My Relationship With The Scale

I'm going to be real honest with you guys. I have had a serious love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with the scale for the majority of my adult life. When I started on my health journey, I purchased a scale in hopes that it would help me in my weight loss endeavor. I started out by weighing myself once a week, which is an excellent time frame to track one's weight loss (on a weekly basis). Weighing myself turned into an everyday thing, then suddenly I became obsessed. I started weighing myself multiple times a day, and if the scale said a number that I didn't like I would immediately get down on myself or go on a run to try to burn those calories that I had thought I gained from the previous weigh in. I had developed a very unhealthy relationship with the scale, even when I was considered underweight.

The thing about the scale no matter who is stepping on it, is that it doesn't know you. That scale that I purchased does not know Chauncey Hollister. It doesn't know what kind of person I am. It doesn't know my heart, or my passions in life. It doesn't know the things about me that make me unique. The scale definitely doesn't know what kind of stressors that are in my life, or the things that I have been through. My point that I am trying to make is that the scale is just a number, and that is it. It does not define you, or your self worth.

With all that being said, I decided to do a little personal study with the scale. I chose to take 3 weeks off from weighing myself, because frankly, it gets exhausting having to worry about that. I also wanted to prove to myself, and others that if you stop worrying about the scale and just live your healthy and happy life, that the weight and all things related to it will take care of itself.

At the beginning of the 3 weeks, I weighed 147. I wrote that number down on an index card and dated it, 4/20/14.  I went about my normal and healthy lifestyle of eating clean 80 percent of the time, and eating whatever I want (in moderation, of course). I also kept my usual exercise routine of working out 4-5 days per week for 45 minutes to an hour. In this time period, I have eaten frozen yogurt twice, drank more than one alcoholic beverage, and have eaten a piece of strawberry cake and fruit pizza. I also celebrated birthdays, graduations, new babies, and other successes of others. I have been able to live without the fear of worrying about the number on the scale, which is something that I have not been able to do in a very long time. Yesterday marked the end of my 3 week period without the scale. I stepped on it and weighed 144.

I know that I did not need to lose any weight, and I am sure that most of it was due to stress from my final exams. I am sharing this story with you because I want to prove to you guys that as long as you are living a healthy lifestyle and making good choices, then your weight will take care of itself. Treat your body good with healthy and nourishing foods, and you will reap the benefits. While you need to be good to your body, don't deprive yourself, because that's not healthy either. If you want a piece of cake at your own Graduation party, then by George, you eat a piece of cake. I did, and I sure enjoyed it. Life is about balance, and moderation. Be active, treat your body right, and ENJOY what life has to offer. Do this and the rest, including that annoying little number on the scale, will take care of itself.