Scared of the scales - anyone else?

[SweetAlmondOil]

Around five years ago I went from a size 10/12 to a size 8 in a couple of months. It was stress (relationship) related so I didn't consciously do anything to loose the weight. I just remember not being hungry. I went down to 49kg/7.7st and I loved my new slim self.

I stayed there for two or so years and then slowly I started putting the weight back on. I went back to being a 10/12. I stopped weighing myself once I had put a stone on because I was too scared to see my weight going up. Stupid I know. But because I hadn't used a 'diet' to lose the weight I wasn't sure how to stop it going up again. I tried hard keto but it didn't work (I didn't go into ketosis - my then PT said that apparently some people find it harder than others). I just lost all motivation.

Around seven weeks ago I started tracking on MFP. I thought that surely a simple calorie-deficit strategy had to work. I am taking in up to 1,200 calories a day. Anything above that and I don't lose weight (I work from home and do no exercise - I hate it). I believe I have lost weight because my OH thinks he's seen a difference and so have a couple of friends. I also think some clothes feel slightly looser. However because most of my jeans/trousers are stretchy, it is difficult to be sure. I have no idea what weight I am or how much I have lost and am dreading getting on the scales and seeing how much heavier I am than when I was 7.7st. I am planning to get back on the scales when I'm confident I'm back to a size 8.

This is obviously quite stupid and surely seeing my weight go down on the scales should be a motivating factor. I wish there were scales that told you how much you lost but not how much you weigh. Anyone else in a similar position? Or am I alone in being stupid like this?

Just me then?

Would you feel more comfortable taking measurements with a tape measure?
When I was losing, I would measure arms/waist/hips/thighs once a week as quite often the number on the scales would be the same but my inches had decreased

I would but I always find that with such measurements it's difficult to measure the exact same spot every time and ensure the same level of 'tension' on the tape measure. Do you find that method accurate?

Yes, I've always found it to be accurate - I use my freckles as a guide 😂

What about bloat? How do you account for that? My tummy changes from day to day. Some days I look OKish, other days I look pregnant!

When you know you are bloated, you just note that you are bloated and that's it.
If you suffer bloating like this, look at probiotics. I was like that. Actually in pain sometimes. Probiotics totally changed it.

I bought some probiotics capsules but they didn't do much. Which ones did you use?

Fermented veg and yogurts with live cultures. I started making my own veg so it's not pasteurised.
What I had before were Bioglan from Holland and Barrets.

I’d just get weighed so you’re just not guessing in the dark. Does your mum or a friend have scales you could use at their house without being obsessed with doing it everyday?

I’m a scale avoider normally but once I knew the worst I was relieved I could plan for it.