first things first: it’s my best friend’s birthday today! chances we are out celebrating right NOW. happy birthday, kristen, i love you so damn much!!!
ok.
you guys know i don’t weigh myself. in fact, i don’t think i weighed myself in all of 2011 (except for when i had to get anesthesia, which makes sense so they could give me the right dosage, but even then i didn’t look.) i just really think the scale is a big joke. i don’t care how much i weigh. yes, i care about being in shape and i care about fitting into my clothes and i care about not being overweight.
none of that has to do with the number on the scale, telling me a specific number, telling me how much i weigh.
in my late teens and early twenties, i was obsessed with the number 117. i thought i HAD to weigh 117 pounds to be happy. what the crap, janetha? why 117? eventually that number crept up to 124.. and then before i knew it i was 137 pounds—20 pounds over my beloved weight of 117.
i definitely did something about all that. i started body for life and the number on the scale started dropping.. and dropping.. and dropping. i eventually ended up at 114—wow! lower than my ideal weight of 117! after that, i developed an unhealthy addiction with weighing myself. i stepped on the scale morning and night. i always wondered how much i gained after eating five meals and drinking a gallon of water every day. my weight usually fluctuated about five pounds from morning to night.
i was stepping on the scale WAY too often. as i began gaining weight (and letting my healthy habits slide) i started getting pissed off every time i weighed myself. i gave up the scale—cold turkey. i hopped back into fitness, eating clean all of the time, and being diligent with my healthy habits. i know i lost weight, because my clothes started to fit again. i felt great! i didn’t care about how much i weighed! and i wasn’t just saying i didn’t care like i had in the past. this time, i really didn’t care.
then, i went to the doctor. i stepped on the scale for the first time in a long time.. and i weighed 127. what? 127? but i feel so great! my clothes fit! i was in such good shape! why was i 127 pounds? why was i 10 pounds heavier than my old “ideal” weight?
oh, wait, who cares? 127 pounds or 117 pounds—it didn’t matter.
i was fit, healthy, and happy. my clothes fit. i liked my reflection in the mirror. the number on that scale did not matter a single bit. full disclosure: i still hated the way it made me feel. knowing that number was 127 and not 117 messed with me! it was all in my head. i really just didn’t like it a single bit. so i haven’t weighed myself in over a year.. actually, it’s almost been two years now that i think about it. life without knowing my weight is pretty great, i must admit.
HOWEVER.. yes, there is always a however!.. i think that the scale can be a useful tool. not if you take the “i need to weigh myself day in and day out, morning and night” approach.. but if you use your weight as a gauge. a few examples:
- if you are overweight and are trying to lose a large amount of weight (read: NOT the last 10 pounds) then using a scale is a great way to check in each week to see your progress. i said each week.. not each day. weight fluctuates so much that daily weigh ins are enough to make you batty.
- if you are underweight.. using the same type of guidelines as i just stated in the overweight bulletpoint and use the scale weekly to check in.
- if you are in maintenance mode and you weigh yourself once a month or even once every few months to check in with yourself.
- if you are not actively trying to build muscle. the scale is not going to do you any favors.
again, those bullet points are my opinions.. that’s when i think the scale is a valuable tool. but that’s just me. i know tons and tons of people who use the scale daily and it’s a great tool for them to stay fit. they have a healthy relationship with weighing themselves and can do it without the number messing with their head.
i am not like that. even if i were to use the scale while maintaining my current figure, i wouldn’t want to know the total number. it’s a mental thing. i feel great with my body right now. i know i look good. shit, i have been working hard! but i still don’t want to know how much i weigh. like i said before, it messes with me! and i honestly do NOT want to know my weight. i have gone nearly 2 years not caring what that total number is, and i don’t want to care ever again. the only way i do care is when i see it. i am in damn good shape right now, and if i stepped on the scale and saw something like 130, i would be crushed. my self esteem would go out the window. it would. i am just being honest. and i know some of you can relate.
while i don’t want to see that total number, i think it sure would be nice to be able to check in with myself once a month to make sure i haven’t gained ten pounds.. or fifteen pounds.. i mean, i eat a lot of cookies. it could happen.
enter: the zero scale.
i saw this scale on monica’s blog awhile back and was ridiculously intrigued. i emailed the company and asked if they would send me one to try out. they said yes. well, first they said no. and then i think maybe they looked at my blog and decided to say yes. i was happy.
i received my scale quickly and it was very easy to set up. the batteries were included and it even came with a pedometer. i don’t walk very much.. but if i did, boy that sure would be handy. read: i need to walk more. my desk job is killing me slowly. i digress.
the zero scale functions just like a regular digital scale, but it has a secret: your weight. it doesn’t tell you how much you weigh. ever. unless, of course, you want to know.. then it will tell you. the zero scale is your new best friend! it will tell you when you gain or lose weight, but it won’t shout your total number from the rooftops, making you hang your head in shame. because really, let’s be honest, hearing a number that is not necessarily what we think is “ideal” is something that can really get us down on ourselves– FOR NO LEGITIMATE REASON.
the zero scale has enough room for four users.
PERFECT! why is that perfect, you ask? well we have four people (okay, two people, two dogs) in our household. everyone gets to use the scale!
okay. maybe not penny. she wouldn’t get on the scale. she’s scared of it.
i wasn’t going to tell you this, but penny is watching her weight. she’s packed on the pounds and has been forced to cut back on the cookies lately. she doesn’t want to know that she weighs a whole 32 pounds.. she’d rather just know that she’s losing. hearing a number anything over 30 pounds makes her very self conscious.
so does the fact that her head is too small for her body.. but that’s a story for another day.
the first time you hop on the scale, you select your user number (i am number one! woo!) and wait for three dashes to appear. once they have, you stand on the scale and it will secretly store your weight in the depths of the digitalness that is the zero scale. it’s that easy!
the next time you step on the scale, it will tell you four things:
- how many days since your last weigh in
- how much you have lost/gained since you last weigh in
- how many days since your first weigh in
- how much you have lost/gained since you first weigh in
the scale functions in both pounds or kilograms so you can use the measurement that you prefer. the reading (gain or loss) is a number and it clearly says “gain” or “loss” on the digital reading.
i first hopped on the zero scale at the beginning of phase three of the livefit training program i am doing. this was on monday, december 5th.. so a little over a month ago. the first week of phase three went well. i rocked it. i was very diligent with my eating. i hopped on the zero scale a week later and the scale said i had lost 1.3 pounds. yep, i was happy about it. that is what i was aiming for, because i have to strut around in a bikini at the end of january in front of all my bosses and co-workers. so yes, a loss is what i was (and am) after. sure, my total weight is still nowhere near that pesky number 117, but it didn’t matter. what did matter is that my hard work had paid off and it was working. baby steps, folks.
after seeing the reading on the scale a week later, the only thing i could say to myself was “go me!” instead of “yeah, i lost 1.3 pounds, but crap.. i still weigh way more than i want to!” the zero scale eliminated the ability to feel bad about a total number.. which i shouldn’t even feel bad about in the first place. because i am fit.
fast forward.
thanks to dedicated december, i stuck with my workouts throughout the month. however, there were several occasions where i HAD to eat treats. you know.. like christmas. and new years. and when i broke my nose which required me to eat frozen custard by the pint because of self pity. i haven’t been on that scale since a week after the initial weigh in. until today.
not going to lie, i was nervous to see what the scale said when hopping on this morning. even though i wasn’t going to see my total weight, i still was hoping to see a loss, since i have actively been trying to drop fat. trying really, really hard to drop fat. yes, i am also trying to gain muscle, so i kept in mind the fact that my weight might be the same or even may have gone up due to all the lifting. in the back of my mind i knew it didn’t matter either way. none of my jeans fit anymore (in the sense that they are now too big) and i just feel better about my body.. so i really was convinced that whatever the scale said would be ok. but there was still that weird, nervous feeling i get whenever i am face to face with a scale.
i hopped on and the scale told me four things:
- 29 days since my last weigh in
- 1.7 pounds lost since my last weigh in
- 37 days since my first weigh in
- 3 pounds lost since my first weigh in
of course i was happy about this. from december 5th to january 11th i lost three pounds, ate a whole bunch of crap over the holidays, was laid up briefly due to a car accident, and still managed to stay in shape.
i KNOW that had i hopped on the scale to see a total number and that total number was in the upper 120s or lower 130s, i would have been bummed. but not now. i am stoked on myself. go me. no shame.
i am going to be working hard at my fitness for three more weeks, then it’s off to mexico. when i get back, i want to maintain my figure. when i had great success with body for life, i did a horrible job of maintaining. i was basically like “WOOHOO! I’M SKINNY AND FIT!” then went back to eating whatever and quickly gained weight again.
stupid.
this time around, i am going to STAY in shape. i am in better shape now than i have ever been in my life—even after body for life—and i don’t want this hard work to go down the drain. i am going to use the zero scale once a month to check in with myself and make sure things don’t get too out of whack. i also plan to get my body fat percentage checked as soon as i can make it up to the university, because i truly believe the healthiest way to gauge your weight is by body fat PERCENTAGE, not total weight. since i have put on a fair amount of muscle these past four months, i think knowing what my body fat percentage is would be a valuable bit of info.
if anyone is interested in the zero scale, you can purchase it on their website. the scale is $60 and includes a pedometer. here’s my disclosure and thoughts: i wish i could say they are offering some super sweet discount to meals & moves readers or giving one away, but the truth is i wanted this product. i went to them. at first they said no when i asked them to send me one for review, and then i got an email a few days later saying they’d send one. i spend a lot of time and effort on my blog, so i am glad i was able to use it to get a free scale. and no, i wasn’t paid for this post. i do think that $60 is a fair price for this product. i would have definitely paid for one now that i know how awesome it really is.
so, that’s that. it’s a cool product and a great option for those who do want to use weight as a tool to check in with their overall health goals without going too overboard with worrying about numbers.
the end.
Q~
what do you think about the zero scale & the concept behind it?
xo. janetha g.
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{ 93 comments… read them below or add one }
Sooo glad you posted this!! I’m currently having this same little battle in my head. I hate that when I don’t see what I want on the scale I go into self beat up mode. I keep trying to get into my head that muscle ways more than fat, but that stupid number is always the one that gets in my head. I’ve also started taking measurements, which is nice because when I don’t see a big weight lose like I wanted, the measurements/the way my clothes fit tells a different story. Good inspiration and reminder to focus in being healthy over the number in the scale!
I would really, really like one of these. I’ve told Jason about it (a different brand, but same concept) and he thinks it’s silly but I don’t. I weighed myself today for the first time in a month. I weighed less than I did last time, but still much more than I wanted to and instead of being happy that I weighed less, I was upset at the number.
Oh dear. This would be awful, just AWFUL for me. Even with all the snazzy features, this would get me WAY too concerned about stuff I shouldn’t really be concerned about. I even get nervous when they weigh my yogurt at those fro yo places!
But how precious are penny and randy on those scales!
Love you :)
Go you! I am so happy that you are in such great shape – you do work hard and I admire your determination! Maybe Randy dog needs to share some of his Full Bar stash with miss Penelope :)
I think this scale is a winner – I agree the total number can bum you out big time. It’s a bit like the sizing for clothes – I’m finally comfortable with just trying on a ton of different sizes and buying the one that fits and feels the best whether it’s a 2 or 6 or 9 doesn’t really matter.
Happy b-day to your bestie – I love Kristen too!!
xoxo
Interesting. Not sure how I would feel.
My biggest problem is if I’m down, then I start to slack off. If I’m up I’m stricter. I really need to turn that around (because you can imagine the down days are few and far between with that mentality).
That scale is awesome!!! I’ve always had terrible experiences with the scale as well. Growing up, we never kept a scale in the house. When I was 15 I was at a friend’s house and weighed myself for the first time in about 2-3 years, when I had weighed about 40 kg. When the number said 52kg I FREAKED out. I burst into tears in front of my friend (who weighed much more than me, I should add) and I then went on a manic restrictive diet. I was 15 and growing, for heaven’s sake!!
I didn’t grow much more in height (I’m 5’9″) but now I weigh around 66kg. Once I had a healthier relationship with my body, I tried to never weigh myself more than once a month. When I did my first muscle-building gaining cycle last year, I got up to 73kg! That was hard. 70kg was always the weight I was terrified of reaching, but I seemed to be okay with it because I was gaining weight on purpose. When I leaned out, I lost most of the weight, but I still try to use other things such as measurements or clothes as progress guides. I hate seeing the number, so I would love to get a zero scale!
Love the idea of this scale. I want one.
I love this concept – I don’t weigh myself often either and it’s never enough to know if my weight is at a high point or low point for that particular day – but even then the numbers bug me. I have a number in my head and I agree it can mess with you, regardless of how you look & feel. This sounds like a great way to track progress, but not obsess about numbers, for those type A people (like me) who should know better. :)
I have so much hatred for the scale, but I think the zerp scale sounds awesome because you can still check on progress! thanks for sharing & for your super informative post on the livefit trainer – I started on Monday :)
Also, maybe I am just tired, but is your last bullet point supposed to say if you’re not trying to build muscle the scale won’t do you any favors, or if you are trying to build muscle?
What a great product!!! Actually at the gym today I watched a girl step on to the scale after taking off her shoes and jacket (which seemed reasonable). However, then she commenced to taking off her rings, watch, necklace, and earrings!!!! It was so sad!
how awesome is this! i love what you have to say about that stupid number on the scale too… it is such a mental thing! it only should really matter how we feel, not the number that shows up when we step on the scale. thanks for sharing this!
OMG I love this!! I want one!
I am in a healthy living group at the hospital where I work, I think this would be awesome for that instead of having to send in your weight every week.
PS I think the link in the second to last paragraph might be broken.
I hate that I’m weight obsessed.. My body will hold hold hold weight and then drop a large Amount.. That whole time
I’m holding it, I’m depressed .. I want to eat whatever because what I’m doing isnt working. I Don’t want to like scales at all. I hate that we hve one in our bathroom at work.. So sometimes I weigh myself 3 times a day.. Idk if I would try this or not.. I’m not necessarily obsessed with the number.. Im not set on a goal weight.. I just want to see how much I can lose until I feel good in my own skin..
Great post. I have exactly the same mindset about my weight/the scale — I stopped weighing myself about a year ago because I realized it just leads to anxiety/restricting for me. I don’t look at the scale at the doctor’s office either! :) Love your attitude on fitness.
i LOVE this. in the past (and still currently on occasion) i get wayyy to wrapped up in the number, regardless of how i look, feel, or how my clothes fit. i like the scale for accountability purposes, but i would love to just have a better idea of where i am without a number staring me back in the face. thanks for the review!
I’m very intrigued.
I’ve been fighting to lose anywhere between 10-20 lbs. for almost 3 years. I have tried everything, including signing up for Weight Watchers 2 months ago. When I went to my first weigh-in, I was shocked. I was only 3 lbs. less than what I weighed 6 years ago, which was the last time that I had done the program. But- I am 2 pants sizes smaller today than I was then. So, obviously- a pound is not a pound. What I mean by that is that the scale does not measure muscle or body fat, and I’d much rather weigh a certain “high” number and have a good amount of muscle and tone than weigh less and have more bodyfat. This is also why I think that measuring BMI is completely useless.
I could see this scale being helpful for someone like me- but I could also see it being possibly as damaging as a normal scale.
That being said, I still think it’s a pretty cool idea. :)
Wow, what a great idea! It’s amazing how one pesky little number can totally make or break your day. I admit, I’m a daily weigher, but I’m much better than my college days when I’d weigh myself multiple times per day. Some floormates actually hid my scale on me for a week. I almost went insane!
Keep up your great work, Janetha! I hope you fully enjoy Mexico. I went for the first time last spring. Wish I was there now!
I love the idea of it, I actually don’t own a scale currently (tossed in the move) but I was just thinking the other day I’d kind of like one again. I do like to check in every few months or so. Great concept.
I love the concept of the Zero scale but I can also see danger in some becoming obsessed with this as well. I kind of wish there was no scales in the world. I know that there has to be but more times than not, I fear they just cause so much harm. Honestly, I think the scale is becoming more of a weapon than a tool.
I had never heard of this but it’s a cool concept for those who stress out by the actual number. Up or down is cool, but not knowing the number…can’t believe it’s taken this long for someone to create this gadget!
I want that scale!!
AND that new Chobani badge! Lindsay’s List needs one!!
As long as something is tracking gains and losses, I think I’d still have a tendency to become obsessed. I weigh myself MAYBE once a month…if I remember. And it’s taken years to obtain that kind of relationship with the scale. I never feel shame in the number anymore, and that matters to me more than anything. (117 was my “number” years ago, too…and I’m 5’10″, so that’s frightening to me now.)
Even though the zero scale isn’t for me (I use the gym scale and that’s it), I think $60 is an awesome price for it.
This is such an interesting concept. I go back and forth with scale issues and not. Right now I’m at an OK place with it but when I was in a bad place with the scale and still needed to lose some weight, this would have been perfect!
That’s pretty much an awesome concept! I hate numbers as well and haven’t weighed myself in a really long time and I like it that way! My pants still fit, so I’m good.
I think it is a great idea. It is amazing how emotional we can get about the number on the scale. I weighed myself 2 weeks in a row when I started crossfit because I’m tracking my progress for my blog. I’ve missed the past 2 weeks. The other night, I was running (first run in 3 weeks, and only 2 days after giving blood – so I was not in ideal shape) and in my little mean mind I remarked that I felt like a moose trying to do ballet. Then I wondered what I weigh now. Then I got PANICKY. On the side of the road I had to stop running because I was scared of what the scale would tell me if it was there. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
First of all, Penny is hilarious. I love how she just snubbed the scale completely. I think I saw the Zero Scale on the Dr. Oz show. I like the concept. I too don’t stick to a number. I don’t own a scale. I weigh myself on my Wii Fit every few weeks to make sure nothing crazy is happening, but I am very in tune with my body. If I see a change, I fix it. But rarely do I have dramatic weight fluctuations. I actually lost some weight over the holidays too. It was odd…but I think when I enjoyed too much pumpkin pound cake and other incredible indulgences, I made sure to stay active. I can’t complain! Good for you for staying on track during the holidays, I agree that there is NO reason to deprive yourself. As long as we get back on track, there’s nothing to worry about. =)
Oh, thank goodness for this. As someone who has an endocrine disorder and is trying to lose the weight that it made her gain this is a godsend. Basically, was anorexic, then got a tumor on my pituitary gland which translated into an almost 60lbs weight gain! The anorexic mind set never leaves so upon hearing my weight (180, ugh!) I didn’t eat for a couple of weeks. This type of scale will definitely make it easier, because as you said, we (maybe mostly women?) have a tendency to still feel bad about losing that 1 lb because it isn’t 60 lbs. It’s odd how are self worth is tied into our weight. Anyway! Thanks to this post I now know of a scale that can help me keep on track!
I love this scale and I love this post! I would DEFINITELY do well with this scale since I have a history with weight obsession too!
Oh man, that’s cool as hell. But I don’t have the moo to fork over for that. :(
Interesting concept … I hate to admit it but I still weigh myself everyday … I try not to … but up to now … I am not so successful … today I had my yearly physical and I was a pound over what I was last year … so I am happy … just for the record the extra pound was due to my outfit :)
Oh I love this scale and might just get one! I have never EVER owned a scale and usually only know my weight from the gym or the doctor’s office. I, too, have this magical number in my head that I have never let myself go over (that I know of)… but the idea of constantly weighing stresses me out which is why I don’t do it other than the occasional check-in every few months. I judge on clothes and how they fit. I also judge on how I feel. Great post :)
I just ordered this. Thank you for the awesome review!! I am hoping this helps with “my number ” obsession. Mine is 122. I know how to get there I just don’t know if the constant attention to diet is something I want to do anymore.
And honestly, there are days I get up and look in the mirror and say to myself, “you are definitely 122 lbs or even less today!”. Then I step on the scale and see the number 124 or 126 and I get so pissed. Numbers are such a mind fuck.
I just want to say, i finished reading this post and i bought the scale. This is literally a DREAM for me. I too have a weighing myself obsessed PAST. I have not stepped on a scale in probably 2 years either. I know the number would kill me even though I am fairly comfortable in my body. I am currently trying to lose a few for my wedding in June but not weighing myself is making is a little hard! I was contemplating weighting myself last week but i just couldn’t because I KNOW It would take over my mood and my life! I am so excited for the zero scale to come and be able to track my progress without a number SCREAMING AT ME! THANKS :)
funny that youre obsessed with 117 because im obsessed with 118. i stopped weighing myself too for a long time and now i know i weigh between 120 and 124. i hop on my roommates scale ever month or so just to see, and every time i am good with the number and just want to check but 118 always pop up in the back of my mind. im pretty sure that number is in my head because if i weighed that much i would be at the very top of underweight…underweight but not too unhealthy. 120 have me at the lower end of healthy weight which im good with. i tell myself that if i that number went up id be good becase its still a healthy weight but umm…idk. id better stick with not weighing myself and running for the love of it
Such a great post, J!! That scale is a great idea. I’m so glad it will work for you and help you to maintain. I weigh myself to check in, but haven’t got too caught up on the number. I basically just check in to make sure I haven’t gone up more than 3-5lbs, b/c then I know something is off. I usually fluctuate +/- 2-3lbs. I’m kicking myself for not taking photos at the beginning of Jamie’s 12wk program and not measuring myself. Just so I could have some comparison numbers. All I have is the dumb scale, and that doesn’t help too much! I just posted about my weight the other day but definitely mentioned it doesn’t mean much, especially with all of the strength training. I think it went up like 3lbs in the first week, haha. Totally all over the place. :) I did get my body fat measured, but even that can fluctuate and since we don’t belong to a gym now, I don’t think I’ll be able to get it measured at the end of the 12wks. Ohhh well! What really matters + what I’m excited about is that I can see a difference in the mirror. Toning up!!
I am coming from this with a different lens. I am recovering from an eating disorder. I was addicted to my scale (i seriously almost brought it with me one a 1 week vacation to Cuba….in the end i didn’t as i was worried it would break on the way down). When I realized I needed to gain weight, I got rid of the scale. It was a huge step for me and surprisingly freeing. I had allowed a daily number to define my success and worth as a person. Not having that pressure was amazing. My doctor accidently told me my weight on Monday which lead to me crying. I am happy I am healthy, I don’t want to get back to where I was but knowing the specific number saddened me. With the Zero scale, knowing my actual weight or simply knowing that I had gained 2 lbs would still devastate me. I trust that my team won’t make me obese or fat. They want me healthy. They aren’t worried about a specific number either so much as evidence my body is functioning again. Right now my skin looks healthy (no longer grey), my hair isn’t falling out, my kidneys are working fine again, I’m not blacking out on a regular basis, and my heart is beating at an acceptable rate. All of that much more dear to me than a number.
I bookmarked this after seeing it on Monica’s blog as well. I also freak out about the number. I have a hard time with the scale because it messes with my mind so badly. Buh! Guess I will have to save up!
I lost a whole lot of weight and didn’t have a scale in the house. I weighed in weekly at WW meetings. It was really useful to know how much I was losing, especially when I put it in percentages of my starting weight.
After I hit goal and was in maintenance mode, I let up on checking the scale. I tried to go by the “how my jeans” fit strategy, but eventually my jeans started fitting too tight. I really don’t like weighing myself weekly, but I know if I’m working on trying to lose weight, I need to do so to know if my efforts are effective. This scale seems like a useful tool for that.
I’ve started taking my measurements so I have other measures of fitness.
Omg, I laughed o hard when I saw the dog pictures!! So funny!
I’ve been thinking about getting this scale for some time. Maybe post detox…
Ugh, i hate the scale its evil. I only weigh in every now and then to make sure I’m in a range.
What program did you like better the Body For life or jamie Easons? I want to do one of them but not sure which one.
I think this is a really cool idea! I haven’t weighed myself in ages since our last scale died. I know I was around 130 before (I’m 5’5) and I’m curious to know if I weigh more or less now since I started weight training. I’m okay with weighing more, but I don’t want to know if I weigh something like 140… Yikes. It’s crazy how much a number can throw you off!
I think this scale is awesome for people who aren’t necessarily obessed with numbers and just want to use this tool as one way of measuring their progress. I think I would now do well with something like this because I don’t really care about the overall number as much as care about how my body looks and more importantly feels. I want to know if how I’m eating and working out is paying off (or not). With that being said, the old me would not have done well with this scale. I used to be obsessed with numbers and also had a magic number that I always strived for. That me would’ve gone crazy with something like this. I guess it just depends on your personality and what you’re comfortable with. Great post!
omg i want one.
my magical number was 108. YES 108. And it crept to 105. My healthy weight range is 137-109.
The last time I weighed 108 was when I was depressed and not eating anything (not related to wanting to hit 108, but was about the only “good” thing happening at the time).
Then the magic number became 112.
And then 115.
I don’t want a magic number anymore. I want my clothes to fit. I want to look good in them.
No matter HOW awesome I look and feel, if I step on a scale and it says 119 (120 is the kiss of death), then I am suddenly automatically “super fat”.
I love this concept. I think it would help me keep up the good work without having me freak out about a magic number.
I love love this idea. It’s definitely helpful to be able to choose whether or not you see you weight. I know when I was doing WW online (years ago), there were girls who went to meetings who asked not to know their weight, just whether they lost or gained. This would be PERFECT for them!
I’m starting to work with a trainer at the gym and I know I’m going to gain muscle and burn fat and my clothes will fit better even if my weight doesn’t change. I still need to know what it is, though. I only weigh myself once a week when I’m trying to lose weight, so it isn’t a crazy obsession. When I know I’ve gained weight and I see the number after hopping on the scale for the first time in months, yes, it’s bad for a moment, but I don’t USUALLY dwell on it much. It gives me the kick in the ass I need to get back on track. I guess, in theory, this would too…in fact, seeing GAIN 6lbs instead of a new weight (what happened to me between August and December) might be a little worse for me. ;)
Great review!
Hi Janeetha!
I’ve just discovered your blog and I adore it! :). I also adore the idea of this scale… I know exactly what you mean about moving beyond the obsessional (must weight myself before I breathe every morning) mentality… but still wanting to know ballpark. Besides it IS useful to know when youre working out hard and need validation.
I dont live in the States at the moment but I think, when I come back, I may invest! xox
holy crap I think it’s awesome. Where can I get one?!?!
Seriously though, I’m trying to lose weight but am SO hesitant to get a scale, even though I KNOW it will be beneficial. I was obsessed with the scale for a while, just like you. I would weigh morning, night, after I ate, and when I got up in the middle of the night to pee. If I had one of these I could weigh myself without getting all depressed, and without having to use the gym scale all the time where I can’t weight myself in my ideal way…nekkid.
please tell me you’re doing a give away soon?!?!
doh! I ran through this post so fast to say how much I want one and didn’t read the last paragraph. BOO :( I wish target had them! dang!
This sounds excactly like weighing on a regular scale to me. It would stir up the exact same feelings. To each her own!
LOVE the dogs on/not on the scale!!!
I want one.
Janetha, I have to just say that I love, love, love your attitude about the scale and its meaning to you. I am working very hard to adopt your same views. It’s a battle, especially after sooooooo many years of letting it determine my self worth. But, I know I’ll get there :) xoxoxo
i think soo many women have gone through the scale obsession!! I rarely weigh myself now, and much prefer it that way! totally could relate to this post.
and again, i love love love your honesty and REALness. respekt.
ONE.
-GC :D
Yes, yes, yes to all of that! I can relate 100%. I have a scale in my bathroom, I walk by it each time I am in there & I have a fear of it. It’s like a scary bug that won’t move & I try my best to ignore its presence. :) The Zero scale sounds awesome!
Such an inspiring post! Throughout high school and college I too was obsessed with keeping my weight around a specific [and unrealistic] number… Since changing my mindset and accepting that I do not need to define my health by a number, I have been so much happier and healthier! I like the idea of having a scale to monitor my progress and not telling me a number, I’m def interested! It’s like an at-home version of Biggest Loser!
thats a pretty nifty scale. Smarter than me, thats for sure. Or maybe just a better memory. hehe. Great tool for those needing to stay accountable, like randy.
;)
awesome concept, and i loved this whole post!! the pictures of the dogs are the best hahaha
Great post, Janetha! The scale can be such a mind game. I stopped regularly weighing myself a few years back and am so glad I did. I occasionally hop on due to curiosity, but it’s no longer evil like it once was. Now, I freak out over the holidays thinking “man, I probably gained like 5lbs over christmas” and then come to find out, I maybe gained 1 lb or something. Yay, no big deal. This scale does sound interesting though. Nice work on staying fit!
Wow. What a great tool. I too believe the actual number does not matter. What is 117 on you is 117 differently on a different person. I weigh more than I look due to muscle so sometimes that actual number can be scary. However that number isn’t a concern. Body fat is. Just having the ability too see if you are up or down in pounds is just what I like to see and a lot of others as well.
Thanks for sharing! I’m a new reader to your blog and love following you so far. I just started my own this year and hope to keep up with it and reach out to others as well :-)
Thanks for reading, Tiffany! It’s best to include your URL when you comment, so others can check out your blog :)
http://Www.talentztraining.wordpress.com
First of all, congrats on your amazing success through the holidays! You’re inspiring! Secondly, right after I read this my boyfriend told me about a scale he heard about that tweets your weight as soon as you step on it so that are motivated to keep losing. Or, in my case, to never, ever step on that scale…
What! Wow, talk about accountability…
Very interesting, i’d never heard of that before.
I didn’t own a scale when I was losing weight, I didn’t buy one until I made my goal. Even now, I don’t use it. I only weigh in when I go to WW and that’s just to make sure i’m at or under my healthy goal weight I set.
My sister is very much obsessed with the number on the scale. So much so, that she lost too much weight and was at an unsafe weight for her height. She didn’t maintain that number very long and now she wants to go back :-( She even has it taped to her fridge!
Wow, that’s pretty freakin’ cool! I have friends who jump on a scale if it’s in whatever room we’;re in…it makes me sad.
I used top think I had to be in the 140′s. I don’t really weight myself now, but I know that 140′s is too thin for me -to (I feel I appear to thin and don’t get to eat as much as I’d like to.)
This is what I need. I also refuse to weigh myself because it makes me a crazy person and no matter what the number is I’m not happy with it. I’m ok with how I look right now, but I know if I saw the number it would send me into a tailspin. I would, however, love a way to keep myself in check because I know I bounce around a lot. I’ll have to find a way to fit this in my budget soon!
I actually had to be weighed today for my life insurance policy, and I hadn’t weighed myself in a long time (I refuse to replace the batteries in my scale). Anyways the number was higher than I was expecting, and it has really left me bummed. Ironic that it was 127. But I feel great and my clothes still fit exactly the same. Thanks for the reminder not to get to hung up on a stupid number. This was just what I needed!
ps – I just found your blog a few weeks ago and I love it. Your body for life pictures are amazing!
This post is why I love the blogging community. My ex-boss and great friend Lara just wrote a post about debating whether or not to weigh herself. Obviously, the circumstances are different, but I’m going to link her up to this…I think she’ll find it useful, and perhaps the zero scale is a healthy medium for her. Thanks, Janetha!
OMG….I almost spit out my coffee ’cause I laughed out loud at the pics of the dogs on the scale. Well, ONE dog on the scale, but Penny has the right pose!!! So fun. LOVE the idea of the zero scale. Right now, I’m on weight watchers so I step on there, but don’t weigh myself at home between meetings. Like you, I got a bit obsessive and it made me crazy. Thanks for this great post. Have a good day.
Interesting concept. This is something I have really been struggling with lately. I admit I am a daily weigher, but this week I decided to stop and haven’t been on the scale since Sunday. I am freaked out but not as much as I anticipated. I think the zero scale looks cool, but I wonder if I would still get obsessed over it.
Tell Penny she doesn’t have to be afraid of the scale. It’s just a number and doesn’t define her as a pup.
Love, Love, Love this post. I have always been obsessed with a number, too. I refuse to weigh myself anymore for that same reason. I try to focus on how I feel and how my clothes fit. That scale is quite the invention…I might have to purchase one. Great post!
— Michelle
this is interesting! i hate scales like HATE them. i am not stepping on one ever again unless the doctor makes me haha and its hard lately because i know i’ve been gaining weight (which i’m fine with) but still like why would i really want to see that haha but i would like to know my body fat %!
Have I told you lately how awesome you are?! Seriously, you freaking ROCK!!!
The scale is in my life right now, because, well, I need it, but I weigh in once a week at Weight Watchers and that’s it. The scale is banished from my house and that’s the way I like it…otherwise I will become obsessed! At this point, I don’t even have a goal weight, I just know it’s less than what I weigh now ;)
I love the idea of a zero scale! I had no idea such a thing existed. I threw away my scale almost a year ago due to almost exactly the same story you just shared. It would be nice to check up on things every once in a while, though. I may have to start saving my nickels and dimes :o)
The scale seems like a cool gadget to me.
I too found myself clinging to an ideal number in my younger years but have since let that go because I realized it wasn’t healthy or realistic. For that reason I don’t own a scale anymore, but if i was to buy one again, I’d probably choose this one. Thanks for sharing!
OMG I love this! I hate the way the scale makes me feel, but it’s kind of necessary that I use it every now and then to monitor my hypothyroidism. Not having to hear the number would be a great advantage for my overall outlook, I think.
Wow, this is so awesome. $60 is rather a lot, but I guess if I have some extra mula I would buy it. I hate to weigh myself and I was at the point you were of weighing myself like twice a day and even WRITING IT DOWN! Yeah, obsessed. So, I haven’t weighed myself much, but I know how I look and feel and its the best I have ever felt, I think LOL.
I do think this would be awesome to have, someday, someday.
I say why bother with the Zero Scale if you don’t care what you weigh. I am trying very hard not to be concerned with the number but how I feel in my clothes. I also have to realize that i am not 25 anymore and maybe I need a few more pounds on this body. I am not there yet but getting there. I too did body for life and LOVED it but became a little obsessed with not eating or freaking out on the inside if I got off the plan at all. Anyway the last time I weighed was for my annual female appointment and I was 25 pounds higher than I want to be:(
Hahhahahaha. I just laughed out LOUD at those four pictures. First I was like heheheh janetha is making a funny face and then I saw the dogs …. it was game over.
I think body percent composition is waaaay more important than total weight, because if you think about it, so many people have completely different body widths and structures — could be a lot more bone with wider hips, more muscle if you’re an athlete, etc — soooo this scale is bombtastic. I approve.
i love that idea! I can’t believe you got Randy to stay on the scale like that. My golden wouldn’t be having any of that!
WOW….they scale looks super cool! So funny about the timing of this post cuz I just did one on self esteem and loving yourself just the way you are. We (me included) tend to place our happiness on a particular weight, but it’s not healthy. I like the concept behind the zero scale though! And congratulations on the weight loss!!!!!!!!! Hard work pays off :)
Fab post…per usual. While I do have a number that I try to stay under (that I feel is a realistic one), I am more interested in how I look/feel than a number. I’m under “that number” right now, but feel like I don’t look as strong/fit as I’d like, hence why I’m doing my strength challenge thingy right now. I think that scale would drive me nuts though–I’d need to know the actual number, but more power to people who are secure/smart enough for this scale!
This scale is awesome!!!!! Takes away the whole attaching self-worth to a number thing!
Thank you for talking “numbers”! So many people avoid it, which I get, but I am a numbers person! From my job to my lists to my daily weigh ins, I like seeing numbers.
I got the Zero Scale too. The only thing I don’t like about it is that he advocates a Paleo diet, which I didn’t want to strictly follow – the guy keeps emailing me that if I just followed the Paleo diet for 3 weeks, my diabetes will be cured.
Um, pretty sure my pancreas doesn’t work anymore so that’s why I need insulin – not sure how eating steak and steering clear of whole grains is gonna make it start producing insulin again!
But I do like the scale! Happy Friday J!
Love the honesty! I think it could still mess with my head (just because of disordered eating and my issues with the scale)–esp since I am the fittest I have ever been (and getting fitter! whoo!), so it could mess with my head. But it is cool to see losses–GO you!
This is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for! I can’t stand the scale but need to check in once in a while to make sure things don’t get out of hand if you know what I mean. Thanks!
Very interesting!! I guess I would just wonder if you could still get “obsessed” with seeing how much the scale goes up or down … if someone is overly obsessed with a regular scale, I think they could also get obsessed with this scale. But I do like the overall concept! I think it could be good for someone trying to maintain a healthy weight, who just wants to step on every now and then and make sure it isn’t too far from “zero.” :)
Thank you for being so honest! I found this post through Ashley’s post and it really resonated with me. The scale and weight can be an extremely difficult struggle to navigate. Although I like the idea of not hearing the number of my weight, I would still get upset if the scale said I gained 1.5 pounds instead of lost. I probably would feel just as down as if I read the actual weight. I too try and avoid scales for sanity purposes! :-)
Poor Penny :(
Since we rescued German Shep puppy, our lab/golden mix is looking so hefty compared to the skinny puppy. We can’t decide if the lab has gained weight or if it’s an optical illusion. None the less, we have been upping their exercise. We typically get them weighed at the vet or the husband jumps on the scale, weighs himself, and then attempts to pick up apprx 95 lbs of baby love to figure out dog lbs.
If you do switch up her food – a trick that has worked well for us is adding pumpkin to the dog food for some extra fiber.
Good luck!
Oh! Haha. It was a joke :) But I do like the idea of adding pumpkin to dog food, thanks for the tip!
I love this so much! It’s awesome. :-) What a wonderful concept for a scale – so much better than having a horrible number stare you in the face. I agree and relate completely with what you said – I used to always want to stay at 110lbs, then that gradually went up to 112-115, and now, after not weighing myself for like a year, I stepped on the scale and I’m at 127-130! But you know what? I really don’t care either, I’m happy and healthy, and look good, yo! ;-) Just not like a very skinny person. And I am down with that. <3 Thank you for sharing your REAL thoughts and HONESTY! Love it heaps, and really appreciate it. Awesome review, too! xyx
Well, I’m an avid scale user. I use it to make certain I’m maintaining my weight loss and it works for me. However, I can totally see how this would be an awesome tool for maintaining/gaining/losing when you’re prone to getting hung up on that one number.
UGH– I just read the thoughts in my head. Girl, you’ve got an empathetic friend right up-in-heea!
p.s. Insta-friends reassures our similar likings in food, etc. ;)