I used to be a scale-o-holic. Or “scale ‘ho” if you are into vulgarity. I have had that foot-square piece of equipment in visible sight in my bathroom for … years. And every day, after potty and buck naked before my shower I’d get on it. Even when I was totally neglecting my weight the evil little square would taunt me on my way to shower, although it didn’t always get regular lovin’ at those times.

My last little dance with this evil critter was on Oct 14th. I was newly pregnant and thrilled about it, but knew I’d need to be careful with my weight. I was down to only a few pair of pants in my wardrobe that fit, and even those were TIGHT. During those early weeks of pregnancy I was paying a lot of attention to my nutrition, but not the scale. When I miscarried a few weeks later I knew my weight was around the same (by how my clothes felt) and I started back on healthy living soon thereafter — without the scale.

And I haven’t missed it at all. I read on others’ blogs their stress about being up a pound or . something of a pound each day. Their screams of victory if they lose the same . something of a pound the next day. Oh, the hills and valleys of the Rollercoaster. I don’t need it. My life has plenty of ups and downs, thank you very much. When I started back to healthy life I gave myself 2 weeks to ease in without pressure or a scale. I’m now about 3 weeks in (still fragile, I know). I don’t think I’m pulling out the scale anytime soon.

On Wednesday morning I was getting dressed and hadn’t done laundry so I decided to try on 2 pair of pants that didn’t fit 2 weeks ago. They were snug, but they worked. I was thrilled. (Of course, I found something else baggy to wear instead!). I think if I watch my progression by my wardrobe I’ll have a good idea of where I am without the pressure I put on myself w the scale.

Maybe you don’t do the pressure thing too much. I used to do Excel graphs and I would calculate how much I “should” lose in a week, a month, for X holiday or event, etc. If I was a pound or two short I considered myself a failure. If it was more than that, I’d usually give up.

I’m hoping that with my soon-to-be-patented Low Stress Weight Loss approach I’ll lose inches, sizes, pounds all in due time. And not kill myself in the process. And not beat myself up because I didn’t lose weight in the regular pattern of my pretty chart. And not ride the daily Scale Hell rollercoaster.