Comments on: Weight a month

By: Jim Purdy

Jim Purdy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:42:03 +0000

Monthly? I think that I need feedback more often than that, usually every day. When I go too long between weighing, I sometimes get a bad surprise when I finally do get back on the scales.

Good luck. I’ll be eagerly watching to see how you do.

By: Stephanie Quilao

Stephanie Quilao — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:42:21 +0000

Very insightful distinction, “your body’s comfortable weight versus your mind’s comfortable weight.” Those really are two different things.

By: Zentient

Zentient — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:30:43 +0000

The “best diet tips” range from “throw out your scale” to “weigh daily or you’re in peril”. What’s the truth? The scale is a tool, to be used to benefit YOU, and how you use it can change over time.

If monthly weigh-ins don’t work, try something else or go back to what you were doing. No big risk, just try it and learn from it, like you’ve been doing all along in your spirited adventure!

By: Mia

Mia — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:07:02 +0000

Good for you trying something new. Not weighing has been a really good thing for me, not only emotionally, but also fitness wise. That said, I really don’t think there’s a “right” way to deal with the scale, it depends on the individual, like you said.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:45:59 +0000

Hi Pasta Queen. I’ve been reading your blog for a while now but am a first time commenter, and I can empathize with your mental block. I have very similar stats, about the same height and struggling with the same weight range. For me, every time I hit around 170, I have a mental weight loss breakdown and bounce back up 5 or 10 lbs.

I mostly wanted to say that I hope your experiment with monthly weigh-ins is a success. I have recently discovered that regularly taking my waist measurement is a good motivator, at least for me. It doesn’t have the negative stigma attached to it than the scale has.

I am starting my own experiment as well … I am no longer waiting to do anything “until I lose X pounds”. I will buy clothes that fit me now, not 5,10,15 lbs from now. I will try out new recipes now even if they are not as diet-perfect as grilled chicken breast. Etc.

By: Manic Mommy

Manic Mommy — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:53:35 +0000

Hey there! THank you so much for stopping by Manic Mommy’s and leaving the nice comment. I appreciate you wanting to help the blood cause!

Also, when it gets closer to your book debut time, PLEASE let me know and I would love to promote it on Manic Mommy/do a review/whatever I can to help out! I am really excited to read your book and I think it will be a great motivator for every one of us out there trying to lead a healthier lifestyle… which, on that note, I have lost 7.6 pounds on WW since December 1!!!

: )

Happy New Year, and thanks again so much for the comment and the help!

By: Marshmallow

Marshmallow — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:44:41 +0000

Is it wrong that I focused on the ‘Marshmallow man’ reference at the bottom and thought you were talking about me? O_O

Whatever suits you at the time, I agree. I have three running sets of data – weekly, daily, and monthly; all of them have their pros and cons. It’ll be interesting to see how you benefit from monthly weigh ins :-D

By: ann

ann — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:11:55 +0000

Good luck!

It actually sounds like your body is ready for a brief rest before losing the rest of the weight – that happened to me, I remember – my body took “breaks” when I would losing nothing or next to nothing for a few months.

Maybe just count on keeping your weight stable for the next three months or so – and then gear up to lose again.

By: Happy

Happy — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:51:02 +0000

Hey, not weighing myself led *me* to gain weight, too! I too do not suggest that approach. What a coincidence.

I think this monthly weigh-in idea is an interesting one, and given your specific barrier it just may work.

Another commenter mentioned that they’d never get on the scale again, and that would be my fear for myself, but maybe with the accountability of the blog you won’t have that problem. I think taking your measurements throughout the month is a very good plan, though. It would keep you focused in between weigh-ins.

It seems like once you get to your final goal, going back to daily weigh-ins might be wise. Granted, I say that because it would be wise for me, which doesn’t necessarily mean it would be wise for you.

By: BrightAngel

BrightAngel — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:00:27 +0000

Recently you said:

“I do know that part of the reason I’m eating too much…is because at that moment I care more about eating than I do about weight maintenance.”

I’ve been maintaining a very large loss for the past 23 months, and I know that this is ALWAYS the reason for weight gain.

CAUTION: To my ears, your comments about:

(1) not working toward losing your last 20 lbs to Goal, and

(2) only weighing once a month

sound very much like DENIAL sneaking into the picture.

Remember, Denial is like sleep.

You don’t know you’ve been in it until you wake up.