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Get On The Scale Every Day? No Weigh!!! by Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS If you are one of the thousands of women who feel compelled to step on the step every morning -- PLEASE STOP!!! Did you know that your weight can vary between a half a pound to 3 1/2 pounds or more in a single day? It's true. And when you consider than it takes 3500 calories beyond what your body needs to have a weight gain of a pound, unless you went head to head with Takeru Kobayashi and a pile of Nathan's at Coney Island -- it's unlikely you gained that much weight in one 24-hour period. Unfortunately, we are a very literal society, so when we see numbers on a scale we believe that they are accurate. Well, maybe and maybe not. Many factors affect scale weight, including: hydration status, menstrual fluctuations, sodium intake, medications and more. Far too many women become frustrated and develop a more negative body image as a result of internalizing the number that they see on the scale. It's a very simple game that we play with ourselves as women, a low number -- we win, a high number, we lose. The problem is that scale weight tells you NOTHING about the quality of the weight. Why did your weight go down? Are you dehydrated? Did you have a stomach flu? Why did your weight go up? Maybe you are getting your period? Maybe it was all that soy sauce your dunked your California Roll in last night? Maybe you've put on 2 pounds of healthy lean body tissue that will be burning extra 100 calories of food for you every day? The point is, we need to focus on overall health -- not numbers. Be active, eat right, manage your stress, maintain a healthy body weight, and ease up the portions and extras a little bit if your clothes start to feel to tight. If you do feel the need to weigh yourself, I recommend that you do so no more than once per week. Ideally on a Wednesday (because it is in the middle of the week). Do it in your birthday suit, before eating and after going to the bathroom. That should give you a relative base line. Go by how your clothes feel, if your clothes are feeling consistently snug and your not PMSing, you probably did put on a little weight. Don't freak out, just gently get back on track with a little more movement, a little less muching and a have a little kindness and patience with yourself. Remember that it doesn't come on in day, so it's not coming off in a day either. For More On The Tyranny Of The Scale Read This Article Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for medical care. Not all exercises are appropriate for all individuals. Please consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS is the author of Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your Unique Body Type and the creator of The Best Me Ever -- A Complete Weight Loss, Fat-Burning and Muscle Sculpting System |
