Why I Am Ditching The Scale For An Entire Year
Why I’m Ditching the Scale for a Year — And What I’m Doing Instead
I’m putting away my scale for an entire year.
Not for the reasons you might think.
There was a time when I avoided the scale because it made me feel bad about myself. That’s not why I’m ditching it now.
A couple of years ago, I committed to weighing myself every single day. And if you’ve ever struggled with the scale, I highly recommend this approach—it helped me make peace with the number. By seeing how my weight fluctuated daily (usually for reasons unrelated to what I ate), I stopped fearing the ups and downs.
But today, my reason for packing it away is different.
I don’t want to be distracted.
Sure, I’d like to lose a little fat this year. But whenever I step on the scale, I find myself getting obsessed with weight loss. And the truth is, my real goal has nothing to do with a number.
I want to be healthier. I want to live a long, active life—one where I can romp on the floor with Valentina’s future grandchildren (to the extent I was ever a “romper”). The scale doesn’t measure that. If anything, it distracts me from that bigger picture.
Why the Scale Can Be a Distraction
I’ve noticed that no matter what the scale says—up or down—it tends to mess with my mindset. If I lose weight, I celebrate by eating off plan. If I gain weight, I convince myself it’s not working and reach for comfort food. Neither reaction helps me stay on track.
For others, the scale might be motivating. Some people swear by weekly or monthly weigh-ins. But for me, those just add more pressure. If I weigh myself monthly and it happens to be a “water retention day,” I feel discouraged, even when I know it’s not a true reflection of progress.
So, I’ve decided to take a different approach.
How I’m Measuring Progress Without the Scale
Instead of relying on the scale, I’m focusing on non-scale victories and holistic health markers. Here’s what I’m doing:
Tracking Bloodwork
I recently had bloodwork done, and the results were surprisingly good. My hemoglobin A1C—a key marker for diabetes risk—was 4.95, the lowest it’s ever been. My regular hemoglobin was 12.7, meaning I’m not anemic, and while my total cholesterol was a bit high at 233 (thanks to finishing breastfeeding), My “good cholesterol” is 57 and my “bad cholesterol” is a bit high at 157. I’m cautiously optimistic that they will all improve with better eating and exercise.These numbers give me concrete evidence of progress in ways the scale never could. And they keep me focused on what is most important, my health and my longevity.
Noticing Physical Changes
When I look in the mirror, I see more muscle tone in my legs than I did a few weeks ago. The swelling from surgery on my abdomen is gradually going down, which my surgeon says will take 6–8 months.I also feel the changes. Sometimes I’ll absentmindedly touch my clavicle and notice it’s more prominent. Crossing my legs is easier, too.
Taking Progress Photos
Photos don’t lie—and they capture changes I might miss day to day. Creating photo collages is a fun way to celebrate my progress and stay motivated.Enjoying the Journey
Without the scale, I’m finding more joy in the process. I’m not hyper-focused on a fluctuating number, which means I can appreciate the smaller, more meaningful wins.
This photo collage is a few years old (and my body size today is somewhere between these two). But I had NO idea my face (and the rest of me) had changed this much until I made this collage. What a fun surprise!
What About You?
Are you someone who finds the scale helpful or discouraging? Do you weigh yourself daily, weekly, or not at all?
For me, letting go of the scale has been freeing. It’s allowed me to focus on what really matters: my health, my energy, and my future. If you’ve been feeling stuck or distracted by the scale, it might be worth experimenting with other ways to track your progress.
Because at the end of the day, the number on the scale is just that—a number. It’s not the whole story. It’s actually not even a very interesting story.
