So I did it. I weighed myself again today. Down another six pounds. Wait, what??? That MUST be wrong. Move the scale and step on again aaaaand....."down six" changes to "up two." Ha! I knew it, it's just the early morning "wake-up scale" grogginess...slide the scale across the floor a bit and the next one will be accurate... Up two. Okay...one more try. Up two. Again. Up two. Again. Up two. Again. UP TWO???? The scale seems convinced that I've gained two pounds since Monday. I stop breathing.
Okay, this could be any number of things. Maybe I was dehydrated on Monday and the 9 pounds from before should have actually been 7. Maybe my intake yesterday was a little too high in sodium so my body is holding onto water. Maybe... The mind races and inevitably comes to all the worst-case scenarios. Maybe it's not working. Maybe I'm doing it all wrong. Maybe the sky is falling.
Or maybe I shouldn't hop on the scale as often.
Look, the rapid progress is as exciting as a slight "setback" is depressing. But really, both are essentially meaningless. It's difficult, but I need to stop taking the scale so seriously. Yes, this whole challenge is built around what the scale says, but that's only because it's a quick and easy way of measuring progress. But it's also a woefully incomplete way of measuring progress.
There is absolutely no reason to get down about relatively minor fluctuations in scale readings. If this is about a lifestyle shift, my weekly weigh-ins (and they probably should only be weekly) should function as tools to plan the upcoming week's activities. I've got to remember it's an assessment and a planning tool, not a scoreboard. And I've got to pull out of this morning funk.
So here's the plan:
- No more mid-week peeking. This HAS to be a strict rule.
- Today's fluctuation means nothing.
- Because today's fluctuation means nothing, it changes nothing about my goals. The plan is the same.
- Buck up, little camper. You've had an hour to wallow, now make a plan and move on.
- Gym anyone?
Yes, it's probably a reaction to the stupid scale this morning, and yes, there is no reason to freak out about it...but I kinda feel like I should start going to the gym. Initially I planned to use walking as my physical activity for the first week or two. At the end of week one, perhaps out of laziness, I decided one more week and I'll start hitting the gym. But the 3/4 mile walk from the bus to work today was lovely. The mile yesterday was easy. And my ankle is almost completely free of soreness from the 2 3/4 mile walk I took last Wednesday...
I remember an installment of Dan Savage's podcast where he spoke to a man who was overweight and lonely. Dan talked about moderation and taking care of your body and all the things you'd expect him to say...then he mentioned that when he "indulges" he makes a point of working a little harder in his physical routine to balance that out. Eat dessert? Take a walk after dinner. Something to balance things.
Part of me feels like I should be working harder. I know it's crucial not to minimize the progress thus far, but can I do something to push harder without burning out? Balance, I know. Patience, yes. But part of me just wants to do SOMETHING!
When I start a new gym routine (in other words, when I've not been to the gym for a while and I finally get off my butt and start going again,) I typically give myself a week doing light circuit training to get my body used to working out again. Maybe that's the "something" I should do. Nothing overwhelming. No huge exhausting workout that's gonna leave me immobile for three days. Just a little more effort to balance the perception of a nonexistent minor setback.
Balance.
And no more mid-week scale peeking!
Would you like me to take your scale away? I'll do it! Don't tempt me!
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