Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Number on the Scale

Last night on the Biggest Loser, the number on the scale was discussed a few times. One contestant had only lost 2 pounds at home during her 30 days and she made the excuse that she felt stronger and lost inches. The trainers were not buying that excuse. The numbers don't lie, they said. Later in the show when another contestant lost 0 for the week, they again stated: the numbers don't lie. This contestants excuse was working out harder and with more intensity.

During the losing mode, the numbers definitely are important. You work hard, you eat right, you lose weight. Don't exercise, eat mindlessly, eat don't lose weight!

Now, that I'm into the maintaining mode, the numbers are still somewhat important, but it is all the extra intangibles such as gaining muscle, losing inches, etc. that need to enter the equation.

The numbers don't lie...another reason I dug that scale out and will continue to monitor myself daily.

8 comments:

Paul said...

The number on the scale is a factor, but it doesn't necessarily tell the whole story, either. Nonetheless, it can be a useful tool.

Lost Half of Me said...

I agree that the number doesn't lie! While some people don't recommend weighing every day, I have found it is a useful too to help me not only while I was losing weight, but also now that I am just maintaining my loss. Years ago I lost weight and ultimately gained it back because due to life's tragedies, I was put into a situation where I couldn't keep a close and mindful eye of that "number". For me, when I didn't use that tool, it was easier to be in denial about having to buy bigger clothes, etc. Now I know I will always be a regularly scale junkie..and that's okay. For me, it is a NEEDED tool to help me focus on staying where I need to be.

new*me said...

I have had weeks through the process that i was eating exactly what I was eating when I was losing 3 lbs a week and exercising as much or more and didn't lose. I think as we age, especially for women........there is more at play.....hormone levels etc.

For me, not gaining is important too but I sure would like to continue seeing a good loss each week.

noelle said...

I gained most of my weight as a newlywed when we didn't have a scale. I didn't know what the number was so I didn't face it.

During my losing time with WW I did learn about my emotional eating, my mindless eating, my bingeing, my lack of activity. Like you, now that I am at goal, the number is important, but so it living this new way. Making better food choices, recognizing a possible pitfall and not falling in...or jumping back on the wagon right away and not letting it go a weekend, or a whole week or a month.

Matt Keeling said...

It is certainly an interesting discussion. I feel like for me personally the number on the scale does not lie. Sometimes I lie to myself and tell myself that I do not deserve a gain, but ultimately I generally know that I have made mistakes. On the trip back down sometimes it will take a little longer to reflect on the scale but in the end. The scale is a pretty fair reflection of where you are at in the journey.

Anonymous said...

FYI your post is up at mizfit on 2.12!

Ron said...

My scale lies every morning!!! I know I lost more than it says LOL
Those numbers definately help me figure out how I am doing!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, as you know, I think the scale is the least effective measure of fitness or even of real weight. Body fat analysis is better...

Still, my scale has gone up in the last weeks and it's freakin me out. I'm sure part of it is muscle which is OK.. but also sure that part of it fat and poor eating. And that part must be dealt with.