I facebook my weight once a week to make sure I stay on point and take the criticisms (good and bad) from my Facebook friends.

I actually have a bluetooth enabled scale and blood pressure cuff that reports my daily weight and BP to a nurse.  But there is no way I'd let it send anywhere else.  My weight can fluctuate 10 pounds in a day because of fluid retention so the number on the scale actually means nothing except to my care providers.

that's a terrible idea.  i don't even own a scale.  i know what i want my body to look like and i'm going to achieve it.  i've been overweight my entire life and im finally committed to having an athletic physique. At 33 i'm in the best shape of my life, but i still have a ways to go.  I don't care what my weight is as long as i look good.

I'd rather stab myself in the foot than tweet about my weight. Weightloss is a personal goal, and the number on the scale does not say anything about a person's real health. The only thing that would happen if others knew my weight is that if I decided to have a "bad day," anyone I was with would decide they needed to police my food consumption. Thanks, but I'd rather not have to deal with that kind of bologna.

It would be cool to have a scale that automatically exported weights into an excel document, complete with time-of-day and things like that... as long as it didn't share with anyone else. My scale, my fat, my personal information.  

NOOOOOOO!!!!  And HE|| NO!  I agree with highviscosity!  Geeessshhhh!

I actually have a withings scale.  Part of my fondness of my scale is that I am a known "gadget" person.  I would never in a million years tweet my weight to anyone.  However the wii connection to my IPOD and laptop are great tools.  Both my husband and I have our profiles set up and the graphs the dashboard presents shows us our progress.  I didn't own a scale for ages and even though I have used a tap measure I find the reinforcement of the number on the scale going down extremely gratifying.

Thanks for the disclosure. I really respect and appreciate it!

If it were a scale that would connect with CalorieCount, I'd totally be for it. It'd keep me honest (if I have a bad period, I admit, I tend to not post my weight until I've made progress beyond my last posted weigh-in :P).

Twitter, Facebook, etc., on the other hand, I don't know about. I'm still waaay too shy about my efforts just yet...

This new scale that tweets your weight touched on one of my hot buttons...

A scale is an external device that doesn’t accurately measure what’s going on inside your body or your head. More importantly, it does not measure your self-worth but it can sabotage your efforts, as in…

• I did so well this week. I deserve a treat!
• I was so good but I didn’t lose any weight. I might as well eat.
• I don’t have to weigh in until next week so I’ll splurge now and make up for it later.
• I was terrible this week and I still lost weight. I guess I don’t need to be as careful as I thought.
• I only lost a half a pound. It wasn’t worth it.

Some people say, “But I want to be held accountable.” Accountable to a metal rectangle on the floor? Accountable to a three digit number? Now, accountable to your Twitter followers?

The only accountability that really counts is your commitment to yourself. In the end, that is the only accountability that makes a difference.

If you do weigh yourself:

• Be honest about how the numbers affect you. If knowing your weight tends to backfire, put your scale under the sink or out in the garage. You can decline to be weighed at your doctor’s office or ask that they record it without out telling you the number.
• Decide how often you need to weigh yourself. Some people prefer to be weighed only when they go to the doctor but for most people once a week or even once a month is a good interval.
• You never need to weigh yourself more than once a day; if you do, you’re playing games by measuring meaningless physiological fluctuations.
• Let go of old benchmarks. You may never again reach your wrestling weight or your wedding day weight but you can live an active lifestyle and make conscious choices that will serve you now.
• Don’t weigh yourself to confirm what you already know. When you’ve been mindful of your choices don’t take a chance that the scale will give you an answer you didn’t expect and derail your confidence.
• Don’t use the scale to punish yourself. When you know you’re off track, focus on the changes you’ll make rather than beating yourself up.

One person said "I don't need to weigh myself. I have pants." I love the simplicity and accuracy of his method! A few ounces won’t make a difference but a few pounds will determine how comfortable he feels. Look for other ways to assess your health and progress too:

• Resting heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol or fasting blood sugar
• Minutes of walking, steps on your pedometer or pounds of weight you’re able to lift
• How do you feel? Tune in to your energy level, mood and stamina

Ultimately these are the measurements that really count.

Michelle May MD
www.AmIHungry.com

Hmm. I've used the pants method. It didn't work out so well. Like most people I have pants that are sized slightly differently, even if the size number is the same. Over time I just naturally switched over to the larger ones. By the time I really caught on, I was 12 lbs heavier. That was almost 10% of my weight and is significant.

I think you make valid points, Dr. May, but if we aren't of the right mindset and are looking for an excuse to throw in the towel, we'll throw in the towel! (no matter what 'measure' of success we're using)

Oh, and my impedence BF scale differs as much as 4 pts day to day. I think it's worthless but maybe it's just a lemon.

I have a ticker on my Facebook account that openly says how much I weighed, how much I weigh now, and what my goal weight is.  It's also got my BMI on it.  The way I figure, if anyone who can see my FB profile can see how much I weigh, it'll keep me going so I don't embarrass myself by not losing weight.

Also, anytime I lose weight or reach another milestone (out of obese category, down x # of sizes, etc.), I post it as my status.  It really keeps me going, since many of my friends "like" my status and post comments like "way to go!" and "how are you doing it?!?" on there.  Knowing that I've got that support really gives me the strength to keep going!

I think that we have lost our sense of privacy somewhere along the way. The fact that a scale that tweeters your weight to the world exists says it all.

 

Good advice Ms May.

I wouldn't mind the updates going to CC, as many people here already know what I weight, but tweeting...um no! I did post my journey pics in a short album on facebook, (4 pictures before, during, after) and said how much I lost, (not what I weighed) and I don't regret it. I got 18 picture comments, and some people messaged me to ask advice or to thank me or tell me they were proud of me. But I put it up when I was ready. And it feels good to show people what you can do with a little effort. I am not a shy person though, so I understand that not everyone would be comfortable with that.

When I am doing well, I tend to weigh myself more often. When I hit a plateau, or don't eat perfectly, I put the scale away for a week or two , focus on feeling positive about my body, working out more, etc. I don't let it control me. I only enter my weight when it goes down. Works for me.

Are you kidding me??

There is no way I would post my weight for any and all to see...they don't need to know! I only talk about it here @ CC, as we are all in this together. But in my humble opinion, the rest of the world can take a guess.

I really think that something like this would only cater to those pro ana sites/forums that have become so out of control. I'm not sure it's a good idea...

Yikes! Apart from very limited medical monitoring situations, the service sounds like heaven for competitive starvers.

I really need to lose weight--no doctor would argue--but Calorie Count does everything I want. It keeps track of my eating, activity, and weight loss, and it all remains my own business.

This is totally crazy, totally insane.

I don't get it. Other than your doctor, who would even care to receive that information? I've got a couple friends that are working on weight loss and every so often they post that they've made progress (as they are proud of being a step closer to reaching a goal), but I don't need numbers. Seriously, in this online age of blog this or tweet that, we've become a society of TMI. I am on this site strictly for my own purposes and I don't really feel the need to share information with anyone.

I think it depends on the personality of the person using the device.  I really don't think anyone has a right to judge anyone else who wants to or does not want to use it.  I wouldn't have a problem using it.  I check Twitter more often than I check my CC.  It would probably work for me.  Also what I weigh is just a number.  I'd love to be thinner but my main goal is to be healthy.  I think part of making it public information (for me) would make it easier to overcome.  It's like...a public announcement saying "I have nothing to hide".  Also with the friends I have following me on Twitter it would be a hell of a support system.

Are you kidding me???!!! The only people who know my "true" weight are my two best friends who I am "dieting with"...My own family does not know my weight.   I am accountable to myself.  I enjoy the "compliments", but heaven knows that I can "beat up" on myself better than anyone out there.  I think that some "personal" information should just stay that way.  I won't mind "sharing" my actual weight once I get to my goal.  People who don't have a "weight issue" don't understand the numbers in my opinion. 

I think body builders would find this interesting.  The professional body building community has quite a big following. Many of the bigger names do use the internet to report their contest diet training/weigh ins.  Since there is only so much you can do in a day, anyone on here who actually keeps their meals prepared/weighed/calories counted knows, to see results it takes work. With they're busy training/eating schedules, this seems a convenient way of tracking progress.

Original Post by: cmpoth

I don't get it. Other than your doctor, who would even care to receive that information? I've got a couple friends that are working on weight loss and every so often they post that they've made progress (as they are proud of being a step closer to reaching a goal), but I don't need numbers. Seriously, in this online age of blog this or tweet that, we've become a society of TMI. I am on this site strictly for my own purposes and I don't really feel the need to share information with anyone.

Exactly.

(1) It's personal information, and (2) who actually cares about my weekly weight fluctuations apart from marketers who love this type of data? And the marketers get it anyway everytime I enter information on this site.

I will never buy one of these scales.  I currently have two means of measuring my weight, Wii Fit Fitness board, and a regular digital scale.  I have tested both with weights to confirm the correctness of the readings.  They both pass very well.  What I like about the Wii Fit is that's the device I start my weightloss journey with and so it kind of is a friend through this travel.  My digital scale is the one I use when I want to just see what my daily weight is.

I have no problem with people posting their achievments on FB, Twitter, or MS, but to a point it does become a little ego boosting to me.  I try to keep it to a minimum so that I do not seem to be bragging. 

When it's all said and done, To Each Their Own.

I've tried to use both methods of clothes and using the scale.  With my pants, I wear them fairly loose and if they are getting tight it's too late....  I also agree with Dr. May, that the numbers shouldn't be the only measure to success and not the regulator of my day.  I try to use the numbers as a reminder of what I'm trying to do which is portion control, exercise and these are for a healthy lifestyle.  There are a number of groups for weigh-ins and these seem like a healthy and fun way to join a group of people who are going to provide motivation and encouragement toward a goal.  It's one of the tools I find helpful.  

That's the great thing about CC.  There are LOTS of tools and we can decide which ones work best for us and our Healthy & Energetic Life Plan. (HELP on CC)  :D

Original Post by: myedinak

I really think that something like this would only cater to those pro ana sites/forums that have become so out of control. I'm not sure it's a good idea...

first off let me say this,

pro ana sites are not out of contorl.

THOUSANDS of ana's and mia's relly on those site's daily.

some off them would commit suicide without them.

Pro ana/mia has nothing wrong with it.

Second of all,  this would not cater to them

ana's dont want anyone to know they're weight but themselves,, even ana friends dont know my weight... its embarassing.

so think befoer you type next time.

I have a hard enough time admitting to myself how much I weigh, let alone my twitter followers!

Those reasons are pretty weak.  If you need to let a doctor, weight-loss buddy or family member know about your fluctuations in weight, it's probably best to personally email or message them.  The fact that they're marketing the fact that it Tweets your weight does not appeal to the overweight population who could actually benefit greatly from using the website and tracking their body composition and weight fluctuations.  Most people, including myself, are too shy to tell even their close friends what their weight is when it's higher than it should be, let alone the highly public domain of the internet!

This item needs to be in the "Hall of Fame for the Worst Invention Ever!!"

Really, who but insecure people would flock to buy such a thing.  If you need to go public with your weight, you got a problem....If you need to be humiliated to stay on your food plan, you got a problem....If you need the world to know your wonderful skinny weight, you got a problem.

Here we have another stupid product that exploits the weakness and vunerability of others.  If you do these things with or without this scale you need to get a grip.

The number on the scale is just a number.  It is NOT your self worth.  You are not the number.  It does not define you.  The disease of food obsessions lies to you .  When you step on the scale do you allow it to determine your mood.  Or do you avoid the scale because of the way it will make you feel.  both not even close to healthy behaivor.  Buy Judith Beck's books, she is a cognitive therapist, and read what she says about the scale.  She is dead on right.  She changed the way I think about the scale and it been so freeing, I can not express my gratitude enough.

Again, what a stupid, stupid, product.  What a bunch of sheep people will be who put their money on the table to purchase this thing.  Don't tweet your weight to me, it is none of my buisness and I don't give a damn.

Tweet me your struggles and your successes and I will respond with encouragement or kudos, but your weight is not my concern.

I wouldn't tweet my weight.  First of all, my weight flucutates by a few pounds from day to day, dependening on my hormones, hydration, etc.  Second, i don't think most people care what you weigh, unless you're in some kind of weight-loss competition.  Why make a big deal out of the number on the scale? You'd have to be really obsessed.

I think it seems extremely useful. The twitter option seems a little silly to me, but the fact that it stores your information and sends it to your computer automatically sounds GREAT! I'm pretty forgetful about writing down my weight sometimes, which means there are giant holes in my weight tracking. Not having to remember my weight after seeing it on the scale would stop me from obsessing about it for the rest of the day.

The verdict: Tweeting your weight seems like a bad idea under most circumstances. Having an automatic log of your weight is a great idea, which would be why I would buy this product.

Well guys,I've been a fat pig for as long as i can remember. It's gotten so bad that the kids in my CHRISTIAN SCHOOL call me pepperoni boy. They also say that because i'm homosexual. Well i just wanted to let you know that. I hope you can accept me here. Bye

**** retarded ... I'm not subjecting myself to the scrutiny of idiots of twitter.