Ditching the scale, maybe

I saw my psychologist today and he wants me to stop getting on the scale each morning. I only do it once in the morning, even though I feel like I should check it more often. He wants me to skip it 2 days this week. He is worried that my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is controlling me too much. He claims that in order to break my fear of not losing and worry over the number, I need to detach myself from food and the scale. He agrees that I still need to focus on the food issue but now I have to give up the scale. I know some online have been really good about not weighing in each day, I am just concerned that I will drive myself nutty wondering. I have been on a plateau for about 9 days so this would be a good time to break the cycle. I'm just not sure I can do it. Have any of you mastered the food aspect yet? I still think I do not eat enough or drink enough. I have to concentrate on rememebring to eat and watching what I eat. I already know that I do not dump (a bad thing for me, I should have that extra tool, but I don't). FYI - I have been in therapy for a number of years and I trust my pdoc explictly, so I know I will do what he says. I just question everything over and over till it "fits".

I broke the scale habit this past week because I went on a trip. It was probably the best thing I did. So, send your scale on a trip. Give it to a family member, neighbor and/or friend and just get it out of sight. Tell them once a week and no more than that are you allowed visitation rights to your scale. You'll be amazed how when its not there -- its much easier to break the habit. Lissa

Hey Lissa, There's an idea for a summer game ... have you ever heard of the kids' school project .. Flat Stanley .. maybe we could substitute our scales for Flat Stanley .. and people would take it places and send us pictures of our scale on fabulous vacations!!! Hugs, Mo

Jane, My doctor has told me to throw away my scale. That the only weight that matters is his scale. This was after a few heated words over the fact that his scale and my scale at home weigh differently. If I follow his instructions and do what I am supposed to do with my food and my life, the weight will come off. I did weigh yesterday at the mall on one of those big digital scales and of course didn't like that number either, but it validated the difference in my home scale and the doctor's scale. The numbers may never be what I want them to be, but the important part is that I learn to be happy in the skin I am in. Good luck with wrestling your demon scale. Hugs, Mo

Jane, I know what you mean about wanting to weight yourself everyday. I can't believe that I can finally get weighed on a regular doc. scale!!! I promised myself that I would not go crazy with the number since we can fluctuate so much just from water weight on a day to day basis. My in laws, who live across town, have a doctor's scale. I see them at least once a week and I only weigh myself over there. That way I am not going crazy. Good luck. Oh, also, I for one have NOT mastered my food issues yet and don't expect to for a very long time. I am in therapy and hoping someday to not come to "rely" on food so heavily, now it is only in mind and I can control it thank god. Good Luck. Sam

I was/am still sometimes definitely guilty of the daily scale weighing. Its actually unneccesary tourture we are doing to ourselves! I have been on a plateau for about 16 days now! It really sucks. I have avoided the scale lately because I was so tired of feeling let down. I will start loosing again so I have to chill out Best Wishes to you! Elizabeth M -44

I can definitely understand where you are coming from. Since I had surgery on 3/16/04 I was not only weighing myself everyday, but doing it several times a day. Both my surgeon and my nutritionist told me to stop. I think my brand new scale listened to them when I didn't because now the scale doesn't work. I am doing my best every day not to go out and buy a new scale. I eat, drink and workout (well, lots of walking) and figure I will see the weight loss at my next doctor's appointment. Arlene

Thank you for all the good tips and support. Today I went scale-less for the first day since 3/8. I don't know if it bugged me but I did find myself picking at food all day at work (I own a restaurant). Not good. I had thought about putting my scale in the car (funny someone else suggested that too!). I cannot see myself stepping on it in the driveway!! Maybe on desperate days I'll drag it into work! Taking it one day at a time.