the scale is a jerk

I've been weighing myself most mornings for the last week or so. There hasn't been a consistent downward trend, I'm sad to say. I started off around 168, then down to 166, then 165, then 166 again, then 167. I know that weight fluctuates, of course, but I must say it's discouraging to get on the scale and see a higher number than you did yesterday. Especially since I've been doing very well with eating lately, and I've been fairly active.

But that's not really the point. I could've been mainlining chocolate and the number on the scale would be just as depressing. I hate that one number on one stupid little screen can effect my mood so drastically. I hate that I can be feeling pretty good about myself until I step on the scale, at which point I put my sense of self-worth in the hands of three little red numbers. What the hell is that? If I look in the mirror and feel okay, what difference should it make if the scale says I weigh 167 or or 207? Or 137 for that matter? It shouldn't make a difference, of course. But it does, no matter how many times I tell myself that I won't let the number effect me.

Regardless of what the scale says, I know I didn't gain two pounds in the last 24 hours. Maybe I didn't drink enough water yesterday. Maybe I drank too much. Maybe I had too much salt. Maybe it's because I didn't eat dinner until almost 10 at night and then went to bed at 12. Maybe it's a thousand different insignificant things that should hold absolutely no sway over how I feel about myself.

So in an effort to combat the effect that they absolutely shouldn't have (but do), I'm going to strap on my running shoes and do the second day of couch to 5k. I know I'll feel better afterward.