I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again… I am in LOVE with this weather. It’s been gorgeous out and last night was no exception. I decided it was the perfect grill night, so grill we did. Of course, what good is grilling without a glass of vino…
(or two ;))
I was feeling the veggies… and seriously psyched about grilled corn. Possibly one of my favorite summer treats! (I say treat because after I pull it off the grill I like to roll it in SO much butter, REAL buttah, mmm!).
Grilled corn, spinach salad & sweet potato chips.
Hubbs’ plate looked similar… just add in some manly meat. EW. I just re-read that last sentence. Didn’t mean it like that… 😉
While we were outside… Check out these creepy guys I found on my pepper plant! Any idea what/who they are?!
Nannie, are you reading? (My Nannie is a gardening extraordinaire!)
Needless to say, between the wine, the grill, the company (Hubbs & the bug) and the cool weather, last night’s dining experience was out of this world!
OK… moving onto a topic that crossed my mind. It started with this question:
When weight loss was always the goal, how do you measure “success” once weight loss is achieved?
I guess what I mean by this is that I’ve been trying to lose weight for as long as I can remember. Well, probably not here:
Because, let’s be honest, I’m stuffing cake in my mouth 🙂
But definitely by the time I was here:
That’s me on the left. And I hope none of my high school buds mind be featured on the bloggity-blog.
As you can see, I never had a serious weight problem growing up (although I beg to differ that in college when I gained 20+ pounds, I was teetering on the edge of a “problem”), but I always knew that my thighs would be better if they were a bit thinner (dadgum, all those years of gymnastics!), that my tummy could be a little flatter, etc.
So I was always conscience on calorie counts in food (and beer) and for most of my life I was in a pattern of feeling good about myself when the number of the scale went down, and feeling shameful when the numbers began to rise. I’m sure many of you can relate, because I know I wasn’t alone.
Then, in my quest to become HEALTHY (not just thin), which began after I graduated college in 2006, I began living a healthier lifestyle, and as a byproduct, I lost weight, too. I will admit that learning to live a healthy lifestyle took a few years… it’s not something I understood how to do right away and I had a few struggles along the way (material for a different post ;)). But over those few years, I began to put my focus on eating quality foods and exercising instead of only calorie restriction, I still used the scale as a means of measuring success.
Down=good 🙂
Up=I was doing something wrong 🙁
Over the past 4 years I like to think I have continued to grow in terms of living the healthy balance I talk about, and in doing so, have moved away from the scale being the end-all-be-all.
I actually haven’t weighed myself in months. But yesterday it crossed my mind:
“Maybe I should hop on the scale, just to check up on myself. To make sure I haven’t piled on the pounds without realizing it.”
Luckily the scale was in my car (I carry it with me for clients), so I didn’t mindlessly hop on it. Instead it dawned on me that the negative self-talk I just experienced was a voice from the past. The voice that measured if I was doing “good” by whether the scale was up or down.
Funny how that voice can still creep up on you.
It got me thinking how to measure my success, now that I am not aiming to lose weight. Then I realized that I don’t need to measure it at all. That is my old obsession talking. The need to measure weight or calories, the need to grade my performance, the need for CONTROL.
Then I decided to Let. It. Go.
I never weighed myself yesterday. Not because I think scales are the devil; they serve a purpose. But because I FEEL good. I am energetic. I eat mostly whole foods, with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains & healthy fats. My clothes fit. I am able to wog, water ski and dance. Who cares if I am up or down a pound or two, right?
So my questions to you are:
Do you use a scale regularly?
Why or why not?
How do you “measure” your success in healthy living? Or do you?
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum says
As of a few months ago, I did use a scale almost every time I went to the gym. It was helpful in some ways, but mostly I felt bad… a lot. Since I’ve started reading about other bloggers who do NOT use the scale, I have stopped. And I feel good.
I don’t want to feel badly about myself just because of a stupid number, that’s actually probably not realistic OR healthy for me. I can monitor my health and body by the way my clothes fit and the way I feel. 🙂
Emily @ Run Emily Run says
This is definitely something I have to keep working on. I used to weigh myself at least once every day, but now I’m down to a couple of times a week. Since I’ve been running I feel like I need the scale less though. I feel stronger, and I don’t care so much about the number.
Janna @ Janna's Keeping it Real says
LOVE this post! i used to weigh myself obsessively (i’m talking daily…), and then I weaned myself to every other day…and gradually I’ve gone to a weekly weigh. I know it isn’t ideal, and i strive to one day be able to give up the scale completely! I love your idea though, that you “feel good” you’re “energetic”, your “clothes fit” and you’re able to “DO”. That really is all that matters…numbers on the scale are just that…numbers!
I also have to say…your pictures are beautiful! I am not a fan of bugs, but i adore that picture with the mystery bugs on the leaf! and the wine/sunset/water, gorgeous!
Julie says
I just found your blog through Faith, Fitness, Fun. Your pictures are gorgeous! I need to get a good camera.
I love my summer corn – especially with a little basal chopped up and mixed in with the butter. It is SO good!
The scale…life is so much better without it.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i measure success by just knowing that i feel great and have a ton of energy…no scales allowed!
Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans says
I do weigh myself often but I use it as a way to hold myself accountable for my choices. If I have made a few less then stellar food choices it becomes more real when I see the effect. I don’t beat myself up about weight gain but instead try to find some motivation to eat cleaner in the days to come. That said I could probably have a healthier relationship with my weight because there is a small part of me that occasionally gets caught up in thinking that losing 10lbs would be ideal.
Lindsay says
Manly meat! Too funny! I do weigh myself fairly often. I can’t really give a reason to why now that I think about it. Obviously to see if it goes up or down but other than that I’m not sure. Hmmm.. I need to think about this.
Sarah for Real says
What a timely post! I did weigh myself this morning and I totally shouldn’t have. I’ve been training for my very first 5k this September, and every time I start jogging on a regular basis, I gain weight. I knew that the scale would be a little high… so why did I bother? Plus it was only a single pound. One pound! Muscles, water retention, maybe I am eating a little more fuel than I really need? Either way it shouldn’t matter because I feel great. I’m thinking it might be better for me to put the scale away, like you did!
Nichole says
What a fantastic post, so many good quotes from this.
It’s funny bc I recently hopped on the scale, I normally don’t and panicked. Your mind does equate up with bad, but I eat so much better and workout more than I ever did. I think if you don’t lose weight you think you must be gaining. You have to find that balance, absolutely.
Great post!
Cute pic btw, lol’d on that one.
Rachel says
I just was talking about this last night. I stopped weighing myself a few months ago after I had an issue with it…. I was having a great day, was feeling good about myself, having a “skinny” day, so I weighed myself. The number was more than I was expecting and I got all stressed out and upset. I haven’t weighed myself since. My friend was telling me last night that I NEED to do it, and I said no. I will know when I have lost weight by my clothes and how I look. I don’t need a scale.
And YES I went this morning, it wasn’t raining, it was PERFECT weather at 67 degrees and breezy 🙂 Did you go?
Corey @ The Runner's Cookie says
You’re definitely not the only one who’s felt trapped in the mentality of letting the number on the scale dictate how you feel.
I used to weigh myself often but now hardly ever do. I focus much more on feeling strong and athletic and the way my clothes fit.
Shawnee says
I totally struggle with this. I too am aiming for health over weight loss (but I really do hope to lose at least 10 pounds). The weight loss portion of my healthy journey has been slow going…as in I haven’t lost an ounce. I do weigh myself, but I feel like I am not too obsessive about it. I just really want to make sure I have something to measure so I know if I am eating too much, or not exercising enough, etc. I feel like it is a necessary evil. *sighs* That doesn’t answer your question, but I am still working on the answer.
Lisa @ I'm an Okie says
I think the same thing about my thighs and gymnastics. They got so dang muscular in gymnastics haha :).
I weigh myself once a week but it no longer affects me and I love it.
Michelle says
Breaking the habit of weighing yourself isn’t easy. I remember when I was 127, I kinda stopped because I felt like I’d be staying there… until I hopped back on after my first semester of college and was 148. Woops! Haha.
I think you have to be in a comfortable routine and really confident with your lifestyle including how you are with food and exercise. That’s really great though that you don’t know your exact weight. How you feel about yourself REALLY shouldn’t be based on a number :]
Jessie -- The Messie Kitchen says
Every time I read your blog I get re-inspired to kick up the “healthy” part of my healthy lifestyle. I love your food and stories!
homecookedem says
I do not weigh myself anymore. They weigh me at the dr’s office, but I don’t look. Andrew looks though (grrr) and I finally broke down and asked him what it said. That number really upset me for about a day, but then I let it go and remembered that I should be more focused on the fact that I am healthy and my baby is healthy. That is all that matters!
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston says
I actually do weigh myself and I weigh myself pretty much daily. The scale and I have a good relationship now though — I used to have a TERRIBLE relationship with it (maybe I’ll write about it) but now the scale is more of piquing my curiosity and not an obsessive thing. I like to use how I feel and how my clothes fit as better measures.
Melissa says
I weigh myself just about every morning. I don’t even know what the magic number is that will allow me to stop obsessing over it, but when it goes down I get excited. This is really unhealthy mentally but I struggle with letting go of it because I worry that all my efforts of losing the 25+ pounds will be thrown out the window. I need to learn and recognize that if I continue my healthy eating and exercising I will be okay. And that gaining a few pounds will not be the end of my world. Honestly, I was thinking about that on my way home from the gym today before I even read your post. It is about being healthy, not a number on a scale. As one of the “Operation Beautiful” note states, “A number does not define who you are.”
Mo@MommyRD says
I love this post!
Everything from your relaxing grilled summer dinner last night to your talk of getting over the scale drama. Great progress – truly getting healthy is when the attitude goes with it.
Courtney says
I NEVER weigh myself. I feel like I should though but I am afraid to. (how crazy is that?) I’m afraid it will show I have gained weight and if it does I will feel terrible. I just judge my body and myself on how I FEEL! If my clothes are too tight, then I need to cut back. Feeling good & confident in your body is most important. I am still trying to learn how to eat, when to eat, and how much my body really needs to feel good… to stop at a certain point before being too full. It will take some time but I hope to find my healthy balance soon. I love reading your blog! I am also starting my own blog.
indie.tea says
I dont use a scale regularly. I tend to obsess if I do. I am just a tad underweight (a few pounds, nothing serious)….so I shouldn’t obsess.
Your food all looks wonderful!
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
Brittany what a nice post! I do weigh myself every few days, only because there are days when I feel “thin” and I want to see what it says. I too have measured myself by that stupid scale, and it could instantly ruin my day if my weight was up. Now I measure my success by how I feel!
Angela (the diet book junkie) says
i’ve never seen the scale as a measurement of beauty, so i’ve never had a problem weighing myself. (which is weird, considering what society tells us and that i’ve never been that small.) so yeah, i weigh myself a few times a week, just so i know where i’m at. just so i know if i need to slow down on the kit-kats if the weight is creeping up. i do believe in keeping an eye on such things, cuz it will sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention. but i don’t believe in “the perfect number”, i just wanna be healthy.:)