How do you stop focussing on the numbers on the scale?

[Anonymous]

I've had issues with my weight and food since I was 13, so that is 10 years now. I'm not saying I am or was anorexic but I would think it was easier to not eat as much so I could be thin. Not in a sick way, I got out of it and I'm on a healthy weight (I assume) from 55 kilo's and I'm one metres 65. I googled it and this means: 5ft 5 and 121 pounds (if it's wrong, blame google).

I do feel a bit chubby. My upper legs are flubby and my arms. So I'm gonna try to diet now, though I don't know what I'm eating wrong that I gain so much weight, I used to weigh 3 kilo's less than now.

So anyways, this occupies me a lot. Any of you who got that out of their minds?

Please no rude or stupid comments.

[Anonymous]

Well first off, from your description, you don't sound like you need to lose weight to me (being that I'm 5 inches shorter and weigh only about 12 lbs less), but I can understand that you might feel you do.

I used to be pretty pre-occupied with the scale myself and while I'm not going to tell you it's not important, it's definitely not everything health-wise. You should be aware of your weight simply to monitor any large fluctuations in it as these can be indicators of health problems. But you also have to be aware weight fluctuates depending on a lot of factors (including where you are in your cycle) so you can't obsess about every kilo or pound or you'll drive yourself crazy.

I would say the way I got myself away from worrying about the scale so much was to focus on the inches and fitness of my body rather than my weight. Can I lift more, run/skip longer, do more push ups or crunches? Did I graduate to another level of pilates? Have I lost inches but not weight? If I can answer yes to these questions (any of them really) it means I'm improving my health and fitness, getting stronger, toning my body and looking better without necessariyl losing weight.

Keep in mind that your body will have a weight range of about 2-3 kilos (or around 5-7 pounds) that is its ideal weight and it wants to rest there. That's not to say you can't go below or above it, but that's where your body operates best at and where it wants to be so going below it is difficult. This is a very individualistic thing so I can't give you much of an idea of yours, but mine at one metre 52 (5ft nothing) is between 48-50 kilos...

As for food, you need to change the way you see food. Eating less is not always better- it's more about how you view food. See food as fuel for your body to get stronger, fitter, and faster. It needs the best fuel for this, which is not obviously junk food. It does need salad and fruit, but it also needs protein (a lot of it if you're training) and some complex carbs (bread, pasta, rice etc). You want to make your metabolism as efficient as possible- this means eating every two hours or so. Not a huge meal, but a snack of 200 calories or so interspersed with some larger meals.

I'm still working on all this of course, but my best advice is to plan what you eat and really start to think about it- once you do that, you won't find yourself craving the bad foods as much nor will you see food as the enemy. Food is going to help you get where you want to go.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds obvious, but not weighing yourself helps a lot :P Focus on how the foods you eat makes you *feel* instead of immediately thinking about how it might change your weight. It makes me sound like a hippie to say "just listen to your body," but seriously, it does know what it needs.

[iwish46]

121 pounds for someone who is 5ft 5 sounds like a pretty good weight. I don't think that you really need to lose any weight. 3 kilo's isn't that much of a difference in my opinion. Maybe if you feel chubby and your upper legs and arms feel flubby work them out a little bit (if you don't already).

[Tal234]

listen hun you gotta stop worrying about your weight if somone likes you then they like you for you not for your body for me it matters how the girl inside not outside. Enjoy

[Anonymous]

Go by appearance. And also, stop worrying about a little fat. A little fat is healthy on women.