Everyday Systems

Something just occurred to me: it's Thursday, and my weight doesn't matter.

Why is this a big deal? Back in the bad old days, I weighed myself once a week, on Thursdays (probably because long, long ago, that's when my Weight Watchers weigh-in happened). Then, I became more interested in the overall weight loss/gain trend, and I started weighing myself every day...but Thursdays were the only days that "counted" in my head. If I suddenly had a huge random weight loss or gain on a Thursday morning (because we all know how random scales can be), it would make or ruin my day.

I still weigh myself every day, because I continue to be interested in charting the overall trend. But suddenly today's weight doesn't matter any more than yesterday's or tomorrow's. Today is not about a number on the scale; it's about staying on track today, working towards that green hash mark on the calendar.

I don't know what it is about doing No S that's making it possible for me to no longer care about the number on the scale, but I'm thankful for it.

I was thinking about this this morning, actually.

I figure humans weight can fluctuate by quite a bit daily; let's say +/- 4lb fluctuations in food and water and such. Scales have an intrinsic error in them, too; I'd guess about +/- 3lb; I can certainly 'choose' my weight a bit by shifting my bodyweight a little, and the scale isn't necessarily smoothly calibrated.

That means your scale is giving you a reading with a stone's confusion; it could be seven pounds under, or seven pounds over. Or to put it another way, the most accurate reading you can get is how many stones you weigh, not how many pounds. Takes the edge off a daily reading.

I officially check my weight at the beginning of each month. I know that what I'm doing now is making me feel healthier and I know that my clothes are getting looser so why do I need to obsess about the scale?

When you weigh yourself, I caution you to weigh yourself at the same time of day, and I suggest the best time is morning. I am always 2-3 pounds lighter than I am before I go to bed. I figure if you are going to track something, it might as well be your lowest weight...

But if your clothes are looser and you feel good about yourself, forget about it all together.