How Will You Feel When You Step On the Scale Tomorrow Morning?

I had an epiphany about weight loss this weekend.  I want to share.

I listen to audiobooks a lot.  I particularly listen when I am house cleaning, cooking, and working on household projects.  They bring joy to time.  Most of the time I listen to a book once.  Sometimes I think I can get more from a book if I listen again.  Sunday morning I was listening, for the second time, to Augustin Burroughs reading his book “This Is How”.  It’s a self-help book and the only Burroughs book I have listened to more than once, though I have read or listened to every Augustin Burroughs book.

Burroughs says if you have been trying to lose weight for 20 years and haven’t accomplished it, give it up.  Accept yourself the weigh you are, accentuate the positive.  I disagree, but I still love the book.  I think if there is something you have wanted for 20 years, 30 years, 40 years and obtaining it would be of benefit to you, keep trying.  I do.  I agree you should endeavor to enjoy yourself every day of your life, it’s a gift, that’s why they call it the present. 

As I was scrubbing my kitchen counter-top Burroughs said if you step on the scale in the morning and the number puts you in such a bad mood it negatively impacts your day, stop stepping on the scale.

I stepped on the scale that morning.  It bummed me out.  I was at a wedding the previous day.  The reception was at a delicious restaurant, you get the picture.   I gained 3 pounds.  I was not happy about it, but not surprised. 

I was also anxious because it was Sunday and I was going to a picnic.  Picnics are big on food.  Burroughs says don’t step on the scale, but  I know if I stop stepping on the scale my weight will go up and up and up, and I will be even more unhappy.

Burroughs Premise:  If you step on the scale in the morning and the number it registers has the power to bring down your day, don’t step on the scale in the morning.

Lindquist Premise:  If you step on the scale in the morning and the number it registers has the power to bring down your day, make damn sure you get a number that brings you joy.

I committed then and there that nothing at that picnic was going to bring me down, I mean up.   

The picnic had hot dogs, burgers, pork, chips, dip, fruit platters, vegetables platters, cheese platters, pickles, coleslaw, loaded potato salad, baked goods upon baked goods upon baked goods.  There was beer, cider, a full bar.  Ginger made a smurf drink with orange juice, cherry vodka, something blue and I don’t know what else.  I had a sip of Susan’s, it was delicious.  John generously offered me a lite cider.  I read the label, still 120 calories in a bottle and 10 carbs.  I took a sip.  He said, “Go ahead, have one.”  I told him no thanks.  If my weight went any higher I would bust a gasket and I had trial Monday morning.  I don’t want to be all bummed out about my weight and take that negativity into trial.  My client deserves better from me.

The 3 pounds that came from the wedding were gone the next morning.  I have a new perspective.  I won the trial. 

You have a great deal of control over the number on the scale.  If you think you don’t I urge you to think again.  The temptation I faced at the wedding was elegant, exquisite, sumptuous food.  Which brought on a lack thought, “I won’t see this food again.”  Here’s the tool, replace that thought with, “You may not see that food again, but really good food is readily available to most of us in the United States all the time.  Here’s a lack thought for you, How badly will you feel if you gain 3 pounds tomorrow?  What if you gain another 3 the next day too?  You do not want to feel badly, do you?  Do you want to exercise your power over the scale, or do you prefer to cave to the delicious cheesy concoction, cookie, pizza, and blue vodka drink, whatever?  What’s more important to you?”  Decide.  On the Biggest Loser and Chris Powell television shows they make those weigh ins very dramatic, like the number is going to be a surprise.  It need not be a surprise, they only do that to make good television.

The two pictures below were each taken the weekend of the Octoberfest picnic.  Pink shirt is 2013. Blue shirt is 2014.