When to Stay Off the Scale (excerpt from Linda Spangle)

I've seen this cartoon before -  and it always makes me smile.  Hey, we all need a laugh from time to time, especially when it comes to that darn scale!
  
Due to the illness I've had, the scale took a real dip and then started going up and down like a yoyo.  It's finally tapering off now but  it's taken a month or more to do so.  Coincidentally,  I came across this excerpt from Linda Spangle,  a nutritionist whose latest book is entitled:   "Friends With The Scale"   (an oxymoron for some of us! LOL).    A lot of it makes sense and probably bears remembering  - especially each time the scale doesn't become our nemesis!

Here is an excerpt from her book:

When to stay off the scale

Even if you normally weigh yourself every day, there are a
few times when you should absolutely stay off the scale. One
of them is after you return from a trip, including a
vacation or a cruise.

Any time you travel, you will probably retain water for a
few days. This is especially true for airline travel, but it
can also happen when you’ve spent long hours in a car or
bus.

If you travel frequently because of your job or for family
visits, remember that even short trips of a few hours can
cause you to retain fluids.

Add in restaurant meals or snacks on the drive, and the next
morning your scale number will probably bounce up a couple
pounds.

The Three-Day Rule

Whenever you have a major shift in fluid levels, it takes
your body a minimum of two to three days to regain its
internal balance. Weighing yourself too soon will only tell
you something about your fluid levels, not your true weight.

After a vacation, holiday, or illness, always wait at least
48 to 72 hours before you get on the scale. This gives your
body time to settle down, rebalance fluid levels, and get
back to a more normal status.

Although it’s tempting to weigh yourself the morning after a
trip or a holiday celebration, getting on the scale will
usually leave you upset. So build up your courage, and skip
at least two or three days before checking your weight.

Follow the same guideline for special occasion meals that
are out of your normal pattern. Even one birthday or
anniversary meal can contain enough salt to make you retain
fluids. After any unusual events, postpone your daily scale
ritual for a couple of days.

In the same way, always give yourself a few days to fully
recover from a bad cold or the flu before jumping on the
scale.

If you have an injury or surgery, you may want to wait as
long as a week or 10 days. By that time, your scale reading
will show a far more accurate number than if you weigh
yourself too soon.

Lots of good suggestions so I decided to post it here on my blog for myself and for anyone else who might have those blues we sometimes get from the scale...