When Gravity Has Opinions
There is a very specific kind of betrayal that happens when the scale can't seem to make up its mind for four or five days straight. One morning it winks kindly. The next, it files a complaint. Up two ounces. Down three. Up again, just to keep things interesting.
I gained two ounces two days in a row and reacted like I had been personally audited, while Steve has continued his clean downward slide like a well-behaved spreadsheet.
I stare at the number, step off, step back on, lean slightly left as if gravity might negotiate. The scale, unmoved, delivers its daily plot twist.
The Scale, the Tea, and the Truth
There is a special kind of confidence exhibited by one who has followed their food plan exactly. Measured portions. No substitutions. No "just a bite." I approach the scale like a woman who has fulfilled her contractual obligations and is worthy of applause.
And then...the 'scale reality shock'.
My mind immediately begins to state its case: I am measuring. I am weighing. I am resisting things that once called my name at 9:14 p.m. And yet the number went up.
Not by much.
But enough to trigger The Mental Spiral.
You know The Spiral.
- "Did I accidentally inhale sodium?"
- "Was that broccoli rebellious?"
- "Is my metabolism on strike?"
- "Should I start drafting my resignation from this entire program?"
The Drama Queen in the Bathroom
First of all, the scale is not a moral authority.
It is a bathroom appliance.
If mine could talk (and frankly, some mornings I think it does), it would be wearing a crown and saying:
"Excuse me. Do you KNOW what you just put me through?" The scale measures everything in your body.
Everything.
Not just fat.
That includes:
- Water
- Glycogen
- Inflammation
- Hormones
- Digestive Timing
- And yes...broccoli that has not completed its journey
It is weighing your chemistry.
Let's Discuss The Tea
Friends, let's have a calm, rational, tea-assisted conversation.
Some mornings, the scale is not measuring fat.
It is measuring...timing.
Picture this:
Me at the kitchen counter.
Oversized mug.
Tea bag tag hanging over the rim of my cup.
A certain box labeled "Smooth Move" sitting nearby.
We are negotiating.
Because sometimes the difference between "up 0.6" and "down 0.4" is simply what has--or has not exited the building.
The scale does not care about digestion schedules. It simply reports the weight of everything currently on board.
That is not fat gain.
That is biology.
The Science (Without the PhD)
Here's what most of us were never told.
1. Water Fluctuates Constantly
Your body is about 60% water.
Sodium changes, stress, sleep hormones--even a slightly different protein source--can shift water retention by 1/2 to 2 pounds overnight.
Overnight.
You did not gain two pounds of fat while sleeping. You would need roughly 3,500 calories above maintenance to gain one pound of fat. That is not happening on this plan.
What's happening is fluid adjustment.
2. Glycogen Holds Water
Your body stores carbohydrate as glycogen.
Every gram of glycogen holds 3-4 grams of water.
When your body adjusts fuel storage--even slightly--the scale moves.
That is chemistry.
Not failure.
3. Inflammation Is Not Betrayal
If you walked more.
Moved more.
Lifted something heavy.
Slept differently.
Your muscles hold water to repair.
That is healing.
Healing sometimes looks like a temporary bump.
The Real Problem Isn't the Scale
The real problem is the story we attach to it.
We see a number and think:
- "I messed up."
- "This isn't working."
- "My body is broken."
- "Why do I even try?"
- " I really blew it!"
But fat does not move in a straight line.
It moves like this:
Down.
Pause.
Tiny up.
Waves. Not stairs.
When you are on plan and the scale ticks up slightly, the appropriate reaction is not panic.
It is curiosity.
"Hmm. Probably water."
"May need a cup of 'Smooth Move' tonight."
That's it.
No drama crown required.
The Truth
The scale is a data tool.
It is not a judge.
It is not a verdict.
It is not a reflection of your discipline, your worth, or your future success.
It measures weight.
And weight is influenced by far more than fat.
So the next time it moves up slightly, try this:
Make your tea.
Let it steep.
And remember...
Consistency beats fluctuation.
Every time.
“This too..shall pass.”
Sjodry and Sipping ☕️
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