
|
 |
Pharmacy |
 |
|
Over
10,000 products currently online...
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Weight Loss: Stop Weighing Yourself
Wendy Hearn
How do you measure your weight loss? I guess in the same way
the majority of people do, by stepping on your scales and
weighing yourself. This seems to be the accepted way of
judging how well you're doing in your journey to lose weight.
Through my work with many people who wanted to lose weight,
I've found that using scales actually causes more problems
than it solves. How do you feel when you step on the scales
and you've lost some weight? Great, I would guess. Now,
what happens when you step on the scales and find you've
gained weight? I would guess it either confirms that you
haven't taken enough steps to lose weight or in the case of
the majority of people, you end up feeling as if you've failed.
After that feeling of failure, we often find it difficult to
continue. I've noticed that at this point, many people say
they need even more motivation. I'm not convinced that this
is so. What they need is not to be discouraged at every turn.
The long term, permanent route to losing weight is to reduce
your body fat and increase your muscle. When incorporated
into your life, these changes are not likely to reveal a loss
each time you weigh yourself. They'll show up over time, but
not there and then. The scales don't immediately reflect the
steps you take to lose weight. So I suggest that weighing
yourself regularly doesn't accurately measure how well you're
doing.
When they stand on the scales, most people find it very
difficult to deal with if they've gained weight. This is
understandable as we're all human beings with feelings. When
the scales show you've gained weight, your confidence and
self-esteem takes a knock. This is not a healthy position to
be in and makes persevering with your weight loss programme
even harder. It seems to me that it's often a way to punish
ourselves and yet when we're more loving and gentle towards
ourselves, that's when we're most likely to lose weight. I've
known many people, (I've even done it myself), who move the
scales around to different places on the floor to try and get
a different or a better reading. They'll move the scales to
an upstairs room if they show a lower weight. They may step
on the scales several times in a day, or even weigh themselves
before having a drink, so they'll appear lighter. We've been
put under so much pressure by society to be a certain weight,
that we go to almost any lengths to achieve this. However,
all you're doing is deceiving yourself and giving yourself a
hard time. A lot of your energy is consumed by this and I
suggest if you employ that energy to really work at an action
which supports your weight loss, you'll enjoy far greater
success. It's a roller coaster ride, but when it's evened out,
it encourages healthy, permanent weight loss.
What is a healthy way of measuring your weight loss?
I would suggest the most healthy way of measuring your success
is with a tape measure. The tape measure doesn't lie. Okay,
you can pull it a little tighter if you want! Generally, the
tape measure accurately reflects the steps you've taken to
lose weight. Another way is to notice how your clothes feel.
Once they start to get a little looser, you'll know you're
achieving your goal. By the same token, if they get a little
tighter, you'll know it's time to make some more changes. I
also encourage you to record how you feel. When you're taking
exercise regularly and eating healthily, you're likely to feel
more energetic and relaxed. I also believe you'll feel
healthier. It's surprising how, after a few days of unhealthy
eating, you'll notice that you feel more sluggish. We really
do know in ourselves when we've lost or gained weight and I
encourage you to trust yourself and know what's right for you.
You don't need scales to tell you how you've done and to
potentially undermine your confidence, particularly when you've
made a real effort with your weight loss programme.
I suggest you consider getting rid of your scales and instead
put in place a new, healthy way of measuring your success. If
you find it difficult to throw away your scales, I suggest you
box them up and put them away for a while, but agree with
yourself that after a set time you'll throw them away. If you
still can't bring yourself to do this, I suggest you make up
your mind to cut down on the number of times you weigh yourself
each day. Then when you feel ready, take the next step by
getting rid of the scales. Ask yourself, what do you feel
ready to do to start the process of not weighing yourself.
The answer will be different for each of you. Do what feels
right for you.
Wendy Hearn
Weight Loss Success Coach
Author of "What's Eating You? - The Top 10 Things That Stop YOU
From Losing Weight" http://www.PositiveWeightLoss.com
Wendy works with people who want to lose weight and have a great
life. She offers individual and group coaching, via the telephone
or email. Download her FREE ebook now!
http://www.WeightLossCoaching.com
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |