5 Reasons To Not Let The Scale Ruin Your Day.

5 Reasons To Not Let The Scale Ruin Your Day

Is the rest of your day ruined if you don't like the number on the scale that morning? As a holistic nutritionist (and someone who has gone through it personally), Mel S. has see so many women stress about the number on the scale. In times when so many things are out of our control, we seem to keep going back to the one thing we can seemingly control: our weight...as a number.

We get it. It's frustrating when you don't see that "ideal" number staring back at you, and you're not alone if you're feeling this way. However, we know it's possible for you to break out of this mentality (and maybe even say goodbye to your scale for the long-run.)

In this article, we are diving into 5 reasons why we should change our mentality around the number on the scale and also give you some tips on how to make this happen for you.

1. Your body is different every single day. The first thing that is extremely important to remember is that your body is different every single day. In addition to your food and water intake, activity level, and use of medications, there are many factors that change your weight from day to day. As women, hormones also play a huge role. Hormone levels can have an impact on your weight. For example, during ovulation, you might notice more bloating than usual. This fluctuation can absolutely affect the number on the scale. In other words, we shouldn't stress about differing each day, as our body is always adjusting to circumstances.

2. Your weight is a moment in time. When you weigh yourself, that number is not defining your past or your future. Rather, it's telling you about that very moment in time. That moment in time certainly doesn't define you, and it's not permanent either.

3. Your clothes are a better indicator of how you feel in your body. Instead of relying on a number to tell you how you feel, assess how you feel in your clothes. Celebrate your healthy lifestyle by wearing your clothes with confidence! This is something that you can actually use, as opposed to confirming a number on the scale.

4. Your weight doesn't always equate to your health. Unless you're breaking it down, your weight as a whole number is factoring in multiple things, like your cells and tissues, your muscle, fat (which we do need on our body!), water, etc. These things are all important to the human body. Let's not judge them by a number. Instead, focus on your energy levels, your sleep patterns, what makes you happy, how you manage your stress, your relationships, and your mindset. These are the things that are tied to your health.

5. Stressing about the number on the scale is worse for you than any number. Did you know stress can cause inflammation? When we are chronically stressed, we're sending a surge of cortisol, our "stress hormone." High levels of cortisol can contribute to digestive issues, blood sugar regulation, and even inflammation as a result. There are so many other stressors in life, so do yourself a favor and give yourself a little more love. You deserve it.

 Putting This Into Practice So where do you go from here? This might all seem overwhelming and unrealistic, but we want to reassure you breaking out of this mentality takes time, consistency, and a lot of reframing your thoughts.

Start small. We suggest you take one specific goal and turn it into a bigger picture idea. For example, if your goal is "lose 10 lbs," consider rewriting that goal to "have more stable energy" or "fit better in my clothes." These are accomplishments you actually get to use in your everyday life. Better energy can help you in your career and in your relationships. Fitting in your clothes as you want to will help you see the work you've been putting in, instead of relying on a number that may or may not be accurate.

Other big picture goals could be improving your digestion, intentionally moving your body more, unplugging from technology when you eat, improving your relationship with food, or feeling more confident in general. Like we said, all of these things you can actually use to enhance your life.

If you're not ready to get rid of the scale completely, try putting it out of sight, to start. Or, if weighing yourself is a non-negotiable, try doing it once a week, once a month, or every few months.