Health

HEALTH

ARE YOU IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCALE? Dr. Megan Rigby the emphasis should be placed on energy levels, quitting. We regularly allow ourselves to fall into DNP and Certified Nutritionist inches lost, how your clothes are fitting, and your this vicious cycle due to lack of movement to some overall feeling. arbitrary number. This makes us more vulnerable

Is your happiness being determined by a and susceptible to the ever enticing “fad-diet” numerical value? When you look down at the The best way to move on from this unhealthy which promises to solve all our problems. number just beyond your toes, does your mood relationship is with a clean break. The scale has Remember, if something sounds too good to be change? Do you believe this figure is the best shown its true colors and there is no hope that it true, it probably is. Our true and primary goal must indication of your health? If you answered yes to will change. You cannot attempt to slowly wean be sustainable, long-term success. any of these questions, then it’s time for a break- yourself off because that desire and impulse is up. Happy or sad, this relationship is lopsided and far too strong. It rests on your bathroom floor just Healing the mind and body from within should be you are simply giving the scale too much power. waiting to catch your eye. Time to remove the the first steps to any nutrition and fitness journey. The time to make a change is NOW. batteries or banish it to the closet. For too long, We seem to overlook or undervalue internal it has been a part of your daily routine and had measures because they aren’t visible and are more It may seem obvious, but the scale measures the ability to dictate your emotions or behavior. difficult to quantify. If we place all our energy on overall weight. This includes our bones, water, Even if you didn’t vocalize it, you had some ideal the external physique, we will undoubtedly fail muscle and adipose tissue. This number varies number in mind. Some combination of digits that at some point. Therefore, balance is key. Eating from day-to-day based on sodium, hydration, would signify success. It is completely natural healthier, exercising regularly, and focusing on a hormones, exercise and even stress. Influxes are a when embarking on a health and fitness journey to positive mindset will allow you to reap rewards normal occurrence in the human body. The success consider the scale as a valuable metric. However, in health, vitality and overall well-being. These of your nutrition and fitness cannot be solely based it’s time for a priority check and a realignment of are all things your relationship with the scale on this variable which can differ from hour-to- what really matters. was missing and it could never provide. No hard hour. It is important to remember that changes feelings… You’ve moved on and are looking in body composition during a fitness journey do First things first… You must find happiness with forward to what lies ahead. Feeling good on the not always result in shifts on the scale. Rather yourself. Cliché, I know, but the truth is the inside is your new crush. It checks all the boxes scale certainly won’t do it. There is typically an and gives you butterflies like you’ve never felt underlying issue we have not addressed and our before. Sounds like a keeper. failed attempts to find physical success reflect that. A continuous loop of hope, shortterm success, frustration, disappointment, and ultimately