The Gravity Of It All
January 23, 2009
Under the cover of semi-darkness, I stepped onto the scale last night. Just as I moved off, my husband rounded the corner into the kitchen, caught sight of the number on the lighted display, and announced – no, he exclaimed – it aloud. I knew it was an innocent faux pas on his part, and normally I wouldn't have glared at him as fiercely as I did, except we were at a friend's house. A male friend, at that. And our friend was in the same room, watching our interaction. (Hi, Eddie!)
As embarrassing as it was, his gaffe was easily forgiven, partly because I'm so good-natured (I'm a catch, I'll tell you!) and partly because Eddie is one of the few people I don't mind knowing my weight (probably because he is gargantuan and could easily bench press me fifty times). Still, he's a boy. And I'm trying to lose weight (which I've accomplished, to a small degree, in the past two weeks!), not flaunt it, evidenced by the fact that I finally broke down and re-joined Weight Watchers online earlier this month.
Every day I busy myself by counting points, eating healthfully, and ticking off the glasses of water I drink, number of vegetables/fruits I consume, whether I took my multi-vitamin that day. But the exchange got me thinking: I am fairly certain that most women don't want their friends or family knowing how heavily gravity affects them. I used to never climb on a scale unless I knew no one was around, but as I've accepted myself and the fact that my extra pounds won't magically disappear – no matter how many chocolate chip cookies I consume in defiance (or boredom, whichever comes first) – I've become more relaxed about others knowing. So what about you? Do you go to great lengths to hide that sacred number, or is not really that big of a deal?
Comments
I only weigh myself at the gym, with one of those big doctor's office scales with the slidey weight things. And when I am done, I slide all the slidey things all the way back to the left.
So no one knows.
Posted by: Suebob | January 23, 2009 11:27 AM
i dont own a scale intentionally, you know, strictly based on principle....
i weigh myself, generally once every week or two, when i am at the gym, AFTER i have sweat my buns off lifting or spinning.
my shoes weigh 1 pound almost exactly so i weigh in my shoes cause i LIKE to subtract one pound, you know, cause every ounce counts (seriously i lost 6 ounces and did a little dance!!) and then generally keep it to myself.
no one believes me when i tell them and no one really gets my crazy when it comes to my size so i just zip it....
Posted by: Willow | January 23, 2009 12:22 PM
Actually, thanks for reminding me to put my lunch points in. I had almost forgotten...
I started WW again (AGAIN!) earlier this month, too, so i'm feeling the same way. I don't mind a few people knowing how much I weigh, ie: the boyfriend and a few other friends who are doing WW, too, but i'm not announcing it to everyone I know. I'm not really that sensitive about it, especially since i'm working to reduce that number.
This is my 3rd week of WW and i've lost 8 pounds. So i think it's something to be proud of. Go you for trying to change your number!
Posted by: claire | January 23, 2009 12:51 PM
My scale has been out of commission for a few months -- no, I didn't break it! The battery ran out -- probably from me stepping on it 100 times a day. Anyway, my weight is between my newly activated scale and me although I will bitch about how much I've gained to anyone who will listen, the actual numbers that show up on the scale never pass my lips.
Posted by: Dingo | January 23, 2009 01:23 PM
To me it's not so much how much it is, I've been about the same weight since high school, but how it all looks, y'know? It's not quite as firm or toned as it used to be so I've been trying to do my gym time. And less ice cream time.
Posted by: skiplovey | January 23, 2009 01:36 PM
I never ever ever tell anyone my weight. I am even mortified for people at the doctor's office to see it. SUper super secret for me.
Posted by: girl from florida | January 23, 2009 02:26 PM
I used to worry about people knowing "my number" but after flylady sent out emails for awhile about getting rid of "body clutter" and said to weigh every day and that "it's just a number"..she's right. it's just a number... and I weigh every day - knowing that it'll go up and down depending on my activity level, salt intake, stress level, etc.
I have told people my "number" - friends I trust... when we've had conversations about weight, working out, etc. I would love to lose 50 pounds and am open about it.
After all, I am the same person I would be 50 pounds lighter... I would then be running instead of walking quickly.
Wait, I had a point. Oh yeah - I don't mind my number leaving my lips at times..because then it's not some deep, dark secret that I jealously guard. It felt a bit freeing to tell some people - and they were actually surprised at my actual number. which made me happy!
I think women understand it more than men, so I wouldn't want a MAN to know my number. They can tend to freak out about those things. (Yeah - I'm more in a dating stage of life than married at this point..so no scaring off the single guys or telling them something so personal. They'll live.)
Posted by: sunny | January 23, 2009 02:40 PM
It used to be a big secret for me, because I was really embarassed by the number of pounds that showed up on the scale. But when I started making a real, concerted effort to lose weight two years ago, I realized that I had a weird subconscious belief that if nobody knew the number, then it wasn't real. Kind of in the same way that if I snuck a chocolate bar and nobody saw me eat it, then the calories didn't exist. HAHA, nice try, brain!
So I started telling people my number, which was 168 pounds at the time. It was scary. But then it was liberating. Most people's jaws dropped when they realized that was how much I weighed and I genuinely believe they were shocked - people thought that a person who weighed 168 pounds looked a lot heavier than the way I looked. So I realized it was just a number, but that it was real and so I might as well be honest about it if I wanted to get real about losing some weight.
I lost 11 pounds and am now at 159 two years later, so getting over the stigma of the number helped me keep it off, to some extent! It helps keep me accountable I guess.
Posted by: Laura | January 23, 2009 04:30 PM
I don't mind people knowing. My wife is like you though. I have a vague idea of what she weighs . I'm on the same kick though. I just don't like what I see in the mirror. I started the year at 200 and I'm making my way down to 175. I'm a guy though. And I dont' weigh myself daily. Every 3-5 days is enough. Otherwise it can get depressing.
This time I'm not so concerned about counting points as much as I am about portions and not consuming empty calories. I've always followed one simple rule - eat right and exercise. I'm hoping to break into the 180's this week. 1.25 pounds a week. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.
Posted by: Knot | January 24, 2009 05:20 AM
That exchange was really funny at my house and I have to say that you and Roger are not good influences on my diet!! Aaack! I gained 2 pounds back after that food fest we had on Saturday night, plus the chocolate chip cookies KT left behind that I consumed in their entirety the next day! But I do want to say Good Luck on the Weight Watchers and keep sharing your tips with me as you learn new ones!
Posted by: Eddeaux | January 26, 2009 01:05 PM