Ever weighed yourself every day for a few weeks while dieting and exercising just to be completely disheartened?
But... your clothes are already fitting better and you’ve got more energy than before, so how have you not lost any ‘weight’?
That’s because the number the scales give you can’t tell you how much lean tissue has replaced the fat, or how much water you’ve been drinking, OR how much of what you ate yesterday is in your digestive tract.
Daily weigh-ins are strongly discouraged during periods of intentional weight-loss, as it may curb motivation. Daily or hourly weight fluctuations is not the fat in your body coming and going. Instead, weigh yourself just once a week at the same time and chart it over a longer period of time. You’ll probably notice a trend, which is actually your fat loss.
Although weight is still being used by medical professionals to get a body mass index (BMI) score, it is widely acknowledged that the method does not accurately take into account muscle. People with a lot of muscle and little fat may be ‘obese’ according to their BMI but be extremely lean!
A waist circumference measurement is another measure that correlates to overall health.
Women: aim for under 80cm in circumference.
Men: aim for under 94cm in circumference.
Anything above and you’re at an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
A goal weight may be useful at the beginning of a journey, however it is okay to make adjustments as your body changes. If you want to lose 30kgs, but at 20kgs your waist circumference is at 75cm, you may not need to lose that extra 10kgs. It is important to not get set on a weight and instead focus on how you feel and your physical improvements.
If you are interested in measuring your Body Composition in-person, book your appointment here with the team.
