Why do we dread stepping on the scale? For years I have had a love/hate relationship with the scale, all because I have been afraid of my weight. I would either get totally obsessed, weighing myself multiple times per day, or completely avoid it. I have asked my husband to hide the scale from me. One time, he smashed it with a sledgehammer. Regardless if I was obsessing or avoiding, I couldn’t stand the thought of stepping on the scale to see the number. I was always ashamed of the result, and angry with myself. My earliest memory of there being a "problem" with my weight was sometime during junior high. It was clear that I wasn't supposed to weigh as much as I did. It was a problem that I couldn't fit into certain styles, or wear a shirt tucked in without a little overlap affectionately referred to as muffin top. To be perfectly honest, I never liked the idea of wearing a perfectly tucked in shirt. It’s not my style. I digress.... My point in sharing this is that I learned at a very early age that there was something wrong with the number on the scale, so there must be something wrong with me, and my body. This has been with me for a very long time, until recently. I can remember a time, not so long ago, when my day would be ruined after I stepped on the scale. I couldn't accept my weight. I allowed the number staring back at me to define who I was, and what I was worth. I made the number mean so much. It determined if I deserved happiness, or if I needed to be punished. All of this from a number. I didn't treat myself very well during those days. There was a lot of negative self talk. The message was the same, regardless if I stepped on the scale or not. I hated my body. I hated the way it looked. I hated the way it felt. I hated everything about the skin I was in. I despised myself for being the size that I was. I was a number. I was not worthy. That’s a whole lot of drama. The saddest part about the tale that I’m telling is that I know I’m not alone. Not even close. We put so much emphasis on a number. What if we stopped? Imagine stepping on the scale completely drama free. No fear. No worry. No negative self talk. What if we just looked at it as data? Nothing more, nothing less. It's simply information that allows us to know what we weigh. It's not good, it's not bad. It is just a number. How does that feel? This year, my impossible goal is to lose 100lbs. One of my actions is to weigh myself every single day. Every morning I step on the scale. It’s become a habit. It’s part of my routine. It doesn’t ruin my day. It doesn’t define who I am. My weight doesn’t determine my worth. It’s merely a way for me to track my progress, and make adjustments. It’s simple. I’m free. I’ve had to do a lot of deep inner work to get to the place I’m at today. It hasn’t happened overnight. I recognize now that I was doing it all wrong. I was trying to lose weight thinking it would fix me. I thought I would finally find happiness, confidence, and the love for my body that I so badly wanted. That's not how this works, not when you're looking for a permanent change. Losing weight will not help you like yourself better. You must learn to accept yourself today, at your current weight, in the skin that you're in. That's the work that needs to happen first. That's how we break the chains. The truth is that I never would have accepted myself, no matter what number the scale showed. I was still the same person, with all the same thoughts, just a lighter version. Here is what I have learned on my journey, and what I want to share with you:
You are not a number.
Your weight is a number. It is just data.
It is your thoughts about the number on the scale that cause you pain.
You can change your thoughts.
You can use the scale as a form of measurement, without any drama.
Your worth is not determined by the number of pounds you weigh.
You are already worthy. You have been since the moment you were born.
You are beautiful. You always have been, and you always will be.
You can do hard things.
If you would like to learn how to break free from the drama surrounding your body, and the scale, then I would love to talk to you. Schedule a FREE & confidential transformation coaching session. It’s on the house. There are no strings attached. During your call we’ll talk about your goals, what keeps you stuck, and explore what is possible for you. You'll walk away with new awareness about yourself, and action you can take moving forward. I offer a free call because I want people to get support with this before they decide to hire me as their coach. I’ve been there, and I know what it’s like. I want to help you break free from the scale once and for all. If we’re a good fit together, I’ll let you know how I can help you further. There’s no pressure, no hassle, just some free help from me. What do you have to lose? I have a limited number of spots available, and it is first come, first serve. If you want one, click here to sign up. Oh, and I hope you will join me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. You'll find daily inspiration and some helpful tips to help you on your journey. I'd love to see you there. xo, Amy