You step on the scale and the number staring back at you is higher than you wanted. For some, this can start a cycle of self-criticism and restrictive eating that can corrode self-esteem and ruin your day.

Take Mary for example. She had been put on a diet from a young age to manage a health condition and struggled with her weight her entire life.

By her early 60s, after decades of dieting and regaining weight, stepping on the scale felt traumatic.

Why Stepping on the Scale Unleashes the Inner Self-Critic

If stepping on the scale can ruin your day, then consider what it means to you to live in a larger body.

The Impact of Weight Stigma

Weight stigma is the social rejection and devaluing that occurs to people living in larger bodies. It is a very real phenomenon that can cause anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem in victims.

Weight stigma happens when medical professionals only focus on your weight instead of offering other treatment options, employers choose not to hire people with larger bodies, or loved ones negatively comment on your size.

Because having a larger body is stigmatized in culture to mean someone is lazy, not attractive, has poor willpower or moral character, etc., you get the cultural message that you are undesirable (this is called weight bias internalization).

The Impact of Others’ Perceptions

A 2011 study from Ohio State University found that the most important factor for whether a woman liked her body was how she believed her body was perceived by others, not her actual size.

Furthermore, women in their 60s were more likely to believe that others wouldn’t accept their bodies if they were larger, compared to younger women.

The takeaway: Women in their 60s are more likely to believe their bodies won’t be accepted if they are larger, and these same women may base their own body acceptance on how they perceive others accept their bodies.

How Data Can Turn Against You in Your Mind

So, if you are getting the message from the world around you that living in a larger body means you are not acceptable, lazy, and whatever other terrible things women hear, you might start to criticize yourself when the number on the scale goes up.

Research suggests weighing yourself regularly may help you lose more weight. The research into whether or not weighing yourself is psychologically harmful is conflicting, however.

While the scale only returns data about the force of gravity on your body, for some the number on the scale holds meaning rooted in weight bias and the at-times cruel perceptions of others.

Weighing yourself can feel like a declaration of how good you’ve been or how worthy you are of love and validation by others.

And when the scale isn’t going down, it’s not uncommon to start beating yourself up, sometimes mirroring what has been said to you about your weight as a child or into adulthood by people who should have cared for you better.

For women with eating disorders, weighing yourself can be harmful. If you suspect you or a loved one has an eating disorder and want help, contact your regional eating disorder helpline. In the US that is the National Eating Disorder Association.

Anyone may choose to opt-out of weighing because it feels unhelpful. If you need to be weighed for medical reasons, you can ask your medical team for a “blind” weighing, where you get on the scale backwards.

How to Stop the Self-Critic When You Step on the Scale

Determine What the Number on the Scale Means to You

We’ve discussed popular narratives about what it means to live in a larger body (weight stigma), and the stories we tell ourselves based on what we think others believe about us.

The first step to taking back control of the scale is to decide what the number on the scale means to you.

If I could suggest something?

I encourage the post-menopausal women I work with on healing emotional eating and loving their bodies to view the number on the scale as simply data.

No, I don’t mean data that reflects how “good” you’ve been, or how worthy you are of admiration and appreciation.

What I do mean is data that has no judgements associated. Like a clinical assessment. Either your metabolism is doing what you want it to do, or it’s not.

If something isn’t going the way you want it to, you can use that same non-judgmental approach to assess what you might change to reach your goals.

Self-criticism comes when you believe that the number means something important about you, so finding a different way to think about the number on the scale is the first step to stopping the flagellation.

Assess Your Own Views About Weight

What do you believe about people who are fat? Those beliefs can impact your self-criticism if you believe you are fat.

Assessing your own weight bias and practicing compassion for others will help you treat yourself kindly as well.

For myself, when I notice I have negative thoughts or assumptions about others’ bodies, I mentally back-track and replace the judgmental point of view with something kinder and not weight-related.

This practice has helped me be kinder to myself about my own weight. (You can learn more about my journey with weight here.)

Brainwash Yourself

You are inundated with messages about your body all the time.

Thinking of an alternative view of the scale or thinking something nice about someone with a larger body will probably not do anything.

But reminding yourself frequently of the new beliefs you want to hold about yourself and others can help.

Here are two ways I propose to brainwash yourself:

Surround Yourself with a Supportive Community That Is Working to Dismantle Weight Stigma

In my program, the Stress Less Weight Mastery, I meet with groups of women weekly to discuss body image issues and troubleshoot barriers to healing emotional eating.

Being immersed in a new way of thinking in such a group can be helpful to having these new ideas stick.

Create Affirmation Statements and Either Write Them Down or Say Them Out Loud Every Day

Affirmations are positive sentences that reflect your new belief.

Some examples could be:

The number on the scale is non-judgmental data that doesn’t reflect my value and worth.

Or

My weight doesn’t influence my happiness.

Whatever your affirmations, they have to feel true for you.

If you want to lose weight and feel in control around food, and are tired of the scale ruining your day, consider booking a call with Cassie.

How often do you weigh yourself? What does the number on the scale mean to you? How has that number’s meaning evolved with age? Do you think you can learn to consider that number as nothing more than data?

I was recently visiting with a friend who is the chief radiologist at a small hospital in New York. He is a gentle, thoughtful guy. As such, I was a bit taken aback when he proclaimed that he wished we could just throw mammography out.

If you are a breast-cancer survivor, you may gasp. Conversely, if you have suffered the hardship of false positives time and time again, or ‘equivocal’ (ambiguous) results followed by the stress of waiting for confirmation, you may agree with him.

Actually, what he really meant was that he yearns for better technology. Tools are best if they generate a scenario for jumping into action only when it’s clearly necessary. They should catch real problems early and avoid unnecessary false alarms.

Mammograms Get More Accurate as We Get Older

The good news is that, evidently, mammograms become more accurate as we age, reaching approximately 85% accuracy. This is supported by this comment from Aging Specialist at Potpourri of Opinions & Suggestions from Health Care Professionals. One piece of agreed-upon rhetoric seems to say that with age breast tissue becomes less dense.

If you have “dense” breasts, which about 10% of women do, you know two things. First, dense has nothing to do with size, and second, you will probably have to pay more money for a required second opinion after each mammography.

These things I know. Nevertheless, if breast tissue becomes less dense, readings are easier.

Cystic Breasts

Occasionally, women who have been told they have ‘cystic breasts’ continue on to an ultrasound scan. The assumption is that after a second opinion, the ultrasound scan can more accurately detect lump from cyst in a clearer manner. This is especially important if both reviewers are uncertain.

So, with this in mind, I inquired of my friend about ultrasound for breast exams. His shoulders drooped, he sighed, and whispered, “In some ways it’s worse. They show every pimple, notch, sac or lump.” Again, his lament was about equipment and not opposition to early detection.

A New Three-Dimensional Look at the Breast

What I forgot to ask him about was the very test I had last year which many of you may have had as well. That’s a 3D mammogram – a three-dimensional look at the breast.

Frankly, even if you did have the newer exam, you may not have noticed a difference. Same gowns. Same cold metal. Same squeeeeze. Yikes. Same following few days of ‘sweating it.’

But it is different.

This 3D mammogram is called tomosynthesis (not to be confused with thermography) and offers sharper images. Oh, if only that “Sharper Image” store had a home version of this tool. Alas.

Despite the uncomfortable and awkward similarity between 3D and traditional mammography, the 3D type grants the radiologists a better look at lumps or cancerous tumors. This equates to more accuracy, detecting invasive disease sooner and reducing unnecessary biopsies or other testing. For more statistics, you can go here.

Early Detection

Early detection is like a necessary evil (“necessary” being the more critical word). With reliable diagnostics, the avoidance of further invasive measures can produce a shout-out-loud “yippee.”

Drawbacks

Unfortunately, newer 3D machines may have improved, but as late as 2011 there was one major drawback. The level of radiation from this technology is clearly higher. And breast tissue is very sensitive to radiation.

For those of us who don’t plan on a mammogram every year, this may be a disadvantage we are willing to accept. But, let me mention that my results still needed to go out for a 2^nd opinion. Cha Ching.

Final Thoughts

Back to the ‘yippee’ part. Perhaps my friend’s hospital hasn’t invested in 3D mammography equipment yet. For me, for now, until something better (in terms of accuracy) comes along, I will invest time and energy in traveling to a place that has it. At least it may avoid prescriptions for recalls, suggesting a 2^nd set of ‘films’.

3D machinery is not yet the ‘standard of care’. Moreover, since you, as a patient, can’t tell 2D from 3D, you must ask if the facility you pick is using 3D or not. In some locations, all their machines could be 3D. Others are waiting for more research and years of supporting results.

Do you have annual mammograms or do you treat yourself to less frequent visits? Has anyone else had an experience with 3D mammography technology recently? If you are against mammography altogether, what do you do to keep track of your breasts’ health?

Editor’s note: Nothing in this article should be considered medical advice. Please consult with your own doctor before making any medical decisions.

Sutton Stracke’s Leopard Camo Tee on Instagram

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Instagram Fashion 2021

Although she may have a penchant for haute couture, Sutton Stracke’s leopard camo tee on Instagram is the definition of ready, ready-to-wear; I mean, it’s on sale right now for just $35! And therefore you should probably scoop it up now before it officially says goodbye, just like Sutton was doing here to the karaoke room in Kyle’s old house.  

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Monrow Tee on Sale

Photo: @SuttonStracke

Originally posted at: Sutton Stracke’s Leopard Camo Tee

Robyn Dixon’s Black Beaded Cover Up at the Pool

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 6 Episode 7 Fashion

Robyn Dixon totally rocked her black beaded cover up. It’s crazy to me that a certain someone thinks she’s unattractive. I think we can all agree that she obviously is and it’s unfortunate she doesn’t see what everyone else sees because what we see is amazing. And I’m not even referring to her hot bikini and cool cover up
(even though it is). I hope she gets out of her funk sooner than later. Just like I hope I get into a Style Stealer of her funky cover up sooner than later.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Her Cover Up is Sold Out at Missguided 

Click Here to Read About Her Black Studded Bikini 

Originally posted at: Robyn Dixon’s Black Beaded Cover Up

After several months trodding and tearing up your feet in sandals, I think we can all agree that our feet need a little bit of extra TLC. From running around in gritty sand to 5-mile-long hikes in the wilderness, our feet take a lot of abuse in the summer — more abuse than a single pedicure can fix. And with the end of the summer weeks away, there’s no time to waste in a salon. For that reason, we have some of the best foot masks on deck to make our self-care sesh a lot more convenient, but equally effective. They’re easy to throw in your carry-on, so you can even take them on vacation with you.

Like hand masks, foot mittens aren’t exactly necessary. You can always slather your skin in Vaseline or some other heavy ointment when flaking and ash become an issue. It’s also way more affordable than investing in a special treatment. But that’s just it: they’re not special. And as far as we’re concerned, you deserve special things…like a nourishing foot mask that forces you to put your feet up and stay hydrated from head-to-toe, literally.

There are peels that take days to kick in, but ultimately shed skin beyond belief. You’ll feel like a snake. The foot peels are so effective that you’re going to want to wear socks for a few days—trust us, it’ll mean less mess and be less gross that way. If you want something a little less intense, there’s heavy-duty lotions that work best with overnight use. Ahead are options for both.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Aliver and Target are STYLECASTER sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of ALIVER.

Lavender Foot Mask

Our feet might be one of the most under-appreciated parts of our bodies. Give your feet their own self-care moment with this lavender foot mask set. You leave the mask on for 50-90 minutes and then wait 5-7 for the magic peeling to happen. You’ll be able to slide across the floor Risky Business-style with your newly smooth feet.

Buy: Foot Peel Mask 3 Pack $9.99

Amazon.

TikTok-Famous Foot Peel

This Amazon top-seller has long held cult-favorite status for its ability to literally strip the foot of every and any flake. The magic sauce is a mix of 17 botanicals—all naturally-derived—that work over a period of days to shed the skin.

Buy: Baby Foot – Original Foot Peel Exfoliator $25

Tony Moly.

K-Beauty Pick

Like the Baby Foot Peel, this K-beauty, liquid-based mask uses vegetable ingredients to remove keratin, flakes and dryness after 7 days of use.

Patchology.

Chemical Peel Option

Proof that chemical acids aren’t just for the face, this next-level foot mask includes a mix of AHAs and BHAs that work together to exfoliate both top and deep layers of the skin.

Karuna.

2-in-1 Foot Mask

A face mask and serum, but for your feet. This option also includes an AHA blend for gentle exfoliation—aka getting rid of flakes—and floral extracts for smoothing.

Buy: Karuna Exfoliating+ Foot Mask $38

Courtesy of Sephora.

Budget-Friendly Foot Mask

Affordable and effective? We can’t think of a better combo. The coconut in this footie will soothe dryness and nourish your skin.

LUSH Cosmetics.

Clay Foot Mask

If like us, you’re obsessed with the purifying properties of kaolin clay, this all-natural, part-pumice foot mask is definitely for you. It also contains a gang of other nourishing food-grade ingredients, including papaya, lemon juice and tomato.

Kocostar.

 Botanical-Packed Mask

Besides the super-sized mix of 33 botanical extracts that’ll go to work on your poor, tired feet, the mint scent makes for an ideal pick-me-up too.

Buy: Kocostar Foot Therapy $10

Sol de Janiero.

Coolest Foot Mask

Complete with a smoothing board for minimizing stubborn calluses, this cream is infused with coconut oil, acai and cupuaçu butter, a water-soluble Brazilian super fruit, that makes application non-slippery.

ThisWorks.

Soothing Rescue Balm

In addition to lemon and lavender for light exfoliation and treating irritation, the cotton thistle—another deeply-penetrating moisturizer—also disguises odor.

Buy: thisworks perfect heels rescue balm $26

Sally Hansen.

Super Moisturizing Mask

Want relief for your dry feet? Reach for this single-use mask. Infused with nut butters and Vitamin E, this mask will chase away dry skin.

This story was originally published in 2019.