Number on the Scale

My unsolicited advice to you

I used to weigh myself twice a day—first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Some days, I would add another weigh-in somewhere in between.

Can you believe that I was using a piece of metal with digital numbers as an accountability partner?

That was during my “accidental diet” era, when I thought I needed to lose weight to prove something (I’m still not exactly sure what). I thought discipline was what I was lacking. I thought if I could just get the numbers right, I would finally feel better.

Instead, I was creating unnecessary suffering and being unkind to my body.

When I finally woke up from the fog of diet culture, I made myself a promise: I would stop treating my body like a problem to solve. I would learn to treat it like a good friend. And whenever I could, I would help other women free themselves from the same toxic mindset—one that often leaves us less healthy, less happy, and more disconnected from our bodies than before.

Recently, I treated a woman in her early fifties who came to see me for menopause support at OSU integrative health. It was our first meeting. She seemed healthy, was well-dressed. She greeted me with a big smile.

After reviewing her health history, I asked what bothered her most.

“The weight,” she said immediately. “I’d like to lose the 15 pounds I’ve gained over the last few years.”

“Why?” I asked, genuinely curious.

She paused.

“I don’t like what I see in the mirror. I don’t like how I feel in my clothes.”

“Otherwise, you’re healthy?”

“Oh yes,” she said. “Just the annoying menopause stuff.”

“What if I told you that you didn’t need to lose the weight?”

She looked at me, puzzled.

“What if you’re at the right weight for you right now?”

“I’d be happy,” she said, somewhat reluctantly.

To be clear, I’m not against moving your body more or eating foods that help you feel your best. Those things matter. They support your wellbeing!

But beating yourself up for what you see on the scale will often lead to behaviors that make you feel even worse. It’s a vicious cycle.

My patient nodded.

Then she admitted she had baked and eaten more cookies than she wanted the night before because she was upset with herself.

I imagine some of you may relate to her. And the former me.

If you do, I’d like to offer you a different possibility today.

What if you’re already okay where you are?

Do you want to feel healthier and stronger by eating better and moving more?

Great. Go do that!

But do it because you care about yourself, not because you’re trying to earn your value.

Here’s my unsolicited advice:

Make your weight the least interesting thing about you.

You are so much more than what a piece of metal tells you.

Don’t make your weight a problem to solve.

Eat well. Move often. Live a full life.

Don’t make the scale be your accountability partner.

With love,

Dr. Kit

P.S. Holistic Acupuncture appointments are available for June and July. You can make your appointment here.

P.P.S. I do offer private coaching packages as well as deep dive sessions. Please email me directly (just hit reply to this email) for inquiries.

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