I'll weigh in on the scale topic: When I have a scale and use it a few times a week, I remember that I have health goals, and I'm more likely to stick to them. Without the scale, I freefall and eventually, I erase all my progress and wind up back where I started.
I've had a sordid history with my body image and weight for most of my life (though I was a chubby kid in the Midwest, so it wasn't so much beach culture as kids sports culture that was the problem). But I also got a scale about a year ago because I wanted to objectively see if my commitment to working out more consistently was having any effect. It has and I'm grateful to that I also use the Apple Fitness app to track that and numerous other metrics that help me see a bigger picture.
That said, I still think we need to find better ways to assess and measure health than weight, BMI, body fat percentage. Such things can be so variable based on our genetics that they can't be accurately delineated into "healthy" and "unhealthy."
I totally agree! This scale I use has bright colored labels of "normal, overweight, obese" etc which I don't think are particularly helpful for a myriad of reasons even if the scale itself has helped greatly.
1. Knowing that people of all sizes deal with body dysmorphia is so helpful and I’m happy your journey is in a good spot. 2. My favorite track on Cowboy Carter is Blackbiird because Paul McCartney wrote Blackbird to pay tribute to the Little Rock Nine and the spirit of freedom, which I think fits well with Black reclamation of Country music. Also I just love that style of guitar and Bey’s low range so much.
Absolutely. I think that body issues never disappear no matter how aligned with the societal goals you are. Some of the most 'ripped' guys I know are also the most obsessive and anxious that that will go away. And yes, Blackbird is so gorgeous, definitely a fave as well.
I'll weigh in on the scale topic: When I have a scale and use it a few times a week, I remember that I have health goals, and I'm more likely to stick to them. Without the scale, I freefall and eventually, I erase all my progress and wind up back where I started.
I've had a sordid history with my body image and weight for most of my life (though I was a chubby kid in the Midwest, so it wasn't so much beach culture as kids sports culture that was the problem). But I also got a scale about a year ago because I wanted to objectively see if my commitment to working out more consistently was having any effect. It has and I'm grateful to that I also use the Apple Fitness app to track that and numerous other metrics that help me see a bigger picture.
That said, I still think we need to find better ways to assess and measure health than weight, BMI, body fat percentage. Such things can be so variable based on our genetics that they can't be accurately delineated into "healthy" and "unhealthy."
I totally agree! This scale I use has bright colored labels of "normal, overweight, obese" etc which I don't think are particularly helpful for a myriad of reasons even if the scale itself has helped greatly.
1. Knowing that people of all sizes deal with body dysmorphia is so helpful and I’m happy your journey is in a good spot. 2. My favorite track on Cowboy Carter is Blackbiird because Paul McCartney wrote Blackbird to pay tribute to the Little Rock Nine and the spirit of freedom, which I think fits well with Black reclamation of Country music. Also I just love that style of guitar and Bey’s low range so much.
Absolutely. I think that body issues never disappear no matter how aligned with the societal goals you are. Some of the most 'ripped' guys I know are also the most obsessive and anxious that that will go away. And yes, Blackbird is so gorgeous, definitely a fave as well.
Helpful dramaturgy for my twink musical