These Things In My Head...

So...what thoughts are swirling around in my head this weekend? Well...I went to my local Weight Watchers center for my monthly weigh in this morning. The results were good: I'm down 4.8 pounds for March and a total of 8.8 pounds since the first week in February. Go me!! Since I'm a Lifetime member (meaning I've been to the Promised Land of "at goal weight" before), I only have to go to a center to weigh in once a month, which is totally FINE with me.

I have what you might term as a love-hate relationship...mostly on the side of hate...with scales. In my younger days, I used to obsess over seeing a certain number on the scale and fret over minor daily weight fluctuations. Over time, I've managed to break my dependence on the scale.  I still know women who weigh themselves daily...or even several times a day. I decided a long time ago that I didn't want to be a slave to the scale and base my weight loss success solely on its whims.  So...I have a confession to make: I don't even OWN a scale, and I haven't for several years.

Eegads...the horror!! My monthly weigh in is perfect for me because it helps me gauge how my weight loss efforts are going over the course of a month. I no longer fret over daily fluctuations in my weight. It's a hard habit to break, but the scale isn't my only measure of success! I also go by how my pants are fitting...much looser these days, thank you very much! I also have more energy in the evenings since incorporating more fruit and veggies and lowfat dairy products into my eating.

I know my approach may seem a bit radical, but I have to tell you that it is SO LIBERATING to not be mentally tied to the messages that the scale gives me when I step on it at any given time.  While I was excited to hear that I had lost nearly 5 pounds this month, I knew that I had lost some weight before I even stepped on the scale. That's because I comfortably wore a pair of pants this morning that were too tight in February, and I can feel my jawbone starting to become more defined when I put on my makeup in the mornings.

I know that not everyone reading my blog is at the point where they feel comfortable tossing out their bathroom scale...and that's ok. I just wanted to give y'all some food for thought and encourage you to reflect on your relationship with the scale and the messages it gives you. If you weigh yourself daily, maybe reduce that to once a week for a start. But, in my opinion, it's vital for us to break our reliance on the scale as our sole measure of weight loss success.

Yep...that's what's on my mind today! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this fascinating topic of scales and our relationship with them. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the scoop on my Alexia Home Party and the announcement of the dipping sauce recipe contest winner. Think cilantro lime...