January 06, 2009

The English Major's Diet (plus a scale giveaway)


Wait a minute, you say. That's a picture of the Mary Lou's Weigh scale up there. What's that got to do with the English Major's Diet, whatever that is? And did you mention a giveaway?

I'm so glad you asked.

(Really, I am. Makes it much easier to segue into the post.)

What is Mary Lou's Weigh?


Mary Lou Retton was a gymnast who won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. She has a reputation for being extremely focused, highly determined, and hella perky. So it makes sense that when she branched out into the weight-loss field, she would specialize in products that helped people stay focused, keep motivated, and feel perky.

Despite the perky part, the scale is kinda neat. That's the short version of the review. I'll get to the longer version in a moment. First, I know you're curious about the giveaway details.


Well, what are the scale giveaway details?

To win the scale...

leave a comment by Midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, January 12, letting us know why you think this would be a good scale for you to have. (We want it to go to a good home.)

Please be a USian, or at least have a U.S. mailing address where the scale can be sent.

So why would I want this scale? What is the English Major's Diet, anyway?

I like this scale. I think it's neat.

And I'm not saying that because they sent me one to review, either. I already have a scale, a very sturdy and accurate doctor's scale. It's a great scale; I don't have a problem with it. The problem is my reaction to it.

What's different about Mary Lou's scale is that it does not tell you how much you weigh. Ever. What it does is calculate how much you've gained or lost in relation to what you weighed when you first stepped on the scale.

The Mary Lou's Weigh scale is designed to help you lose 10 pounds at a time. That's a major plus, in my opinion. One problem with my current scale is that I can see the long line of numbers on the balance part of the scale, showing the looooong distance between where I am and where I want to be. Showing how much I have to lose, and how much of a loser I am if I don't make it. That's a helluva thing to look at first thing in the morning.

That's why I call this the English Major's diet: it takes the numbers out of weight loss or maintenance.

If you never weigh yourself, you have to rely on less precise methods. I like the Skinny Jeans method, but that only measures the weight around your waist/hips/butt. (Unless you really like wearing low jeans... I mean, are those jeans or leg warmers?)

Anyway, who wants to try on their skinny jeans every morning to see whether they've gained or maintained (or even lost)?

I think this scale is cool because it keeps me from falling into the old numbers trap. Am I on track? Cool. If not, I'll deal with it. But no calculations, please. They make me focus too much.

English Majors do it by the book. We don't need no stinkin' numbers.

If I weigh myself weekly, the results can vary by as much as six pounds. If I weigh myself daily and average it out, I can get a good idea of how I'm doing, but I end up depressed. The process runs something like this:

Step 1. Weigh self on the scale.

Step 2. Note that I've either a) lost weight or b) gained/maintained.
-- If a. I lose an infinitesimally small amount of weight, become elated, and immediately expect to lose 20 pounds by the end of the month.
-- If b. I gain an equally fractional amount of weight, become discouraged, and mentally flagellate myself for being such a horrible loser.

I will never make it a goal to lose 2 pounds a week!

I finally have learned not to make a goal, New Year's or otherwise, that goes along these lines: I will lose 2 pounds this week. Unless I'm planning to do a Shylock on myself and cut out the fat with a knife, there's no way I can ensure I will lose two pounds this week. (That calories in = calories out stuff works long term if it works at all.)

What I can do is make a goal to eat X amount of calories per day, or walk 5 miles a day, or something along those lines. This scale helps me focus on what I can do, not what I can't.

As luck would have it, Liz the Kind from Healthbolt notified me that I won a pedometer from the Healthbolt Month of Giveaways. So what I'm doing is tracking what I can control, i.e. the number of steps that I take, and not tracking what I can't, i.e. my weight. (Or rather, I'm letting the pedometer track my steps. It's not an English Major; it doesn't mind.)

I've learned from past experience that when I pay too much attention to the numbers on the scale -- the numbers I can't directly control -- I will end up obsessively focusing on them, which is a recipe for frustration, futility, and the F word.

Did you just use the F word?


Yes, the F word: fat.

How does obsessing over your weight make you fat?


If I try to track something I can affect only indirectly, I end up giving up in disgust and moving on to something easy to control, like developing my couch potato skills to a high level of perfection.

My weight shifts up and down like a seasick stock market. Progress, if any, is very gradual. After a few days of using this scale I found I'd lost count, in the back of my mind, as to what exactly my actual weight was. All I knew was whether I was on track or not for that day. And that's exactly what I needed. I was able to tune out the useless worrying about the future or the past and focus on the present day and what I needed to do.

Are there any drawbacks to Mary Lou's scale?


The scale has a cartridge inside it, with pre-programmed messages from Mary Lou Retton. In addition to telling you whether you've gained, lost, or maintained, Mary Lou adds cheerful, perky messages to encourage your progress. I'm sorry, but I don't respond well to perky. I have no doubt that Mary Lou Retton is a wonderful person, but she's pretty damn chipper. Not sure I can take that first thing in the morning.

On the other hand, I'm probably impossible to please in this regard. I mean, a scale that sniggered would be even worse. And I have no doubt that some people will find these messages helpful.

And I think that Mary Lou is aware that this style is not to everyone's taste. The FAQ list mentions that it's okay to swear at the scale, but "the platform is not bulletproof. It will no longer work if you shoot it."

Another drawback might be that the maximum weight capacity for the scale is 330 pounds.

And there's more!


If you leave a comment saying why this review is so much better than Charlotte's or Pasta Queen's review, I'll know you're lying but say thank you anyway let you in on a secret. If you don't win the scale, the kind people at Mary Lou's Weigh have thrown in a promotional deal: if you order the scale from their web site and use the coupon code Crabby50, they'll take 50% off the cost of the scale. Now that's the kind of number I like!

Are there any other English Majors out there? Or number-counters who might want to try a different way to weight loss/maintenance?

This contest is now closed. Sorry.

81 comments:

  1. Ooooohh I'd love this. I have kinda accidentally invented the home-made version of this recently by switching my digital scales from stones and lbs to lbs only. I'm not used to measuring myself using lbs only so it doesn't have the same mental effect as stones and lbs used to. It's great. Mary Lou's way is even better though!!! Although not sure how well I would do with perky either. :)

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  2. I majored in English! LOL!

    The scale would be perfect for me because I do have a tendency to obsess about the weight on my scale. *sigh*

    And I never weigh in front of my dh because I have this odd fear of letting him know what I actually way, as if it would make a difference in how he feels about me. But the Mary Lou one doesn't say an actual weight!

    Also, I try very hard to focus on short-term weight loss goals (like 10 pounds a week) rather than overwhelm myself with the much larger amount I have to attain to get to goal.

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  3. your review is better because, ummmmm, it includes that really funny picture of the leg warmer jeans, i always love a good visual!

    This sounds like a pretty good idea. At first i wasn't a numbers person, just a naive person that wasn't about goals or anything. Then i had to weigh myself to see where i was for some hosiery sizing chart and now i'm obsessed. I'm slowly starting to ween myself off of the practice, this would actually do the trick!

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  4. This would be a great thing to have! It would be nice to find a blance between obsessive checking and avoidance. I will have to try my hardest not to buy it before the end of the contest! Or just let you know that I already have it if I win and haven't been able to resist the temptation.

    I'm with SP - the pic made it so much more :)

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  5. I would probably throw the scale from a moving vehicle if it got all perky with me. Doesnt work anymore if you shoot it either huh? Well its not really safe around me....not a good home here. No thanks!

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  6. Lo and behold! I hold a bachelor's degree in, yes, ENGLISH!!! Hear me roar comparisons and contrasts and examine metaphors at length!

    I actually rather like perky and positive Mary Lou, but that may be 'cause I used to go to church with a gaggle of Perky Girls, and this for years, until I sloughed off perkiness-aversion. :) I am a melancholic by nature. Perkiness is a morning person to my nite owl. But I've adapted to their native, high-pitched calls of "Hey, hiya, how ya doing? Isn't it a beautiful day?"

    So, the scale: Yes, this, er, perks me up. I read Jennette's review, but didn't post there. But as an Englishy sort, I cannot resist now.

    Why would it help? I spend most of my day alone. Maybe Mary Lou can be my lil dieting partner at home.

    The Princess

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  7. On the one hand, I don't know how well I'd deal with perky, because for some reason I associate perky as someone who doesn't know how to break bad news. On the other hand, the weighing every day thing does appeal to me, instead of thinking of that hypothetical place of next Monday where I find out how I did. It kind of takes the stress of a deadline out of it.

    And sometimes perky can be okay, especially if you are by yourself and you don't have to hold yourself to anyone's appropriate standards of melancholy because you gained a pound. It can make me feel better, even if I don't admit it.

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  8. ENGLISH MAJOR UP IN HERRE TOO

    though from my posts no one would ever suspect :)

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  9. Wow! No wonder all of your comments are so well written. All of your commenters are English majors.

    I need this scale becasue I am attempting to be healthier in 2009 (see comment on yesterday's post) and this would certainly help.

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  10. Yours is the best review ever!!! (that sentence not written by an English Major)

    This scale is perfect for me because as a former anorexic, I still obsess over the number on the scale so much that years ago I had to get rid of my scale.

    I now weigh myself occasionally using my Wii Fit, which tells me that I'm obese even when I've lost weight. How fun is that, to go from thinking "woohoo, I've lost a couple of pounds" followed by hearing "that's obese" - thanks, Wii Fit, thanks a lot.

    I think Mary Lou came up with a winner with this platform - and I would love to own one. Pick me!!!

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  11. I'd love this. Not because I'm number obsessed, but because my old scale is about 20 years old and really cruddy looking.

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  12. I majored in journalism, which loves words just as much as English haha!

    I think this scale sounds really cool because it makes you focus on something other than the numbers and even for us number-crunchers out there, sometimes it's good to get away from them and get a fresh perspective.

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  13. I read Charlotte's post on this too and I just don't know...I think my analytical Computer Programmer brain is too attached to numbers...It is a neat idea though.

    (Non-US commenter)

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  14. Mary Lou was a fabulous athlete! Like many of us, life brings challenges our way. These can be quite revealing. I'm glad she is doing well!

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  15. Scale sounds great. And I'm so happy that I have finally found people that obsess over weight (i.e. numbers) like I do, it's nice to know that I'm not alone in that internal battle.

    Thanks for the inspiration, as always!

    -BEE

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  16. Economics here not English major. I think some think that English is my second language. They just haven't figured out my first yet.

    I think I would use this scale as part of a drinking game and the one that got the perkiest saying from Mary Lou would have to take a belt. I'm sure we would be passed out in an hour.

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  17. I think this scale would be great for me because I feel the need to weigh myself everyday but I think knowing if I was on track or not would be all I really needed to know. I would love to win this, thanks for the great giveaway.

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  18. See my problem is that right now, I want to GAIN muscle. Meaning that such a scale would be constantly disappointed in me. And being upset because a scale is disappointed won't help my sanity.

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  19. LOL! I thought your review was perfect! "English major's diet"!!! You crack me up. Don't enter me in the contest but I did want to say how much I love this scale and the idea behind it. YOu are so right about number fixation being bad in so many ways!

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  20. English minor here, does that still count?

    I'd really like to hug you for saying that the calorie in/calorie out thing isn't the best. I tried out a personal trainer who believes in that, and I just couldn't manage to sign on to that belief. I totally think I'm better off with the idea of only focusing on what I've done today, not what I did yesterday or what I'm going to have to do next week.

    Now if only you could come to my house and convince my husband of this, who weighs himself at least twice a day...

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  21. My Dad is an engligh teacher...how does that fit in? :)
    I couldn't handle a perky scale...I'd probably be taking out the old screwdriver, humming mission impossible and dismantling the voice part of it, but I like the idea of a scale that just tells you where you're at.
    I don't need to stare at my weight every day...but knowing I'm up or down would be a much better way mentally to keep on top of my weight.
    I'm not a USer so this is all moot...but it sounds like a cool product. Thanks for the review :)

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  22. I spelled english wrong.
    Feel free to mock me now...:)

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  23. Love the English Major parade!

    I always knew our commenters were especially articulate and now I know why.

    (Alas, psych major here).

    I use the "how tight are my jeans" method myself, but if I were a scale person, this would be pretty cool.

    I love that the FAQ has a sense of humor about the scale's excessive perkiness. Perhaps, for those who don't like Perky model, we could collaborate with a Cranky Fitness model that says things like "Yeah, it sucks that it's monday, but at least you lost a pound," Or, "Oh crap, you're not gonna wanna hear this..." or "today's your day for the gym, toots, like it or not!"

    Err, maybe not.

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  24. The Ornish Diet is practically a very low calorie diet with only 10 or 20% of the calorie intake coming from fats. I read at Project Weight Loss why this diet is the solution to live a healthy life and lose weight. You can have whole grain cereal with a fat-free yoghurt and an orange juice for breakfast, and for lunch baked potatoes with fat-free cheese and spinach, a potato salad with fat-free dressing, broccoli, a green salad, and a fresh fruit.

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  25. I have this scale and I LOVE IT. I actually like the applause and the perkiness, because I need to know that someone is cheering for me, even if it is a mechanical box that sits on my floor.

    I've had mine since the Monday after Thanksgiving and it has been so helpful in keeping me on track through the holidays. Even when my weight was up, I didn't panic, I just had to tweak my diet to get it back down again.

    This scale was totally made for people like myself who hate numbers (math gives me a headache). I'm not an English major, but I did major in French, so I guess that counts!

    Obviously, you can take me out of the running for this, but I just wanted to give my two cents here!
    (you can also read my review of the scale if you want - sorry I just pimped my blog a little bit).

    =)

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  26. OK. I have a question about this scale.

    I've gained weight recently, but I've lost inches. Which, to me, means the weight gain is about muscle not fat. (I've been at my goal weight for about a year now).

    How does the Mary Lou scale accommodate such things? It doesn't sound like it can. Though I love the idea of an English Major Diet (having been an English major and all)...

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  27. I'd love this scale. I don't use a scale as I don't like to play the numbers game. But like you said, I don't want to try on my skinny jeans every morning either. Thanks!

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  28. [Er, Crabby? Jeans stretch out as you wear them, so maybe not the most reliable method....]

    Another English major checking in. This scale would SO not work for me! Here's how I weigh myself on my new house's floors, which are not as uneven as the old house, but people who pour concrete floors for a living assume that you want them to drain: I pull the scale out from under the closet shelf and stand on it, and remember the reading. Then I move it to three other spots and do the same. Then I average the results. This is usually within a pound of what the scale at the doctor's says.

    I think I could use this scale as a gaming device, moving it around on the floor until I got it to say something perky!

    Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  29. This would be a good scale for me because for years - until I got pregnant - I had no idea how much I weighed and I really don't care.

    I'm what you might call sturdy and even at my skinniest the number on the scale is not one you'd shout from rooftops.

    Losing 15 pounds would slim me down enough so all the pants in my closet would fit and that would be good enough for me.

    And I was an advertising major, which is perhaps equally as math adverse as an English major, we're just more practical. =)

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  30. I would love to have this scale so that I could stop focusing on the very depressing number I see and just focus on the change from whatever my starting point may be.
    I would also like to not have to worry about my husband walking in and "spying" on my number.

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  31. Count me out.... scales are great for fish, just not humans!

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  32. What an interesting concept...and it is kinda of cool and creepy that the scale talks to you. I only weigh myself about once a week though, because of all of the reasons you mentioned above, so I could probably take the perky. :)

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  33. " Perhaps, for those who don't like Perky model, we could collaborate with a Cranky Fitness model that says things like "Yeah, it sucks that it's monday, but at least you lost a pound," Or, "Oh crap, you're not gonna wanna hear this..." or "today's your day for the gym, toots, like it or not!" "

    Crabby, I'd buy one of the cranky ones! The baby's smiles and coos in the morning are as perky as I can deal with.

    (and i have a good scale that i like, so don't bother entering me in this one :) )

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  34. I was an English and Psychology double-major. Twice the BS, double the fun!!

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  35. I'm having a major case of scaleitis, and can't really face mine right now. This would be the PERFECT solution for me!

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  36. Fabulous review. I'd love this scale as hearing the reminders "eat protien!", etc would probably be helpful for me.

    I do wish you could hack it like pastaqueen said and make it say what you wanted it to!

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  37. I speak English! And have been known to put on airs. Or is that aires?

    I'm not sure I could tolerate Mary Lou's perky messages but then I could always use a secret friend packed into a tiny scale - that seems cool. Maybe I could weigh myself after a few shots of tequila.

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  38. This scale seems like a very interesting concept and I am always willing to try new things. The scale I have been using has not been accurate lately, telling me my weight has fluctuated almost 10 pounds in one day! I highly doubt I ate that much!
    This scale is definitely a new way to weigh yourself and give motivation to anyone who uses it, which would help me greatly this year.

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  39. Tricia, I'm with you--I'm trying to gain muscle, so I don't know how a disappointed scale would work for me. I wonder if you could reprogram her to congratulate you for gaining?

    Shout out to the psych majors!

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  40. This sounds like it would be a great tool - measuring progress while eliminating the emotional effects associated with the actual numbers.

    (PS I started out an English major but ended up with a degree in Geology... dunno what that makes me! LOL)

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  41. At first glance, I was all *Ooo! I wants* Because I love the concept of not knowing the weight, but seeing the change. That is a brilliant idea.

    But perky Mary Lou giving me messages. Ugh. If I didn't throw the thing against the wall, my husband would. : )

    Maybe they should put out a beta version that includes an "off" switch for the messages...

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  42. Like so many others who've already commented, I definitely could use something (ANYTHING) that would help me to stop obsessing about the numbers but keep them heading in the right direction (down) just the same.

    Yet again, I ask the random number gods to look kindly upon me. (Pick me! Ooo! Pick me!)

    Great giveaway!

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  43. That was a fantastic review - and since my BA is in English, it was the best review I've read so far! :)

    The perky may be irritating, but it might be nicer than the smug numbers on my scale.

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  44. Okay, I HAVE one of these, and I LOVE it (I'm 9 down! One away from 10!) Breaking weight loss down into 10lb segments makes the whole thing seem much more manageable, and you focus on the part that is actually important (where are you vis a vis a goal) instead of the NUMBER, and getting all upset over how far you have to go.

    But I'd love to win it for my Mom, because I think she'd really like it.

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  45. Emily? I forgot to mention: there are two settings on the scale, so it can track your weight and one other person's weight at the same time. So maybe you could share a scale with your mother?

    Why thank you, Gazelle! :)

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  46. Well, I don't have a degree in English, but I did stay at a Holiday In Express last night... and I do hold close the theory that says "Why use 5 words when 500 will do?"

    I NEED this scale! I always secretly hold my breath on the scale when I weigh each morning, hoping to goodness' sake that little (or not-so-little, as the case may be!) number did not go up. To view the larger picture, by having Mary Lou cheer me on even if I did gain half a pound by reminding me that I'm still below my startting weight, would be ideal. And what a novel concept! Plus, it puts shorter term, smaller goals into perspective for me: I work with 5 pounds at a time.

    P.S. And don't worry, moonduster-- I tend to obsess about my weight on the scale, too: that measly little digital number it can literally make or break my day. And I don't weigh in front of my husband, either.

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  47. Cool scale, please enter me! I'd like to win it cause my old scale never says anything nice to me at all, certainly not encouraging gymnastic cheers! Also, I have a lavender motif going on and that lavender button would really match nicely. Thanks!

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  48. woo hoo! now THAT is a review! i have been dying to try one of these scales - I saw Mary Lou talk about it on TV and it was so cool.

    But, I would like to give the Free one to my mother, who is a writer and NOT a numbers person. She has not had a scale for over 30 years- the worst scale-phobia ever and she wants one now to help her lose about 60 lbs. I think it would be perfect for her!

    Give me the free one and it will be the best mother's day gift ever -- not only because she wants it, but because it would give us more years together.

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  49. Another degree in English here. I would love a scale like this because I would not feel so overwhelmed about the numbers, and it would let me just focus on what I need to do in the moment.

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  50. I loved your review the most. I enjoy your blog.

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  51. I love the idea of this scale. And I love the review! Hooray for funny pictures! (What can I say? I'm easily entertained, LOL.)

    Don't enter me, though. As much as I love the idea, I know that I wouldn't bring myself to throw out my number-scale, so I'd end up with two. And I'd get on them both every day. (Heh. I don't even want to THINK about explaining to people why I have two scales in the bathroom! "Well, this one tells me what I weigh, and that one claps for me!" WEIRD.)

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  52. Ug, me Engineering major. Me no speaky good.

    But me likely the concept of Mary Lou's scale. I agree with Martse though, I love to beat myself up with the ol' fashioned scale. I would end up weighing myself three or four times on each, averaging the numbers and making a spreadsheet with a trendline to determine my statistically probable weight everymorning.

    And I don't have that kind of time.

    So, not a good home with me. But good post. From this heathen, non-English major point of view. If that counts for anything.

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  53. English major? Nope! Worse!

    Theatre Major! The Theatre Major diet tends to run along these lines:

    Acting: the process of pretending that you are actually happy "JUST THE WAY YOU ARE" even though you keep forgetting the lines and falling out of character into dissatisfaction and the reality of bad health.

    Script: It changes from role to role. South Beach, Belly Fat, etc. They should reward a Pulitzer for the lowcarb-nocarb-goodfat-badfat-eatthis-eatthat drama that can be found in these pages.

    Blocking: process of physicalizing the script as directed. Usually involves unfortunate lapses of balance and grace.

    When in doubt, the theatre major can always revert back to the old standard: Melodrama. Cry, kick, scream--let the world KNOW exactly how cruel it is!

    Eek. I think maybe Mary Lou has a better approach in mind. I can use all the help I can get.

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  54. In the review, you said "What's different about Mary Lou's scale is that it does not tell you how much you weigh. Ever. What it does is calculate how much you've gained or lost in relation to what you weighed when you first stepped on the scale." What a concept! We all get so hung up on the exact number, it does not put our actual success (and perhaps small slips) in proper perspective. I've stopped weighing myself on a weekly basis because of that, but I worry nonetheless. This scale measures effort, and, afte all, isn't that what we're aiming for?

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  55. Another English major in the house!!! Although I got it at a very technical university, does that still count? ;-)

    I think this scale would be good for me, because I (1) already tend to focus on 10-pound increments and (2) find myself obsessively-and-nearsightedly squinting at my scale's itty-bitty lines. "Hmmm...well, that looks *close* to the 5 line...should I count it **4 or **5, though?"

    What I do wonder, though, is how well this would work for a maintainer?

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  56. English majors unite!

    I want this scale SO badly. I ought to move to the US:)

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  57. OF COOOURSE yours is better! Yours has PERSONALITY!! Yours has pinache! BAM!!

    (Did i suck up enough?!?)

    I think its a pehnominal product and it will really change the way a lot of people lose weight. Plus, part of it is my favorite color (purple) so it would look splendid in my house!!

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  58. I would love this scale! The the chatty messages will bewilder the kitties! So I MUST have it! :-)

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  59. This scale would be PERFECT for me! Not only am I an English major (it's a lifelong condition, I'm convinced), but I currently don't have a scale in my house for the very reason that make non-Mary Lou scales so threatening-- I don't want my weight to be this looming number that haunts me like a continually-low checking account balance (another side effect of being an English major). I would love this scale, perkiness and all (there would likely be some swearing), because, ultimately, I want to track my weight in something other than numbers and "goal" jeans.

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  60. This would be a great scale for me because I am not suposed to focus as strongly on the numbers as I do. I find it hard not to step on a scale and this would meet that need without filling my negative voices with fuel.

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  61. Interesting concept! After a year of monthly weigh-ins and reporting the number to a MILLION readers, I'm now firmly in the no-scale camp. Yet I'm oddly intrigued by the concept of tracking progress in a numberless way.

    I was a magazine major -- does that count?

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  62. I would love a scale that may not make me cry every time I get on it! Right now I have a vague analogue-like scale that kind of shows a range of weights that I may be. It isn't helping me in the least.

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  63. I don't think I can handle a scale that talks back to me. Just seems artificial and forced. If I want some encouragement, I'll go buy a Teddy Ruxpin. (Do they still make those?) But I do like that it just shows your change in weight...for those of us who can't do math in our heads!

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  64. I would love to win this scale! I did not make a resolution this year to "lose weight" but instead to "get fit/healthy" and this scale would be perfect for that! I have a standard number dial scale, but weighing myself usually leads to obsessing over the numbers which is never fun.

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  65. I am not an English major...I edit romance novels, though. (I know, doesn't count...I just like to brag. :-))

    I would like to win this scale because my current scale is a heartless piece of junk. I need a little Mary Lou to brighten up my bathroom.

    My scale likes to flash "Err" at me the first three times I step on it, weigh me 15 pounds under my real weight on the fourth try, err out again on the fifth, and then tell me I'm actually 7 pounds heavier than I thought I was...and then err out for the rest of the day until I get sick of trying...I just want to make sure I'm not going in to my weekly meeting blind.*Sigh*

    A simple "Plus 1" or "Minus 4" will do. :-)

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  66. I could definitely use this! I moved out to Colorado from the DC area in August and am surrounded by tons of fit people, which is both kind of motivating and hugely depressing at the same time. While I'm not obese, I am still overweight and really hate numbers on the scale. (With a BA in Anthropology and working towards my social work degree, I don't do numbers either.) So the smaller goal of 10 lbs and even the perkiness would be great motivators. :)

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  67. I really, really love the idea of this scale & am not quite sure why no one else has thought of this. I really want one of these to make the weigh-in a more personal & contextual thing, not something to be terrified of. I would be very happy to win it!

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  68. I was so impressed and inspired by your review that I went ahead and ordered my platform now! (Super deal by the way!!!!!) I'm hoping that I can win the giveaway and share it with my dear friend who suffers the almost daily rants from me about my weight ("what??? only 1/2 a pound? And for THAT I ate broccoli?). This platform is a great idea and is a huge step in moving us away from the numbers and toward better health instead.

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  69. Never before have the words "English Major" perked my, well, eyes up before. My half-degree is going to help me lose weight? SIGN ME UP!

    As far as MLR's perkiness? I think it'd be better than a scale that said "get off of me, tubby."

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  70. Would love to win this cool scale, thanks!

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  71. I don't own a scale and have been weighing myself at work! So this scale would be a nice addition to my home :D

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  72. Oooooohh!!! Pick Me, Pick Me! Just can't wait to listen to Perky Mary Lou first thing in the a.m.,and no that's not sarcasm....or is it? Can't make any guarantees that there won't be any sassy backtalk on my end, but what's the harm in being a little sassy if it helps keep me on track. You go Mary Lou!

    Oh, and P.S. Tom Rooney love the drinking game idea...sounds like too much fun!!

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  73. I feel like your talking face to face with me in your review! Excellent and personal!! The scale I have now can you say useless! I need a more modern scale! Cunt me in!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  74. I would love this. It would help me keep track of things without panicking anf going all psycho and/or panicking and giving up altogether and just eating an entire pot of pasta. It's the total number that freaks me out, not so much the little changes from day to day.

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  75. With regards to "number-counters who might want to try a different way to weight loss/maintenance", any chance Cranky Fitness could do an article about using a tape measure to track your weight loss? I've heard people talking about that forever but I'm always too lazy to break out the tape measure, and I'm not really sure of the best things to track/how fast my measurements should be changing. I don't think you've written about that before, but I've only been reading since December 2007, so maybe you covered it before that.

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  76. As an engineer -- yes engineer (gasp)
    my life revolves around numbers... How to add them, split them, round them... Oh! the things we do to them.

    Except, the only number I don't like, is the one on my scale.

    So I figured I'd give it a shot and pretend to like letters as much as i like numbers in order to try out the English Major Diet.
    Anything to be able to face my scale and not have to hide in horror at the sight of those 3 little (in size not numeric value) numbers.

    So please, spare me the nightmares, I NEED THIS SCALE!

    But here's a thought, can it be programed for multiple users? or at least 2?
    The hubby and I are together in the weight fight, and he'd benefit from this as much as me.

    :D

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  77. Laura, that's a good point. I'll see if Crabby feels inspired to write about this. Tracking with the measuring tape would also be useful for people who are trying to gain weight.

    Checho, yes. The scale can track the weight of two different people. Before you get on, you need to press the left or right side of the lavender button and the scale will know which person you are.
    Interestingly, if someone else tries to weigh themselves on it, the scale won't work right. So it won't get confused if your cat wanders across once in awhile.

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  78. I actually think this scale is a pretty fantastic idea for people such as myself who have a personal history of not only overweight at some points in our lives but also anorexia/bulimia at other points. For someone like me, knowing numbers is TOXIC, yet it remains vital for me to neither gain too much or drop too low.

    I can imagine this product being a life-saver--psychologically, but also potentially physically.

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  79. I'd love to have this scale because I need to learn to not focus on numbers, but still have a way to measure my progress. I want to be healthy not thin. I want to be energized not calculized. I want to know that when I move I loose.
    Thanks so much

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  80. I would love this scale!

    I am a) an English major.

    b) very good at obsessing over numbers and using them as a reason not to try hard.

    c) My current scale is terrible and old and will some times tell me two different weights in five minutes.

    d) I'm trying to get back on the diet horse yet again.

    Also, I'll be insanely grateful!

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  81. That's a great scale!!! Very interesting post.

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