The Number on the Scales
I had a very disconcerting experience not so long ago.
I stood on the scales (disconcerting enough) and lo and behold, from one day to the next quite literally, the number had gone up by 2kg (or 5lb-ish).
2kg!
Where? I asked. I look the same to me!
How? I asked. Hang on, I looked at some calories yesterday, maybe that’s all it takes this side of 30!
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Michael reassured me later. “The scales are broken anyway.”
That’s it, I thought. That’ll do. The scales are broken.
But do you think I could leave it at that?
Now I know there’s such a thing as water retention, and I know about this re-calibration idea where your body adjusts to new levels of exercise, and the development of lean muscle, but what if neither apply?
What if your exercise regime has stayed the same, it’s not the time of the month, and you haven’t eaten any differently lately?
It’s a mystery! A depressing, scale-increasing mystery!
Tempted to despair (and to exercise-fanaticism), I chatted with a dear friend about it.
Firstly she told me about these scales that are around now that send some kind of electrical impulse through your body (I think!), and then prints out a docket, breaking down the exact constitution of your body – muscle mass, fat percentage, other … Wow. At least that paints a more helpful picture; I don’t have anything against muscle.
But then, we got onto being breezy. Releasing this, like everything else, to God, and just being breezy. It’s so tempting to believe we are in control of things, but beyond doing what we can do, our control is so limited. As Jesus said, “you cannot make even one hair white or black” Matthew 5:36. And yet, He knows their exact number Matthew 10:30.
So I’ll try that approach, instead of worrying about a number, be as healthy as I can, and then let Jesus worry about it. :) Oh, and secretly hope that Michael is right about those scales, he, he.
Amen!! sooo many temptations to get caught up on this but i always remind myself to “set my mind on things above”…
thanks for your realness by love,
Elena
Yeah and I think the temptation gets worse as you get older and your metabolism seems to lose its pulse altogether, he, he :)
It’s so true what you say about “setting our minds on things above,” it’s amazing how focusing on Jesus and eternal things frees us from being burdened by this stuff, thanks Elena and God bless :)
I do the same thing. I really do gain over 5 lbs. during my “time”. I love the idea about being “breezy” with my weight – that is so encouraging.
Great to hear from you Judi, yeah, it is amazing how much our weight can fluctuate over the month. I really like this idea of just being easy about it all, and trusting God with it, and maybe throwing out the scales too :)
Thanks Birgit for this article!
I don’t have a scale. I had actually planned to get one to track my weight loss post partum, but I never did, so when I got on the scale at the midwives’ I had a positive surprise, I had lost 27 lb in 6 weeks! I couldn’t believe it. It must be due to all the breastfeeding and getting up at night! I think I still won’t get a scale. It just upsets one … Instead I will keep trying on my pants and see how the last fat hopefully melts away within a few weeks. During my pregnancy I was weighed at every check-up, sometimes it was quite frustrating when I got close or over the suggested weight gain in pregnancy (25lb to 35lb) although the midwives were very understanding and just pointed out to keep eating only the healthy food and they also mentioned the water retention!
Love,
Susanne
Hi Susanne, Wow, that is wonderful that your body is returning to normal so quickly after giving birth. My friend and I were actually chatting about that too, as she had a baby last year. Just the whole thing of being so out of control of what happens to your body when you’re pregnant, and how being relaxed about it makes the whole experience a much happier one ;) I am sure your perspective about this stuff changes too in light of what’s really important :) Lots of love dear cousin, I wish I could visit you and your little one sometime OX
I try not to weigh myself anymore because it seems to determine my mood or attitude for the week. For me it is about focusing on Jesus and really seeking to glorify him in what I eat and how I look after it. I am definately not completely free in this area mentally but I know the truth so it is a daily decision to keep on offering my body to Christ as a living sacrifice.
Wow, that is so great Sands, what a great perspective to keep coming back to – that our bodies are a living sacrifice to God and we choose to eat and look after ourselves for His glory – thank you.
Since passing the 15 stone barrier (Yes, you read that right 15 stone – that’s 2 heavier than Mike) and with another month of pregnancy to go I have decided that scales are evil :) I oscillate between being genuinley fascinated at how heavy a person can become when pregnant and haorrified that I am so enormous. Keep telling myself that mummies need to be cuddley anyway – but I will be glad when this child is born and I can lose at least some of the weight instantaneously. There are more important things than weight I guess but tis all too easy to obsess.
Hi Kate, Yeah, I totally agree – cuddliness is a must for mums! :) I was speaking to an instructor at my gym who is pregnant and she explained how so much of pregnancy weight gain disappears once the baby is born, so you’re right, that’ll change things fairly instantly as far as the scales are concerned. For me, I am more and more convinced that we do what we can, and then breeziness is the best way to go! So exciting that there’s only one month to go :) lots of love.