Sometimes, information that you think will make you more healthy does the exact opposite: it causes stress- it turns a good day into a bad and anxious day. We’re talking weight checks–daily weight checks, with way too much self-esteem invested in outcomes. The Washington Post reports on the potential problem, and offers some advice on when and how to address it. First, however, the Post makes it clear that in most cases, people who weigh themselves regularly are more likely to lose weight and keep it off than those who don’t, perhaps because daily weight watchers eat fewer snacks and goodies.
What to do if your weight checks are getting you down without getting your weight down? The Post offers three alternatives to weighing suggested by Pamela Peeke, author of “The Hunger Fix†and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland.
Measure your waist and hips, and do it once a week, not every day.
Use a “clothes-o-meter.â€Â Choose a garment that fits comfortably, then, also once a week, try on a garment one size smaller until it fits.
Time yourself walking. Walk a designated distance as fast as you can, and repeat regularly, with the goal of shaving off a few minutes.
Read more in the Washington Post.