The Great Weigh-In
By Leslie Fink, MS, RD | 5/13/2001





We've all witnessed it: a member who practically changes into her birthday suit before she steps onto the meeting-room scale for weigh-in. And maybe you can even relate. But do tactics such as stripping down to a negligee or skipping lunch make a difference?

"We are not the scale police," says Palma Posillico, general manager of training and development for Weight Watchers International. "Weighing in is important — it gives you a measure of accountability. But it is only one measure of your success."

Many of us know this cognitively, but still find giving up and viewing our efforts as a "failure" is easier than dealing with a scale that hasn't moved in the right direction.

But next time you're tempted to throw in the towel, try something radical: One week when you fear the scale might derail you — maybe you have overeaten a couple of times or skipped a walk — stay on track by asking the meeting room weigher not to tell you your weight that week.

Really. Focus instead on your recent successes (the fruit you've snacked on, the activity POINTS values you've earned, and you'll be more likely to stick with the plan in the long run.

Other ways to track your progress include: the way your clothes fit, the changes you've been making in your food choices, and the behaviors you've been able to modify, for example.

The Name of the Game: Consistency
When it comes to weighing in at a meeting, says Posillico, "consistency is the number-one thing." The number on the scale will move if you stay true to your commitment to follow your weight-loss plan — and if you approach the scale the same way each week.

Consider the time of day: Do you usually eat lunch before weigh-in at your meeting? Then keep on scheduling your weigh-ins for the early afternoon; that way, you're tracking your progress consistently. Do you usually wear heavy jewelry, or boots? Then either keep wearing them or start to always remove them for weigh-in: Just be consistent.

You Can Keep Your Clothes On
The scale still scares you? Consider rethinking the process. Weight Watchers Leader Leslie Price gives time-tested advice: Enter the meeting room, take off your coat, put down your purse and relax. As long as you're consistent each week (there's the magic word again) and working with your leader to stick to the plan, the scale will move.

Hey, if you can't yet stop stripping down to the bare minimum, go for it. Because no matter what the number is on the scale, there's always something to learn from it. "It's an important moment of truth, but it is just feedback," says Posillico.


Tales from the Scale

Leader Leslie Price has seen a member at her meeting remove her fake ponytail, heard someone else comment that they'd remove their teeth if they could, and seen another woman ask her daughter to hold her coat around her so she could step on the scale in just her underwear.
Member Julie Meyer admits: "The stupidest thing I ever did was go to the gym, work out like a madman and not drink any water before weighing in at my meeting — I almost fainted on the subway. That was the moment I realized that the most important thing is to be consistent, and if you gain, you gain. No point in risking your life for it!"
For a while, each time Lifetime Member Caridad Nazario weighed in at her meeting she would wear the same nylon pants. And she would hold her breath. Why? Because she thought exhaling would add weight to her chest and make her legs heavier. Believe us, she laughs about that now!