The Scale: Friend or Foe?

I've had a love/hate relationship with the scale, for most of my life I avoided it. I dreaded having to weigh in at the doctor's office where I could feel the nurse judging me in her head. This was all in my head, of course, because I knew that I was overweight.

Since starting this wellness journey, I have had a different perspective on the scale. It is neither a friend nor foe, but a tool. A tool to help me know my progress. Yes, I still struggle when the display doesn't show progress, but I also rely on other "non-scale victories" (NSVs) to remind me that while the scale may not show progress, my daily choices and activities do. If my clothes fit better, I'm able to cross my legs, and my skin and mind are clearer, then I know I'm making progress.

For 3 months, I was stuck in a plateau, bouncing between a couple of pounds. I didn't give up because I knew it would change, eventually. Instead of telling myself negative things like "it's no use, I might as well give up because nothing I do is working". I re-trained myself to acknowledge the progress I've already made and reminded myself that while the changes were not reflecting immediately on the scale, my body was indeed changing. I've learned to give myself grace and realize that I didn't put the weight on overnight. It was years of making bad choices and not knowing what I now know. Rather than looking at weight loss through the lens of the scale, I choose to look at it by how I see myself, and I like what I see.