Should you throw out your scale?
Are you obsessed with the number on your scale each time you weigh yourself?
If so, you’re not alone.
Many suffer from being a prisoner to their weight in which self-worth and body image become reliant on it. It’s an enemy as much as a helper and anxiety over what it’s going to say can lead to negative self-talk (such as “I suck”).
In addition, weight scales only provide information on a person’s total weight. And while that can be one piece of health, it’s certainly not everything.
So is a scale the best way to track your health?
It may not be, for some.
If the stress of weighing yourself is becoming too much, step away and regroup. There are a variety of other ways to manage and monitor your health that can help you make lasting change (rather than focusing on a quick fix).
BIA Scale
A bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) scale sends an electrical impulse through the body to examine both time and resistance while moving through tissues and substances (like fat).
It can calculate a wide-range of data points (depending on the brand and type) for overall body composition in such areas as:
- body weight
- water weight
- body fat
- fat-free mass
- body mass index
More than just total weight, a BIA scale can provide a comprehensive look at overall health.
Inches vs. Pounds
No matter what a scale says, if your clothes start fitting better you are probably on the right track.
If weighing yourself becomes unhealthy, take notice of other ways your body is physically changing such as with measurement of your chest, waist, and thighs.
Basic Overall Health
One of the easiest ways to know if your efforts are paying off can be from simply taking note of basic health functions.
Foundational health aspects such as:
- sleep
- energy
- mood
- strength
- digestion
- flexibility
can all be heavily influenced by healthy weight loss measures.
Monitor these areas (and any others that need attention) as you make changes and keep track to learn what does and doesn’t help you feel better.
Ultimately, a scale and other health analyses should be a guide in making changes for new habits and behaviors that help you feel better. Think about what works best for you in order to keep your sanity and find lasting change.
Having difficulty losing or maintaining your weight?
Talk with Dr. Graves.
Please feel free to call us at (303) 688-6698 or click here to schedule a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation with him.
Seeking out the root cause for weight gain or fluctuation can be crucial for effective changes and you don’t have to do it alone.
The CNMA office provides naturopathic care, acupuncture, testing, massage, and holistic counseling to those in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, Parker, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, and the greater Denver metro area. For those outside of these areas, virtual appointments are available.
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