STOP..step away from the scale!
Okay one of my, and EVERY personal trainer’s, pet peeves is the friggin’ scale! Far too often we see clients basing how they feel about their body on the NUMBER on the scale.
Really! Really? It’s a NUMBER!
Step away from the scale!
Here’s a concept. How about basing how you feel about your body on how you FEEL. Your energy, stamina, strength, or even….visible changes. Are your clothes fitting better? Do you look better? Is everyone commenting on how great you look? Then WHY, please tell me, WHY does that number affect your image SO much?!
Just so I’m not only ranting here I actually have a reason for this dissertation. When you begin a new exercise program it is not uncommon for you to actually GAIN weight. Now breathe, your body will adapt by increasing the lean toned muscle mass in your body, and guess what…muscle weighs more than fat! So while you can be losing inches and getting fitter your scale may not budge at all and even in some cases the number may go up!
It’s a common scenario to see someone who looks fantastic after a month of working out, has lost 10 plus inches, but beats herself up because the number on the scale has not gone down. What’s up with that!? NOT COOL
Are you going to let a number dictate how you feel about your progress? I say “Step away from the scale” and start listening to your body, and how your fitness affects your moods, energy and overall health.
Numbers have no power over you!
Always living with passion,
Sammie
Comments
So true! Thanks, maybe I will “step” away!
I totally agree with this!! I actually never weigh myself because I dont want success measured by a number. Although ppl look at me funny when they ask “how much weight have you lost” and I say I dont know, cuz I really dont!! I measure my successful by my energy level and if Im able to do different exercises that once where very difficult ie/ a full sit up or squats; That to me is great gain
Ive actually started taking my measurements and use that as a way to gage what I’ve lost.
Its easier said then done. However I love the boost of confidence. I appreciate this because my doc thinks I weigh too much.
To your physician’s credit I am not saying that at scale cannot give you valuable information about your health. However I think that a heavy or sole reliance on that number for feedback is dangerous and damaging psychologically. I much prefer body fat measurements at spaced intervals in combination with feedback from the scale (ie monthly) in order to judge changes. The scale alone, and abused frequently such as daily, can just be discouraging. Mass can change too easily (for instance I am 15lbs heavier now in a lean state due to muscular density and I am far more healthy. Focus on living a healthy and balanced life based greatly on frequent activity and whole foods and everything else will fall into place
Thanks, Sammie. I needed that!
Thanks sammie for your comment. I agree with u 100%. And since being with boot camp i have noticed improvements:)
so true! i don’t think i’ll ever get to my lowest weight from the high school years but i don’t want to now! In the past it was through dieting (not eating a lot, only cardio workouts – not a great approach). This time around with exercising and making healthier eating a lifestyle, I look smaller than before but likely won’t ever weigh what i weighed in the past at my lowest point. To me this means it will last longer too – muscle burns fat! To those looking at the scale without movemement – don’t give up. My husband kept saying – ‘keep working at it – you’ll see a difference’ – at the times when i felt discouraged by the scale not moving and I sure am glad I did keep working at it!
This is the exact reason why I don’t even own a scale
I don’t care how much I weigh, I care more about how I feel.
I agree completely! Funny how we can be so attached to the number on the scale.. I know I am! (That’s why I had my bro hide it – and honestly – it feels good not to know the number and to workout just to feel good!) Also – I think clothes are a better measure… If you look fabulous in jeans or a dress, mission accomplished.
Cheers to a Beyonce body!
OMG! I wish I could – I get on everyday & it’s so frustrating! I am completley dependant on the number on the scale. Even though I know in my head I feel & look good.
*BAH*
thank you, sammie! this is SO timely.
i’ve been following your blog as i work on my own fitness goals, which over the past few months has transitioned from endurance sports (primarily marathon running) to body building. i know that my body fat has dropped, i’m wearing smaller clothes, and people are commenting on how muscular i’m looking . . . but the number on the scale has, of course, gone up and i can’t help but freak out over it!! my BMI puts me in the overweight range and though i know that BMI = BFS (that’s bull-f*cking*sh*t) when you’re muscular, it still puts me in a bit of an unwell state, mentally. as someone who is in recovery for an eating disorder, i’m still negatively affected by these numbers.
*deep breath*
sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that the scale is just an inanimate object, not the arbiter of out fitness, well-being and self-worth! but, as others have mentioned, it’s definitely easier said than done.
I was feeling a little bit down because I’ve been going to bootycamp for a few months now and have probably only lost 6lbs but then last night at my class I was able to run for a full 5 minutes without stopping (something I never would have even attempted before!) and also I noticed that I could do so many more pushups without stopping! So thanks for your support – I will back away from the scale and keep watching my progress grow in other ways!!
I totally agree with you Sammie! At one time I was jumping on my Wii Fit constantly and was losing weight more by completely limiting what I was eating and going against everything that I now do (exercise, eat 3 meals and 2 snacks) and I felt awful.
I actually didn’t lose much weight at all with Booty Camp but lost a TON of inches. I tend to be of the body type that increases muscle mass easily so although I am more toned, I actually weigh far more than my BMI says I should…in fact that should be your next rant…the BMI sucks because it causes you to keep close track of your weight!!!
I agree and I disagree. I agree because for me it makes me feel down if I have gained weight and I feel sad. On the other hand many people do not know what their weight is and they continue to gain and gain and gain and then they wake up 100lbs overweight. It is healthy to own a scale but not to obsess over the numbers fluctuating. As long as you can honestly say you are leading a healthy lifestyle it is ok to go by how you feel.