Apparently, after reading up on this a bit, I'm officially a 'Scale Whore'. I get on the scale every morning...always have...skinny, fat, dieting, not...It doesn't matter, it's part of my morning ritual. I'm not obsessed with it, and I get that your weight fluctuates, but I find it to be motivational, both losing and gaining.

I don't get all the posts about only weighing yourself once a week.

There are even whole 'movements' to throw out your scale completely (not on any WLS site I'm sure)...but that's like saying 'I give up'...or at least it's like throwing away all your mirrors (Oh, the horror!!!)!! It's like finances...if you aren't watching, if you're not paying attention, things can get away from you quickly.

There are even whole groups online who pledge to each other to only weigh once a week like it’s an addiction and you need a 12 step program…Hello, I’m BG, and I’m a Scale Whore. I'm really not making fun; whatever works for you is what you should do...absolutely. I'm just saying I don't get it. Is it really a big deal…it must be for some, but I don’t get how? Why do I need to wait a week to tell me if my week of binging made me gain two pounds or 10 (yea, I get it doesn't always show up right away)? Why do I need to wait a week to tell me if my extreme workouts are helping me to lose or gain (because I'm putting on muscle)?

To me it's like that smile you give yourself in the mirror every morning after brushing. You’re just checking your teeth after you brush them. Does this one day of brushing really change your overall dental health, nope. Does it change anything big to look at that smile every day, nope. But it reassures you to see that smile every day...and if your gums are bleeding today, maybe you'll brush longer tomorrow.

BG-- I don't think that weighing DAILY makes you a you a scale whore because if you are then I am. I have heard of people weighing after going to the bathroom, after each meal, everytime they pass the bathroom. That just takes it to a another level. I do it daily for motivation. What did I do right? What should I do different?

You keep weighing every day.....you are in good company!

I am a Scare Whore!! Maybe I should change my name to that. hehe

I like to get on then off, then get right back on cuz usually it's different. I'll do that 3 times and take the better of the three. I actually bought a $40 scale an hour ago, maybe it won't fluctuate--that will take all the fun out of getting on and off, but for my simple amusement I will certainly try.

OK, you two are now officially enrolled with me in SWA (Scale Whores Anonymous)...and Spud...you need to come to double meetings for awhile.

OK, I too am guilty...i get on the scale every morning!! I like looking at the #, and if it isnt what I would like to see, I try harder for tomorrow!! sign me up....your newest member. Patti looking forward to tomorrow's weigh in

Wow, I am so glad to read these posts, lol.

When I first starting working on getting my surgery done, I refused to get on the scale. I think I even threw mine away cause I can't find it now and will have to buy another one. I thought that by not getting on the scale, I could hold myself accountable by keeping my eating in check and weighing in at the Bariatric center.

My surgery date is March 30th, but I've been slipping recently and haven't been keeping to my diet program. So, I've decided to buy a scale and get back on track monitoring my progress. I definitely do not want to get to my surgery date and not be able to get my band .

Sign me up for SHA, please! I'm so bad, I use a wipe off marker to keep track of my daily weigh-in on the bathroom mirror.

"Hmm! I weighed 245 yesterday! What did I eat that made me gain a whole pound! Ack! Okay, meal replacement shakes for breakfast and lunch! Must lose! Must lose!"

I guess i need to be signed up too! It's part of my morning routine. I think it's whatever works best for you. I don't fret over it when the scale says I'm up a little, I understand fluctuations, but I definitely know the first day a pound comes off!

I admit it, I'm a scale whore too. I try and stay off so I don't affect my emotions, but I just can't. I have to jump on the scale. I've done it all my life. Then I go input my weight on my excel spreadsheet that I've kept updated since 1999. I have my weight for the past 9 years on a pretty much daily basis. Yep, I think that qualifies me for a scale whore.

OK, first meeting agenda of SWA (sorry I typo'd sha earlier) is set:

1. Spud- OCD AND YOUR SCALE

How to compute the median after jumping on, off, on, off, on, off, on, off, on, off. We'll play musical scales* (no not with instruments), so wear comfortable clothing.

2. Lena (voice)- ARTS & CRAFTS WEIGHT LOSS

Interesting places/ways to track your progress until you have time to enter it into the computer. Lena requests that you please bring an old tube of lipstick.

3. Sunshine- EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GRAPH IT

Computer tracking, graphing, pie chart, bar graphs and spreadsheets. Sunshine will be giving a Powerpoint presentation covering the past 9 years entitled "Weigh to Go!"

*BYOS (Bring your own scale...that means you need to get one fast MusicFMH).

The rest of us have a lot to learn...glad I'm in such good company!!

Okay, I am one of those scale-banishing-radicals! Yes, I threw away my scale because I don't need a scale to tell me what I need to know. I only weight once a month...when I go to my doctor for my fill/checkup thingy. And when, I get to the point to where they only see me once every three months, then I may not weight until then either!

My radical thinking is this:

I didn't have to rely on a scale to let me know when I was out of control. I knew other ways. I knew by my crazy eating and every tightening clothing, and feelings of doom. And...I don't have to rely on the scale to let me know when I'm doing what I should be doing. I can tell from my clothes that become baggier and baggier, and from my mind set, which goes from hopeless and food obsessed, and from watching my belly shrink, (I know that it's a matter of time till I can see my TOES!)

I know weight fluctuates every day because I grew up in a family that "made" me weigh in on a very regular basis. (yes, we had an authentic set of medical scales, just like you find in the doctor's office)

But, whatever works for you; go for it! For me, it's a vicious catch 22. If I weigh and I've gained, then I have an "Oh what the hell, I've already gained, so let's eat" attitude. If I weigh and I lose, then I have a "What the hell!? I'm doing so good, let's reward with food and eat" attitude.

The 5th happiest day of my life was when I got rid of my scales.

Just in case you're curious...

Happy days 1 -4 are as follows:

4. Divorcing my ex husband.

3.Marrying my current husband.

2.Getting "banded."

1. The birth of my children.

I have to admit it too - I'm a "Scale Whore" as well. I'm husband thinks I'm crazy. But I check my weight several times a day. Almost anytime I'm in the bathroom I check it. I have even gone as far to weigh my clothes before a fill to make sure I have the lightest ones on...

Wendy...you radical scale tosser you...LOL! I have body dismorphic disorder...only in the opposite way...I usually don't see myself as bad as it really is (that's what happens when you run from the camera). I get that I hate the way I look, but I'm always surprised when I see photos; why is that? I also usually think I'm doing a better job dieting than I really am. I need the blunt truth of the scale...unfortunately, it never lies.

A doctors scale at home --- I get the pleasure in throwing out the scale!

You're doing great girl! So with or without it's working for you!

I love the agenda. BG you are SO FUNNY!!!!

I too graph. I have 3 different excel spreadsheets. I LOVE them!!! I just can't get enough! I think that SWA may need their own forum!

Oh, We need to have our meetings early in the morning after we have gone to the bathroom and before we shower. It goes without saying that we will wear the SAME clothes too because we don't don't want that to influence the scale!!! I weigh on the Wii so I am in the living room....to keep my kids out of intense therapy I don't weigh myself naked. (But I do wear the same cloths every day!)

I too graph. I have 3 different excel spreadsheets. I LOVE them!!! I just can't get enough! I think that SWA may need their own forum!

Holy Cow! 3 different ones...how many ways can you count the same weight? I obviously have so much to learn. I love spreadsheets of any kind, so this will be right up my alley.

I think there's a "12 step programs" section in the Forums we might fit into The problem is...I don't want to be cured. I *Heart* my scale. -BG

I have one that I keep track of my weight and then what I would weigh if I lost 2 lbs a week and 3 lbs a week. Then that graphs. I also keep track of when I 10%, 20%, 30% etc.... and what that weight is or will be and the date I reach it. I also keep track of what I weigh each month on my bandiversary and how much I have lost each month.

Whew! I think that I might need to make it to the OCD portion of the meeting!

ROTFLMAO! Thanks, BG. Actually, for a crafts project, I was thinking of a yardstick incorporated into a kitschy chair rail so you could take a picture of the inches sliding off you. Bring your own yardstick, but I've got all the acrylic paints anyone could need. LOL!

a yardstick incorporated into a kitschy chair rail so you could take a picture of the inches sliding off you.

Oooo...Perfect! Hey, I guess if we're having (multiple) weigh-ins at these meetings, how much more embarrassing could measurements be...and oh so motivating! Love it!

And JA...I want those spreadsheets. I was reminded reading your projections...once when I was on WW (before computers...well, they used stacks of punch cards at that point) I wrote my projected weight (going down) on my calendar for the whole year (no, I didn't make it a year).

Okay girls. I am calling an emergency meeting of the SWA. I am needing some encouragement. I am 7 hours from home until Friday. Do you know what that means?

NO SCALE! I even thought about packing one, but I use the Wii....kinda hard to pack. Especially with the kids on spring break.

I have not gone more than 5 days total and never two days in a row without weighing in since my surgery in October. I am SCARED TO DEATH that I am going to gain! This trip and thee I have in APril are the two trips that have derailed my weight loss in the past. I have done really well today, but I am eating out for almost every meal. I say that because I packed chicken salad and cottage cheese and I am keeping it iced in my room so in case I am having problems I have something handy.

HELP!!!!!!!

Okay Julie, you're not totally without a fix. A hotel I stayed at in Houston actually had bathroom scales available via the concierge desk. It never hurts to ask. If necessary, scoot out to the local store and buy a cheap one to keep in the hotel. You can leave it with the concierge for the next scale whore who needs one. (grin)

The next part depends on location and type of hotel. Most hotel restaurants are used to a few "bizaare" requests, like bringing a child's menu for an adult, or letting said adult order from just the appetizer menu. You won't be the first bandster to travel there, unless you're going to Outer Mongolia. The hotel I'm going to in Orlando in April has already reassured me they'll have a mini-refrigerator waiting in my room for my shakes and special foods. (Call ahead and reserve one, especially if you're going to a convention.) I have a roomie on insulin for the Romantic Times Convention, so the fridge is doubly necessary.

Also, I've already bought and packed a couple boxes of Crystal Light On the Go. I'm driving down, so I'm taking a case or two of my own water rather than pay for the high-priced bottled water available in the hotel shop. However, when in Houston I bought the darn water at the same price I would have paid for my usual double-chocolate latte. I ground my teeth to keep from ordering the coffee, and whimpered all the way out the door. The probably thought I was insane, but I made it out alive! LOL!

My biggest problem at conventions are the "special parties" thrown for convention-goers. Chocolate and pastries are prevalent, but I managed to put a bug in a few ears well in advance that "healthier choices" like crudites for the vegetarians and low-carb items might be wise. I joined up with the diabetics and vegetarians I knew to come up with alternate ideas to give to the grateful party planners. Hopefully, there will be something better.

Speaking of my vegan and diabetic friends, I deliberately sought out those folks like myself with special dietary needs. There will be a large table of us at the convention, sharing out the food. The one vegan was pitifully grateful to find out she doesn't have to starve by herself. The three bandsters and two diabetics I found (and I) have all promised to give her our vegetable side dishes from our restaurant meals if she polices us away from the carbs. "Fair dinkum!" as the Australian diabetic emailed me. LOL!

A little bit of advance planning helps a great deal! Good luck!

SWA to the rescue...poor Julie Ann! We really do need members in every city! WOW, that's some great pre-planning Lena!!!! I was going to say ask at the desk (some of the higher priced rooms may have scales), and I'm sure you already thought to see if the hotel has an exercise room (if anyone else you're with is staying/convention'ing' at a different hotel you can check there too). If you're REALLY desperate every hotel has the name of a local doctor to give sick travelers...I'm sure if you call ahead they'll let you walk in a check your weight...they might think your crazy, but just flash them your SWA card.

You can do this! Making good food choices is second nature to you now (remember your rules) and if the menu is already pre-set, ask each day what is for dinner, if you can't eat it fill up on your supplies you brought before dinner then just have something to drink at dinnertime and make an excuse for pushing your food around your plate...I'm not much help am I...sorry, newbie here. Hang in there JA! And Lena's pre-planning ideas will help with your next trips. -BG

(Taking a bow) Off to do what they pay me for! BBASAP!