Why Non-Scale Victories
Celebrating non-scale victories (NSVs) has always been a cornerstone of the Whole30 program. NSVs are how we honor all of the amazing ways that you transform your life during the program—the way you feel in your body, relate to food, and live your life, and how you show up in the world! In fact, we recently updated our NSV checklist in order to reflect all of the incredible NSVs you’ve reported as a result of your Whole30 journey.
During her first Whole30 in April 2009, Whole30 CEO and Co-Founder Melissa Urban decided to ditch the scale, which had been a constant companion throughout her own health and fitness journey. At first, it was just another part of the experiment, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that ditching her scale for 30 days and focusing on everything else that was changing had a powerful effect on how she felt about herself.
“It was the first time in my whole life I found myself off the scale and out of the mirror. I wasn’t thinking about my size, I wasn’t focused on my weight, and I wasn’t constantly scrutinizing body parts in the mirror. The obsession was just … gone. It felt SO POWERFUL, and it made me ten times more confident in every area of my life. That’s where the “no scale” rule came from—because I wanted others to have that freedom too.” – Melissa Urban
You Inspire Us
Over the years, it became clear that the “no scale” rule was majorly impactful for so many of us in the Whole30 community. As more and more of you completed the Whole30, you also shared your amazing NSVs and allowed us to celebrate your transformations with you.
We heard about how your lives were changing from the inside out—starting with the food you were choosing to put in your body for 30 days. The benefits you were experiencing in your lives couldn’t be measured in pounds or accurately reflected in a $20 hunk of plastic. By ditching the scale, we as a community are able to focus on the big picture: creating an empowering relationship with your food, your body, and your life.
Thousands of Whole30 testimonials combined with evidence that suggests weight and BMI are poor measurements of health leads us to believe that our no-scale rule is yet another way for the Whole30 to foster self-love*.
How NSVs Foster Self Love
NSVs take the focus off of the scale and bodyweight and encourage you to draw your attention inward. How is your digestion? What’s your current energy level? How is your sleep? Is your mood, focus, or productivity improving? Are you noticing a change in pain or fatigue?
Looking internally and listening to your body affords you the opportunity to foster greater self-love and self-compassion. You realize the scale does not measure your worth. You begin to discover your own sense of self, and which NSVs are the most valuable to you.
Ultimately, the Whole30 isn’t about losing weight, it’s about regaining (or creating) a loving relationship with your body.
Thoughts on the No-Scale Rule From Our Community
“Smaller isn’t always better, but better sleep is always better, better mood is always better, better energy is always better. Smaller is just….smaller. We get enough flack (as women and bigger-bodied people) for taking up too much space anyway. It’s almost a rebellion to not be pigeonholed into the amount of space you take up being THE measure of success.” – Shannon C.
“I like to call it the ‘WHOLE30 glow.’ You can’t always see it BUT you always feel it! And that feeling is the BEST IN THE WORLD.” -Gabby
“Losing weight was never my primary Whole30 goal. My goal is to break free of diet culture and all that goes along with it. Whole30 is helping me do that.” – Camille
“I would never have believed I could feel so good, so strong, so powerful, and so beautiful after my Whole30 experience, but I do! Food freedom is real and it feels so good!” – Amy F.
“I started my first Whole30 at the beginning of 2020 because I wanted to be happier and healthier. It totally changed my life and relationship with food, and it has nothing to do with the way I looked. I felt so much better and was way happier! Whole30 will forever hold a special place in my heart. ” – Brittany M.
We love hearing about the ways that stepping off the scale and stepping into the Whole30 has benefited your life. Thank you for sharing and allowing us to celebrate with you!
What are your favorite NSVs? What have you discovered about your body during your Whole30that brought you into a more loving relationship with yourself? How do you celebrate your NSVs? Tell us your story by emailing [email protected].
*Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265215
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a35047103/bmi-racist-history/
