The short answer is maybe, and the reason might surprise you.
I am not totally against scales and I do use one in my practice but only with clients who feel comfortable with this, and only once every four or five weeks. My scale is a body composition monitor which also measures fat and muscle percentages, visceral fat rating, metabolic age and muscle mass which tell a bigger picture than just weight. This scale is part of a set of tools which can be useful for some, but not all, people.
Studies have shown that weighing yourself regularly can help you maintain long-term weight loss. However, I don’t believe that people trying to lose weight should be constantly checking in with the scale and become obsessed with it. Weight can fluctuate incredibly from one day to the next for a variety of reasons, but when the number goes up or stays the same, despite exercising and eating well, people can end up feeling defeated and demoralised. That number can trigger a lot of emotions like guilt, fear, shame, frustration and anger which can lead to poor body image and negative self-talk. A slippery slope that can push you into bingeing or overeating.
But guess what? That number is just a number, it’s not you, it does not define who you are. You are not a number; your happiness and self-worth are not dictated by a number.
The truth is that while for some people the scale is an important and useful tool for maintaining weight loss, for others, it can stand in the way of success.
As a nutritionist and health coach offering personalised advice, I need to adjust what I do according to the specific client I have in front of me, and although most of my client’s goals are about weight loss, I never directly focus on this.
This might surprise you, but for me weight is just another sign showing that something in the body is out of balance. This could be because of hormonal issues, food sensitivities, inflammation, chronic stress, lack of sleep, or some other health problem. When we focus on regaining health and balance, on a physical and mental level, then the weight loss happens as a nice side benefit.
The way you feel, how your digestion is working, how well you sleep, how your body fight infections and how you deal with stress are all important markers of health, more important than any number on the scale.
The scale won’t tell you your overall health, or if you have more energy, or less pain and bloating. It won’t tell you if your clothes are fitting better or if you are feeling more confident. It won’t tell you if your skin is glowing. It won’t even tell you if are able to sleep better, run faster or exercise for longer. These are the important things you can rely on to keep you motivated.
If you really want some numbers, then a better way is to measure your waist, hip, -as well as your waist to hip ratio- chest, arms and thighs.
You can also keep track of how your clothes fit, because sometimes the number on the scale might be staying the same but you need to go shop for smaller clothes. This can happen if you switch your exercise routine, for instance, and you start to lose fat and gain muscle which is exactly what you want.
Focus on healing your relationship with food, improving your everyday eating habits, getting healthier, fitter, and more active. This can take the pressure off, allowing you to lead a healthier life and flourish.
If you want to find out how nutrition and coaching can help you reach your ideal weight and regain your health, call me on 07772491975 or email me at [email protected] book a complementary 30 minutes session and start your journey to better health.