Should You Trust Your Weigh-Ins?
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 only 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 look at the pros and cons of relying on your weigh-ins and give you some tips on using them to your advantage.
Let's have a look!
Why Track Weight?
Tracking your weight is one of the simplest and most effective ways to monitor your progress toward weight loss or weight gain goals.
You can quickly identify whether your current diet and exercise routine works for you by weighing yourself regularly.
If you're trying to lose weight, consistent weigh-ins can help ensure that you're shedding pounds at a healthy rate rather than losing too much too quickly, which can be detrimental to your health.
On the other hand, 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 crucial for anyone trying to make lasting changes to their body composition.
How To Track Weight?
Because the number on the scale has a high mental impact on most people trying to lose weight, it is essential to take the weigh-in properly to ensure you are monitoring accurate weight.
Here is a step-by-step process for a proper weigh-in:
Place the scale on a perfectly levelled floor - do the weigh-ins 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 is the most accurate weigh-in method, which considers all the possible weight fluctuations, and allows you to adjust the plan accordingly.
Alternatively, you can weigh yourself once, at the end of each week, and base the adjustments on that single weigh-in.
What The Scale Doesn't Show
While the scale can help track your weight loss or gain, it's important to remember that it's not the be-all and end-all of measuring progress.
There are many things the scale doesn't show that are crucial for overall health and well-being.
For example, it doesn't consider body composition, which can be a more accurate indicator of health than weight alone.
It also doesn't show changes in muscle mass, bone density, or hydration levels, which can impact how you feel and perform.
Additionally, relying solely on the number on the scale can lead to an unhealthy obsession with weight and body image, which can be detrimental to mental health.
In short, while the scale can provide a general idea of progress, it's important to remember that it's just one piece of the puzzle and not the only factor to consider.
Whether you are losing or gaining weight, you should also track strength and endurance performance, how clothes fit, how you feel, and even more important than weight, what the mirror shows.
These factors combined can give you an accurate idea of how you are progressing and what adjustments need to be made.
How do YOU utilise the scale on your fitness journey? Comment below and let us know!