Ah bupbupbup. NO. Put it away. Now!
Now you're thinking, wait... what? Did she {really} just say don't use the scale??
Uhm, yes. That is exactly what I said. I've said it before and it needs to be repeated.
What do you mean you don't understand. Just stop yourself, right now. Re-read everything I just wrote, title and all and let me know when you're back ok?
OK, now that you've got it and it's drilled into your brain. Do NOT use the flipping scale!
I guess maybe I should tell you why?
Here's the problem with the scale, and our society. We put so much importance on a number that has little meaning. It doesn't tell you if you're healthy. It doesn't tell you if you're strong. It doesn't tell you if you've gained endurance.
People tell you that you need to be within a certain range of weight for your height to be {healthy} or that your BMI needs to be less than whatever number it is that it should be less than {see how much I care, that's how much YOU should care}. In all reality those numbers are helpful, but should not be the be all and end all of your life. If you live and die by the scale alone you will certainly die by it.
Your hopes and dreams will go right out of the window. You'll get frustrated and want to give up, you'll say, "it's OK to have this ice cream, I already gained 2 lbs back anyways"
You cannot do this to yourself.
There are plenty of people in this world who are a "healthy" weight but have more plaque buildup than people twice their size. Those same people are what we call skinny fat. There is nothing {wrong} with skinny fat if you are happy, I guess. However, there is so much progress that can be made; just like with someone overweight.
Everyone on this earth is different. Some things work for some people and other things don't. The problem we face is that if someone is "overweight" they are judged that they cannot accomplish things. They cannot run a mile or lift a significant amount of weight, or become more fit. I say fit instead of skinny because I'd rather be fit and {strong} than skinny and fat.
Ya'll wanna look good with the clothes off, not just on. Someday I will be proud to run in booty shorts and a sports bra.
OK back on topic.
The truth is, I weigh 243 pounds and can run a mile. I can leg press and bench press my heart out {albeit not like I used to since I haven't done that in a while}. I can play sports, just like I did at 300 pounds. All of my {measurable} levels are in an amazing range. Except for my weight. My good and bad cholesterol rocks, my blood pressure is awesome, and so are my triglycerides. As a human my body functions and does fairly well; however, I am not happy.
The scale. does. not. matter. No matter what your size is you can have varying degrees of fitness. Your goal should be to be {healthy}. Read it again, let it seep in. {healthy}. There are plenty of people who lose boat loads {maybe not a real boat} of weight by not eating or binging {note i spent a fair amount of time making sure that's how it is spelled because it does not look right}. Or maybe they've always been skinny but drink their weight in beer. Fine, if that's what you want to do go right ahead.
But if you're here... still reading. Probably annoyed that {today} I decided I should write something. Then that isn't you. You want to be fit, you want to feel great. You don't want to settle for less than your body deserves. It {is} your home and all for the rest of your life.
The scale will not and should not be the be all and end all of your day.
The important thing is {progress}
PROGRESS
If the scale shows you lost a few pounds. {GREAT}
If you've busted your A*# and done your program every single day, dripped sweat, cursed at your trainer and gave it your all. You've eaten well and your scale says the same. gosh. dang. thing it said the last time you stepped your fat arse on it. WHO. THE. F. CARES. You know you did the work. You fought tooth and nail to make it through the week.
STOP.
Do NOT focus on the scale. Focus on the fact that you're hitting harder, you're sweating more, you're challenged, you ate well, you have better form or can do all of the reps. But good LORD if I hear you are focusing on that DAMN scale I will break that thing.
Remember how I told you I lost 15.5" in 19 days? Yea, my scale says the same thing it did on that day. I haven't remeasured myself yet but I don't give a F. The scale can shove it. I KNOW I am improving and getting better. At almost 3 weeks into Les Mills Combat I can see that my stomach is getting smaller. I can see that my thighs and arms are getting thinner. I can FEEL the higher intensity of my workouts and my muscles are screaming at me. Yes I've done some of the workouts quite a few times, and the movements get easier, but I still challenge myself.
I don't need a scale to tell me I'm not going back to where I was almost 3 weeks ago. I don't care what it says. And neither should you. Focus on how you feel, stick to the program and eat healthy and clean. Yes I cheated but I got back on track and so can you. Push PLAY. Be EXCITED to workout.
I never thought I could be {EXCITED} to push play. I sit at work all day {still getting my work done mind you} and think about how excited I am to come home and workout. I've been sick a few times, made up the workout. Showed someone the workout by bringing it to them and doing it with them. Came home did it again. I challenged my body. I worked out on my {rest} day because I {WANTED} to workout.
I can't explain the high, or why it is the way it is. Something about endorphins ;)
{If you're not excited to workout everyday, you're probably doing it wrong}
My point is, after all of this rambling. That {hopefully} you can feel my excitement, and you start realizing that the scale is {just a number}. It can be helpful but you should NOT. EVER. Let it ruin your progress. If it's that much of a {debbie downer} in your life then please just get rid of it and invest in a tape measure.
Measuring is time consuming so you'll only do it one time every 1-1.5 weeks. Promise?
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