We have all been there haven’t we? You have been working hard and giving 100% in our workouts. You have been eating clean and watching your sugar intake. You have been saying no to foods you usually would say yes to because you are working on discipline. You wake up in the morning feeling really great and hop on that scale knowing you are going to see that number you have been working towards in the last several weeks. And then it happens. Defeat. Frustration. Sadness. These feelings are the reasons I threw my scale away over a year ago. I found myself so focused on getting to a certain number that I completely lost track of why I exercise and fuel my body with the right foods in the first place. If you stop reading this post right now, hear me say this: THE SCALE IS NOT AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF YOUR PROGRESS.

There are so many things that go into that number on the scale you are seeing. Your weight can change up to 3 lbs from morning to evening on any given day. The amount of water you are drinking or the number of times you are going to the bathroom can affect the number on the scale. A typical scale will only tell you your weight. It doesn’t tell you what percentage of that weight is muscle, fat, or water. We must STOP defining our success and the things we are doing right by the number we see. I tell my clients all the time to stay off of the scale. It is not motivating. You could be encouraged about how you feel and the progress you are seeing in your body composition and then immediately feel defeated after weighing yourself. 

Your worth is not found in a number, friends. You are SO much more than a number on a scale. We have to start acknowledging those non-scale victories and be encouraged by them. We need to shift our focus to pursuing an overall healthy lifestyle. We need to take the focus off of the scale and make sure we are eating ENOUGH of the right foods to feel our best. When we fuel our bodies correctly, we are able to build muscle, protect our thyroid, balance our hormones, feel energized, care for our metabolism, and function optimally. As you do these things, you become stronger, mentally and physically.

The Lord created each of us and we are unique and beautiful in His sight. We are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made! We are all different shapes and sizes and that's what makes us beautiful! 

Don't let the scale be the thief of your joy. The freedom I have gained from throwing my scale out over a year ago is amazing. My focus is off of striving for a number and more on fueling my body correctly so I feel my best. When I am doing that, I am able to serve my family, friends, and community more effectively. Will you join me? Ditch the scale in 2020 and let’s celebrate all the things you are doing well!