How Do I Stop Obsessing Over My Weight

For as long as I can remember I have been conscious of my weight. As a young school girl I was acutely aware that I was “bigger” than the other girls and I would always lie when my friends and I discussed how much we weighed.

The fact that we even discussed this as 11 year olds is wild to me now!

Later on in my schooling I remember a particularly awful science lesson where we had to weigh ourselves. As my friends all began discussing their weight I recall making up some magical number which I thought I should have weighed. It was mortifying. 

 Sadly, this didn't pass with time. As my eating disorder intensified so did my preoccupation with my weight. 

For many years I would wake up and determine what kind of day I would have based on an arbitrary number on the scales.

If I had lost weight that day, I was all set for a great day. And if I had gained weight, as you can imagine, it was… bad!

You're not alone with weight loss obsession!

I am almost certain that the majority of you reading this will relate to this to some degree. We live in a society which tells us that smaller = healthier, yet millions of us go in pursuit for this “ideal” body with no real regard for our health.

The damage that so many of us have done to our physical and mental health is devastating and for what? To be as small as possible? To take up less room?  

Reasons why you should stop obsessing about your weight 

 1. Your weight isn’t the best way to determine your health

A number cannot define just how healthy you are. Equally, a number cannot capture your current mental wellness. 

For example, you may currently weigh a “healthy” weight (for your body) but simultaneously may also be painstakingly weighing every ounce of food you consume or negating whole food groups from your diet or binging every day. 

Only you can tell you how healthy you are at the moment. This comes from eating an array of nutritious food alongside foods which bring you joy, whatever these may be.

This also comes from exercising in a way which makes you happy and energised - not punishing yourself with hours of exercise to “burn off” your last meal. And it comes from feeling at ease within your body - not constantly feeling as though you are at war with it.

2. Remind yourself that our weight is meant to fluctuate  

Studies show that the average adult’s weight will fluctuate up to 5 or 6 pounds a day. This is due to an array of factors - food, water, digestion, hormones etc.

In reality, letting a number on the scales dictate how well your day goes is pointless.

There are too many factors at play meaning that a weight increase could be caused my a plethora of things. Don’t let something so futile control your life!

3. Find value in yourself, regardless of your weight

Repeat after me: “My weight is the least interesting thing about me!”

By making peace with your body and loving it at any size, the chokehold which the scales have on you will inevitably subside.

If you work on teaching yourself that your worth is based off of more than your weight, then the number will cease to hold so much importance. Repeating affirmations and exploring what you love about yourself are good ways to move away from solely caring about your weight. 

4. Science says you shouldn’t!

Studies have shown that weighing yourself is associated with disordered eating (such as binging and skipping meals), lower levels of body satisfaction and psychological distress (such as lower mood and low self-esteem).

It is highly likely that weighing yourself is only hindering your recovery and holding you back from truly letting go of your eating disorder.

It may provide you with a false sense of control but in reality you are letting a number control your life. You deserve so much more than this!

How you can stop obsessively weighing yourself 

1. Ditch the scale completely 

Just get rid of it! Throw it in the bin. Dramatically smash it to smithereens. Give it to a friend. Literally just stop owning a scale!

I know there was a time when I felt like I wouldn’t know what way was up unless I was weighing myself compulsively.

But the minute I no longer had the option to weigh myself everyday, I felt so much calmer and I realised that I did not need to know my weight to know if I was feeling happy and healthy. I was also able to move forward with eating disorder recovery as I didn’t have a number to hold me back anymore. 

2. Hide the scale

Perhaps throwing out the scale feels like a stretch too far for you to begin with.

If possible, ask someone you live with to hide the scale. You could arrange, with this person, to weigh yourself once a month and then have them hide the scale again.

This may feel a bit silly, but it’s a great first step to teach yourself that you don’t need to weigh yourself meticulously and you will survive without it. 

Final thoughts 

I know all of this can seem overwhelming. There was a time when I too couldn’t imagine a world in which I wasn't compulsively weighing myself. It just didn't seem possible. But here’s the thing … it very much is! 

I promise you that your life will only get better when you decide to ditch the scales. If you would like a hand to hold through this undeniably scary process, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

My 30 day Reboot course will walk you through the healing process and show you that your life is worth so much more than the number on the scales. 

Lots of Love,

Bríd.