The scale: One of man's most popular inventions…
But it could be your worst enemy when it comes to weight loss. Here's why:
Your scale tells you one thing and one thing only. It tells you how much you weigh. It doesn't tell you how much bodyfat you're carrying and it certainly doesn't tell you how much fat you burned during yesterday's weight training workout.
Stepping on a scale every morning is a surefire way to depression because your body composition constantly changes. If you aren't on a scheduled eating plan and eating sporadically during the day, your body composition WILL change. Remember, the scale will only tell you how much you weight, not how much fat you've lost.
In order to determine how much fat you've lost, I recommend getting an actual bodyfat test done by a fitness professional or if you can find it, get a body fat test done with underwater weighing.
Under water body fat testing is more effective because of one reason - fat floats. As you're underwater, your bodyfat will float as you sink allowing you to get a very accurate reading since your lean mass is what's being weighed.
Technology is catching up fast, however. Scales that can measure your bodyfat by sending an electric current through you body and doing a lot of calculations.
I won't deny, I've stepped on one immediately after getting my bodyfat measured and the scale was pretty darn close. Not 100% accurate - but rarely is anything.
I think I'll stick with my favorite method of measuring bodyfat - skinfold caliper measurements. Lightly pinch and "click".
If you're working with a personal trainer, make sure he's taking your bodyfat measurements at least every 3-4 weeks so you can check your progress. That way you'll have a good indication of whether you're losing fat and gaining muscle.
Scales might tell you if you're losing weight, but bodyfat is a different story all together. If you're not working with a trainer, make it a point to get your bodyfat measured.
Measuring your bodyfat is a surefire way to make sure you're staying on track, building muscle, and making sure you're losing the weight you want to lose (bodyfat, not muscle).
Online home fitness specialist and fitness author and author Lee Smith specializes in helping people get in shape in the comfort of their own homes. For more incredible tips and tactics like these and a free subscription to his "Successful Fitness Strategies" newsletter, visit http://www.howtoachieveyourfitnessgoals.com.
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