look at the progress I have made. Having a visual really puts it in perspective.

2. Sometimes the scale just won't budge, but I reflect on the previous week and focus on the positives. I drank my water everyday, I exercised, I journal what I ate, or maybe it's as simple as I showed up to weigh in even though I didn't want to.

3. I take my measurements periodically. Again, this gives me a good indication that something is working.

4. Acceptance. This one is pretty tricky and has taken many years to achieve. I know I will never be 5'10'' with long legs and a long torso. I am 5'5'' , short waisted and no matter how much weight I lose or how hard I exercie, that will never change. But that's okay and I have vowed to work towards the best "ME" I can be.

Tomorrow is another weigh in day for me. I have done everything this week the way I'm supposed to. I've journaled everything that I have eaten, I have exercised every day, I have consumed the correct amount of water and I have made good choices all week. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see a weight loss tomorrow, but I will be happy no matter what number shows, because I know that I was successful this week and I refuse to be a slave to the scale anymore!