How often do you weigh yourself? How much power do you give to your scale? Does it determine what mood you're in and determine the tone for your day? For a clear, accurate picture of your weight loss success, break your ties to the scale. Don't be a slave to the scale.

For people that diet and are on a quest for weight loss, we just can't stay away from the scale. It is as though we can't start our day without hopping on this device that sits on the floor that we stand on. There we are, giving our power to the scale standing on the scale staring down at the display waiting for the verdict. For some it is a compulsion for others it is mere curiosity. The problem occurs when the results begin to dictate our mood, our self-worth, and our self-esteem.

What is our compulsion with the scale? For some it's a measurement of success. It is a form of validation when we have been eating healthy on our diet program and regularly working out. Why do we need a little box that sits on the floor to give us the validation we want? You know what you've done, how you've stuck to your diet, exercised, and resisted temptations throughout your day. The scale doesn't give you the validation or "way to go" for those daily successes. The scale is just that - a scale that measures your body weight including temporary body fluctuations.

Scales don't tell you how much fat you are losing. A regular scale doesn't reflect your muscle or water weight either. Our weight can fluctuate from day to day. Water retention from sodium, retention of bodily waste, hormonal changes, bloating, and other temporary bodily adjustments all register on the scale either up or down. Don't jump on and off the scale so many times during the day that it can count as aerobic activity for the day. Weigh yourself once a week (or even once per month) at the same time of day on the same scale.

If you weigh yourself every day, you can be frustrated because weight can swing two to three pounds up or down due to temporary body functions and changes. You'll get a more realistic picture of your weight loss if you weigh once a week.

There are very good reasons for this. Your weight fluctuates all the time, at different times of the day and month, depending on if you have just eaten, if you are dehydrated, etc. This can be misleading and cause much frustration. When you weigh yourself, if you have lost weight, also give yourself credit for what you have gained in losing weight. Gains include feeling better about yourself, being in control over food rather than food controlling you, and being closer to your weight loss goal. If you haven't lost weight, or have put a small amount on, use this as motivation to keep going. Increase your activity and exercise, look at what you're eating and the portion sizes.

It is interesting how those little numbers representing your weight can dictate your entire day. The scale can make you feel skinny and strong or big and awful. Don't weigh yourself throughout the day. It makes no sense and can lead to scale neurosis.

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