Don’t trust the scales
The mysterious dusty creature that lives in your bathroom has the ability to ruin your day in a matter of seconds. Stepping on this magical beast can give a sense of achievement or disappointment. Yes I’m talking about the dreaded scales.
The scales should not be taken at face value and the number should be taken with a pinch of salt. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t trust the number you are seeing.
Water
The human body is made up of roughly 60% of water, so it’s no surprise this can have a big factor on our weight. The reason behind this is due to how carbohydrates are stored within the body. They are stored within the muscle (and a little in the liver) as cells called glycogen. For each gram of glycogen the body needs to hold onto 3 grams of water. Don’t see this as a negative but as a necessary bodily function. Just be aware that if you have eaten a big carby meal, the next day you may be a little heavier.
Muscle gain
Whilst being in a calorie deficit you are not setting your body up for gaining muscle optimally, it is still possible. The chances are you are not going to put on 10kg of muscle during a fat loss phase (so no excuses there), but a small increase is possible. This is especially true for those that are new to the gym.
Fat loss is not linear
The body is a complex machine and rarely behaves in predictable straight line fashion, and fat loss is no different. Don’t expect to be losing the standard 1-2 lbs of body fat every week, this may fluctuate and change over time. Don’t be down heartened when it doesn’t happen as expected, this is normal.
Digestive system
The process of digesting food doesn’t happen instantly. It doesn’t go eat, poop, done! The time it takes to digest food makes a big difference of your weight. So if you had a big meal late in the evening, expect the number to be slightly higher in the morning.
I still weigh myself but I know that the number given to me by the scales is not always a true representation of my efforts. I recommend weighing yourself a few times a week and taking a weekly average. If you can see the scales move in the direction you want over a 2-3 week period then great, but don’t be quick to change things based on one measurement.
The number on the scales is only one number and should be taken alongside photos and other measurements. Work with a personal trainer to help you manage this process (what are the chances you are on my page already, just request a free consultation below).
Don’t let it ruin or make your day, it’s just a number. Don’t trust the scales.
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The brains, brawn and beauty of Dackattack (basically it’s just me). A personal trainer with a private gym in Norwich, dedicated to giving out simple, actionable advice that will give you outstanding results.
