The ideal body image for both men and women has been around for centuries: women should be slim and petite, with no ounce of belly fat and men should be muscular and physically fit. While looking this way is not necessarily a “bad thing”, it is just not how every person should or wants to appear.

No two people are the same. Body type is no different. Women and men come in all shapes and sizes; each of them being beautiful. But, constant pressure from outside elements, whether that may be celebrities’ looks, someone saying how someone else “should” look, or social media can alter that feeling of being beautiful the way someone already is.

Now, getting healthy (in a healthy way) is always encouraged whether that be losing weight, gaining muscle, increasing endurance, or just feeling better in your own skin. But, one thing that always seems to mess with people’s minds, making them either feel better about getting healthy or making them feel discouraged, is the number that appears on the scale.

Weight has always been such a powerful idea both negatively and positively. Stepping onto a scale can be one of the hardest things for a person to do. But, why? It doesn’t necessarily need to be. Many people look at weight as the be all, end all. For many, the number on the scale determines their self worth.

This is a representation of how much power people decide to give to that number. As a society, we are so willing to put ourselves down instead of build ourselves up. Becoming healthy, however that may look, is a journey with many potholes and “tough” moments.

If a person is looking to get fit in one way or another, the first step is to learn that weight is only one aspect of the physical journey. In one month, someone may only lose five pounds for example, but gain endurance, muscle toning, flexibility, etc.

Weight also doesn’t just mean the fat on someone’s body. It includes everything like muscle for example which actually weighs more than fat. When one looks down at the scale and sees a somewhat higher number, they often freak out and think negatively about it. However, many don’t understand that weight is just a number that, again, represents everything.

One could be 150 pounds of extra fat, no muscle, and little overall health or one could be 150 pounds of pure muscle and complete health. At the end of the day, it’s just a number that could mean many different things. Many believe that higher the number is, the worse they’re off. That’s not always true.

With the given power, the number on a scale becomes much like a dictator meaning that the number takes complete control of that person’s life. They give every ounce of authority to a single number.

Even though it may seem difficult, there are ways to strip the power away from this number:

Take action: If someone has not yet started their health journey, but they are not happy with the number on their scale, they should take action. Start a beginner workout routine and try new, delicious foods that will nourish the body.

Stop weighing yourself all together or only weigh in once a month: When someone is constantly checking their weight whether that be once a day/week, it becomes very overwhelming. Seeing a difference in weight, no matter what it is, takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Weighing only once a month gives you a quick look at where you are and how you want to proceed. Also, not weighing in at all is an option. Measure health success in other ways like endurance, flexibility, muscle toning etc. There’s more to health than overall weight.

Encourage yourself: The real reason people stop exercising is because they don’t have any self encouragement. Taking care of yourself mentally is just as important as taking care of yourself physically. Just because the scale says a higher number than expected doesn’t mean you haven’t improved in other ways. Give yourself validation for a job well done.

Set realistic goals: If weight is a major goal for someone, but it is being given too much power, dedication tends to decrease. Setting realistic goals per month is a good tool to moderate the amount of power that is being given to that number.

The number on the scale should never have so much power that it destroys someone inside and out. Weight is a concept that has been amped up for centuries. Everyone should feel good being who they are no matter what they appear as. Finding where you are comfortable in your own skin is all that is important. Don’t let a number dictate your life.