Hopping Mad at The Bathroom Scale

True anger at the bath room scale tends to come from those who are doing everything right. Eating well, staying active and even writing down their food and fitness patterns.

Even with evidence in hand, a wrong way swing on the scale can derail even the most focused of my clients.

I'd like to point out that hopping mad is often synonymous with deflating motivation, relapse and even collapse.

See if you relate to Sharon's fury below and how you will react the next time the scale gives you the equivalent of an obscene gesture.

So this morning I got MAD. I mean really, really ANGRY! Stomping my feet, spitting nails and throwing things mad. I haven't been on the scale in over a week and this morning I thought I would have a look. It was the SAME, the exact SAME number I was 4 weeks ago. The SAME number I have seen since I came home from the hospital after having my 3rd child. The same stupid number that seems to be my destiny!!!! I have been working my a@@ off for almost 6 weeks now and I am still looking at the same number!!! I don't care how healthy and fit I might be compared to that first week - I WANT TO BE LIGHTER!!!!!

I want to wear smaller clothes and be a smaller person!!! Why is this not working for me?!!! So in my anger, my mind starts to go. I am embarrassed because for the last week I have been walking around feeling great, confident in what I have been doing. Now I find out that I am kidding myself - seeing something that isn't really there. I am frustrated because I wonder what is the point of dragging my sorry self out of bed 5 mornings a week for 6 weeks to do something I HATE for no result.

I am angry because I could have been indulging on all my favorite foods for 6 weeks and be in EXACTLY the same place! What is the point of it all. And then I start to panic. I have short term goals laid out - the first of which was to be down 10 pounds by April and at this rate I will not achieve it. So then I start panicking and thinking about doing more drastic things to try and save face - liquid diets - only eating lettuce...  I know this is not a healthy way to be thinking but I don't know what else to do!

My 10+ motivation that I touted last about last week has taken a major hit this morning. I try not to let the scale dictate my mood but the reality is I am doing this to lose weight and to date .. I haven't. What am I doing wrong? Drew, get ready because I am in a foul mood and heading your way this afternoon!

Update: While staying at a safe distance I walked Sharon through all the wonderful changes she has made. It turns out that her clothes fit much better, her energy level is through the roof and even her dogs are having a hard time keeping up with her new found fitness level.

We also determined that this anger stems largely from previous failed attempts and outlined why this attempt at weight loss is indeed different. This reaction has in fact been a major barrier to Sharon's previous weight loss attempts and challenging the bathroom scale is just as important as her eating and activity plan.

Update II: It was a blip. 3 days later the scale read 5 pounds less. Physiologically it is difficult to pinpoint what causes such drastic swings in body weight but menstrual cycle, water retention, undigested food, salt intake and constipation comes to mind.