Dear Ahuva,
I was not very good on the plan this week. I ate more than I wanted to for dinner a few times, and noshed from the cabinet too. Should I skip my weigh-in this week to avoid being disappointed? I don’t want to see the numbers up on the scale, and I think that I’ll get a hold of myself this week, and then weigh in once I am back on track. What do you suggest?
Signed,
Scared of the Scale
Dear Scared of the Scale,
Having worked with clients for many years, my experience has shown that keeping your appointment and facing the scale (and your nutrition counselor) is more likely to help you get back on track than avoiding it. The momentary sense of relief we feel when canceling the appointment and not obligating ourselves to face the scale usually does not work in our favor. A small part of our brain realizes that we “got away” with eating poorly and while you may get back on track for a few days, a new pattern has begun to form where we begin to get more and more lenient about going off-plan. So even though it is uncomfortable and disappointing, it is always better to keep your appointment. If you really do not want to see a gain on the scale, you can ask your nutrition counselor not to tell you how much you gained until the following week.
Good luck staying on track!
Ahuva
The Right Way To Weigh
Weigh yourself only once a week and on the same day each time. Sticking to this routine:
*Allows your body to settle with last week’s food and drink intake (along with any fitness).
*It will give you a sense of accountability with a week to improve.
*Will help you avoid discouraging and inaccurate fluctuations.
*It will also help prevent you from obsessing over your weight.
*Have you been sleeping well? Sleep deprivation can significantly stunt your progress. A good 6-8 hours of sleep each night is recommended but it goes even beyond that. If you’re waking up, shifting a lot, if there isn’t enough darkness or whatever else keeps you from your beauty sleep, it will all affect you when you’re awake. When you lack the proper sleep, your mind and body don’t function at 100%. You may experience fatigue, anxiety, agitation, lack of focus/concentration, and more. Make sure to take good care to sleep well so that you can tackle the day with the ability to make smart and healthy decisions throughout the day.
*Did you recently eat foods that bloat and/or retain water? There are plenty of yummy foods out there that can fluctuate the scale inaccurately. Whatever water you’re retaining now, makes the scale readings different than when you’re not retaining water and so forth. Try to avoid salty and bloating foods for about 24 hours before weighing yourself.
Remember: You’re in control and you do have the strength and ability to achieve your healthy goals… the scale is just a tool to help you on your journey.
Remember: We’re here for you! Call, text, or e-mail, whether it’s with questions or just for support. Wishing you a healthy and TAPtastic week!
Ahuva Silver is a nutrition counselor and manager at Nutrition by Tanya. Ahuva makes everyone feel so welcome and comfortable, as well as motivated and encouraged. Ahuva’s motto is that taking care of yourself will make you a better and happier person, parent, spouse, and friend. It is never too late to start!
For more information on Nutrition by Tanya, including the 12 NBT locations, or the TAP (Tanya-approved products) food line, please visit NutritionbyTanya.com or call 844-Tanya-Diet (844-826-9234). For daily tips and inspiration, follow @nutritionbytanya on Instagram.