Weighing In: Can I Beat the Scale?

I lost 3.6 pounds since last I blogged. Not bad! It's progress anyway.

I'm still holding firm to the no-soda challenge. I actually think I've mastered it. I don't even think about it anymore. I'm thinking that maybe a concrete monthly challenge, something I can really focus on, might be a good idea. I think I'm going to challenge myself to not eat after dinner. I have a real problem with snacking in the late-night hours, so this challenge will be a tough one. It might help me start getting to bed a little earlier (which may be a challenge for another day).

Biggest Loser at Work started this week. It's a little game our Wellness Department puts on a couple of times a year. I've played before but never won. I've only finished the game a few times. If your team gains weight two weeks in a row, you get disqualified. So there's some extra motivation to not let your teammate down. Plus, there are several people in the office playing. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition!

When I went for the initial weigh-in the other day, there was nobody else there. I was a little surprised because usually the Health office is pretty crowded on Biggest Loser weigh-in days. But I was told that the first weigh-in is a little different. Most people come to get weighed right after eating lunch at the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet. I wish I'd thought of that!

Not really. But maybe. Pizza sounds really good right now.

Anyway, it got me thinking of some weigh-in tricks for next time. Here's what I've come up with. You may have actually tried these before.

1. Remove any extraneous clothing, jewelry, etc. But please be decent; no one wants to see that. I've actually thought about getting some of those rip-away pants that basketball players wear. Or maybe some MC Hammer pants. They've got to be light for Hammer to move like he does, er, did.
2. Shave. Get a haircut. Every little bit helps, and some of us have a lot of hair.
3. Does deodorant weigh anything? I don't know, but I'm not willing to test it.
4. Go to the restroom. I won't discuss this any further. You're welcome.
5. Clean out your ears and belly button. Probably a good idea anyway. But be careful. Cotton swabs can be dangerous. You don't want to get them stuck in your belly button. What would the neighbors say?
6. Don't hold your breath! Air is heavy. Blow it out.
7. Remove your glasses or contact lenses. Besides, if you can't see what you weigh, you'll feel better about yourself. It's a win-win.
8. Sweat it off. Wear some heavy clothes that you can remove before weighing in. You can probably sweat off several pounds just walking to the weigh-in location in your snow skiing gear.
9. Stand up straight and lift your arms toward the sky. This shifts the weight up and away from the scale at your feet. This will also promote good posture, and you're only one leg lift away from being the Karate Kid. "Sweep the leg."
10. Exercise and eat less. If all of the above fail, this may be your last resort. It's crazy, but it just might work.

I think with these simple tricks, I should come out ahead in this competition. Did I miss anything? What are your tips or tricks for weighing in?

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.

Ashley, like Lee, is recommitted to her goal of weight loss, can she keep it up?