Step Away From The Scale!
My last couple clients have come to me telling me that they are stepping on the scale daily. Oh how I cringe when I hear this. I then try to explain to they WHY not to do this and they still do not care or even want to listen. I go so far as to tell them that they are not allowed to step on the scale for at least one week (baby steps, right), to which they argue but agree. Phew…
So, I thought I would conduct my own little experiment to show then just how much your weight can fluncutate from day to day depending water retention to glycogen storage and changes in your lean body mass. Salt and water are to big causes to weight flunctuations. Not to mention that as women, we retain a lot of water around that time of the month. So what I did was weigh myself each morning and night for one week to show you just how much your weight can change.
Day: AM: PM:
Monday 130.0 130.4
Tuesday 128.6 131.6
Wednesday 130.6 130.6
Thursday 129.2 132.0
Friday 130.8 131.8
Saturday FORGOT 132.6
Sunday 131.2 131.6
Now when I look back at these numbers, I can tell you when I worked out later in the day, or when I ate more starchy carbs later in the day or when I drank more water. It never once concerned me, even though on one day I gained 4 pounds.
Use a tape measure and how your clothes fit as a gauge. When I measure clients, take the folllowing measurements: chest, smallest part of waist, belly button, hips (roundest part of butt), thigh, calf, bicep and neck. With all those measurements, you are for sure going to see some inches lost and its a much better way to see just how well you are doing with your fitness routine and nutrition. Another great tool is your body fat percentage. You can probably ask at your gym if you could get your body fat tested. There is also way to do it with measurements, which is not as accurate, but will serve as a guide. You can find that HERE.
So stay away from the scale, at least on a daily basis. Try to keep it once a week and make sure you do it at the same time every time you weigh yourself to be as accurate as possible
Angie Schumacher is a Certified Fitness Professional who trains clients in her home and is a Women's Boot Camp Instructor in Colorado. She is the author of The Fat Blasting Boot Camp Program and has offered a one stop website to help you with all of your health and fitness needs. Please visit www.BuildingABetterU.com to find exactly what you are looking for!
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I’m so tired of reading this advice over and over. Why do people think that it’s a “one size fits all” option.
For some of us, like me, weighing daily is a GOOD THING. It helps me gauge what’s going on with my body. It helps keep me on track. Obviously if you’re the type of person who obsesses about it, then don’t. But for some of us weighing daily is a helpful and positive part of our routine. It’s how I lost 80+ pounds and have kept them off for over a year.
I weigh every morning at the same time, wearing undies only. It gives me a guideline of where I am and what my body is doing.
You fitness bloggers (and this is the third post today I’ve read on how it’s evil to weigh daily) need to quit assuming that your one method is the RIGHT method for everyone.