Conference rocks::weight_control

    I have a "doctors type" scale at home, which is BRUTALLY honest.
    It has no diplomacy or mercy.  Sort of like this, "HEY STUPID, YOU
    PICKED UP 3 POUNDS!"  You get the idea.
    
    Glenn

Hi Ann,

You're lucky.  If you hate the scale, there's something you can do about it.
(I hate a lot of things that I can't do something about too easily :-)).

Well, I won't suggest throwing it out, but put it away somewhere so you're
not even tempted to weigh yourself, just make it something you just don't do
as part of your morning/evening routine.  You've said yourself you think
you'd do better without it, and your doctor has even given you anti-scale
sentiments.  Just change your eating habits, forget the scale!

Oh, you have to weigh in at Weight Watchers?  Well, no one says you have to
look at the number if you really don't want to.  Or, you can look, but just
this once a week check-in, and give it the value it deserves...

I'm proud :-) to say I didn't weigh herself yesterday morning, but I just had
to check today...I think I'll put it away in the coldest part of the house :-)

Jill

    Call me crazy, but I like to weigh myself everyday.  I always step
    on the little tattle tale first thing in the morning (after
    eliminating).  I figure it this way, if I've been disiciplined in
    my eating and show a loss, then I feel motivated to keep up the
    good work.  If I've been disciplined and show a gain, I either increase
    water that day or decrease portions or both.  If it was "just one
    of those things" then I lose more weight because of buckling down
    then if I was just on the same program everyday.  Now when I know
    that I have eaten some things that will not aid weightloss/maintenance,
    then my tattle tale is right there to verify the results of my over
    indulgence.
    
    I realize that there are people who are not encouraged to work harder
    when a gain is seen after being on program.  For you, I suggest
    the clothes method of detecting weightloss.  What you do is find
    something that fits a little snug and try that on periodically.
    Set a goal like "I want to button those pants or skirt without inhaling
    first".  Most people won't try on clothes as often as they will
    step on a scale.  When the goal is reached, pick another item of
    clothing.  Of course this only works if you've kept things that
    you cannot fit or if you go out and spend money on clothes that
    are about one or two sizes too small.

re .3:

I saved all my small clothes last time I gained my weight back (sigh),
in '83 (it just happen to coincide with having to find a new job due to
reorganization).  As I lost more and more weight, I kept taking out the
old box of stuff, trying things on to see how close I was getting to fitting
into each thing!  It was a wonderful incentive and feeling of accomplishment.
I even overshot a few things, including this gorgeous pair of purple cords,
which I wasn't able to wear when I got them (I had already gained weight by
then) and wasn't able to wear when I finally tried them on (they were MUCH
too big! :-)).

I feel the same way you do, that weighing myself every day doesn't hurt, and
gives me incentive in either direction.  Most of the time.  But sometimes,
it doesn't show me the results of my behavior in a timely enough manner.  If
I eat incorrectly (quality, not quantity I think) it might not show up as
a gain for a few days, by which time I'm already eating correctly again.

But the best thing to do, is what's best for you, and that might even change
from time to time.

Still experimenting :-)

Jill

    
    This is definitely one of those "personal point-of-view" things.  I
    have a friend who hasn't weighed herself at all -- she doesn't want to
    know how much weight she's losing!  She finds the scale a deterrant
    whether she gains or loses.  She uses the clothing method in .-1.
    
    I, on the other hand, weigh myself *at* least* once a day when I'm on
    program!  Even if it's higher than it was yesterday (or this morning),
    it's still a rush to see it down around a number it was so far away
    from a few weeks ago!  I can tell I'm really out-of-control/off program
    when I don't weigh myself at all for days at a time.
    
    What it boils down to is "whatever works for you."  If you have to give
    the scale to a thrift shop, DO IT!!  There's no law which requires you
    to have one in the house, any more than you have to keep ice cream
    around!  The reasoning is the same - if it works against your goals,
    avoid it as much as possible.
    
    Beverly
    

    The topic of scales came up at my WW meeting last night.  A few
    good arguments for not using a home scale.
    
    The majority of bathroom scales are spring-type scales, which are
    far more sensitive to picking up humidity, position on the bathroom
    floor, the way you stand or lean, etc. than a good doctor's office
    or WW scale.  Therefore, the readings on spring scales vary a *lot*
    more. 
    
    If one weighs themself at home and shows a big loss that's due to
    a variance in the scale's mechanism rather than an actual loss in
    body weight, they're that much more tempted to cheat a little (I'm
    down two pounds, I can have that extra piece of cake...).
    
    If one weighs themself at home and shows a big gain that's due to
    a variance in the scale's mechanism rather than an actual gain in
    body weight, that person is that much more tempted to give up (The
    scale says I'm gaining, what's the use) when there's no reason to.
    
    One other point my leader stated last night -- the advice of "throw
    out your scale" does not apply to thiose on maintenance, who should
    weigh themselves every day or every other day.
    
    
    Paul
    

    There are two scales that are very important to me.  My food scale
    and my weight scale.  I have a digital readout scale and it is 
    accurate.  I weigh myself everyday and the past month I have been
    dilligent in keeping track of my food intake and weight in order
    to understand how my body works.
    
    I have found that 'cheating' comes not from weighing yourself but
    from a lack of understanding of caloric content and what is going
    to happen when you eat.  One cannot 'cheat' on a diet.  'Cheat'
    means you hope not to get caught.  If you eat extra calories your
    weight loss will be slower.  It is not possible to get away with
    anything.
    
    Losing weight has to be accomplished with a program that is suitable
    for you.  I happen to like counting calories and weighing myself
    every day.  I would like to see some of the mystique around weightloss
    eliminated.  I think WW and similar programs are excellent and very
    motivating....but it is a business....and I wonder if some of their
    strategies are means to keep people involved in the program.