If you're on a fitness journey, chances are you've stepped on a scale or two. Maybe you religiously weigh yourself every morning, or perhaps you do it once a month, but either way, you're relying on that number to track your progress.
But should you trust your weigh-ins? Are they a reliable indicator of your fitness level and overall health?
The answer is not as straightforward as you might think.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the pros and cons of relying on your weigh-ins and give you some tips on how to use them to your advantage.
Why Track Weight?
Tracking your weight is one of the simplest and most effective ways to monitor progress toward your weight loss or weight gain goals.
By weighing yourself regularly, you can quickly determine whether your current diet and exercise routine is working.
If you're trying to lose weight, consistent weigh-ins can help ensure you're shedding pounds at a healthy rate. Losing weight too quickly can be detrimental to your health.
On the flip side, if you're trying to gain weight, regular weigh-ins can help you determine if you're eating enough to support your goals.
In short, tracking your weight is a crucial tool for anyone trying to make lasting changes to their body composition.
How To Track Weight?
Because the number on the scale can have a high mental impact, especially for those trying to lose weight, it's important to weigh in properly to monitor your true weight. Here's a step-by-step process for an accurate weigh-in:
- Place the scale on a perfectly leveled floor. Weigh yourself at the same spot every time.
- Weigh yourself in the morning before breakfast, after going to the toilet, and without clothes.
- For the most accurate results, take a weigh-in every day of the week.
- At the end of the week, add up all the numbers from your weigh-ins.
- Divide by 7 to get your week's average.
This method considers daily fluctuations and provides a more accurate picture of your progress. Alternatively, you can weigh yourself once at the end of the week and make adjustments based on that single weigh-in.
What The Scale Doesn’t Show
While the scale can be a useful tool, it's important to remember that it's not the only way to measure progress. The scale doesn't show crucial factors for overall health, like:
- Body composition: The scale doesn't differentiate between fat, muscle, and water.
- Muscle mass, bone density, and hydration levels: These can fluctuate and impact your weight but aren’t visible on the scale.
- Mental health and well-being: Over-reliance on the number on the scale can lead to unhealthy obsessions with weight and body image.
In short, while the scale can give you an idea of progress, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Tracking factors like strength, endurance, how your clothes fit, how you feel, and even what the mirror shows can offer a more accurate assessment of your fitness journey.
How do YOU utilize the scale on your fitness journey? Comment below and let us know!
