I want your support! Can you help me?

I am getting so peed off at my stupid scales.  I swear it's like the Earth's gravitational pull changes from one side of my kitchen to the other and from morning to morning.  I think it was yesterday that I got on the scale and it read 156.0.  I was astonished so I stepped off and stepped back on and it read the same thing.  Later, like about an hour, I stepped on the scale again because I was doubtful that it was correct and then it read 161.0  What the fudge!  So I got the tape measure out because the last time I measured myself was about 9 or 10 days ago and this was the result.

       &nb sp;       8/10/08 - 8/19/08 - Difference

Hips:  41.75" - 41.25" - decrease 0.5"

Waist:  32.0" - 30.0" - decrease 2.0"

Under bust: 28.0" - 31.5" - increase 3.5"

L wrist:  6.75" - 6.75" - same

R wrist:  6.75" - 6.75" - same

L thigh:  25.0" - 24.5" - decrease 0.5"

R thigh:  25.0" - 24.25" - decrease 0.75"

L upper arm:  12.0" - 12.0" - same

R upper arm:  12.25" - 12.25" - same

NEW MEASUREMENTS AS OF 08/19/08

Bust:  39.0"

Belly:  35.75"

I should be happy that most of my measurements went down but I can't help harping on the scale thing.  I want to WEIGH LESS!!!!!!  I think I may have measured my under bust incorrectly last time because Idon't think I have gained 3.5" in less than 10 days in my rib cage.  That's just weird!

Anyway - I would love some words of encouragement - my husband is a pig and he asked my why I was hording the snickers.  It was in my backpack sticking out of one of the pockets.  I was so mad at him for saying that.  I bought them on Sunday - they had been sitting in the kitchen for 2.5 days and I ONLY had two - and they are bite size - last night for desert.  I need some support! :(  Please help me!

It's very normal to flucuate by 5 or so pounds through out the day.  So, you should pick a certain time of day (and day of week, if you aren't able to ignore small flucuations) to weigh yourself.  However, that said, it's a great idea to take measurements too.  I measure myself once a month and it has been very motivating (I think I have lost like 25" so far!). 

Weight loss is about consistency.  You need to have a thick skin so the small increases in weight, measurements and negative comments from other can bounce off of you, and you can continue forward without being effected.  Commit to yourself that you will continue this no matter what happens.  Think of the seemingly famous CC analogy:  If you forgot to brush your teeth last night, would you give up oral hygine from today forward.  No, of course not.  You'd simply wake up and brush your teeth.  The same goes for weight loss.

Very nice - thanks for the analogy that makes perfect sense!

scales are really frustrating and I found myself not entering what the scales really said on my weight log.  That was interesting in and of itself.  So I decided to just honestly enter what my scale said.  My graph goes up and down all the way across BUT the trend line is a consistent downward line.  Try to focus on the trend line.  If that is going in the right direction over time then so are you.

Sunday i threw my scale in the closet. hopefully my dog will find and chew it to pieces rather than my shoes! haha. anyway i just decided i can't keep checking every minute, and now i'm trying to only weigh myself once a week. it seems to make me more focused on my food since i don't have the scale give me any sort of idea on my progress, whether its good or bad.

The scale can be a complete pud! No lie. I sometimes get obsessed about the number, when I shouldn't even be paying attention to it.

Keep up with the measurements, and avoid the ever changing number of the "scale".

Oh and guys will say what they say. Heck a LOT of people will say what they say, and you can't let it get to you. They don't realize how our brain works, or what living a "healthier lifestyle" consists of. All they think is Diet = Not eating even mini sized snickers on occassion, and they express their opinion.. which doesn't matter anyway.

OMG honey your driving yourself crazy!!.. I SOOOO understand what you mean about the scale thing. I notice that different places in the house shows different readings.. has a lot to do wit the floors being uneven. But dont worry u need to learn how to stop looking at the scales so much. Its hard to not look at it i kno, but constantly looking at the scales causes you to stress n stress causes you to bloat, over eat and bad mood swings.. so i suggest u weigh yourself at least every 2-3 weeks, n try to always weigh yourself in the same exact area in your house. I weigh 160 but the scale at times say 159, 156 i be like am i really losing weight? or is it just the scale? its hard to say. but when you notice your clothes fitting differently i think its more assuring. I too need motivation, so how bout we motivate each other?? =). i kno u can do it!!! We all can!! =D

I can totally sympathize with you, I have a whole pair of scales that were analog and they would jump from 241 pounds to 285 pounds and I would just stand there and be in shock. I got to scales that my wife used to use that is digital and it showed me at 285 pounds so I considered that my weight but I was still not sure of the scales and they are quite feminine so I bought a set of scales from a company called "Health O Meter". I've found them to be quite consistent also allows 2 users. I also like the fact that it shows how much you've lost each time you get on it. I wish you the very best and I know you can do it! I'm 51 and have had four heart attacks and I try my best to get my weight down I'm 6 foot one and would not mind taking a trip to the Riviera once before I go

I, too, have a hard time resisting jumping on the scales every day, so here's what I do.  I keep my scales under my nightstand where I have to actually move furniture away from the bed in order to pull them out and look at them.  This entails removing the lamp, a tall vase and all other electronics.  A real pain!  I'm down to weighing myself about twice a week, which is good for me.