Numbers Are Stupid




Every year over 20% of Americans set weight loss as their goal. At any given moment over 50% of Americans either want to lose weight or are actively trying to lose weight. I've done it, and statistically, you have done it as well.

But why? At least 50% of people cite health as their number one reason, with appearance at a close second, followed by improved mood and improved fitness.

This has been pretty steady with minor rises and falls over the years, typically spiking around New Years (as anyone who has ever been to a gym can attest to).  This continues despite evidence that weight is not as correlated to health as we want to believe, and the continuous waves of evidence citing that dieting and long term weightloss just is not possible for the majority of the population. While we can lose weight, most of us will regain weight after two years, sometimes even gaining more weight than what we originally lost. Despite all of this, we continue with setting weight loss goals for ourselves every year, try desperately to meet them, give up, and then continue the cycle the next season.

I recently experienced this myself. I made a goal to lose about 40 pounds, and I did. I felt proud of myself for like a day or two. Then I kinda realized that the goal was really arbitrary.  I was more proud about my changing taste buds, and my need found joy for cooking nourishing and delicious meals. But making the goal about my weight, was just buying into the system that states that women are basically their size.  My worth is amounted to if I can fit into my jeans from high school or not. And that is just so fucking stupid.

Hint: Obsessing about the number is not healthy 

It's so empty.  It's meaningless. All it does is reinforce the concept that our size is the most important part of ourselves, our lives and our worth.  So many of us hold on to clothes from high school for YEARS in the hopes that one day we will be that size again. Doesn't matter if you've had 6 children, an amazing job running a corporation, or maybe you have been dealing with depression for the past 5 years. Our concept of being a good, "worthy" person is based on a stupid pair of jeans/t-shirts/dresses, what have you.

If weight loss is a goal of yours, I strongly urge you to re-examine why weight loss is a goal for you.  Is there a better way for you to measure your goals besides numbers on the scale? Perhaps the number of vegetables you eat in a day, or the amount of meals you cook at home?

It is extremely difficult to break away from the concept of weight-based concepts of health. But I urge you to start with yourself. If you need to throw out the scale do it, if you need to finally let go of whatever jeans/shirts/dresses you have been holding on to, do it.

And STOP making resolutions, or goals based on your weight.  You are more than numbers, and you deserve to be treated as more than number. So don't short-change yourself.

How do you like to measure you goals that aren't weight based? Be sure to share in the comments!

Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash
Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash

Comments

  1. great post and i agree, it's not about the numbers...glad you set a goal and achieved but learned new foods and recipes along the way. it's the best way to make lifelong changes. cheers to your health!

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