20 Things I’ve Learned by Not Weighing Myself

It’s so fascinating to me that so many people really connect with my weight loss content (which now has its own section up on the menu of my NEW WEBSITE!) I guess it’s a universal struggle, right?

Even if you’re not trying to lose weight, you may be trying to be healthier and can relate to someone who shares those values.

Also, we’re all just maybe trying to distract ourselves from raiding our pantry, and therefore we read blogs. Just me? 🙋🏻‍♀️

If you’re new here, you may want to read my popular post about how I lost 43 pounds in 6ish months and my even more popular post about not weighing myself during lent this year.

Giving up the scale while you’re trying to lose weight fat may seem like an odd choice, BUT for me it’s probably been the best thing I’ve done for my journey. Here’s a list of 20 things I’ve learned by giving up the scale.

1. I make better food choices, naturally. 
2. I don’t resort to unhealthy behaviors in an effort to make the scale superficially go down. (This was a big issue of mine when on WW because you pay for each week and I felt if I gained it was a waste of money.)
3. I enjoy food more.
4. Going out to eat doesn’t stress me out as much as it used to.
5. Sticking to a consistent exercise regimen has been easier because I don’t know or obsess about the natural scale fluctuations that happen when you start a new workout program. I’m in week four of regular workouts and loving it.
6. I’m more in tune with how my clothes fit, which is a far better indicator of progress than the scale.
7. Without the scale as a tool to measure success, I rely more on photos. Photos do not lie, let me tell you (which is why I share them with you so you know I’m not lying!) 
8. I’ve gotten stronger due to the fact I’ve been working out consistently for four weeks. My knees hurt less, and I have more stamina. Recently I walked 22,000 steps in a day and didn’t feel bad.
9. I’m not “afraid” of a particular macro, although I do limit processed/refined carbs/sugar.
10. I sleep better– likely due to the exercise and reduced pressure of daily weigh-ins.
11. My energy has improved now that I am eating carbs again. On keto I wanted to sleep all day, everyday. Lower carb, but not keto, is a better balance for me.
12. I’m not constantly googling “keto stall week 3” or “not losing weight in a calorie deficit” type things all day freeing me up to do more positive things. I am in a calorie deficit; I am active; the fat will come off eventually.
13. I’ve almost gone down a full size in this lent timeframe. One of my main goals was to shop at normal stores, and I’m basically there (minus pants… damn pants).
14. I don’t obsessively consume water after a higher sodium meal. I do drink about 96 oz. a day in general though, but I don’t use water as a method to trick the scale (see item 2).
15. Calorie counting has become more about journaling my food than trying to see how much food I can consume without going over. Some days I’m at 1400 calories, others I am at 2200, and that’s ok when averaged out. 
16. I’m happier, and not comparing myself to other weight loss accounts so much to see how my weekly weigh-ins stack up to theirs and lamenting if I lose at a slower rate.
17. Day to day weight fluctuations are a poor indicator of progress. Weight loss, more specifically fat loss, takes time. Weeks and months are a far better indicator of progress.
18. I’d be so much stronger and fit (and smaller!) if I hadn’t let the scale deter me from sticking to strength training. Lessons learned.
19. I think I could do this scale fast for longer… but will I?
20. I unfollowed many, many, many niche specific weight loss accounts on IG that gave me information paralysis. I instead choose to go by Physiqonomics’ Best Fat Loss Article on the Internet principles. He drops so many truth bombs in an easy to understand format, but this line really hit home to me: Here’s the dirty secret of the diet world: Every diet works.

The best diet is one you can stick to. Diet adherence, whether it be keto/Mediterranean/The Zone/Atkins/paleo, is major. Don’t pick a diet you can’t stick to.

I couldn’t stick to 20g of carbs a day everyday, because watermelon and strawberries are in season and my snack of choice lately.

I do have the occasional keto day, not on purpose, but because it’s what I want that day.

Weighing Myself… or Not?

I decided to join on the Instagram #ActiveApril challenge, where the challenge is simple… be active everyday in April! I’m eight for eight so far, and I know I will complete this challenge. I’m aiming for a minimum of 30 minutes of activity a day.

This is why I am highly considering extending my scale fast through the end of the month instead of ending it on Easter. So, I’d weigh myself on May 1 instead.

Now, let me be completely honest with you all (when am I not?!) Part of my desire to extend the scale fast is to continue feeling good, mentally and physically about this journey. It’s also because the unknown is scary— how will I feel if I step on the scale and see the exact same number I saw on March 8 when I decided to abstain from weigh-ins? 

Would that number negate all the myriad of good things I just rattled off in a list? Would it negate that I went down nearly a whole size? That my legs don’t look half bad in shorts? That my core is looking slimmer? 

Quite possibly, yes, that number would eradicate all the good things I’ve been thinking and feeling. 

And it scares me to think that my one year anniversary of this journey is approaching on April 21, and I may have “only” lost 55 pounds. Or 50. Who knows what the scale will read? What would you do? 

I guess I could hypothetically keep going scale-less until I fit into my wedding dress. Is that crazy? 

Beachbody Workout Review from a Non-Beachbody Coach

On another note, I have been doing Beachbody on Demand workouts (do not worry, I am not a Beachbody Coach and am NOT trying to sell you anything!), and there are like no reviews out there about the different programs from non-Beachbody coaches (who make money off selling said programs).

Would it be helpful if I reviewed some of the Beachbody programs I’ve tried as a 30-something, with bad knees that doesn’t do high impact stuff and is NOT a Beachbody Coach? Let me know! I may do it anyway to help get a review out there from someone who isn’t trim and super fit. xo.