“The Number on the Scale”

Let’s talk about that bathroom scale you have in your house, that scale in your gym, the dreaded doctors office scale or how about the one at the exit of the grocery store? Since the creation of the scale, we as a society have given it so much power to determine not only our physical weight, but also our health and wellbeing (physical, mental and emotional). We are conditioned to believe this number is important... by our mothers/fathers, sports, the health forms we fill out, etc. In 10th grade, I began weighing myself everyday; Measuring my worth by the number, wondering if this number was normal, believing that lessening this number was important and struggling when I couldn’t decrease it by eating less and exercising more. Mind you, I was at a good or slightly below average weight and was dancing around 15-20 hours a week.

At this time, I was blessed with my first large role in my dance company’s ballet. My dance company was inclusive of all bodies and never made their dancer’s feel that they needed to change their weight (bless @camerondancenter ), however that didn’t change the personal battle going on inside my head. I continued to believe that this number measured my worth for the rest of my dancing career and looking back I wish that the energy I spent consumed with thoughts around weight had been used on so many other things. I wish that I could have understood how many ways there are to quantify your health outside of weight. Numbers are triggering for me.. always have and always will be (this includes knowing my circumferences or percentages for body fat, muscle mass, water weight).

Of-course, there is no shame is tracking progress… however this can be done by 1) taking progress photos, 2) seeing how your clothes fit and understanding that “hey, maybe my gains are causing my jeans to be a little snug” or “wow, these pants feel a little roomy, why is that?”, 3) personal check ins or mood trackers, and 4) journaling.

There is so much more to be said, however instagram limits our words.

Bottom Line: You are so much more than your weight. Weight does not determine health, fitness or happiness.