Just let go!

It's the same old story. Things are going well. The scales going in the right direction. You're feeling good. You're feeling strong. Spirits are high. You've got this weight loss thing nailed.

You're planning out the weeks, thinking at this rate in a week I'll hit this weight, then the week after I'll be down even further and then it hits.

You stand on the scale. And its up!

You had a good day, the day before. You did all the right things. Or you may have deviated slightly. Not so much. Just a bit. You went out with friends and you indulged a little. But the scale says a lot.

And its just not fair. The punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime. Yes it could go up a little. But by that much??

That's not on. That's just not fair. That's way too harsh.

But that's weight loss for you. The scale goes up and down. Our bodyweight fluctuates. That's why the personal trainers tell you to weigh yourself everyday and take the weekly average. Which is great and everything, but you want your progress to be linear. You see the daily scale weight and that's what matters.

I've had it before. I see the weight go up and I think what the hell did I do wrong. And it hurts. In the back of my mind I think, what's the point? And that's the problem. That thought in the back of your mind. Before you know it, the plan goes wayward. You give in to some chocolate or some crisps, or something else. Just a little bit though so it's ok. Then later on, a little more and then a little more. You've hit the fuck it button.

You're left thinking how that one data point could affect you so much. Then you've got to get back on it somehow.

The fact is scales fluctuate. What's important is to not be so attached to scale weight. You just have to let it go. Don't place so much importance on it.

What's much more valuable for me is the person that I become and am becoming. The person that can say no. The person that can go out to a restaurant and choose a healthier meal, or if it's not so healthy can portion control. Or if they do indulge, the next day they're straight back on plan. The person that can regulate what they eat. That's much more valuable.

I'm never going to be the person that walks around with their top off. When I go to the beach I'll take my top off occasionally but not so often. Even if I do have a six pack, most people won't see it that much.

Being someone who has some self-discipline and the ability to regulate is much more appealing. That doesn't happen when you hit a certain weight or when you get visible abs. It happens when you start to say to yourself, I'm going to have a little bit less. Instead of having the whole pack of biscuits, just have a few and you start to do that regularly.

I say to myself who am I showing up as today? Am I showing up as the person I want to be? Am I regulating my nutrition? Am I getting my steps in? Am I getting my training in? Am I putting in the effort when I'm training?

If I do that, then that's what is really and truly valuable to me. Of course I forget. Of course I lose focus and get attached to the scale weight at times. But the key is to pull yourself away from that fixation on scales. You do that by reminding yourself what's important.

Do it everyday as soon as you get up. Remind yourself who you are going to show up as and what you're going to do.

If you do that everyday, then the scale weight becomes less important. It doesn't mean you don't try to lose weight. You keep doing what it takes, but the doing what it takes is more important than the result.

So just let go!