Do you hold your breath before stepping on the scale? Does the number you see impact the rest of your day? Many of my 1:1 clients come to me having a love/hate relationship with the scale. They’re tired of the red flashing numbers dictating their worth. Together, we work on ditching the scale altogether and focus on non-weight measures of health, wellness, and progress!
Ditching the Scale for Good
It’s time to ditch the scale for good. Contradictory to popular belief, weight is not necessarily the best indicator of health.
This study provided data on a significant proportion of individuals who despite being categorized as “overweight” and “obese” were metabolically healthy. In other words, their biometric values including triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood glucose were within a healthy range. On the contrary, a significant proportion of “normal-weight” adults in the study expressed cardiovascular risk factors.
This illustrates that there is SO much more to health than weight. It raises the question: why are so many people still stepping on the scale every single day when it only causes emotional distraught?
I hope that the following non-weight measures of health will help you feel more confident ditching the scale for good.
If you’re still on the fence, read what my client, Jean, has to say about her experience ditching the scale.
Rejecting my scale was one of the most powerful things I have ever done. I am freed from the daily burden of facing the flashing red numbers of my scale and accepting that single fact as success or failure. I now consider how I actually “feel” and how I move and my level of energy as the measure of my eating choices. – Jean, Everglow Nutrition Client
11 Non-Weight Measures of Health & Wellness
Enhanced Energy Level.
You eat to fuel and nourish your body! Instead of feeling depleted of energy, you have the energy to carry out your daily activities. You eat enough food and calories during the day to keep your energy level steady versus feeling your blood sugar spike and crash.
Increased Stamina, Strength, or Endurance.
Perhaps you’re exploring joyful and intuitive movement. Don’t sabotage your exercise by focusing on weight loss. Measure progress in these creative ways:
- You can lift more weight
- You can walk/run a further distance
- You can take a flight of stairs without getting as winded
These are all fantastic wins!
Not Feeling Guilty After Eating.
You’re free of the guilt-deprivation seesaw. You no longer label foods as “good” or “bad” so you don’t feel guilty after eating. Your mental well-being has improved because you no longer carry food guilt or shame.
Better Body Confidence.
You feel at home in your body. Your worth is no longer coupled with your weight. This frees you to focus on what you enjoy and appreciate about your body, increasing self-esteem and confidence.
Greater Variety in Food Choices.
Variety of food = a variety of nutrients. Ditching diet rules opens you up to trying new foods from the various food groups. You focus on what you can add to your diet versus eliminating foods from your diet.
Connection to Internal Cues of Hunger & Fullness.
You feel connected to your internal hunger and fullness cues. It is easy for you to tell when you are hungry vs. full and listen to your body’s needs. You eat in alignment with these cues, which serves your body best!
Decreased Anxiety & Stress Levels.
Did you know that stress increases the amount of inflammation in the body? Inflammation is linked to multiple disease states. Less stress = improved health status. When food is no longer a source of stress in your life, your headspace is freed up again!
Regular Digestion.
Overeating and undereating can throw off the digestive system. As you learn to properly fuel your body, you notice a return of regular bowel movements. A healthy digestive tract is a sign of adequate fiber intake, hydration, and overall nutrition status. It’s also a sign that your body is properly absorbing nutrients.
Drinking Water During the Day.
Perhaps you’re drinking more water during the day. Water plays an essential role in metabolism, cell function, regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, aiding in digestion, and SO much more. Drinking enough water is a great sign of health!
Increased Mindfulness.
Mindfulness helps you access a relaxed state of being. This relaxed state is associated with increased immune function, lowered blood pressure, lower heart rate, and higher brain functioning! It doesn’t matter how you practice mindfulness. Simply closing your eyes and focusing on your breath for a few minutes a day helps you access this state.
Eating Regular Meals vs. Skipping & Late-Night Bingeing.
The pattern of restricting food during the day and late-night binge eating is behind you. You’re able to cope with your emotions, without using food. You don’t feel “out of control” around food anymore.
What measures of health do you focus on? I’d love to hear from you! Comment below or message me directly on Instagram.