This Is Why I Don’t Care (That Much) About Scale Weight
Let me clarify: I don’t think weight is completely meaningless.
It can be one piece of information.
But weight is not a behavior.
And I care far more about what you’re doing consistently than what a number happens to say on any given morning.
Definition of a Behavior: "The way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others."
A behavior is an action you can practice.
Things like:
Adding vegetables to your meals.
Eating enough protein.
Choosing foods that give you energy and keep you satisfied.
Drinking enough water.
Getting enough sleep.
Moving your body regularly.
Spending time outside.
Going to your health checkups.
Finding ways to manage stress.
Paying attention while you eat.
Drinking less alcohol.
Not smoking.
Resting when your body needs it.
Those are health behaviors.
Your weight is not.
You cannot wake up in the morning and simply choose a number.
Yes, your habits can influence your weight.
But so can your genetics, hormones, medications, stress, sleep, digestion, muscle mass, menstrual cycle, age, and approximately a dozen other things your bathroom scale does not care to explain.
That distinction matters because people often become so focused on the outcome that they stop valuing the behaviors creating the outcome. The person they’re becoming along the way.
They can be eating better.
Feeling stronger.
Sleeping more.
Having more energy.
Improving their relationship with food.
Feeling more comfortable in their body.
And still decide none of it “counts” because the scale has not moved quickly enough.
That is a wild amount of power to give a piece of metal on the bathroom floor.
We let it determine how we feel that day.
What we eat that day.
Whether we exercise that day.
How we speak to ourselves that day.
Whether we believe we are doing a good job.
Sometimes, someone feels genuinely proud of how they’ve been taking care of themselves. They feel better physically. They’re enjoying their routine. They’re building momentum.
Then they step on the scale looking for one tiny hit of external reassurance.
The number is not what they hoped for.
And suddenly, all of the progress they could feel five seconds earlier disappears.
They feel frustrated.
Defeated.
Hopeless.
Maybe they start restricting.
Maybe they skip a meal.
Maybe they punish themselves with exercise.
Maybe they give up altogether on the habits that were actually helping them.
This is one of the biggest reasons I do not want weight to be the main character in your health journey.
Because it is not always a reliable reflection of the work you are doing.
And it is definitely not qualified to determine how you should treat yourself.
So, instead of only asking, “Did I lose weight?” try asking:
Am I moving my body more consistently?
Am I getting stronger?
Can I walk, run, lift, or climb stairs more easily?
Do I have more energy?
Am I sleeping better?
Am I managing stress differently?
Do my meals leave me feeling nourished and satisfied?
Am I less consumed by thoughts about food?
Am I recovering faster?
Am I in less pain?
Are my health markers improving?
Is my digestion more regular?
Do I trust myself more?
Am I proud of how I’m showing up?
Does taking care of myself feel more natural than it used to?
Those things count so much more than you know.
They are not consolation prizes while you wait for the “real” progress to happen.
They are the progress.
Your weight may change as a result of your behaviors.
It may change slowly.
It may fluctuate.
It may not respond exactly the way you expected.
But your job is not to control every outcome.
Your job is to keep practicing the behaviors that help you feel strong, healthy, supported, and connected to yourself.
The scale can be information.
It does not get to be your judge.
Azul is a Certified Health and Self-Development Coach on a mission to change the way you approach fitness and nutrition - by first changing the way you approach your relationship to self. She coaches women who want to improve their wellness and relationship to self with science-based holistic practices designed to transform their habits and mindset around food, fitness, and self-care. You can schedule a free 20-minute intro call to learn more by clicking here.
