Early last week I asked a new client to weigh herself before our Zoom session. I was preparing her fitness testing and client appraisal info.

She sent me a reply that is just about the coolest thing I’ve heard this year, but at the same time something I struggled to get my head around.

‘I’m sorry but I don’t own any scales.’

This, on so many levels is freaking awesome. You see, she’s a forty something busy working mum with a teenage daughter (plus a pre-teen son). Building body confidence with a teenager is an uphill battle from the get go. Trust me, I don’t have a daughter but sons come with body image issues of their own!

Anyway I’m getting off track!

Point is, she has no idea what she weighs, her clothes told her she wants to lose weight, her winter sport tells her she wants to improve her fitness and her mood tells her she wants to workout for her mental happiness. She’s setting this amazing example for her daughter to not live and die by the number on the scales. They live an active lifestyle, eat well and would have absolutely no idea what calorie counting is and have never been on a ‘diet’. It’s refreshing.

Part of me is jealous.

Part of me is envious

I wish I was like that.

I have been a slave to my bathroom scales forever. Embarrassingly, there’s been times in my life where I would weigh myself up to 10 times a day. It’s unhealthy. I know it’s unhealthy.

10 freaking times.

When I was on my own weight loss journey, long before I began my career in fitness, I’d done my research, I knew that as a woman there were so many things that affected the number on the scales. Hormones, menstrual cycle, hydration, sleep patterns, time of day, body fat versus muscle mass. So many things.

As a membership consultant (my first job in fitness many moons ago) I was trained to help members understand these things. I have told a ridiculous amount of women to throw their scales out.

Yet, if someone told me that, I’d look at them like they had 2 heads and were crazy.

Whenever I’m trying to lose weight whether it be 2kg or 40 (thanks kids and KFC cravings in pregnancy) I’m obsessed. All or nothing is how I am.

This is what obsessed looks like for me,

I’ll weigh first thing in the morning after I’ve been to the loo, if I weigh more than I did yesterday I’ll not eat or drink anything for a couple of hours after I wake up (also so bad for you!) and then strip down and weigh again.

I know it’s so stupid and messes with my head so much but I’ve been this way for at least 13 years, the age of my third born and around the time I decided I was no longer happy being the ‘short, heavy set, bubbly girl with child baring hips’. Yep someone actually described me like that in a mystery shoppers report when I was working in hospitality.

I’ve tried throwing them out, just to end up buying a new set only days later.

I’ve put them up in the cupboard, trying the out of sight, out of mind thing, only to dig them out later the same day.

I know they own me and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I even completely lose my business if someone moves them because I’m convinced it will stuff the calibration.

And

The day before my weekly ‘weigh in day’, like I haven’t already weighed myself 100 times since last ‘weigh in day’, I will make sure I’m an angel, because that number is going to be written in my book!

Even writing this I’m shaking my head.

My justification? While I see the number going down, it means what I’m doing is getting results. Getting results keeps me motivated to keep going.

But here’s the thing. The thing that I preach to clients all the time and have done so for at least 10 years.

You are the only one that knows the number on your scales!

I am literally the only person that knows the number on my freaking scales.

So why does it matter so much?

We are so conditioned when losing weight to weigh ourselves, to set a number goal, and each week we go to whoever our weight loss centre is and do our weekly weigh in. We go to the doctors for a check up and they make you get on the scales. At Antenatal clinics during pregnancy. Body Mass index or BMI is calculated to determine if you are healthy. In my opinion it’s ridiculous, the BMI doesn’t take into account your body fat percentage or the amount of lean muscle mass you have. Let’s throw your height, weight into a formula and determine if you are healthy. Pre baby number 4, I was wearing size 8 top and bottom and my BMI said I was obese. But alas it’s a number that is easy to measure.

So I also do all the healthy things to measure my results. The things I know are the true indicators of progress. The things I tell my clients to use.

Measurements.

Taking measurements at set intervals, for me it’s monthly.

Buy a tape measure. Do your measurements. Definitely a more realistic indication of your progress. Make a note of how and what you measure so you don’t have to try and remember each month. For example, measure you left thigh by marking 20cm from your knee and measuring around your thigh at that point.

Photos.

Taking Photos, front back and side on (or profile) monthly as well is great too. If you are a visual person this one will be your favourite. As our own worst critic, don’t focus on the parts you don’t like. Be holistic! I just go straight to my legs and hips… my partner gets frustrated when I say I can’t see a difference, he tells me it’s obvious. I only see the bad stuff… I always go back to the first photos and remind myself of the way 1 felt about myself versus how I feel about m self now. You’ll love that you did this to remind yourself of the hard work you dedicated to being a better you. I know I do. 10 years after achieving my goal weight I had another baby and boom 46kg later… I have used my before and afters to remind myself that I have done it once I can do it again. With only 10kg to my pre pregnant weight I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m going to have some fresh before and afters!

Clothes

For me, clothes is where it’s at. I love love love being able to fit into something that didn’t fit as it should last week or the week before. I love it even better when they get donated to charity because I need to get a smaller pair.

Why?

My clothes will never lie to me.

They tell it how it is. Tight, time to look at what I’m doing. Loose, good girl you’re on track.

But the results that we should actually get the most satisfaction from? The ones that we don’t always see, not the way our loved ones do anyway?

Other than the obvious change in appearance, the results we should actually be looking to achieve but rarely admit to, the changes our loved ones notice?

Our Health.

You look healthier, because you are healthier. Reductions in blood sugar levels, blood pressure, body fat percentage all help us live longer right? I want to live longer, do you?

Our Mood.

Your mood improves. Look great, feel great, live great. We are nicer to be around when we feel good. As mum's, our children mimic our moods so happy mum happy baby? Yes!

Our Stress levels.

Regular exercise, coupled with a healthy diet can really help our anxiety and stress levels reduce or even go away. Those happy hormones (most certainly not the technical term) that are released into our bodies when we exercise is not a myth. So do yourself a favour, get up early, get it done, enjoy a good mood for the whole day!

Our Fitness.

You are fitter and stronger. You’re chasing and playing with the kids. Back playing sport You want to spend time doing social things. You can get up off the floor without feeling like you are 100. You have this thing called ENERGY. Your babies see a difference. Trust me they do. Whether they are 2 or 22, you babies just know. Mine are seriously into their sport and love that I train regularly because to use the words of my 17 year old.

‘Never apologise for working on yourself mum’

Wise words my boy.

I will never apologise for working on myself. Neither should you. I will try and be less critical of myself. So should you. I will take pride in my commitment to trying to be better than yesterday. I won’t get on the scales 10 times a day, probs once or twice though! Baby steps



If this sounds familiar? If you too are obsessed with the number between our feet, please make sure you balance it with the other positive measures.

And remember how much of a rockstar you are…..