Scale equal enemy

[Totsie]

I decided today not to weigh myself for two months. I had my surgery on May 10th, but the scale isn't showing me anything positive. I feel like the scale is my enemy and I will not let it stop me. In order to keep focus, I decided to use my clothing as a guide. Last week I lost 9lbs according to the scale. This week I have gained eleven pounds. I have exercised more this week than last week, and my liquid diet hasn't changed much. Therefore, I should have lost weight or at least maintained my weight.

I am not going to allow the enemy to win (the scale). I am mentally prepared for this diet and will continue my exercise routine. Each week I plan on increasing my walk and time on the treadmill, until my 90 days are up. At this point, the aerobic classes and personal trainer will become my best friend, next to my husband.

The war is on and I will prevail...over that @#$% scale!

P.S. These forums are such an inspiration and the best support. Reading other people's struggles and rewards helps me tremendously.

[Smiley]

That is a huge fluctuation over two weeks. Is your scale battery operated? Maybe it needs new ones.

[RevyD]

Way to go Totsie. I love your attitude and know that with that attitude you certainly will prevail!!

[Totsie]

Way to go Totsie. I love your attitude and know that with that attitude you certainly will prevail!!

Revy thanks for your response. You are my hero and I would like to be like you! I had the by-pass surgery in 2000, and after 5/6 years I have gained 60 lbs. The lapband is my second and last chance at this weight loss thing. I must mention, I never hit goal when I had the bypass surgery. I started at 336 and lost down to maybe 210 (for about a day) This time I am married and my husband supports me whole heartly. He's dieting and walking with me (of course he is losing weight more quickly...men got it like that).

I am going to keep at it. My goal is 175...at that point I am running to the plastic surgeon to get my arms done first, then the tummy tuck.

I will not allow that scale to scare me off. I was using the gym scale to weigh in Friday's, now I will use my mirror and clothing as my weight guide.

P.s. - People always said keep a food diary...who has time. I am almost 50, go to school part-time, work full time. My 7 day week only feels like 3 days...so doing a food diary is not an option.

Thanks again for you support and YOU LOOK FANTASTIC!

[RevyD]

Thanks Totsie. I have to tell you I have been faithful with my food diary and not missed a day since I was banded. Like you i am incredibly busy but I knew if this was going to be life changing for me that i needed to wrap my head around what was going in my mouth and learn what correct portion sizes were. I am a single parent, manage a 39 bed acute care medical unit and am going to school getting a management degree with a health speacilty option, but I make sure that I take a few minutes every evening to write everything down I ate, and how many calories and protein it was. Also exercise I have done. I also in the same diary keep tract of my weekly weight and at the end of each month I take pictures , do measurements, and write down my BMI and body fat percentage. The combination of these things has been a great encouragement for me. For example maybe I have not lost as much weight as I would like in a month but my measurements say I have lost inches, that keeps me motivated. Also if I am feeling like eating something I should not, I will look back through my diary for the past year and see the pictures, lost weight, and lost inches and by the time I have done that I am so motivated again that I don't want to eat anything but what is good for my body.

I have never journaled food before because I was always "too busy", but I am positive that it is one of the reasons I have been so successful with my new life style. I have gone from 317 to 185 since last year so all I can say is give it a try girl, it might help to keep you motivated just like it does me

Debbie

[EcMjawad1]

Hi all,

As a fairly newly banded person (March) I had to smile and say "way to go" with your war on the scale. I too was a scale addict and all it did for 15-20 years was help me to be a regular on the weight roller coaster of my life...once banded I decided cut the scale out except for once every couple of months--clothing is the best gauge...Now I have to say, I too am almost 50, work 6 days a week, and am finishing up my Master's degree...but one thing I have done is to find time to go on this site and track my food with CalKing..this is a must for keeping me honest and to gauge how much I am eating with the band, and now my first fill. I would recommend you try and find the time..I have learned a lot about my eating, I am not on any food plan which is another reason I got the band--I want to eat normal food, any kind of "diet" puts me mentally in the same place as the scale..not good. But I feel better than I have in years, I know I am loosing weight, I don't care how long it takes, and I am learning new ways to deal with emotions other than food...all very worth it. Good luck, and keep coming to this site and the support we all give each other.

[karenci]

Another thing to watch out for is the size tag in your clothing - they lie! I told myself that I was a size 14 - because I had a couple of generously cut 14's that I could get into with the help of a spanx - but in reality I was a 16 or 18. Now, down 29 lbs, I am wearing 'real' 14's and the occasional well-cut 12 - so if I let that tag influence me I'd be totally discouraged. I have a pair of size 14 Lee 'slimming' jeans that I could get into before (by laying on the bed and sucking in my stomach) as long as I washed them in cold water and line-dried. Now I can wear them if I wash them in hot water and run through the dryer, but only for an hour or so until the sag gets too bad - those are my ruler. When I can't even wear them hot out of the dryer I will know I've made some serious progress!!

[EcMjawad1]

Hey Karen,

Great points! I use a full length mirror too just to see how well the outfit looks on, no matter the size. Your right about the variations in size though. I just ordered some jeans in a 16 from Chadwicks...well they are smaller than the 16's I have on so...it will be a while, but I don't really care the size just the fit..thanks for your tips...