Watching the scales - Weight loss

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, chances are you’ve got a set of scales in your house.

In the diet world, there seems to be a lot of pressure on the number that appears on the scales. Some dieters will weigh weekly, some even daily.

We are so happy when the number starts to drop, but, if it doesn’t move or worse still, increases, this can send us into a downward spiral of negative self-talk and emotions.

 “I can never lose weight”, “I’ve been ‘good’ all week for nothing”, “this diet is rubbish”, “I’m such a failure” etc.

It’s so common that when this happens, we can then beat ourselves up and have a proper ‘sod it’ moment, eating rubbish and then feeling rubbish; feeding this never-ending circle of negativity.

There are so many reasons for fluctuating scales, – here are just a few.

·         Increased exercise = gaining muscle (which weighs heavier).

·         Drinking sugary drinks.

·         A heavy day of eating.

·         Eating late at night.

·         You’re on your period.

·         Consuming salty foods.

·         You haven't had a bowel movement.

·         Your body is reacting to stress.

·         You've eaten too many carbs that day.

·         You've consumed alcohol.

·         You're dehydrated or overhydrated.

·         Your body is responding to heat.

·         You haven't had enough sleep.

Instead of being a slave to the scales and ignoring the fact that fluctuating weight is actually a thing, perhaps a healthier approach would be to hide the scales, measure yourself monthly and take an average/ see how your clothes fit/ notice how differently you feel.

Having realistic expectations is a must, as many people wanting to lose weight, want it to happen NOW! Losing between 1 to 2 lbs a week is considered the safest way to keep the weight off.

Above all, be kind to yourself, making lifestyle changes that will stay with you, instead of obsessing over the number on the scales.

If you would like help to make those lifestyle changes or don’t know where to start and would like to harness the powerful benefits of hypnotherapy; why not book a FREE consultation for a chat with me.

 #doitforyou. 😊