OVERCOMING YOUR FEAR OF THE SCALES
Having to face your fears always brings up a feeling of anxiety especially when it comes to stepping on the scales. This fear can stem from many different reasons, but they all have the same outcome in teaching you to avoid the truth.
One of the biggest reasons you tend to create this fear is that you have most likely been overly strict in your diet, which tends to lead to periods of over-indulging because you feel like you just need a release from the restriction.
The fact is there is no real way to truly work towards your goals (if weight is one of them) and avoid the scales. So in order to keep on track, you must learn to overcome those fears that stop you from taking action where necessary.
The process of facing your fears can be defined as exposure, which involves gradually and repeatedly going into feared situations until you feel less anxious about them, allowing you to shift your perspective of how you previously viewed those fears.
In context to you weighing yourself by slowly beginning to do this more often, you become more comfortable with the idea and learn to take action accordingly. Of course, there will be weeks that the scales don’t tell you what you want to see, but this empowers you to analyse and take action in the areas that can change the outcome.
I remember when I first started training to increase muscle mass and size, and the morning after I would jump on the scales in eager anticipation of hoping that the numbers would fly up, only to be humbled very quickly when it didn’t show what I wanted it to, despite me not actually taking all the necessary actions.
I’d spend the rest of the day allowing it to bug me thinking but I went so hard in the gym yesterday, so why isn’t it reflecting on the scales. However, I came to realise that the only thing that needed to change was my expectations of maximum results whilst only putting in minimal effort.
The scales are one way of tracking your progress, but always keep in mind you as a person are not defined by a number on the scale, other factors such as your measurements, nutrition, daily activity, water intake, and sleep will determine how and if you are progressing.
If the numbers aren't moving in the direction you want, don’t spend the rest of the week beating yourself up for it. Address the areas in your life that you are not being as committed to and take action in adjusting those to produce a better outcome.
There’s an old saying of ‘what you don’t know won't hurt you’ - in this case it’s doing a lot more damage by avoiding the need to address those habits that aren’t productive to your goal.
