Have you ever stopped and thought about your relationship with your scale? Do you find yourself checking your weight every morning to then let the number dictate your mood, your self-esteem, and your happiness? Do you fixate over that number, and feel guilty or ashamed if you gain weight? If this sound familiar to you, then you may have what’s known as scale addiction.

Scale addiction is a term that describes the unhealthy and obsessive behaviour of using the scale to measure your value and progress. It can cause anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and other mental and physical health problems. It can also stop you from enjoying your life and loving your body for what it can do, not what it weighs.

If you want to free yourself from the tyranny of the scale, then you may want to consider breaking up with it. Here are some reasons why you should get rid of the scale and some tips on how to do it.

 

Why You Should Ditch the Scale

• The scale does not tell the “whole” story. The weight it measures is influenced by many factors that have zero to do with your health or fitness. For example, your weight can fluctuate due to water retention, hormonal changes, muscle mass, food intake, bowel movements, and more. These factors can cause your weight to vary by several kilos in a day or even in an hour. Therefore, the scale is not an accurate or reliable indicator of your true body composition or health status.

• The scale is not a reliable indicator of your progress. When you exercise and eat well, you may be burning fat and building muscle, which is good for your health and appearance. But the scale may not show any change or even show a slight weight gain, because muscle is denser than fat. This can make you feel frustrated and unmotivated, and make you doubt your progress or efforts. Conversely, if you are losing weight due to unhealthy habits such as skipping meals or overdoing it at the gym, the scale may show a lower number, which can be deceptive and harmful. This can make you believe that you are doing well and reaching your goals, when, in reality, you are damaging your body and risking serious health problems.

• The scale does not determine your value. Your weight is just a number. It does not tell you who you are as a person, what you can achieve, or how much you are appreciated. You are more than a number on a scale. You have unique gifts, abilities, interests, principles, and personality traits that make you special and valuable. You have friends, family, and loved ones who care about you and support you regardless of your weight. You have goals, dreams, and aspirations that are not related to your weight. You have a life to live and enjoy that is not restricted by your weight.

 

How to Ditch the Scale

• The first step to breaking up with your scale is to get rid of it. remove it from your sight and reach so that you are not tempted to step on it again. If you don’t have a scale at home but use one at the gym or elsewhere, then avoid using it or ask someone to hide it from you.

• Consider other ways to measure and track your progress that are more meaningful and relevant to your goals and health.

• Focus on how you feel. Pay attention to how you feel in your body and mind. Notice how much energy you have throughout the day, how well you sleep at night, how clear your skin is, how strong your immune system is, how happy and confident you are, and how much fun you have doing the things you love. These are the true signs of health and wellness that matter more than any number on a scale.

• Practice mindfulness and self-compassion. By practicing mindfulness and self-compassion, you will cultivate a positive and healthy relationship with yourself and your body.

 

The scale is not your friend or your ally. It is just a tool that can be useful or harmful depending on how you use it and how much power you give it over your life. If you are obsessed with the scale and let it affect your mood, your identity, and your life, then it might be time to stop weighing yourself and start living your life. By stopping weighing yourself and focusing on how you feel, what you can do, and what you are grateful for, you will be able to love your body and yourself more than ever before. You will also be able to enjoy your life and achieve your goals without being held back by a number on a scale. So go ahead and stop weighing yourself and start living your life. You deserve it.