After much thought, I have decided to pack the scale away (lol, I obviously didn't really throw it out the window). I can't take it anymore. Lately, I have really been noticing progress. My clothes are looser, my body just looks tons better, and I can feel some real muscle definition in my arms and especially my legs. When I just look in the mirror, I am really happy and proud of the progress I have made so far. However- it just isn't showing on the scale. Every time I weigh myself, I expect to see a significant loss... and it just isn't there. In fact, sometimes there is a gain. I get all depressed every time I step on the scale, and that just makes me discouraged. Well, I am done with the scale (for now, anyway). For the next three weeks (assuming I can hold out that long) I am just going to keep exercising and eating right, and I am not going to weigh myself. I will just go based on how I feel and how I look and forget about the numbers for a while. Hopefully, at the end of the short hiatus, I will see some movement on the scale in the downward direction- but I won't be nitpicking about a .4 pound gain or a .5 lb loss. McKenna actually suggested going 2-3 weeks in between weigh ins, so I figure it's worth a shot. I don't want to feel sad when I know deep down inside that I am making progress.

I kind of want to learn how to measure myself with a tape measure and keep track, but I don't know really how to go about doing it. Is anyone willing to share info on where, how and when I should measure myself? That just might be a more reliable indicator of my progress. Do you guys agree?

By the way, I hid the scale behind the bedroom door underneath some pillows, and I took the batteries out and threw them in my jewelry box. Hopefully, if I don't see the scale sitting in the bathroom, and I know it will be a lot of work to set the thing up, I will be discouraged from weighing myself impulsively.

Someone on the board once hid their scales in the trunk of the car. That might work for me, but if they were in the house, I'd be digging them out every day.

If I find myself digging for it, I will do something drastic like that. I am pushing myself to learn how to not be obsessive.

the scale can really drive people bonkers i do know that much. i have to fight the urge to weigh every single day and i KNOW if i see numbers going up for any reason (even good logical ones) it really ticks me off and i'm tempted to hide my scale too. but many people notice that exercise does make the scale inch up sometimes even though their body fat percentage is going down.

i think the weighing in every 2-3 weeks is a really good idea. that way you see actual trends and not daily fluctuations that we all have.

i also do the tape measure and find that it is just as good if not better at telling me how i'm doing. every few weeks i jot it down in a notebook. it looks like this:

Waist:
Right upper arm:
Left upper arm:
hips:
Left upper thigh:
Right upper thigh:

This is exactly why I don't even own a scale. My S/C/G should honestly be in pant size not pounds - I just want to get back to wearing size 12 with maybe the occasional 10 like I was before I went on BC rather than my current squeezing uncomfortably into 16 because I refuse to buy an 18. Maybe that would be a good strategy for you too? Buy a pair of pants in the size you should be when you hit your goal and mark your progress by how close you are to fitting into them.

LittleMoonRabbit, I think the most important thing about any measurements you take is to be consistent. Pull the tape measure snugly the same way every time. Then, the next most important thing will be the difference each time you measure (just as the most important result on the scale is the difference). Hope that makes sense and is helpful. Measure soon so that you'll have a baseline for comparison.

Littlemoon
I only do a weigh in every two weeks. Weight ( for me ) can fluctuate to much to weigh in more than that. As long as I see those 2 pounds loss every couple of weeks I am happy lol. I am sure it will get to a point I don't see that much loss but so far so good. 46 weeks and every weigh in there has been at least 2 pounds lost. The huge difference I see is how my clothes fit. How the exercise is toning and reshaping my body. I love the definition I am seeing in my arms and legs. Can even see muscle definition in the tummy area. A scale just can't let you see those results.

Rabbit - You might enjoy this thread:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=138642

You could always make some NSV goals and keep us all updated. Those NSV's are just as precious (if not more so) than the scale victories! It might be just the thing to help keep you away from the scale for the time being.

I'm still a newbie. What are "NSV" goals?

Hey there Oreo

NSV means Non-Scale Victory. For those things like losing inches, or fitting into clothes a size smaller, running for a certain distance or time. Any victory that isn't related to the number on the scale.

Here's a list of some acronyms commonly used:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83430