Is weighing yourself by stepping on the bathroom scale part of your everyday morning routine? How about during post-workouts? Before going to bed? All of the above?
Holly Lebowitz Rossi from Prevention.com lists down 7 things that could possibly happen after you say bye-bye to the bathroom scale.
Your other senses will heighten
People who refuse to measure their weight as often as possible,"become more internally directed," says Marsha Hudnall, president and co-owner of Green Mountain at Fox Run, a women's retreat center in Ludlow, VT, that offers weight loss programs that are not based on traditional dieting.
Because people feel pressured when they see the numbers on the scale rising, they tend to do practices that is not necessarily helpful for their goals."They make choices based on what they're feeling like," Hudnall says, "It's not about achieving a specific goal."
"Scales create an artificial sense of confidence, and they can also crush it," says Jennie, 47, who stopped weighing herself in her 20s after years spent "in a constant worry" about her weight. Her advice on maintaining her weight without weighing in, involves self discipline and personal rules on dieting and exercising regularly.
She began to learn the hunger cues her body signals her and say no to cravings and mindless eating. According to her, since she stopped using the bathroom scale, she began to appreciate and accept herself.
"I know there are people who truly struggle with their weight, but most women I know are constantly battling the same five, ten, or fifteen pounds, losing five and eventually gaining back ten," she says, "Those pounds don't matter. Most people don't even notice them. The most attractive quality in a person-male or female-is confidence."
You'll feel freed of a burden
For a lot of people losing weight, dieting and exercising is a form of punishment. Imagine the what more if you see the numbers rise up or fall down and generally fluctuate on the scale?
The bad thing is, women most commonly, really think that those numbers signify the progress they make-well in fact it really doesn't. If they see they gain a couple of pounds the next day after losing some yesterday, their motivation is ruined, worse, they will end up with emotional eating. Mind you, scrience says it's actually a thing.
"You might find it takes the pressure off, and it's a kind of relief-you can focus on the good things you're doing, and forget about that number," says Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
You'll define your health by different sets of numbers
In case you are still missing it, the numbers on that freakin' scale does not completely measure your weight loss, your progress and your success in sticking to your goals-in a short period of time at least.
Experts advise those who want to lose weight-or be healthier in general, that instead of watching the weighing scale, monitor other basis of how healthy you are; your BMI, blood pressure cholesterol levels among others. Hudnall says these factors are far more indicative of overall health than the numbers on the scale. These numbers also signify greater deals on your health, in fact, as "you can see dramatic, long-lasting changes in those numbers," you see long term changers in your physicality and general health.
You'll define your health by different sets of numbers
In case you are still missing it, the numbers on that freakin' scale does not completely measure your weight loss, your progress and your success in sticking to your goals-in a short period of time at least.
Experts advise those who want to lose weight-or be healthier in general, that instead of watching the weighing scale, monitor other basis of how healthy you are; your BMI, blood pressure cholesterol levels among others. Hudnall says these factors are far more indicative of overall health than the numbers on the scale. These numbers also signify greater deals on your health, in fact, as "you can see dramatic, long-lasting changes in those numbers," you see long term changers in your physicality and general health.
You'll need to watch out for withdrawal
Because no one can really drop off habits in a snap, Hudnall suggests approaching the "withdrawal period as a phase to pass through on your way to freedom from the restrictiveness of self-weighing." Slowly forget weigh yourself when you wake up and before going to bed, then skip doing it in a month and so on. The time will come that you will find your scale collecting dust instead.
You may gain weight
According to a study by researchers from the Cornell University, daily weigh ins, especially for men, were the most effective predictors of who would lose and keep off weight over time.
Through their study, the researchers concluded that the everyday checkinh of your weight reinforces a positive behavior and motivation for people, and inspires them to continue the "good work".
"We think the scale also acts as a priming mechanism, making you conscious of food and enabling you to make choices that are consistent with your weight," says David Levitsky, a nutrition and psychology professor and the paper's senior author.
You might like your body more
Weight and overall body image have a lot of things to contribute to a person's self-esteem and confidence. Aside from that, adolescents and young individuals are also at risk of eating disorders depending on how they view themselves.
In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota, 80% of 1,800 from the teenage-young adult age group who said they regularly self-weigh reported dangerous weight-control behaviors. Because of the anxiety and pressure they feel from the numbers on the scale, they are skipping meals, using food substitutes, smoking more cigarettes, or more extreme behaviors like using laxatives or diuretics, or vomiting after eating. "If you find you already place undue attention on your weight and body's appearance, frequent self-weighing may not be the best strategy for you to control your weight," Carly Pacanowski, the senior researcher said, "Discussing your concerns with a registered dietitian or other health professional is a good idea so that they can help you find a way to manage your health," she added.
You might decide you made a mistake
At the end of the day, it will still boil down to you. ""For some, the scale can be very motivating, something that helps keep them on track," says Zeratsky.
Some people might find the pressure the scale puts on them really helpful and motivating, while others might find it depressing and the opposite of encouraging.
Amy, 45, who tried to stop everyday steps on the weighing scale said it didn't work out, "Over the past several months I've stopped weighing myself daily-or even weekly-for the first time in 20 years," she says. "But it's not working for me. I'm the kind of person who eats fairly healthy but then goes on a sweets or treats binge. I need the daily check-in so I can get a handle on things before the 'cheating' gets too out of hand."