Celebrating Non-Scale Victories

April 7, 2014 | All Articles, post-tsb-team |

It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers when you’re weighing in every week. And who can blame you? You worked so hard and you want your scale to say your hard work is paying off, right? However, there is a danger in depending solely on the scale for feedback. If your scale shows that you didn’t lose weight or that you gained, you could end up feeling disappointed and like you’ve had a setback. You may even be saying to yourself, “what did I do all of that hard work for?”
The key is to put the scale in perspective and focus on other achievements so that your weight-loss journey will feel a lot less hit or miss. Imagine how great you would feel if you were in tune with other signs of progress! The resulting positive attitude could make you a winner in the long run. Isn’t that really what it’s all about?
Non-scale victories refer to the small, everyday indicators that mark your new, healthier life. It’s sort of like an added bonus to the pounds dropping away. But what if you flipped that last sentence around? Try thinking of it this way: the non-scale victories are what your hard work is really about, and the numbers on the scale are the added bonus. Of course, keeping track of the weight lost is an important part of the plan, however acknowledging your progress in other areas can help keep you positive as well!
For example, here are some non-scale victories that are well worth celebrating:

Your clothes fit better
It’s easier to walk up stairs and play with your kids or your dog
You have more energy
You feel more positive and better about yourself
You’re noticing that you eat more vegetables and drink more water

It’s important to recognize these changes, even if you consider them small as they are happening. If you focus on those non-scale victories, the weight loss you’re trying to achieve will come right along with it. You’ll realize that you’re progressing in behaviors, attitudes, skills and choices that will last you a lifetime at a healthy weight.
Remember, the number on the scale will not tell you:

What a great person you are
How much your family and friends love you
That you are smart, funny, kind and amazing in many ways that a number cannot define
That you have the power to choose your happiness
Your own self worth

At Tri-State Bariatrics, our staff is here to offer words of encouragement and try to help our patients ‘see the light’ (so to speak). So tell us, what are some of YOUR non-scale victories?