When You Hate Your Bathroom Scale

Quick quiz today.

True or False: What the bathroom scale tells you is a very good indicator as to whether or not your nutrition plan is working.

You’ll be happy to know that the above statement is FALSE. Your body composition, health status, and whether or not you’re eating habits are improving are NOT totally scale dependent.

The scale may offer a bit of guidance over time as to whether or not you’re making progress. However, it is definitely not the only measure of what’s truly happening with your body.   

Other ways to know if you’re on the right track with your nutritional habits.

• You aren’t hungry all the time. When you eat nutritionally packed foods with the right balance of fat, protein and carbohydrates for YOUR body, you feel satisfied after meals and for several hours after.
• You have more energy. Your old ways of eating left your energy levels bouncing around like a roller coaster. Now you feel your energy staying fairly consistent throughout the day.
• You’re sleeping better and feel more rested in the morning. When your blood sugar remains consistent due to eating fresh whole foods, your hormones are also more stable, and you get better rest.
• Your mood is improved. Now that you’re eating more regular meals and snacks and letting go of the junk food binges, you feel happier. No more “hangry” moments! You may even attract some new friends.
• You feel stronger and can manage challenging workouts. As your body gets the fuel it needs to perform, you’re able to increase your endurance and enjoy an easier recovery.
• Your clothes fit looser or tighter. You can zip those jeans from last year without having to lay on your bed and hold your breath. Or, the shirt that hung on you like a tent is now filled out with toned muscle in just the right places. You even look amazing in that big sweater. (True: Muscle weighs more than fat.)
• It has become your lifestyle and feels right for you. Unlike diets—which feel hard and restrictive—you’ve discovered how good you feel eating an abundance of delicious, nutritional foods.

Because our brains are wired for immediate satisfaction, it can be tough to stay the course over the long haul without some positive feedback. We’d much rather enjoy the chips NOW than think about the morning weigh-in, let alone extending our longevity.  

Having a variety of ways to “check in” will give you the motivation and gratification you need to keep you on your nutritional path. Even when you’d like to toss the scale out the back door.

Looking for someone to celebrate your success or encourage you through a challenge? I’m your girl! Email me and we’ll schedule a call to do just that.

Your biggest cheerleader,
Carol

“The bathroom scale knows nothing of extenuating circumstances.”—Mason Cooley