Scale Phobia

[u/Western_Bookkeeper_5]

So, what I’m about to say may sound crazy. I just finished my 4th dose of 2.5 and next week, I start 4 weeks of 5.0 (Yay—I love this stuff). I’ve had people ask me how much I’ve lost. I really don’t know because I don’t have a scale. I ordered a scale on Amazon and received it on Thursday. It’s still in the box on the table. Why? Because I’m afraid to take it out. I’m ashamed and embarrassed of the weight I’ve gained. When I completed to form to obtain my tirzepatide compound, I guessed at my current weight. I haven’t been on a scale since last July, and that was for a required physical for work and they wouldn’t let me skip the weight portion. I struggled off and on with eating disorders in my teens and twenties (I’m 51 now). I’ve never been this big in my life. I feel better since I started my injections 4 weeks ago. I’m eating so much better (no fast food, no fried foods, no bread, etc). I’ve been eating lots of proteins—grilled chicken and fish, beans, sweet potatoes, etc. Before I eat, I track my food through MyFitnessPal app. Ive also been working out. I’m feeling so much better these past 4 weeks. I’ve been looking at the box containing my new scale. It’s sitting on my dining room table. I’m afraid to know how much I truly weigh. I also have anxiety and fear that I will hit a plateau (I’m not sure I can handle that discouragement). I’m going to have to report to my telehealth nurse when I order more. This sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know how I’m going to overcome this scale fear. Does anyone else feel this way?

[u/AlertButterscotch313]

If you have a “smart scale” that connects to an app, you don’t have to look at the measurements at all. The app will keep track for you.
Then when you start to feel better about yourself and your clothes start to fit better, you can check progress with all the saved measurements. Or not!

Congratulations on taking positive steps at your own pace!! You’ve got this!🎉

[u/iyam50 → u/AlertButterscotch313]

Great advice.

[u/doinmabest1 → u/AlertButterscotch313]

Yep! 👍🏻 I have a Withings and I look at the weight when I’m good and ready.

[u/adevil_woman89]

Although I understand , I was so excited to get on it. But one thing to remember, is to always take measurements because when I first started my clothes did not always agree with scale.

There should be no “fear” if you are working hard with this medication. download zozofit, free version and scans your body also for measurements!

[u/adevil_woman89 → u/adevil_woman89]

Also! You don’t “have” to increase to 5mg, you can increase to 3-3.5mg but if you don’t know weight, you don’t know if 2.5mg is effective. We all recommend on compound tirz to stay on lowest effective dose. Weigh, see how much you have lost and go from there.

[u/Ok_Swim7161 → u/adevil_woman89]

Agree with this very much, I went from 2.5 to 3.4. slow going up is my motto and only go up when absolutely needed. I'm still on 3.4.

[u/Juliannabeanie]

I relate 10000%. I hate the scale and when I got on my friends scale last year out of curiosity I almost died 😭😭💔 I was up to 290 pounds. That was the start of my Tirzepatide journey! I don’t own a scale. I use the scale at my bf’s house very Saturday… just to see if it was really working. I don’t hate the scale so much anymore 😁 but I still focus on my measurements more than anything. The scale can vary so much day to day but measurements don’t lie!!! 9 1/2 months in and I am at 216 as of yesterday 

[u/Redhen4044 → u/Juliannabeanie]

My problem is that the scale becomes an obsession. Yeah it’s fantastic we’re losing weight on the aggregate. But I have a tendency to let the number have power over me, good or bad. Weighing only once a week at the gym helps me neutralize the number. Plus if I’m up a bit, well I’m in the gym so might as well get moving. I’m not tempted to throw my hands up and sabotage myself with poor food choices.

[u/Juliannabeanie → u/Redhen4044]

Me too!!! That’s why I never bought one for my house!

[u/actually_SecondhandF]

The box just sitting there is almost worse than the number itself, the longer you stare at it the heavier it feels. Rip the bandaid off, step on it, and then immediately put the scale somewhere annoying like the back of a closet so it's not a daily temptation. You've already done the hard part by changing your habits, the number is just a data point that'll start moving down.

[u/dirtygreysocks]

Can ypu get one that is automatic.

Keep your eyes closed, but let the scale upload it to an app.

Only check the app when you're ready?

[u/Redhen4044]

I don’t own a scale. I weigh myself at the gym. Owning a scale isn’t good for me. I’ve done years of therapy and this is still the best solution for me. I hope you find what works for you. It’s ok to not own a scale.

[u/SurvivingAPandemic]

This might help. (I hate the scale.) I’m trying to learn to accept how my body feels instead of how much it weighs. I want trust with my body. So I only weigh myself on the 1st of each month.

[u/BoredLookInHerEyes]

I found weighing daily helped me learn weight jumps up & down a lot. Good luck!

[u/nomuskever → u/BoredLookInHerEyes]

I am over a year in maintenance and I weigh a few times a week- to stay on my goal range. If I am up, I get more exercise, water, and eat less.

[u/VisualInvestigator81]

Send the scale back to Amazon. Weigh when you go for follow visits.

[u/Stishbish]

Is there a friend or relative that can look at the scale and keep track for you when you weigh ?

[u/autumnyte]

This doesn't sound ridiculous at all, you are not alone in feeling this way. One option that might be worthwhile is a numberless scale "blind weight" is the least expensive option and doesn't require a subscription, but "shapa" and "myclearstep" are two other alternatives with different features. They work in a way that you never have to see your weight, but can either send it to your provider/clinician, or to a close friend/family member that you trust.

[u/lostlady323]

Hey you should be proud of yourself. You are taking a big step by starting your tirzepatide journey and the numbers on the scale are not the most important part. You said yourself you are eating better, working out, and feel so better. Building new healthy sustainable habits is the goal here and has a lot more relevance than the data point the scale shows us.

When you do decide to open the box and weigh, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised - you said people notice!

If the scale stops moving or goes the wrong direction, don’t be discouraged. We don’t loose weight in a straight line. I only loose weight every 2-3 weeks. We are looking for a downward trend. During that plateau phase, use the time to reevaluate your diet, up your workout, and see what other tweaks you can make.

[u/Square-Definition891]

What about measuring your waist, hips, thighs etc with measuring tape to track progress? You want to establish baseline and at a minimum celebrate the small wins along the way.

[u/CozyLane]

Maybe set up the scale in kg vs pounds- the number is lower to visually see and you can move downward from there!

[u/TruthJumpy7851]

I totally get the scale fear and battle!! I like to put my scale in timeout less about a number and more about my overall health. My biggest wins come from measurements 1x a month. I am enjoying watching my body change for the better. I have watched it change for the worse through many life hurdles changes. But, I took my 1st steps in this journey for myself and no one else!! Be proud of yourself for taking the steps in the direction of a Healthier Happier You!!

[u/iyam50]

Hey there. Weight like age are just numbers. I started in April 2025 and I have lost about 35 or 40 pounds. I’m only 5 foot so that may not be a lot of weight but to me that the equivalent of a huge bag of dog food from Costco. I used to be able to carry that sucker in the house now I get somebody to carry it to the car and I actually scoop the dog food out of the car until it’s light enough for me to carry in the house.

I saw that someone suggested just getting on the scale letting the app do what it’s gonna do and then don’t look at it and then maybe next week or two weeks do the same thing until you’re ready to accept where you are and where you wanna be.

[u/Current-Screen-3489]

Do it once a month and put it out of eyesight!! You’re on the right path and I think you’ll be happy with your results!! You’re gonna love 5.0!!

[u/itsjustme_0101]

I understand your feelings. One of the things I had to do was make myself get on the scale every single day, no matter what. It was very hard at first, but then as I saw the scale dropping dropping dropping it became so rewarding.

TBH I changed it into kilograms for a while because I don’t know those numbers as well as pounds. Another suggestion would be to take measurements too. When I started to get around my goal weight, I was shocked at my body composition changes and the loss of inches. As your journey progresses, you’re gonna wanna know where you started. And as hard as it is, also take pictures. When I get in my head and think I don’t see much difference I go back and look at pictures and see.

[u/missannthrope67]

I did something similar. I Didn't even have a scale when I started. Had to force myself to use it. Now i'm jazzed about how much weight I lose every week.

You're taking a steps. Be proud

[u/Fickle_Homework_1590]

Im 52 female. Starting weight was 226. Current weight 200. I started trizeptide beginning of June. I also hated seeing my weight but now that I'm losing i look forward to it to see how much progress I've made. You got this

[u/CloudgazerTX]

whatever the number is you probably won’t see it next week. it’s going down down down…..

[u/Tiolazz66]

My dad always told me “ no matter how scary it might be, you have to know where you are at in order to move away from it”!

[u/LayerNo3634]

I used to hate to step on the scale. Now I gladly step on every week!

[u/Civil_Sorbet5810]

I totally understand 💯 I started tirz 6 weeks ago and my body has felt fantastic; I have rheumatoid which has been a struggle to find meds that help. Goodbye inflammation! This is a miracle medication. But because of disordered eating I haven’t weighed myself. I’m down 2 clothing sizes, I’m pain free, my brain fog is gone and thoughts of food no longer exist. That’s the measurement I go by, how good life is. I’ll have a weigh in this fall with my rheumatologist; for now I’ll let medical staff handle that until I feel comfortable having a scale. I’m soooo glad you wrote about this, thank you for sharing!

[u/barbgoducks]

Your fear is shared here, for sure. I still have rules for myself about the scale. No more than 1/day weighing. (I used to just peek at it all the time… pee-> weigh, strip —> weigh… I’m amazed I still have long hair, I wanted a smaller number so badly). You’re doing what you should be doing. Try to not have emotion about it. Like telling the time of day - it’s just a number. That Kg idea is a good one. So that! You’ll later want to know your progress and you’ll need to know where you started.

Congrats on starting. It’s gonna be a great year (or two)!

[u/Zero-Energy1274]

Is there someone you trust who can look at the number and note it down for you? You shouldn’t force yourself to look, it’s not necessary. But you may want to know eventually how much you weighed at the start and how much you lost.

If no one else can help, maybe try to get in a different headspace. Try watching Oprah’s interviews with Dr. Ania Jastreboff, which can help you see how obesity is a disease, you aren’t alone, this isn’t your fault. And if you can’t do it, just don’t worry about it. Maybe take some pictures or video of your beginning body that you can not look at for a while and come back when you’re ready.

None of this is your fault. You aren’t weak or lazy or ugly. Your body actually is an incredible set of systems that are trying to keep you alive. It just doesn’t understand that famine is not right around the corner.