How to Overcome Your Frustration When the Scale Seems to Fail You

It's time to regain control to feel confident and strong

Introduction

When I first started monitoring my weight back in sixth grade, I was shocked by the numbers on the scale—a concern that stuck with me through college. But what if the scale isn’t the best measure of your health or progress? Let’s delve into why the scale might be misleading and explore better ways to track your fitness journey.

The Scale's Deception

"What’s measured is managed.”

or so the saying goes. This works well when keeping a budget or tracking your finances to prevent overspending. However, when it comes to weight, a more fitting statement might be:

"What’s measured is obsessed over."

Like many, my daily mood was once dictated by the morning scale readings. If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. Shockingly, 60% of elementary school girls are already conscious of their weight, indicating how early these concerns start.

The Enduring Pressure

This pressure doesn’t ease with age. During pregnancy, many women avoid exercising due to fear of harming the baby. Postpartum, the rush to 'bounce back' ignores the crucial recovery the body needs after childbirth. This cycle of weight obsession needs to stop, especially for new moms. It’s time to embrace a ‘strong mom era’, where workouts are about gaining strength and confidence, not just losing pounds.

Because you are powerful. You deserve to feel as amazing as the life you brought into this world.

The Truth About Body Weight

When I started on my fitness journey, the rising numbers on the scale scared me at first. But a photo from the gym revealed a different truth—I had achieved the "toned" look I’d always wanted, even though I weighed 30 pounds more. This was a result of body recomposition; losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time.

Muscle is denser and takes up less 15% less space than fat. Additionally you tend to gain muscle in "good" areas like your glutes, shoulders, and legs while you lose fat in "bad" areas like your stomach. This gives you the athletic and strong look that you've always wanted.

So what does this all mean? Let's sum it up:

Your ideal weight may not be your ideal body.

Why Scales Mislead

The scale can be misleading due to various factors that affect our daily weight:

💦 Water Retention: Changes in your water weight can be caused by poor sleep, late-night carbs, extra salt, stress, and your menstrual cycle.

🏋️‍♀️ External Factors: Weighing yourself at different times, dehydration from alcohol, heavy workouts, air travel, and weather changes can all distort what you see on the scale.

Remember, these changes are temporary and normal. If you still prefer using a scale, focus on long-term trends instead of daily fluctuations.

Alternative Ways to Measure Progress

Instead of focusing on your weight, you can focus on the following:

✅ How your clothes fit

✅ Strength gains, such as lifting heavier weights

✅ Increased endurance, like feeling less breathless when climbing stairs

✅ Higher energy levels

✅ Progress in photos

✅ Changes in body measurements (i.e. your biceps in inches)

For those who still want to use the scale

If you choose to keep the scale in your routine, here’s how to make it work better for you:

👉 Weigh yourself every 7-10 days instead of daily.

👉 Switch the metrics. For examples, weigh yourself in kilograms instead of pounds for less emotional impact.

👉 Combine these scale readings with the other progress indicators mentioned.

Building Confidence Off the Scale

It’s okay to struggle with body image; healing takes time, and there’s no rush. Improve your confidence by:

👗Wear clothes that make you feel awesome.

💪 Choose workouts you actually enjoy.

💇‍♀️ Choose a hairstyle that makes you feel great.

💅 Spend time on activities that make you feel put together.

☀️ Stay positive and spread good vibes.

⭐️ Keep clean. It’s amazing what a shower can do for our mental health

Remember, take time for YOU. You can’t pour from an empty cup 💕

In summary

You are so much more than a number on a scale. Remember, it’s important to look at the big picture of your health, not just how much you weigh. Focus on how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how much stronger you’re getting. These are real signs of your progress. If you still want to use the scale, that's fine, but don’t let it be the only way you measure success. Enjoy the journey, celebrate every little victory, and keep pushing forward! And remember:

Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself. So go live that life you imagined. And leave that scale behind 💕

Sources:

1. Smolak, Linda. "Body Image in Children: Where do we go from here?" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18089138/