So, you’ve maintained a regular exercise routine, whether at a health club (Snap Fitness, preferably) or at home, and you’ve improved your diet with healthier choices…and STILL don’t see the number budge on the scale.

I know, it is not very motivating, so what’s the best thing for you to do?...GET OFF THE SCALE!

Practically “living” in health clubs for the last 20 years, the piece of equipment I see used the absolute most in the gym is the one piece that should be avoided—the scale.

When it comes to tracking your fitness progress, the numbers on the scale don’t always add up for avid exercisers.

Body weight does not take into account body composition, making an active body seem overweight, but an active body has more muscle and less body fat than a sedentary body.

Muscle is denser than fat; therefore, it takes up less space on your frame. In other words, if you weigh an equal volume of fat and muscle, you’d be surprised that the muscle weighs almost twice as much as the fat.

As you advance in your exercise routine and gain more lean muscle mass, the increase in your weight can actually mean a sign of progress, not reasons to lose motivation! So, don’t get derailed by the wrong “fatness” numbers.

BMI, recently gaining popularity as a way to estimate a healthy body weight, is another number that does not distinguish between fat and muscle and only gives you an indication of how heavy you are overall.

Muscle always beats fat.

Muscles use more calories, even when resting, so you gain the potential to boost your resting metabolic rate. Essentially, with an increase in muscle mass, you can burn fat, even when you are sleeping!

So, my “expert” advice (20+ years worth) is to get off the scale. Instead track your progress with these other indicators of success:

Your jeans: Are your clothes looser, more comfortable, fitting better?

Your daily tasks: Are you finding it easier to lift and carry objects?

Your energy levels: Are you less exhausted?

Your measurements: Are you losing inches, rather than pounds?

As the owner of Snap Fitness in Abbeville, I invite anyone reading this article, member or non-member to call Snap (337) 893-0009 to schedule your FREE measurement consultation to accurately track your fitness progress.

In good health,

Jill LeBlanc