Re: the scale is in the garbage

[Guest guest]

Hi Nat!

Congratulations! That is a big step. I know exactly what you mean about the scale feeling like a friend. It almost serves to relieve your anxiety...when the number goes down anyway. However, it has such control over us. I know that I let it dictate how I feel about myself sometimes. Now that you've let it go, you can determine that for yourself! You are one tough girl! I'm cheering you on...

Kari

Subject: the scale is in the garbageTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 11:25 AM

Hello,A couple days ago, I throught the scale in the garbage. It is a little odd, I get up and I usually weight myself first thing in the morning. Now there is an empty space in the bathroom...I feel a little insecure, trying to feel my body, it is bigger or smaller or the same? It`s like I have lost a friend (I know it is sounding silly.) I tried a old pair of pants and they could`nt button a month ago and now they are thight but button. I don`t want to use those pants as a scale either. I am also trying not to count calories in my head - I`ve been doing that - and just feel my hunger and honor it with food I like. I have such a long way to go...I did walk today because my body felt like moving. Not because of any other reason.IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to accept to be imperfect, which is so hard for me.Thanks for

listening.Nat

[Guest guest]

That is a big step and fantastic news!! It is all about one day, one

step and one defining moment at a time and I'm sure you'll notice

many more changes.

Congrats!!

J.

>

> Hello,

>

> A couple days ago, I throught the scale in the garbage. It is a

little

> odd, I get up and I usually weight myself first thing in the

morning.

> Now there is an empty space in the bathroom...I feel a little

insecure,

> trying to feel my body, it is bigger or smaller or the same? It`s

like

> I have lost a friend (I know it is sounding silly.) I tried a old

pair

> of pants and they could`nt button a month ago and now they are

thight

> but button. I don`t want to use those pants as a scale either.

> I am also trying not to count calories in my head - I`ve been doing

> that - and just feel my hunger and honor it with food I like. I

have

> such a long way to go...

> I did walk today because my body felt like moving. Not because of

any

> other reason.

> IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to accept

to

> be imperfect, which is so hard for me.

> Thanks for listening.

> Nat

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hello,

>

> A couple days ago, I throught the scale in the garbage.

Hi Nat,

It is really hard to give up the habit of using a scale or other

tools to judge ourselves and evaluate ourselves. After all, we have

been doing it all our lives!

After I decided that getting weighed was definitely NOT helping me in

my Intuitive Eating journey, I decided to start measuring myself

instead. I figured those numbers wouldn't be as " loaded " for me as

the evil number on the scale. WRONG. It was no different. I would

experience the same highs and lows (actually, just lows, no highs)as

I took each measurement and feel like a failure and a loser. It made

me feel sad and defeated. So I decided in order for this to work, I

need to REALLY accept myself as I am, to love myself as I am, and to

relax and just enjoy the journey and let things unfold the way they

unfold. No more weighing OR measuring myself.

I must say, I am feeling happier and more relaxed since I made that

decision. It feels good to stop judging ourselves, doesn't it? :-)

[Guest guest]

Hi Nat,

I think what you said here is key: " IE is hard. But I take it one day

at the time, and I try to accept to be imperfect, which is so hard for

me. "

I've found that admitting to myself that it IS hard is important,

because it takes some of the pressure off of myself that comes from

thinking " i thought this was supposed to be easy! " It IS hard, but it

gets easier. It won't always be hard. The process is imperfect, as

are all of us. Hang in there.

> IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to accept to

be imperfect, which is so hard for me.

> Nat

[Guest guest]

That is awesome. I have yet to make that step even though I know

that the scale is my anchor. While I think that it's preventing me

from aimlessly floating around (a diet mentality I think) it's also

preventing me from getting anywhere - including where I need to be.

I hope that makes sense.

>

> Hello,

>

> A couple days ago, I throught the scale in the garbage. It is a

little

> odd, I get up and I usually weight myself first thing in the

morning.

> Now there is an empty space in the bathroom...I feel a little

insecure,

> trying to feel my body, it is bigger or smaller or the same? It`s

like

> I have lost a friend (I know it is sounding silly.) I tried a old

pair

> of pants and they could`nt button a month ago and now they are

thight

> but button. I don`t want to use those pants as a scale either.

> I am also trying not to count calories in my head - I`ve been doing

> that - and just feel my hunger and honor it with food I like. I

have

> such a long way to go...

> I did walk today because my body felt like moving. Not because of

any

> other reason.

> IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to accept

to

> be imperfect, which is so hard for me.

> Thanks for listening.

> Nat

>

[Guest guest]

When I was working with Gillian and I said the same thing, that IE

is hard work, she asked me " why does it have to be hard work? " . Yes

it takes work, but I think we make it hard. It is definately not a

quick fix like all the diets, but it is long lasting! Once I

realized this, it got easier and is almost second nature for me.

Every once in a while I have to remind my self to remain mindful and

present, but it is no longer " hard work " .

Alana

>

> > IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to

accept to

> be imperfect, which is so hard for me.

>

> > Nat

>

[Guest guest]

I've struggled with this for the past few weeks. The scale is still

in the bathroom, but I haven't used it. Everyday I want to,

espscially when I think I'm gaining weight. But I just keep telling

myself that the number is irrelevant to me now. The only reason I

would have to weigh myself is to measure my progress on a diet. Since

I am no longer on a diet and have no intention of ever being on one

again, that number is now meaningless. It doesn't tell me anything

important about myself or my progress as an Intuitive Eater.

Arnie

IE'er since the start of the month.

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > A couple days ago, I throught the scale in the garbage. It is a

> little

> > odd, I get up and I usually weight myself first thing in the

> morning.

> > Now there is an empty space in the bathroom...I feel a little

> insecure,

> > trying to feel my body, it is bigger or smaller or the same? It`s

> like

> > I have lost a friend (I know it is sounding silly.) I tried a old

> pair

> > of pants and they could`nt button a month ago and now they are

> thight

> > but button. I don`t want to use those pants as a scale either.

> > I am also trying not to count calories in my head - I`ve been

doing

> > that - and just feel my hunger and honor it with food I like. I

> have

> > such a long way to go...

> > I did walk today because my body felt like moving. Not because of

> any

> > other reason.

> > IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to

accept

> to

> > be imperfect, which is so hard for me.

> > Thanks for listening.

> > Nat

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________________________

> Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and

bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at

> http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

>

[Guest guest]

Arnie, I dust the scale in our bathroom off when I clean that room and

its just another 'thing' to me these days. I have no interest in using

it really because I have come to find that it isn't the right source

of input for MY body. It does me better to tune into my body and its

feedback rather than a mechanical appliance which ends up distracting

me away from my own internal signs to pay attention to.

Best to you - Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> I've struggled with this for the past few weeks. The scale is still

> in the bathroom, but I haven't used it. Everyday I want to,

> espscially when I think I'm gaining weight. But I just keep telling

> myself that the number is irrelevant to me now. The only reason I

> would have to weigh myself is to measure my progress on a diet. Since

> I am no longer on a diet and have no intention of ever being on one

> again, that number is now meaningless. It doesn't tell me anything

> important about myself or my progress as an Intuitive Eater.

>

> Arnie

> IE'er since the start of the month.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Arnie, I need to cut that out and put it on my scale.

I'm happy to report that I've gone from a two to three times a day

weigher to maybe once every few days when the urge is too strong. I

keep thinking I'm going to put the scale in the closet, but I

honestly forget to do it when I get home.

> > >

> > > Hello,

> > >

> > > A couple days ago, I throught the scale in the garbage. It is a

> > little

> > > odd, I get up and I usually weight myself first thing in the

> > morning.

> > > Now there is an empty space in the bathroom...I feel a little

> > insecure,

> > > trying to feel my body, it is bigger or smaller or the same?

It`s

> > like

> > > I have lost a friend (I know it is sounding silly.) I tried a

old

> > pair

> > > of pants and they could`nt button a month ago and now they are

> > thight

> > > but button. I don`t want to use those pants as a scale either.

> > > I am also trying not to count calories in my head - I`ve been

> doing

> > > that - and just feel my hunger and honor it with food I like. I

> > have

> > > such a long way to go...

> > > I did walk today because my body felt like moving. Not because

of

> > any

> > > other reason.

> > > IE is hard. But I take it one day at the time, and I try to

> accept

> > to

> > > be imperfect, which is so hard for me.

> > > Thanks for listening.

> > > Nat

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> __________________________________________________________________

> > Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and

> bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at

> > http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Katcha, I totally agree with you!

Every one of us is so different. Trying to " fit " into an certain

weight is like saying: I want to have eyes, which are exactly that

or that shade. Saying something like that about the eye shade would

sound really crazy, so why so many people are trying to meassure

their value standing on the scale???

I became so much happier, since I stoped using the scale and, most

inportantly, when I stopped equalizing my self confidence with the

number of lost pounds.

Lucia

> >

> > I've struggled with this for the past few weeks. The scale is

still

> > in the bathroom, but I haven't used it. Everyday I want to,

> > espscially when I think I'm gaining weight. But I just keep

telling

> > myself that the number is irrelevant to me now. The only reason

I

> > would have to weigh myself is to measure my progress on a diet.

Since

> > I am no longer on a diet and have no intention of ever being on

one

> > again, that number is now meaningless. It doesn't tell me

anything

> > important about myself or my progress as an Intuitive Eater.

> >

> > Arnie

> > IE'er since the start of the month.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I was walking past a recycle bin the other day and saw a box for a

scale. The name of the scale was the " Health-o-Meter " ...like a scale

can give you a true measure of your " health. " Then I noticed that the

scale in my mom's bathroom is labeled " The Counselor " ...what kind of

message does that send? It's understandable how transitioning off of

the scale can be unbalancing...especially given the personal and

cultural value we give to this object as shown by names like " Health-o-

meter " and " The Counselor. "

Latoya

[Guest guest]

Kari,

You know what you can handle. For some people throwing away the

scale is a real sign of growth and liberation for them and for other

people having the scale around provides of reminder or a symbol or

continues to help provide a sense of structure...which seems like

the case for you. As you cultivate and experience your own strength

through practicing IE...one of the natural progressions might be

that the scale has less and less influence in your life. I'm

reminded of that story shared on the group recently from the

book " Eating by the Light of the Moon " about the girl grabbing hold

of the log for help and learning over time that she can deal with

her circumstances more and more without it as she gets closer to

shore. I believe that the shore symbolizes coming back to ourselves,

feeling whole and the sense of our own strength and ability to take

care of ourselves.

Latoya:)

>

>

> Subject: Re: the scale is in the garbage

> To: IntuitiveEating_Support

> Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 9:16 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I was walking past a recycle bin the other day and saw a box for a

> scale. The name of the scale was the " Health-o-Meter " ...like a

scale

> can give you a true measure of your " health. " Then I noticed that

the

> scale in my mom's bathroom is labeled " The Counselor " .. .what kind

of

> message does that send? It's understandable how transitioning off

of

> the scale can be unbalancing. ..especially given the personal and

> cultural value we give to this object as shown by names

like " Health-o-

> meter " and " The Counselor. "

>

> Latoya

>

[Guest guest]

Subtle, but definitely DIET MENTALITY!! Once recognized, it can be

ejected and even laughed at :)

Katcha

IEing since Mach 2007

>

> I was walking past a recycle bin the other day and saw a box for a

> scale. The name of the scale was the " Health-o-Meter " ...like a scale

> can give you a true measure of your " health. " Then I noticed that the

> scale in my mom's bathroom is labeled " The Counselor " ...what kind of

> message does that send? It's understandable how transitioning off of

> the scale can be unbalancing...especially given the personal and

> cultural value we give to this object as shown by names like " Health-o-

> meter " and " The Counselor. "

>

> Latoya

>

[Guest guest]

Kari, as with all IE practices, just do what you can as you can and

you will find that itty bitty baby steps do get you along your IE

journey. Do put your label (love the PURE EVIL name!) on the scale

until you can let it go. You are doing well - IE is a 'feast' and you

can't gobble it down in a couple of bites :)

Best to you - Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> That's so crazy! Counselor? I think I'm going to label my scale

" Pure Evil! " I agree with all of the reasons that the members on

this site have given for getting rid of the scale. Logically I get it!

I know it's not my friend, but why can't I take the leap and throw it

out? I'm honestly afraid that not knowing will set me off again and

that I'll spin out of control again. I really want to stick with IE.

>

> Kari

> IEing since August 21 2008