Weight Loss Support - How Do You Deal With Doctor Weigh-Ins?

I've noticed that many of us here have a love/hate relationship with the scale. Obviously I love weighing myself everyday and seeing new progress but hate it when I'm at a standstill. I weigh myself three times per day, ideally. Once in the morning at 5:30, again around 1:00 in the afternoon, and once again in the evening around 7:00 at night. I have my rituals before getting onto the scale, which consist of the usual stuff, being undressed and un-showered (wetness adds pounds!). But what do you do when you're required to weigh-in at the doctor's office? I HATE stepping on the scale fully clothed and with my shoes on (usually because the MA is in a major hurry and ushers you onto the scales before you have a chance to chuck 'em off). I always close my eyes because I know the numbers will be a good five pounds or so heavier than what my true weight is. It's very frustrating and even somewhat traumatizing to me. I've tried to refuse getting on before but they insist they need a weight. And due to my recent and ever-changing insurance, I have been bouncing around between doctors, so it's a new weigh-in every new office visit. It sucks! How do you mentally prep yourself for dealing with this? Or am I the only one who has major issues with it? :(

I just deal with it I guess. I always hate it. I especially hated before digital scales when they would start me off on the 100 weight thingy and get all the way to 150 and realize they had to move it up and then they would still have to move the other little bar over a lot. Bleh.

One trick - wear flip flops - so easy to take off and they weigh nothing if you can't.

And I had to laugh about wetness = weight. I do the same thing. All that water in my hair - must add at least 5 pounds. Haha.

You're not the only one. Usually I just get on the scales, close my eyes and tell the MA that I don't want to know what the scales says. I know they need to weigh me to ensure that, if medication is prescribed for any reason, the proper amount is prescribed based on my weight but I don't have to like it!

I know the numbers will be a good five pounds or so heavier than what my true weight is.

IF you know this to be the case, if you are certain of this, than why would it bother you??? If you are always up five pounds, then you are always up five pounds and there is nothing to sweat.

If you were at home, and you stepped on the scale holding a 5 lb bag of flour and therefore your weight would be up by 5 lbs, would it freak you out? No. Because you are CERTAIN that you will be up 5 pounds and therefore it's nothing whatsoever to freak out about. Same difference with your doctors scale.

Nope, I hate it too. The used to have people go barefoot in those gown things to weigh in (which was much better, as the gowns weigh like NOTHING), but now they'll weigh you if you're wearing a leather jacket and biker boots for crying out loud.

AND they like announce your weight to the whole office, no matter who's nearby. Ugh.

What I do is wear lighter, smaller clothes and flip flops or slip-off shoes. If I'm feeling vulnerable and really want a good weigh-in at the doctor's, I'll do the clothing thing even if it's cold (I just wear warm stuff over it).

Maybe try weighing yourself with your lightest clothes on and see what difference that makes.

Or, think of it this way - the doctor weigh-in isn't the REAL one. You're going by your own scale, so that's your real one. It's the same as if you borrowed a friend's scale.

Don't worry about it too much - just remember that you're healthy and doing well. :)

I usually step on the scale backwards, that way I don't have to look at the numbers.

We had a Heath Fair at work yesterday and the scale there said I was 208 - in jeans and a sweater and after a big lunch (I think I kicked my shoes off tho). Yeah, sure I like this morning's 201 much better but heck - 208!!! Wow! That's still nearly 80 pounds less than a year ago. Back then I would have thought I'd died and gone to heaven to get a 208.

Whatever your doctor's scale says - it says less than it did when you started your journey. Celebrate *that* and don't worry that the number isn't as low as at home.

IF you know this to be the case, if you are certain of this, than why would it bother you??? If you are always up five pounds, then you are always up five pounds and there is nothing to sweat.

If you were at home, and you stepped on the scale holding a 5 lb bag of flour and therefore your weight would be up by 5 lbs, would it freak you out? No. Because you are CERTAIN that you will be up 5 pounds and therefore it's nothing whatsoever to freak out about. Same difference with your doctors scale.
"Know" is perhaps the wrong word. I suspect the numbers to be at least a good five pounds or more with clothes and shoes on. Again, I'm not certain because I don't look and I don't want the MA telling me. But you have to understand it's the mental anxiety that I'm experiencing. It's knowing that I'm definitely weighing more than what I do undressed and un-showered. And I hate that this particular number, is what gets recorded. Meh.

I don't mind at all. I know what I weigh, so what can the scale at the doctor's office tell me that I don't already know?

Also, I wish doctors would talk more candidly about weight with their patients. Being overweight is primarily a health issue. So, it *should* be talked about.

I close my eyes as I do when I get a mammogram. Luckily Canadian doctors use metric and I don't bother converting. I just compare it to the previous metric weight.

I have to say I usually don't mind the weigh in part. It's my bp reading that makes me nervous (idk why either, it's usually fine! LOL) I usually know what I weigh before I go to the doctor and actually alot of the times I end up weighing less then my at home scale! My drs office is extremely private about it. Their scales are in a little corner were no one else can see them and I always get my favorite nurse, who is also strugglin' with her weight! So we have an understanding with one another :0) My drs is great too! She doesn't harp on me because she knows I'm working my hardest!

But the best tip is to just go on it backwards! My best friend is pregnant and hates to see her weight. She had lost a ton of it before she became pregnant and is nervous to get back up again. She just told the nurse she doesn't want to hear her weight. They respect that! Then her dr will tell her if she needs to slow down on her weight gain or if she's good! She's actually not gaining weight, so she pretty lucky right now LOL.

I don't mind at all. I know what I weigh, so what can the scale at the doctor's office tell me that I don't already know?

Also, I wish doctor's would talk more candidly about weight with their patients. Being overweight is primarily a health issue. So, it *should* be talked about.
It should be talked about. You're absolutely right. It's just harder when you're dealing with bulimia.

Doesn't bother me. I enjoy it, actually. I remember going to the doctor before weight loss and having them slide the scale lever to the "100" and then seeing them slide it over to the "200". Now, they usually start at 150 so I get a small thrill every time I step on the doctor's scale. :-) Sometimes I'll ask them, "What was the weight?" (as if I didn't notice) just so I can hear them say it out loud. lol!

I have to say I usually don't mind the weigh in part. It's my bp reading that makes me nervous (idk why either, it's usually fine! LOL) I usually know what I weigh before I go to the doctor and actually alot of the times I end up weighing less then my at home scale! My drs office is extremely private about it. Their scales are in a little corner were no one else can see them and I always get my favorite nurse, who is also strugglin' with her weight! So we have an understanding with one another :0) My drs is great too! She doesn't harp on me because she knows I'm working my hardest!

But the best tip is to just go on it backwards! My best friend is pregnant and hates to see her weight. She had lost a ton of it before she became pregnant and is nervous to get back up again. She just told the nurse she doesn't want to hear her weight. They respect that! Then her dr will tell her if she needs to slow down on her weight gain or if she's good! She's actually not gaining weight, so she pretty lucky right now LOL.

My blood pressure has generally been in the normal range. But when it's high I'm usually dealing with my bipolar mania. It peaks when I'm stressed or is even triggered by just plain old anxiety and uncomfortableness.

Doesn't bother me. I enjoy it, actually. I remember going to the doctor before weight loss and having them slide the scale lever to the "100" and then seeing them slide it over to the "200". Now, they usually start at 150 so I get a small thrill every time I step on the doctor's scale. :-) Sometimes I'll ask them, "What was the weight?" (as if I didn't notice) just so I can hear them say it out loud. lol!
Haha. Well having a good sense of humour is a virtue :] I need to lighten up with a lot of things..

It doesn't worry me. I'm not terribly concerned what my 'real' weight is or what my clothed weight is; the only figures that matter to me are the once-a-day reading on my own scale. As long as they're heading in the right direction, I don't care what other scales say.

I totally get this. My scale is broken and I am patiently awaiting the arrival of it's replacement. I am missing my own personal weigh-in today and will miss my biggest loser weigh-in on Monday. I feel way uneasy about it. I am nervous that my new scale won't be accurate too. My hubby recommended I go down to the grocery store and weigh myself on their scale but honestly, I'll be clothed so I'll weigh heavy and I don't want to stress myself like that. This weight thing is very much an emotional battle as well b/c it just means so much that you don't want to slide backwards. I just try to remind myself that whether or not I can weigh-in, sticking to my eating plan has the most affect on the scale reading. :hug:

*clip*

Also, I wish doctor's would talk more candidly about weight with their patients. Being overweight is primarily a health issue. So, it *should* be talked about.

THIS. I have never, ever had a doctor tell me to lose weight, even when I was 5'5" and 302lbs. SOMEONE should have said something - but not even my OBGYN when I was pregnant with my daughter and gained 80lbs, going from 230 to 310. Why didn't they say something?!

ETA: And I totally get that it is MY fault that I gained the weight, not the doctors. But it was OBVIOUSLY a health issues - why wouldn't they say something?

THIS. I have never, ever had a doctor tell me to lose weight, even when I was 5'5" and 302lbs. SOMEONE should have said something - but not even my OBGYN when I was pregnant with my daughter and gained 80lbs, going from 230 to 310. Why didn't they say something?!

ETA: And I totally get that it is MY fault that I gained the weight, not the doctors. But it was OBVIOUSLY a health issues - why wouldn't they say something?

I think they assume you know. I do wish more doctors said things to people about it b/c obesity is health problems waiting to happen.

My doctors haven't held back and at first I felt picked on. Why else would they tell a pregnant woman to watch their diet and weight so much? Well, b/c they cared and they know the perception of weight is way off in this country b/c we see such extremes of uber-skinny and obese.

THIS. I have never, ever had a doctor tell me to lose weight, even when I was 5'5" and 302lbs. SOMEONE should have said something - but not even my OBGYN when I was pregnant with my daughter and gained 80lbs, going from 230 to 310. Why didn't they say something?!

ETA: And I totally get that it is MY fault that I gained the weight, not the doctors. But it was OBVIOUSLY a health issues - why wouldn't they say something?

I think many doctors are sick of telling patients they need to lose weight and having patients respond by ignoring them - or worse, becoming irate.

Yes, they should talk to you about it. But when they've talked to 200 patients about it and been rewarded by 100 of those patients coming back even fatter and the other 100 not bothering to come back at all (because they don't want to hear "the fat lecture" again), there comes a point when they just get sick of trying.

I never get sick so it's not something I've had to deal with. I did have to go to my primary a couple months back so I could get a referral. It's an army clinic so I was so embarrassed when this really in shape soldier sat me down to get my stats. He didn't have me get on the scale, he just asked how much I weight. I completely froze for like three seconds then I spat out the first thing that popped into my head. "195" :o That's pretty unreasonable even though I carry my weight well. He didn't bat an eye or hesitate writing it down, but who knows what he was thinking. :halfempty

Hopefully next time I have to see a Dr I will have lost enough weight to be proud of where I am, even if it's still over 200. :)

Isn't that the worst?? Being asked how much you wiegh. I hate that! Do I lie? Can they tell I'm lying? But how can I tell the truth?

I remember one time I went to get a fishing license with a guy I had just started dating. They asked me my weight right in front of him. I finally said "165 and it's all boobs" just to try to be funny. Of course, I was lying about the weight and I have a size A chest so yeah. But they did laugh so that was something.

THIS. I have never, ever had a doctor tell me to lose weight, even when I was 5'5" and 302lbs. SOMEONE should have said something - but not even my OBGYN when I was pregnant with my daughter and gained 80lbs, going from 230 to 310. Why didn't they say something?!

ETA: And I totally get that it is MY fault that I gained the weight, not the doctors. But it was OBVIOUSLY a health issues - why wouldn't they say something?
Another issue is declining fertility. I know women in their late 30s/early 40s struggling with fertility. Every time they went to the doctor, they were asked, "Are you planning to have children?" When they said, not yet, the doctor just continued on -- with no discussion of the risks of waiting with respect to declining fertility or the increased risk of birth defects. And these were OB/GYNs!

Human sexuality is discussed in school with girls -- first in grade 4 or 5 (the basic mechanics/plumbing), then again in high school (how to avoid getting pregnant or STDs). But after that, no one talks about it. Not even doctors. And then women see actresses having babies in their 40s and have no idea how incredibly difficult that can be.

OK. End rant.

I think many doctors are sick of telling patients they need to lose weight and having patients respond by ignoring them - or worse, becoming irate.

Yes, they should talk to you about it. But when they've talked to 200 patients about it and been rewarded by 100 of those patients coming back even fatter and the other 100 not bothering to come back at all (because they don't want to hear "the fat lecture" again), there comes a point when they just get sick of trying.
My doctor has talked to me about weight since my late teens. He is great.

My health has always been generally good. Low/normal BP, good heart rate recovery, normal cholesterol. Great. But when I was at my highest weight, my cholesterol also became high. Over 200 high. We talked about it. A lot. Then I dropped 125 points in < 2 years with diet and exercise. He was thrilled. If we hadn't had that talk, I'd never have done that.

I have a friend who is my age and height. (mid 20s, 5'8"ish) and probably weighs what I did where I started (she says the number is much lower, but since we have the same build, and when I started, the exact same measurements, I have a hard time believing that she weighed 40 lbs less... but I digress) Regardless, she has bad knees and back problems. Has already had atleast one knee surgery. Will be having another before too long. Has never had a doctor mention her weight at all. Not once. And while she's not morbidly obese, it's shocking to me that her not even her surgeon recommended losing weight before or after surgery to lessen the pressure on her knee.


As for the scale at the doctor's- I'm generally pretty okay. The exception was the firstt ime I went back to my old doctor. The last time I had been there was a few years ago and I was under 140. My next weigh in was at 220. I told the nurse "I know my weight has gone up a lot since the last time I was here, but I have lost 20 pounds so far and am working on more." She smiled at me and wrote "Patient has already lost 20 lbs!" with a big happy face and told be congrats. Now, it doesn't bother me because I don't consider it an accurate representation of my daily weight.

In situations where I was asked to step on the scale, I said, "No, thank you," and the nurses said, "Oh, OK!" This went on for years. Now I go to a doctor's office where I'm never weighed -- or haven't been so far. But I'd actually go ahead and get on the scale now, if they asked. :) Anyway, the point is that being weighed isn't a requirement. You can always say "No, thanks", and they have to respect that.

I usually turn away from the scale, I don't look at the number and I don't ask. The number on the docs scale will just frustrate me because I'm wearing clothes, shoes, coat, watch, sunglasses, etc.

I actually WANT to go to the doctor so they can see I've lost weight lol. But I just bite my tongue and get it over with, then I receive the "you're a pretty girl, you could lose some weight, just start walking" speech and i'm on my way.

I weigh in fully clothed at the gym every week, so doctor's offices don't really bother me.

Many doctors will not say anything about weight unless other health issues prompt them too. One reason is that many doctors aren't trained to help people with weight issues. They don't really spend time with you explaining nutrition and exercise. I think having at least one to two sessions with a nutritionist and a personal trainer would be better than talking to a doctor about weightloss.

I'm really kind of shocked by how many of you have said that doctors never brought up weight problems. I don't think I've ever seen a doctor who hasn't brought it up with me--even when I was only 10-15 pounds overweight. Part of the reason I try to avoid going to the doctor is because I don't want to deal with being weighed and then getting a lecture on my weight. I have an OB/GYN appointment on Thursday that I've been delaying and delaying for way too long, and it's mostly because I didn't want to go through the whole process of having a new doctor talk to me about needing to lose weight. But since I've now lost some weight, at least I can go in there this week and say that I'm working on it!

So...yeah, my approach (which I am not recommending anyone follow) has been avoidance. But when I do have to get weighed at the doctor, I don't face away or anything, I just grimace and let them do it. But if I'm asked how much I weigh and it's not a new doctor I'm seeing, I'll usually just say it's the same as last time...even if I'm 5-10 pounds heavier. :o