Using the scale has its place, especially if you are carefully tracking your weight-loss progress. But spending too much time focusing on a number can discourage you when you think you've dropped weight after a rigorous diet and exercise plan only to find that you haven't lost as much as you thought you have (which can happen for several reasons, usually because you are gaining muscle instead). If you dread stepping on the scale, here are three ways to gauge your weight instead.
Your clothes: One of the best ways to figure out if your diet and exercise plan is working? Nix the scale for your favorite pair of jeans. The fit of your favorite clothes can be more accurate than knowing how many pounds you are.
Your energy level: Chances are, if you're eating healthy, drinking water, and exercising, you'll be feeling the effects — you'll have more energy, sleep better, and be less lethargic overall. Feeling healthy is the first step in looking your best, so don't discount the inside-out effects of your new lifestyle, even if weight loss is your main goal.
Your body fat percentage: Your body's muscle-fat ratio can make the scale tip up even when you are feeling svelte. So be sure to keep your fat percentage in mind when it's time to step on the scale. That means investing in a model that includes an accurate fat percentage measurement so you can track your progress accurately. Or get your body fat percentage measured professionally with one of these tests. And don't always rely on your body mass index (BMI) to gauge whether or not you're in a healthy weight range; it's not always the most accurate measurement. Read more about the difference between BMI and body fat percentage here.
How do you measure your weight-loss progress when you're not on the scale?
Mamas may sugarcoat the truth, and our friends may have a way of skirting the obvious, but scales . . . they don't lie. And even though I'm much more about feeling good and being fit than I am about meeting a weighty number, I do find that knowing my weight sometimes helps me stay on track — especially during the holidays!
In college I lived with someone who kept a scale in our bathroom, and also her bedroom. She weighed herself at least twice a day, logging it into a notebook each time. She became so focused on her weight that the slightest increase — meaning one to two pounds — would cause worry. She never took into account that she was gaining 
Over the Winter, my hubby was spending a lot of time on the ski trails, but he was also doing a lot of après ski lodge time, and guzzling down beers and bar food with his buddies. Now that the bulky ski pants and jacket have been shed for Spring weather, he's realized it's time to lose some weight. I'm so proud of him for trading burgers for salads, and beer for water, and he even goes running with me. To keep track of his progress, he likes to weigh himself every day — even twice a day sometimes. I love hearing his excitement (he literally screams out the number)!
Kelly Osbourne's bod is on its way to 
I know positive reinforcement is important when you're trying to lose weight or maintain the weight you have, but if you buy a scale and keep it in your bathroom (especially a pink plushie scale), wouldn't you want the numbers?
