Me, My Scale, and I

I hate the scale.  Hate it.  I think that scales often do more damage than good to the self-esteem of a person trying to loose weight.  And yeah, it’s an amazing feeling when you step onto one and it shows you a number that (society) you think is good.  But, I have found in my life time how, for me anyway, it’s been so counter productive…and misleading.

For example…I can go to any dieting site and give them my height (5’6) and tell them my weight and it will tell me I am obese. Yes, ladies and gents…OBESE.  Because a scale for a person of my height should read no more than, get this, 130-140 Max. Here’s the thing…I haven’t weighed 130 since I was teenager and as a teenager I was very thin, skin and bones.  With many bones sticking out of my chest, my hips, and at one point, my face.  But anywhere I went I was told I was overweight.

Me, at 17 and 127-130lbs. Also, the only reason I am posing this way was because my mother, who I know wouldn't judge me, took this picture. I was never as confident as I look in this picture at that age. I thought I was so FAT because that's what my dad always told me.

So today, I finally weighed myself.  It’s been exactly 3 weeks since I started this venture and I knew that as much as I hated it, I also wanted to let you all know, what, if anything, had changed.  When I started I was 233lbs..looks like such a huge number…but I think I “wear” those pounds better than some…today the scale told me I weighed 228.  So, I have lost 5lbs. 5lbs in 3 weeks.  Not bad…especially with my having slacked off a couple of times here and there (I don’t recommend this too often especially in such a short span).

Now, for me, I can say I am happy that all my hard work is paying off.  My jeans are feeling a little looser…but the biggest change is my energy and my running has improved.  I don’t look very different, except that my skin is softer and glows more.  Granted, I am not running any marathons any time soon, probably never…and chances are that the time for the 4 mile run this coming Sunday at Central Park will take me more than an hour…but at least I am doing it, having fun, and feeling great about it.

So here’s the skinny: don’t let the scale control you.  Use it to measure how well you’ve done (or how much more you need to do), but don’t let it take away from the sense of accomplishment and pride in the hard work you are putting in towards your journey towards health.  Take it from a labeled “obese” woman, who isn’t that at all, the scale is not the final say in your progress and success.