Is the Scale Determining Your Body Image of Yourself

Date:  August 14, 2007

The scale is merely a tool that measures your total body mass which is much more than just fat mass.  Think about muscle mass, bones, hair, skin, body water; there is so much more to it.  Yet we have become hostage to that scale weight; and if it not low enough, we hate ourselves and struggle to get that number down thinking we are too fat.  Weigh yourself, then drink a large glass of water and the scale weight will go up.  Do you honestly think you gained a pound or 2 in those minutes-how ridiculous. You merely consumed water with no calories which will increase your weight until digested. Think logically and focus on your body's composition over a long period of time, not that scale every few hours. 

1.  Scale weight measures your total body structure including bones, muscles, hair, skin, nails, water, not just fat.

2. A body's scale weight fluctuates throughout the day within 3 to 5 pounds as we eat, drink, and live.  DO NOT PANIC if the scale weight goes up if you weigh yourself throughout the day.  The best time to weigh yourself is upon rising before any food or drink.

3. Focus on your body's total composition.  Do you have lean muscle mass from doing strength tightening/toning exercises which utilize resistance?  Are you properly hydrated and not retaining excess water weight?  It is more than just fat mass.

4. How are your clothes fitting?  A tighter or loser fit is a good measure to help determine if you are gaining or losing fat mass.

5. A person of the same height and weight can have the same scale weight but 1 could be fatter with no muscle mass while the other is fit and lean with more muscle mass.  Think about it, the scale cannot measure that.

6. If you utilize a newer scale that measures body fat and weight, follow the directions prior to getting on for a more accurate measure.

7. Know your body and strive for a healthy fit structure, not just a scale number. 

We want to hear from you so please email your questions and/or comments to info@thefitnesst.com or call us at 330.726.NEWU (6398) as we will be addressing viewer questions on future segments. 

We look forward to hearing from you.  Thank you.