3 Things Your Scale Isn't Telling You About Your Weight

Something really interesting happened to me today...


I hopped up on my scale this morning only to see what reflected back as a 3 lb weight GAIN since Saturday morning!!!


Now, I admit that I'll enjoy a treat or two over the weekend I know for sure I couldn't have possibly packed on 3 lbs in just 2 days...


it's virtually impossible to eat that much food...


Considering 1 pound of fat = approximately 3,500 calories I would have had to consume 10,500 calories over the weekend which averages 5,250 calories per day!


That's about the same number of calories a 240 lb bodybuilder eats...and considering that I consume 1,800-2,000 calories per day I knew something had to be wrong...


This just confirms why weighing yourself isn't very reliable for at least 3 reasons:


First, the scale only shows your weight but it doesn't take into account your height, age, body type, bone density, body fat, lean muscle or water content.


For example, a 40 year-old man 6 ft tall and weighing 220 lbs with 25% body fat is not only fat but at risk for several health consequences.


However, a 40 year-old man 6 ft tall weighing 220 lbs with 12% body fat is considered pretty lean and fit.



So, if both men are the same height, age and weight how could one be so unhealthy while the other is the exact opposite?



Because body weight is only one factor of determining your overall health.


And, even though we're drawn to the scale like a magnet there's more important factors that need to be determined before we make our final decisions on whether or not we are at our 'ideal weight'.


Did you know that body fat is a more reliable indicator of your health than body weight?


It's true.


Men and women who carry excess body fat particularly around the stomach, waist and chest are at a greater risk for health problems.


It's not so much how much you weight that's important, it's what your weight is made up of that is.


Second, your body weight fluctuates all day long due to the distribution of water throughout your body.




Say you weigh yourself and then go through a hard workout for an hour where you're sweating profusely.


If you weigh yourself after that workout you are going to weigh a few pounds less.


But, this isn't because you lost body fat with that one workout. It's because you lost water weight which you'll gain back as soon as you down a bottle of water or eat a meal.


Again, the number doesn't tell you the whole story.


Finally, your body weight doesn't tell you much about your overall health. You may weigh more than you did 5 or 10 years ago, but if you have low cholesterol levels, low triglyceride levels, a healthy blood glucose profile, carry a low percentage of body fat, have good bone density you're probably pretty healthy.


So, whenever you get the urge to weigh yourself every day stop and remember there are more important things to consider than just your weight.


Get your body fat and lean body mass percentages checked by a qualified fitness professional or purchase a scale that measure these.


Get physically active-A properly designed fitness program that combines resistance training, cardiovascular conditioning and proper nutrition is the best way to boost your metabolism, lower your body fat percent and keep your muscles and bones strong.


Your weight does not determine your results- remember to assess how you're feeling, how you look in the mirror, how your clothes fit and check your measurements.


These are all important factors to consider rather than just the number on the scale.

By the way, the weight gain I experienced wasn't body fat.

In fact, I tested my body fat right after I weighed myself and was pleased that I actually had a bit less fat on my body and my measurements AND clothes reflected this.

The weight gain was simply due to my muscles being properly hydrated after a hard week of training.