Worst Day of my Life

Today sucks.

A little background. I've been about the same size for the last 5-6 years. Never worried much about weight. Step on the scale in my parents' bathroom everyone in a while to make sure nothing's changed. Whatever. So last time I weighed was a couple weeks ago right before coming back to college. Well, since being back at school I decided to lose some weight. I cleaned up my eating and started running everyday. I hadn't weighed myself yet, didn't think anything of it, but today I finally bought a scale to have an accurate start weight to go by. I was expecting anywhere between 160-170, what I've always been. I got on the scale and it read 190! And I just about died. I've basically been avoiding all human contact and bawling my eyes out. I am SO frustrated! I want to fly home, storm into the bathroom and throw the stupid scale in the garbage.

Needless to say, this changes things a bit.

Do your clothes still fit?  If you had really gained 20-30 pounds, you would have gone up a couple of sizes.  Did you?  If not, either your parent's scale was seriously out of whack or your new one is.  There is no way that you gained 20-30 pounds in a couple of weeks.  What is important to remember is that YOU haven't changed.  You are the same person you always were and probably look the same too.  Take a look at the instructions that come with the scale and make sure it is properly adjusted.

I agree with the previous post. The GENERAL rule of thumb is that every ten pounds is a pants size. So, did you go up 2-3 pants sizes?

And, this is going to sound obvious, but did you zero the new scale? There should be instructions with it, but for a digital scale you usually you put it on a flat, level surface, press lightly on it, let it read "0.0" for a bit and then turn off. That makes it start from zero when it weighs.

If I'm remembering right, with an analog scale there's usually a dial you turn to make the arrow point to zero when nothing's on it.

The other thing I have to say is that, honestly, no weight is worth getting that upset over. Meet people's eyes, be yourself, enjoy yourself. I met my husband in college when I was heavy (and worse, totally out of shape) and it didn't matter at all to him. In the last fifteen years, he's seen me through every size and it hasn't changed a thing--the same with my friends.

Yes, I prefer to be healthy. But if you're eating well and running, you are on your way. A couple of weeks of that seems like a great start to me! Keep it up :-)

Sigh, no I'm not concerned that I gained 20-30 lbs in three weeks. My clothes all still feel the same. I'm pretty sure the scale at home is just wrong :(

Thanks for the encouragement. I know I'm still the same person, it's just wierd to have to rethink all my goals. Losing 30 lbs seems so much more managable than losing 50.

I can definitely see taking a moment to adjust to the new number, but I'm 32 pounds into my weight loss (my goal is 44) and I have to say that it's been so rewarding that the time has just flown by! And i've been doing this since November (10 months). but I love that it's gone pretty slow--that means I have a good shot at making it last.

Even when I hit a weight plateau after about ten pounds, I could tell that I was lasting longer in my workouts, could run and move better, and my clothes felt better. That saw me through until the scale started moving again.

Sorry about the bad day, but it sounds like you've had a good couple of weeks getting started!

That's it? That's the worst day of your life?

Wow, you must have a really great life then. Have some perspective on this. It's only weight - there are much worse things that could happen.

Having once looked at 70 pounds to lose, I can understand you feeling overwhelmed.  So, don't think about it.  Your goal should be to eat healthy, satisfying food and stay within your calorie limit TODAY. 

If you go on a diet for a limited time, somewhere in the back of your mind is the intention of going back to eating like you used to.  Eating like you used to is what got you to 190.  It will do it again.  Your real goal has to be to change your eating habits for the rest of your life, not just long enough to lose 50 pounds.  That is the only way the weight will stay off.  So it doesn't really matter if you have 30 or 50 pounds to lose.  I know you want to get rid of it quickly, but if you want to suceed in the long term, you have to take it slowly.

1. First, get a kitchen scale and weigh food to figure out if you are eating larger portions than you should.  Shrinking portion sizes is pretty easy.
2. Then log everything you eat for a while at least.  Find out what foods are just more calories than they are worth.  Eliminate, or at least cut way back on them.
3. Then find some activities you enjoy doing and start doing them.  You don't have to go to a gym if that doesn't sound fun.  You do have to get out of your chair and do something though.
4. Now, take a look at how many calories you are eating and how many you are burning.  Cut back on calories until you are eating at least 500 - 1000 less than you are burning.  No more.

Now, remember your goal.  Stay within your calorie limit TODAY.  If you don't quite make it, try again tomorrow.  Keep doing this and the pounds will take care of themselves.

Original Post by rocky2007:

I can definitely see taking a moment to adjust to the new number, but I'm 32 pounds into my weight loss (my goal is 44) and I have to say that it's been so rewarding that the time has just flown by! And i've been doing this since November (10 months). but I love that it's gone pretty slow--that means I have a good shot at making it last.

That is so true!! In addition, when you drop each size, you will get to enjoy your new clothes until it's time to get more. If you drop too quickly, it may seem like a waste of money because you won't get to enjoy them before they're too big!

Original Post by merylwhite1:

That's it? That's the worst day of your life?

Wow, you must have a really great life then. Have some perspective on this. It's only weight - there are much worse things that could happen.

No need to be a fxcking Negative Nancy, now is there?

Original Post by healthisinplease:

Original Post by merylwhite1:

That's it? That's the worst day of your life?

Wow, you must have a really great life then. Have some perspective on this. It's only weight - there are much worse things that could happen.

No need to be a fxcking Negative Nancy, now is there?

 I think merylwhite1's post is quite positive.

Original Post by rufus_k:

Original Post by healthisinplease:

Original Post by merylwhite1:

That's it? That's the worst day of your life?

Wow, you must have a really great life then. Have some perspective on this. It's only weight - there are much worse things that could happen.

No need to be a fxcking Negative Nancy, now is there?

 I think merylwhite1's post is quite positive.

 Ditto. Meryl is a beautiful person.

Original Post by cellotlhicks:

Original Post by rufus_k:

Original Post by healthisinplease:

Original Post by merylwhite1:

That's it? That's the worst day of your life?

Wow, you must have a really great life then. Have some perspective on this. It's only weight - there are much worse things that could happen.

No need to be a fxcking Negative Nancy, now is there?

 I think merylwhite1's post is quite positive.

 Ditto. Meryl is a beautiful person.

Who said she wasnt beautiful?

Nobody. I just chose to add that in. Problem?