30 Ways to Look Beyond the Scale
I like to do this little game with my patients as they are preparing for weight loss surgery. I give them a pack of index cards and ask them to write down the things they are looking forward to doing or getting rid of or a reason why they are taking the step toward weight loss. After they write down as many things as possible, I have them place those cards in a plastic baggie for later.
After surgery and especially during points in the journey where it feels like the weight loss has stalled or they simply need a new perspective, I ask them to take out that plastic baggie. Many of the actions that we take toward living healthier do not always reflect in a numerical value.
Steve Maraboli describes in his book Life, the Truth, and Being Free, “The scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love.” 1
A shift in perspective to take in the whole picture helps to recognize the incredible journey that has been taken. Weight is simply one measurement after weight loss surgery, but there are so many other successes in this picture.
Here are 30 ways to look beyond the scale (inspired by some of my patient ideas):
- Walk/run 5K
- Reduce the amount of medication I’m taking
- Play with kids/grandkids
- Use body measurements to see change in inches
- Clothes fit better
- Easier controlled health conditions (blood sugars, cholesterol levels, no CPAP use)
- Feel comfortable in public settings
- Ride a roller coaster!
- Cross my legs while sitting
- Greater mobility
- Enjoy being active
- Have more energy
- Be a role model for my children and others
- I do not sit “on the sidelines” anymore
- My mood and mood swings improve
- Less back/knee/hip/foot pain
- Tie my shoes with ease
- Participate in activities that I enjoy without pain—gardening, ride a bike, play tennis, golfing
- I appreciate my body more every day
- Allow myself to take time to think about what I really want
- Try new foods and mostly like them
- Tried things that I thought I would never do: travel, skiing, hiking
- I can say “No thank you, I prefer to walk” and mean it
- Look at what I’m actually doing instead of what I’m not doing
- Feel more outgoing and confident
- Laugh more
- Improved anxiety
- New cooking skills
- Made new friends that have supported your healthy lifestyle
- I am stronger
I enjoy the point at which my patients and I get to review all of the index cards that they wrote before surgery and realize that they’ve achieved (or are on their way to achieving) what they hoped after surgery. We also get to add new ones as well…
