Scales encourage you to put all your self worth into 1 number, and more often than not this creates feelings of self-loathing and hopelessness! How you feel for the rest of the day hangs on that 1 number - and sometimes that can be a temporary high if it's the number you're hoping for, but more often than not it only creates negative feelings!

This 1 number can be super misleading and unreliable, which is why I encourage women to not use it as their sole marker of success, or even better to just throw their scales out!

You may have been trying really hard and feel you've lost weight, but if the scales say otherwise it can totally derail you! The big problem is that your body shape and size can be changing significantly, while the number on the scale can remain unchanged or even go up!

Our weight can also fluctuate depending on hydration, water retention, hormonal changes and other factors which differ from day to day.

Taking notice of how your clothes are fitting and how you're feeling energetically and mentally is a much more accurate way to track your progress - rather than letting 1 number dictate how you feel about yourself. You can also use waist and hip measurements, or take photos every 2-4 weeks to track changes.

With any weight loss effort there may also need to be changes in mindset to make the weight loss sustainable. Do you believe you're worthy of achieving your ideal weight? Are you self-sabotaging your efforts and/or not dealing with underlying emotional issues?

I'm not an expert in this area, but I do know that just working on self-compassion and coming from a place of love and kindness can have a huge impact on making lasting changes - and it makes the whole process much more enjoyable! Are you exercising to punish yourself or to celebrate what your body can do and because it feels good?! The same can be applied to the foods you're choosing to put in your mouth.

If you're struggling with weight loss there may also be other contributing factors such as hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues or excess cortisol production. These are all factors that a qualified Naturopath can help you investigate and resolve.

If you've been addicted to using scales and it hasn't gotten you far or made you feel good about yourself, why not give life a try without them?!

You are much more than a number!

Marion McConnell is a degree qualified Naturopath who helps women with stress, hormone imbalances, thyroid issues and weight loss. The clinic is located in New Farm Brisbane, and consultations are also available via Skype. You can contact Marion here.