Has this ever happened to you?

You start a diet and exercise program, follow it diligently for more than a week and you’re “sure” you’re already feeling results so you decide it’s time to step on the dreaded scale.

That’s when reality hits: Weight loss? Zero pounds.

You rub your eyes. You step off. You give the scale a second chance before flinging it off the lanai.

You step on again and this time, it says … same as two weeks ago?

What the … ?

Now, I don’t expect to move mountains in just 10 days, but a baby step or two would have been nice.

Zero pounds?

You mean to tell me that eating oatmeal, brown rice and salads offers the same weight results as a bacon double cheeseburger and fries? And don’t tell me of portions or eating small meals is the key, I’m trying all of that, too.

Reality bites and I feel like I just got punked.

My first reaction was to look up Pizza Hut’s  phone number, but fortunately my cell phone was in hiding and not within reach.

A calmer, gentler me minutes later rationalized the biggest mistake of the day was stepping on the scale so soon after starting the diet.

I have to believe that if you’re feeling better from dieting and working out, it will work out in the long run.

Right?

But I’m curious as to how many people this happens to and how you deal with it.

Let me hear some success and failure stories.

How do you cope?