Weight gain denial is common, and it’s easy. Even when faced with the reality of clothes getting too tight, the rationale that the dyer is responsible is easier to accept than the painful reality of weight gain. A poll of Americans shows that many of us overlook and underestimate our extra body fat. Just as a person suffering from anorexia can look in the mirror and have a distorted perception of being overweight, an overweight person can have a view of their physical size and weight that is inconsistent with reality.
It’s is hard to face the truth when avoiding scales, using face mirrors and wearing loose fitting clothing with elastic bands. Denial is a defense mechanism, and it’s logical that when a person faces a fact too uncomfortable to accept, he or she rejects it instead. Whether getting on the scale is a dreaded moment or not, weighing yourself often can be a helpful warning system for preventing weight gain.
The National Weight Control Registry found that individuals who have maintained 60 or more pounds of weight loss for a least a year weighed themselves daily. There are some mixed opinions about how often to weigh one-self. If your goal is to keep your weight at a certain level, you do need to have a way to get honest feedback to determine whether or not you are being successful.