scale or no scale

[rrrsmom 1]

I don't own a scale. I've always thought they were evil. I mean, every time anyone gets on one they cry right? Well, maybe not anymore. Do you think I should buy a scale?

[Alexandra 55]

I like having a scale. Even through the worst times it was important to me to know the real number--sort of "know your enemy" thinking, I guess.

Now it's going to be "know my friend" time! But seriously, without a scale at all you're missing an extremely important tool in the control of your weight. From here on out YOU'RE in control, and the scale provides the information you need to help you stay that way.

[tangerine 44]

Don't have one, won't get one! I weigh every month at the doctor's office and that's good enough for me.

I do take my measurements at home though, so I have an idea of if I'm losing weight or not.

[Alexandra 55]

Hey Alexis! Finally a difference of opinion...I guess we're really *not* the same person!

[jerryg 3]

scales can provide motivation, they also can cause depression. I've always tried to use mine for motivation even if I don't see the results I expect. although I am not overeating and am exercising I have been on a plateau for about 3 weeks. Every week I get on the scale and expect to see a loss. I will admit that my first reaction is depression, however I quickly change that into motivation in the form of what can I do this week differently. I kind of like the idea of weighing in once a month, but for me a plateau after 4 weeks could cause me to be depressed, since I think it would be difficult to wait another 4 weeks. I know my doctors scale is weighing me at about 4 lbs higher than my home scale. When I went for my consultation his scale couldn't weigh me so I used my numbers from my scale. Now that he has a good scale he wants to use his numbers.

[leo 4]

Before being banded the scale was my worse enemy. After going on a diet and loosing like 30lbs, I would plateau. So I would eat a little more, and a little more and after a while I would forget about the diet. I would end up gaining back the 30lbs and some more.

Now after being banded, I am not afraid of my scale anymore. I have one of those scales that also measure your fat content.

[shellyj 5]

as soon as i am banded that will be a priority is getting a scale. i would like to know if i am plateuing so i can watch what i eat more or exercise more. i think it will keep me in check! i will try to only weigh once a week.

Leo- i just looked at your webpage! your photos look great and yes! what a difference! keep it up!

michelle

325-322-150

getting banded 8-18-03!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leo 4]

Originally posted by shellyj

as soon as i am banded that will be a priority is getting a scale. i would like to know if i am plateuing so i can watch what i eat more or exercise more. i think it will keep me in check! i will try to only weigh once a week.

michelle

325-322-150

getting banded 8-18-03!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes shellyj, thats the exact reason I weigh myself nowadays. So that I can adjust what and how much I eat. But so far I have been loosing weight no matter what I put in myself. So no need for any adjustments yet.

[jerryg 3]

Boy it sure sounds like Leo and Shelley are using the scale like normal people. It feels good not to be afraid of what the scale says. I know that if it goes up it is usually a very small increase and can quickly be fixed. In the past I would see a 5 lb or so gain in one week and panic, and eat more, and panic, and eat more etc etc etc.

[wednesday 0]

At 2 years postop and losing 119lbs the scale still has immense power over my psyche!

I weigh myself on the scale at my grocery store on the same day at the same time once a week unless I am PMSing. Never in the 2 years since I have been banded have I EVER stepped on another scale, not even at my surgeon's office. I got into a huge fight with one of the nurses about a year back because I wouldn't step on the scale. Now they just ask me my weight.

I went through a phase were I was allowing the scale to determine my moods! I would feel good and be in a good mood, but when I would step on the scale if I hadn't lost what I "felt" was enough I would then get depressed and it would take a couple of days to recover. I decided at this time to take a break from the scale...torture I tell ya! I was actually able to weigh myself once a month.

You gotta do what makes you the least crazy.

[jerryg 3]

I hear ya Wednesday. My doctor wants me to weigh in at his office once a month, and I know it weighs me 4 pounds heavier than my own scale. He also has me weigh in at his office in the evening and I know I weigh about 4 pounds heavier at night than in the morning. I have no idea why I weigh that much more in the evening than in the morning, but I know it's right since the last time I went in I weighed myself in the morning, then in the afternoon, then at his office 30 minutes after I weighed myself at home. Normally I weigh in on Thursday morning at 5:30am just after I get out of the shower, prior to going to work. Leo how does the fat measuring feature on your scale work. That's one of the reasons my surgeon wants me weighing in at his office once a month.

[leo 4]

jerry, I just stand on the scale with my barefeet. And the scale with send a very low electrical current thru your body. And depending how long it takes for that current to return to the sensors that is how it calculates the body fat percentage.

You have to make sure you use that feature around the same time everyday, because it can fluctuate a lot during the day.

I normally step on the scale in the morning, according to the scale my fat content has dropped from 50+ to around 40.

[Kiera 2]

A scale is only as useful as you think it is. If you can NOT obsess about it and just weigh yourself once a day (in the morning is the best time). If you are worried that you will be on it six times a day then you are probably better off without one.

As a funny aside note... I have a digital glass topped scale (the only one I could find that went over 300# *sigh*). Well, one morning a couple weeks after I was banded I went in and dragged it out fron under the sink - and lo and behold, MY CAT HAD PEED ON IT! I found myself wondering if he was acting out on my behalf because I was plateauing and feeling pretty miserable about it. LOL.

To top that off while I was making this amusing discovery he was out in the hallway tossing up his lunch. Now it could have just been a furball but I have to wonder if he was displeased with what the scale was telling him too and it sent him bulemic! hehehehehe

[rrrsmom 1]

No wonder I love cats!