01 December 2010

The Dreaded Scale

Hey, hey all you active people. This week I thought it would be appropriate to talk about that lovely device we call the scale. Sometimes its our worst enemy, others times its our best friend. Before you let your routine weigh in get the best of you and control your entire day, I think its important to separate fact from fiction.


With a history of striking people with despair, the scale has been causing people to give up on themselves since it was invented in 1874. We all have been personally affected by the scale at one time or another. Years ago while in my prime, competing in soccer at the college level I saw my weight constantly fluctuate 2 pounds or more in a day! All I did was practice, compete, lift and run like it was going out of style, this depressing news would baffle me every time! After some research here is what I found.


The body can hold up to 15 pounds of extra water and waste depending on any number of variables. Changes in food habits, increases in exercise, not drinking enough water, lack of sleep, sodium intake, women’s cycles, medications, illnesses, etc… Things all started to make sense.


This is the important thing to remember:

We have to eat 7,000 calories over our natural metabolism to gain 2 real pounds of stored fat,

AND we have to burn 7,000 calories over our natural metabolism to lose 2 real pounds of stored fat.


If you are 176 lbs at the first weigh in and the next day you are at 171, that is almost all going to be attributed to water and waste release, AND if you are 178 the next day the same principle applies.


The scale is just an indicator. Make sure you are taking into account other factors as well such as how your jeans fit, your body fat percentages and what you're putting in your mouth. IF you are following the suggestions, the process is happening biologically, and the 4 week measurements will prove it.


DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE SCALE. Understand the science and set yourself free!


Nicole Renna/ Invictus Fitness

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