Good post about loosing and scales

Sharon Neva posted this on the main board. I just wanted to share it with everyone here. It's a great post. She wrote a WLS book that I heard was great! There are two ways in the weight loss game to drive yourself mad. One is by comparing your rate of weight loss to anyone else, and the other is to become a slave of the scale. You will always be able to find someone who is losing weight faster than you are. Many factors determine how fast you will lose weight. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to lose the same amount of pounds during the same period. Comparing yourself with anyone else will only drive you crazy. The scale can be your best friend (when you lose weight) or your worst enemy (when you stay the same or gain). You may become obsessed with weighing yourself; stepping on the scale throughout the day. Even if you swear that you are not going to weigh, you just cannot resist stepping on to check. Stop weighing yourself so often! Especially if you are beating yourself up over the number on the scale. Several factors can determine the reading on the scale; from glycogen storage, water retention, and body mass. A few pounds fluctuations are not a sign of failure, but slight weight variation is common with everyone. Typical changes in the water content of your body can vary the scale by several pounds. Women can retain several pounds of water prior to menstruation. Your weight can vary due to the amount of glycogen (stored carbohydrates) which is stored in your liver at any given time. Body mass can also determine your weight. During your first year post-op, many surgeons advise that you only weigh once a month (especially if you are likely to put yourself down because of the number on the scale). There are other ways to gauge how well you are doing other than the scale. Ask yourself, "How do my clothes fit, how do I feel, and am I eating right and being active?" Focus on your own accomplishments and don't use the scale as one more reason to beat yourself up. If you are following the rules, don't obsess about a couple of pounds fluctuation or a "slow weight loss". As long as you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, the number on the scale will eventually reflect your hard work and dedication. Sharon Excerpt from "Reach for the Stars; Your Guided Journal to Weight Loss Surgery" - copyright 2005. If you check my profile page, you will find all the information about WLS that you need, along with my story of my WLS journey. If you have any questions or just need to chat, I'm only an email away.