May 21, 2014

Finally, some progress!

As lame as it sounds, I was actually kind of looking forward to weighing in this morning. I was 100% on-plan all week long, and I knew (regardless of what the scale showed) that I did my best. There was nothing I would have changed about my choices this week.

So when I got on the scale this morning, I was pleased to see that my hard work paid off:

I didn't weigh in last week, but from two weeks ago, I'm down 2.5 pounds. I'm sure if I had weighed in last week, it would have been more ;)  But I was very happy with the weigh-in today. It just shows that when I stop half-assing it, I actually can make some good progress!

I've been using the Aria Fitbit scale as well, because I wanted to do a comparison of them. (The Aria scale wasn't given to me for review--it was purchased with my own money. Just wanted to make that clear.) I like the Aria scale, but I don't think it's as accurate as my trusty Health O Meter. It's consistently off by about 1.2-1.8 pounds (it weighs me as heavier than the Health O Meter). So today, just after I took the photo above, I weighed on the Aria scale:

So the Aria scale was over the other one by 1.4 pounds. When I step on and off a few times, it reads different numbers, but only by about 0.4-ish pounds (the other two numbers were 149.1 and 149.7, but I went with the first reading, which was the 149.4). As far as accuracy, when I put dumbbells on my Health O Meter scale, it reads correctly (two 10-lb. dumbbells shows 20.0, etc.). The Aria scale reads it as a little heavier. The heavier the dumbbells, the further off the number is--which is why my weight was off by 1.4 lbs.

The Aria scale with two 10-lb dumbbells

The Health O Meter scale with two 10-lb dumbbells

I know this isn't exactly a scientific test, but I do this every time I try a new scale. I do like the Aria scale, though, and I don't mind if the actual weight is off a little, as long as it's consistent--and it has been. I do like that it automatically uploads my weight to my Fitbit account, so it keeps a record for me. A few times, I've stepped on the scale without looking, just so that it would record my weight, but I wouldn't have to see what it was. I'll probably just start posting the Aria scale weight for my Wednesday Weigh-ins from now on, even if it does show me a little heavier ;)

We had a bad thunderstorm this morning, and the power briefly went out. Today was a rest day, so it didn't affect my run, though. I took the kids to the bus stop, and then ate breakfast, and headed to Weight Watchers. I was tempted to stay home, just because it was so crappy outside, but I'm glad I went.

Today's meeting topic was supposed to be "Spring Clean Your Fridge", but Glenda (my leader) did a different spin on it. She had a table set up with all kinds of fake food to demonstrate a full day of the Simply Filling program. She showed ideas for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and treats that were part of Simply Filling. I don't follow the SF plan, but I still like getting meal ideas.

Oh, speaking of treats... remember how I said I found half a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs in the travel bag I took to Toledo last month? Well, I locked them in the Kitchen Safe for the maximum time allowed (10 days), and this morning was when it unlocked. Before I could even second guess myself, I dumped the bag in the trash without eating any of them! I don't think there is anything wrong with having a few for a treat, but I have SUCH a hard time stopping with just a few. I have been doing so well on my no-sweets challenge this month, and I didn't want to sabotage myself, so I just figured it would be better if they weren't even in the house.

The York Peppermint Patties (mini ones, that are 1 PointsPlus each) were locked in the safe, also. After thinking about it, I decided to have Jerry take those to work with him to give out to the guys. I like them, but I don't LOVE them; and cutting way back on the sweets has made me realize that if I'm going to spend points on sweets, I want it to be on something I really love. The peppermint patties were so easy to eat several of throughout the day, and I really didn't get much enjoyment out of them, so I decided to let those go, too.

This no-sweets challenge has really helped me to realize whether I *really* want something, or if I was just eating it because it was there. Now, I'm only going to buy the things that I really want, and skip the things that are just "okay" tasting. In a way, I guess I did do some "spring cleaning" of my fridge (or pantry, rather).

Seeing my progress this week has made me really motivated going into another week!


  1. Katie, that is awesome! I love the feeling of progress!!
    I love the idea of only eating what I REALLY love and skipping the things that are just okay. Why waste the calories?

  2. I may have missed this in an earlier post, but what is the kitchen safe?

    1. The Kitchen Safe is a small safe that opens only by a timer. You can set the timer to open it anywhere from 1 minute from now to 10 days from now. There is NO override... so I like to put my treat foods in there to avoid bingeing. I just take out one portion, then lock the safe until the next day. It was a pretty brilliant idea! (The link is on my "Favorite Things" page)

  3. Grand job Katie. Keep up the good work! Screw that Aria scale though...

  4. Good job chicka! Keep up the good work!

  5. Awesome! I think if a scale is relatively consistent then it's ok. I don't like getting on a scale 3 times and seeing different numbers. My anal self can't handle that! But sticking with one scale is always the best idea I think. I like that it uploads the data for you. Now health o meter needs to make one that does that! I also have a health o meter and have been super happy with it.

  6. Great job!!

  7. Yay for an awesome week! I hate it when a scale keeps giving me different numbers...I end up stepping on and off until I get one number twice :/ I'm going to have to grab my weights and test my scale now!
    Way to go on the no-sweets challenge! I can't believe you threw out the mini-eggs!! those are one of my weaknesses, too...and they won't be around til next spring!

  8. I had an Aria scale to go along with my fitbit and it was ALWAYS OFF my other scale I had at home too. I was wondering what was right or wrong so I weighed myself at a scale we have at work and it was the same as the one I had at home, NOT THE ARIA. I finally returned the Aria because of how much it cost and for the fact that I was weighing myself on both all the time and I felt like I was wasting my time. I personally do not think the Aria is 100% exact and maybe they rushed making those things before it was truly ready. I was disappointed because I thought it was rad since it connected with the fitbit. :(

  9. I love cadbury mini eggs! I'm so sad they ended up in the trash but so happy for you and your willpower and courage to press on.

    Oh, and do you really have a kithen safe? Sounds like a fun idea!

  10. that is really interesting about the scale. when you are watching your weight, a point of a lb matters. that is crazy how off it is!

    p.s. love me some cadbury mini eggs :)

  11. I have the Aria scale ... I just can't give up how it syncs wirelessly to my Fitbit account. I would always forget the number before I got to writing it down ... so if it's a tad over, as long as it's consistent I'm good! I've been in the 150-155 range for so long ... goal is 135, but really I'll be good with anything under 150. Just need to drop a few more! Weigh-in today was 150.9, so if your theory applied to all the Arias, I guess I'm there today :)



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