Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Number on the Scale is JUST A NUMBER.

weight in pounds is just a number, number on the scale

Yesterday I had my annual you know what visit, but of course before any matters can be handled they direct you to the scale. Wellllll, life's been a vacation these past 4 weeks and I haven't exactly been in the front row of any group fitness classes so I basically cut the scale an evil eye and almost questioned the need of scribbling my weight into the chart.

I mean, it's just a number...

I've wondered while sipping on a delicious, cold, refreshing Strawberrita if I was gaining any weight. I thought for sure, that certainly, I had gained a pound or two when I caught an unflattering picture of myself at the beach this past weekend. And I was positive that my bikini bottoms were on backwards one of these past pool days. Then I just laugh at myself. It is what it is. This bum is not quite the toned tush I had last summer.

It's evident that not consistently working out, not logging 30+ miles of running each month will effect your appearance and even your mood. But sometimes the trade off seems worth it. I've definitely chosen to spend my time a bit differently over the last four weeks due to the bittersweetness of our move. Relocating to a new duty station brings a whirl of emotions for any soldier, military spouse, and of course children. So to say that I'd rather be at a summer evening cookout than a 5:30 step and body pump class is an understatement.

Back at the doctors office, I stepped on the scale and literally exhaled every last ounce of air. Some time ago, I once laughed at an article stating, "exhaling will lower the number on the scale" yet I was doing it the moment my foot landed on the scale.

In my mind I pictured the digits I've maintained over the last year but in front of me, the flashing LED screen was threatening a new number. Memories of BBQ in heaping amounts, second helpings of donuts for breakfast (breakfast ?? really, Kristine?) and the Dorito salad for dinner (<---- that is devilishly good!)
... I almost laughed to myself for holding any hope of maintaining my weight.

The mirror and our clothes should really be the markers for our image. The number on the scale resembles something but not much. We all know muscle weighs more than fat, we all know that each of our bodies distribute the same amount of weight differently, you might even know the golden rule of 100 pounds for 5 foot women plus 5 pounds for each inch after 5 foot... but really, there is so much more than that number between our feet.

So much more.

The screen settled into a 3 digit number. No higher than it's been over the last year. According to the scale nothing had change. The lady scribbled the digits into my chart and mentioned that it was the same as last year's visits and pointed me to the chair for a blood pressure reading.

Now.I.Could.Really.Exhale.

All that worry over nothing. Well, nothing according to the scale.

If we put too much value on the scale's story we may be fooling ourselves. The scale does lie.
The scale wasn't showing my everyday a Saturday style as of lately. And it definitely wasn't reflecting my lack of hard work in the gym. So this being the case.... why should we weigh that number so heavily during other times when we ARE working hard on our fitness and physical improvements???

Get where I'm going with this?
a little screw the scale attitude

We should always be honest with ourselves regarding our own activities and commitments. Know our weakest links. Set goals custom to our own needs and desires. And, just be all the way strong creating our own little paths within healthy and fit living. Never doubting what is beautiful and beyond measures of a scale.
Because really, a number is just a number. Nothing more and nothing less.

Agree?


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...happy to have Jordyn with me this month...



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30 comments:

Sybil@PeaceitallTogether said...

I really love what you have said here! I have struggled with that number on the scale many times...so much so, that for years I didn't even own a scale. It was just too tempting to be obsessed with the number. I have learned that its much more about how my body feels than it is about that number. Because, you're right, there are times when the number doesn't tell the whole story.

Anonymous said...

I too am choosing to spend time differently than I did this time last year and the number on the scale definitely reacted!

I agree that it's a number shouldn't be tied to self worth etc, but for me, seeing that number go down is motivational when I'm not seeing results in the mirror yet.

I don't know if that makes sense, but in my head it does :)

P!nky said...

Great post, it's so true!

Lara said...

I have to remember that it is just a number. I always weigh more than I look. I still want to see that number drop.

Amanda aka Manda said...

Love this post! Needed to read this today, especially since my habits haven't been the best this last month or so too.

Fairy Princess Jord said...

Thanks for this post, it is totally inspiring! I get discouraged when I log so many miles running and hours at the gym only to find that I don't loose any weight, I feel better and more confident (what should really matter) but I always want the reassurance of the scale. It is so important to look in the mirror and be happy regardless of what the scale says.

xxoo,
Jordyn

Kayla Peveler said...

Beautifully said, girlfriend. I love it!! You are always so motivating. :)

Kalyn P said...

I agree 100%! As long as you are happy, then the number shouldn't matter. I used to check my weight every day and would constantly be disappointed, now I rarely look at it (ok maybe once a week) but I measure my success by how I feel that week and how my pants are fittin just a liiiittle looser.

Unknown said...

Love this post and love you! I would much rather go by how I feel than the scale! Thank you for being real and keeping it real! You are gorgeous inside and out! :)

Cari said...

As someone who steps on a scale out of simple curiosity, and rarely vary from the same (very healthy) 5 lb range in the past 7 years, regardless of my fitness level, I've never really put much stock in what the scale says. Like you say, its so much more about what your mind, body, and soul need, not about what you want the scale to say. Putting too much focus on those numbers only takes away from what really matters.

Fran @ Sassy Southern Bride said...

This is a great post and I really enjoyed reading it. I agree, there are times when other things take priority and the number on the scale just isn't as important. :-)

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

I know it's not the take away message I'm supposed to take from this post but the first thing that popped into my head is how lucky you are that you didn't gain and I wish I could be so lucky to come back from vacation without gaining. Sigh. Which I Imagine is part of why you wrote the post. We place so much importance on that number letting it define how we feel about ourselves. Some day I'd love to get to the point where it doesn't matter to me at all but I'm just not there yet. Hope you are getting closer.

Helene in Between said...

it is just a number but it still bothers me everytime it goes up. lately i have been working on strength and i feel nervous since it seems harder to lose lately. but you are right, it is just a number and it's more about the way you look and feel!

Jackie said...

Good for you! Growing up, I was too obsessed with the number on the scale so I now only really step on the scale at appointments. I now use measuring tape to keep myself accountable! :)

Erin LFF said...

It's just a number and I know I shouldn't obsess over it, but I do =\ My clothes don't fit though either, so I know I DO need to see that number go down a lil bit. Just need to take care of this body better, we only get one!! :)

Beth Boone said...

It is so hard not to pay attention to that scale. I have one in my bathroom that I step on almost daily. Bad, Bad Beth!!! I know I shouldn't do it but it's almost my way of keeping myself in check. Not a good way of doing so I know.

Emily Stewart said...

Definitely needed to hear this today and it's crazy how much my thoughts are similar to what you wrote. Yes, the number on the scale is just a number and it's such a pesky little thing so I need to learn not to obsess over it. Thanks for sharing! :)

Unknown said...

I've been struggling with this lately so this post comes at a good time. I'm having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I gained some weight while injured, but I'm glad I got healthy and am getting back into my healthy habits now so I'm getting back on the right path. :)

Katherine said...

This is such a great post, Kristine!

Don't be too hard on yourself- you're a workin' mamma with her hands full!

http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Amen, amen, amen, amen.
Best post I've read in a long time girl.
Thank you for sharing.

Megan said...

I hear ya! I have had a love/hate relationship with the scale over the past year. When I started doing a low-carb diet and working a job where I was on my feet constantly, I was dropping a pound or two every week for 5 months. The scale was my friend because I was never usually disappointed.... until I started working in an office where I sit all.day.long. Then the scale didn't budge. I started working out more to make up for my lack of movement in the office but then the number on the scale started going up. Finally, I gave up on weighing myself. I decided it's more about how my clothes fit than that number. And as long as I work out consistently and eat low-carb, life should be good, right?

Life of Whimsy said...

I just found your blog and I LOVE this post. I'm on my own journey to get fit and am staying away from the scale for a while, just because I know that number is not indicative of how hard I'm working! Always excited to meet a fellow military wife! Looking foward to reading more of your stuff! :)

Jessa @ Life of A Sports Wife said...

I absolutely LOVE this post. I am obsessed with the scale, and I always check it. My hubs often hids the scale from me so I dont' stress about it. I don't know why but I do. :)

Wendy Jeanine said...

I love this post! Would you link up with us sometime at Motivation Monday?

http://www.dailydoseofdelsignore.com/2013/07/motivation-monday-11.html#.Ue2T4o0skYk

FitTravelerAJ said...

I have never really been too obsessed with my number. Its more about how I look and feel, and how clothes fit me. I check my weight from time to time, but I have been feeling awesome about my body lately so I don't want to get down on myself for being up a few pounds or whatever. Focusing on the positives!

-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com

Kelly said...

I hate that evil scale sometimes, but glad to hear you were relieved! I think I literally gained 5 lbs. after our 1-week vacation at the beginning of the month, oye! I do agree that it's just a number though and sometimes you just have to indulge a little bit.

Janna Renee said...

I actually weigh less than I usually do after not working out for a week, but I'm MAD about it! I'm losing all my muscle and I hate it! Obviously the number on the scale doesn't matter to me!

gayle said...

AWESOME post, Kristine, and I mean REALLY REALLY REALLY awesome!!! You are so right. People can be so focused on the scale, when in all honesty, many times we weigh MORE when we are fit because our muscle tone is so much better. Not always, but sometimes. Yes, body weight is a factor to consider, but we also should not be so fixated that it rules our life and discourages us.

Fantastic reminder to let go of the numbers a little, and focus on our health...and that includes a healthy balance in life! :)

xoxo,
gayle | grace for gayle
I'm a #Previvor

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