Anyone not use a scale?

So normally when I diet I obsess about the scale.  I weigh myself daily, sometimes twice a day, or who am I kidding every time I walk in the bathroom. I am having my surgery in a couple weeks and I am seriously thinking about tossing out my scale and just going by my weigh ins at the dr. Appointments, how my body feels, clothes fit, etc.  On the other hand it would be nice to keep track of my progress in pounds. I just don't want to transfer the food obsession to a scale obsession. So what do u all think? Good idea or bad? Anyone else go at this surgery sans scale? Anyone else scale obsessed and wish they weren't? I know I've read a ton of post where people are worried about stalls or a pound or two gain here and there... Just thinking this might be a way to avoid all that.

I only weighed myself at the doctors for the first 5 months - after that we moved to singapore and I bought an electronic scale when we move into our condo 6 weeks after leaving the US.   It was then that I discovered I had lost 120lb and was below goal!

I can honestly say I never had a stall and never gained     well, until the honeymoon was well and truly over (about year 4) when I regained 20lbs!

I now weigh myself probably 2 or 3 times per week or if I'm feeling fat and try and keep everything within 5lbs because I find it very EASY to gain weight these days and so have to keep it in check more!   Gotta love turning 50 and the delights of menopause!

I didn't want to lose sight of when I lost weight so in the beginning it was daily.  I have learned from past history that if I don't get on the scales on some sort of a regular basis, I will regain.  Now I look once a week at least.

I don't think it is realistic to think that you wold be able to completely eliminate using a scale during tjai journey, nuti definitely think that LIMITING how often you weigh is important.  I cannot tell you how many times we have seen posts here from someone freaking out because they "gained" three pounds overnight (when clearly it is a water fluctuation).  They are quick to take an extra drop in their hydration level as a true weight "loss" but then freak out about having "gained" when the low hydration level evens out or they retain a bit.

I started getting obsessed with daily weighs and fluctuations in the first month or two, so I started only weighing myself once a week. Period. Personally, I really think it helped me gain perspective.  I am coming up on 6 years out and still only weigh weekly.  The exception is if it appears I am retaining a lot of water, and in that case I weigh myself again 2 days later as a "double check".  I have a 5 pound weight creep limit.  If I get up to (or close to) that 5 pound limit, I eliminate all "extra" carbs and replace them with protein until those couple of extra pounds come off.

I know it is hard for people to believe when they are in teh active losing process, but scale obsession can really bite you in the ass psychologically down the road.  What happens when the loss slows down drastically, or, even further down the road, when you are done losing, the compliments have stopped, and all you have is your internal motivation to stay on track with your eating and exercise... for the rest of your life!?!?  If you define your "success" by the number on the scale, how will you keep that motivation and avoid regaining when the scale no longer provides external motivation and encouragement?

Lora

Well said, Lora.  Living in the glory lasts only so long and we are left with me, myself and I.   Jane

Thanks for the responses. I think I will get rid of my scale at home because I really don't want the temptation to become scale obsessed. There is a scale in the nurses office where I work (actually a lot more accurate than mine anyways) and I will check in there periodically,  once a week, so that I don't et off track. 

Lora- I really like the idea of a five pound weight creep limit. I'm going to adopt that rule. Thanks!

I'm only 3 months out but don't use a scale yet.   My next Dr appointment is in just over a week, so I'll get weighed then.  I also have had a massive scale obsession in the past, so right now I'm just choosing to avoid it and monitor by my clothes.  I do agree with other posters, however, who say we need to use it to maintain our honesty with ourselves.  I'm still pretty far from whatever my goal weight might be so, I don't know when I'll start weighing myself.  One good thing though....I've avoided the agony of the dreaded stall because i just don't know when its happening!  

I'm almost 5 months out and I don't own a scale. I made a conscious decision to not focus on the pounds lost, because I have been obsessed with the number on the scale in the past. I always tied the pounds lost to my self-worth and I let the scale determine my mood, my attitude, my view of my success. So going into WLS, I worked really hard to start thinking differently about my weight. I decided to follow my surgeon's guidelines with food, vitamins, fluids, incorporate some exercise into my daily routine, and monitor my progress on this journey by how my clothes fit, how much more I am physically capable of doing than before, noticing more muscular development, and focus on being healthy. I am only getting weighed at my surgeon's office. I had a two week follow up, a six week follow up, a two month follow up, a three month follow up, and next scheduled is a 6 month follow up next month. My surgeon has allowed me to come by the office at my 4 month mark to weigh myself just so I can track my progress. But I refuse to allow myself to be a slave to the scale. I also see so many people on the boards complaining when they are in a stall after a few days. That seems like torture to me. I definitely understand the need for regular weigh-ins after reaching goal and during maintenance though. Good luck to you on your surgery. I would encourage you to consider giving up the scale and focus on all the other exciting aspects of this journey. Take care, Kim 

i go through phases with it. sometimes i'm weighing every 5 minutes and then others i go weeks without it. it doesn't make a difference in my weight loss/gain/maintenance 

I weigh myself all the time.

I have had the stall.

I have not posted about gaining 2 pounds or about the three week stall.  Why? Someone else already did that for me.  Thanks to hanging out here- I have read and read and read about the normalcy of stalls, especially the early "dreaded three week stall."

During that time, I had to throw it in the closet because that was the only way I was going to see it move.

If he makes me mad...I stay away. I go back to once a week.  Now that the scale is moving slowly but continuously in the right direction it gives me great pleasure to watch it.