Using the scale to your benefit

Many people view the scale as an evil psychic, telling them info that they would rather not hear. Others, very progressively think that the number on the scale doesn't matter and it's only about how they feel. The bathroom scale has gotten a reputation of negativity associated with it, and I don't think that's fair, or productive.

While yes, it is an awesome idea to base your personal health on how you feel, or how your jeans fit instead of a black and white number, the scale can be a fantastic motivator. Seeing the loss of a couple of pounds is tangible, it allows you to see with solid proof the payoff to your hard work. This can help make sure you get to the gym again the next day, or say no to that second brownie in the office cafeteria to make sure that number stays down.

A couple of important tips to using the scale to your benefit:
1) Weigh yourself at the same time every day. I suggest when you first wake up and after using the bathroom, or at the gym before/after every workout, or just before bed. This way you won't experience as much variance due to water retention, amounts of food in your stomach, or clothing worn.
2) Make sure you use the same scale every time. Gyms, Doctors, and Walmart all have different brands and style of scales, so numbers will vary. The accuracy of the number doesn't matter as much as the consistency so that you know if the scale says you lost a pound, you can trust that you indeed have.
3) If the scale says you gained a couple of pounds, use that as a warning for future poundage. Of course everyone will fluctuate so it's important to allow yourself some flexibility in your daily number, but if two days in a row you are two pounds heavier, cut back on 100 calories or so the next few days and work out for 10 minutes longer. That should get you back on track and back down to your preferred weight.
4) Be careful not to get trapped in the meaning of the number that appears every morning. Always keep in mind that less weight is not always better, and that muscle weighs more than fat. So the amount of weight you lose is not as important as how you feel about yourself and how energized or confident your fit lifestyle has made you. The scale should only be viewed as a motivator, an encourager, a warning sign, or a tool to make sure you stay feeling great for a long time.
Weigh on!