I'd weighed myself at my Mum's house, thinking I'd weighed about 170, maybe 175. I was surprised by the number although I'd known I'd gained. Today I took the 4km walk to the store to buy myself a proper scale, secretly thinking I'd be surprised by a reading of 170 or so, since I'd had a couple friends mention I'd been looking slimmer. In reality, I weight about 20 lbs heavier than I thought. It's a huge blow to my confidence and I suddenly don't know where I stand with my goals. They feel impossible. Has anyone else been here? Felt suddenly shocked by a weigh-in? Any tips?


You are all lovely and I sincerely applaud those who have realized their goals - it's truly inspiring.

Oh, yes, I've definitely had this happen. It was good for me, though: it made me realize that I have to weigh in daily to stay accountable and kicked my butt to getting back on plan more rigorously.

Dont be dishearted you have your own scales now just keep up with the weigh-ins and work a little bit harder when you go astray, it happens to everyone

I just weighed myself, first time in over a year. Same as you I was 20lbs heavier than I thought. I thought I was about 210ish turns out I'm 230. HOLY COW! this is the biggest Ive ever been but Im not angry I knew i had put on weight and I have already started to change my eating habits so yeah its going to take longer and yeah goals are further away but we have decided to make the change so why get discouraged? This actually makes me more determined. I know I will never weigh this much again. When I weigh myself next wednesday its going to be in the 220's. Take it little by little dont give up and dont let those 20lbs knock your confidence! You're the same person you were before you weighed yourself. Give it a few weeks and those 20lbs will be history!

I know your dissapointed but turn this into something positive. Now you can wiegh yourself more often. I weigh myself almost every day and it's made me understand the natural wieght flutuations my body goes through. Pat yourself on the back for getting your on scale. You can do this!

I've had this happen too, and it is a shock. But like the others have said you can turn it into a good thing!

I also weigh myself every day to keep myself accountable. I've been struggling with the mindset that if I plan to lose weight I will, even if I do help myself to that chocolate muffin or heap of chocolate chip cookies.

That scales will be your best friend when you see it giving you more and more good news.

Wow, thank you all so much for your encouraging words! It's really good to know that others are having the same experiences. A lot of my friends are slim without much effort and those who aren't don't talk about it much. I'm starting to see why so many on here are praising the forum for supporting them.

I was a bit dumb though, weighing myself at night AND on carpet (I've heard scales aren't accurate unless they're on a hard surface but forgot that in my hysteria). This morning I was pleased to see a lower reading on the scale and have vowed to never weigh in before bed as it will just launch me into a not very nice place.

I weigh myself in the morning before breakfast and in my underwear as i feel to many clothes add pounds loool

I weigh myself first thing in the morning, bare-*** nekkid and on the way to the shower.

The sight I see in the mirror gives me that little bit more dedication to staying on track all day.

I second what Crow said.

Don't let the news about your weight change anything - why should it? Your game plan should be exactly the same whether you weigh 20 pounds more or 100 pounds more than you thought: formulate a plan you can stick to, and stick to it. If you do that, over time the weight will come off. Doesn't matter how much weight it is!

this happened to me a couple years ago. i went from 180 to relapsing and then finally stepping on that scale again, only to look on with horror at the number being 250. i didn't do anything to fix it and made excuses and gained another 24 lbs before i finally did something about it.

Well said!!

don't worry about the number. It's just a number. You are still the exact same size you were before you weighed yourself and you still have the exact same number of pounds to drop before you hit the size you want to be.

ugh I got on the scale this morning and felt the saame way! I got on the scale this morning and even gained a pound from last week.. how insane.. lol. But definitely showed me now I've really got to get my butt into gear! Lets just keep on chuggin along towards our goals!! ;]] haha!