You step on the scales expecting to see progress.
You’ve been consistent.
You’re walking more.
You feel stronger when you lift.
You’re not reaching for that afternoon caffeine hit anymore.
You have more energy.
You feel better in your body.
The number stays the same.
And just like that, everything shifts.
“I must be doing something wrong.”
“I need to do more.”
“This isn’t working.”
A moment ago, you felt proud.
Now you feel like you’re failing.
The scales are a tool—but we’ve given them too much power
The scales measure one thing: your total body weight.
They don’t tell you:
- how well you’re sleeping
- how you’re managing stress
- how much energy you have
- whether you’re getting stronger
- how your fitness is improving
- how your body actually feels
And yet, for many women, that one number determines whether it’s been a “good” or “bad” week.
That’s the disservice.
Because you can be doing everything right—and the scales can still make it feel like you’re getting nowhere.
Does this feel so familiar
If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, this likely isn’t new.
Weight loss was the focus.
Being smaller was seen as better.
Health was often reduced to a number.
Over time, that message becomes internal.
So even now, it can feel uncomfortable not to weigh yourself.
Like you’re not doing things properly.
Like you’re missing something important.
But just because something is familiar doesn’t mean it’s useful.
Why this matters more in perimenopause
In this stage of life, your body is changing.
Sleep can become disrupted.
Stress levels are often higher.
Hormones fluctuate.
Recovery is different.
You can be doing the right things—and the scales don’t reflect it.
Not because nothing is working.
But because weight is a complicated, incomplete measure.
It doesn’t account for:
- changes in muscle
- fluid shifts
- stress load
- sleep quality
And it doesn’t reflect how your body is functioning day to day.
What the scales don’t show (but actually matters)
The number on the scales won’t tell you if:
- you’re waking up with more energy
- you’re less reliant on caffeine
- walking feels easier
- you’re less puffed on stairs
- your clothes feel more comfortable
- you’re moving with less pain
- you’re getting stronger
These are the changes that improve how your life feels.
They are also the foundations of long-term health.
The hidden cost of focusing only on weight
When the scales become your main measure, a pattern often follows:
- The number doesn’t change (or increases slightly)
- You assume you need to eat less or do more
- You push harder
- You become inconsistent or exhausted
- You feel like you’ve failed
This creates an “all or nothing” cycle.
And in that cycle, you lose sight of the progress that actually matters.
A more useful way to measure progress
You don’t need more to track. You need better signals.
Choose 1–2 simple measures that reflect how your body is responding.
For example:
- Energy: Are you getting through the day with more ease?
- Sleep: Are you waking up feeling more rested?
- Movement: Does walking feel easier?
- Stairs: Are you less puffed?
- Clothing: Do your clothes feel more comfortable?
- Strength: Are you moving or lifting with more control?
Then once a week, ask:
- What’s better this week?
- What feels different?
That’s enough.
If you choose to use the scales
You don’t have to remove them completely.
But you do need to change how you use them.
- Use them infrequently (e.g. once a month)
- Treat the number as one piece of information—not the decision-maker
- Ask: Is this helping me or distracting me?
If it’s not helping, you don’t need to use it.
Think beyond right now
Take a moment to zoom out.
What do you want your life to look like in your 80s?
Do you want to:
- move with ease
- get up and down from the floor confidently
- walk without hesitation
- carry your groceries
- stay independent
The habits that support that aren’t built through chasing a number.
They’re built through:
- consistent movement
- strength
- recovery
- managing stress
- supporting your energy
A simple shift to start this week
Ask yourself two questions:
- What do I want to be able to do in my 80s and beyond?
- What is the number one thing I want for my health right now?
Then choose measures that align with those answers.
If what you want is more energy,
then going to bed earlier and staying hydrated may matter more than weight loss.
That might look like:
- being in bed by 10pm on weeknights
- drinking an extra glass of water each day
These are things you can influence—and feel.
Last thoughts
The scales measure your weight.
But they don’t measure your effort, your progress, your strength, or your worth.
And if they’re your only measure, they can make you feel like you’re going backwards—
when you’re actually moving forward.
