How many times have you jumped up on your scale anxiously awaiting to see how many pounds you have lost only to be disappointed and frustrated? You are not alone. Scales can be a motivator, but for the majority of us scales are a constant reminder of our inability to lose weight when we want it most. Why else would we be up on the scale if we didn't expect pounds to be ticking off the face of that contraption?
A lot of us use weight scales to keep us on track once we get to our "maintenance phase." This approach can be very useful when you apply it to keep you honest and accountable, but for the majority of us again we use scales for the wrong purpose. Your scale just provides a number not taking into account your lean body mass or your water retention. You will find a great deal of variability depending on how you measure your lean body mass and water retention can change dramatically from one day to the next.
What is your purpose for using your scale? Are you using it to determine your success or failure in regards to your weight loss? I hope not because you will be setting yourself up for disappointment. Scales do not paint an accurate picture. Therefore, you should be using them only as a motivator and an indicator you are staying within "your maintenance range." If you are weighing yourself constantly you are encouraging eventual dissatisfaction with yourself.
When is the last time you used a photo to look at your body shape? Don't be too hard on yourself either because most of us are. We often don't see ourselves accurately like our friends and family do. When used as a productive motivator a snapshot can help set appropriate goals and challenge yourself to achieve the results you desire. A picture or photo can be an excellent tool for weight loss, whereas the scale may frustrate you time and time again.
Of course you already know that the way your clothes fit is an excellent indicator of progress towards your weight loss. You don't need any special equipment for this assessment. You can seriously hold yourself accountable because you don't have to consider your body water fluctuations or a number on the scale that changes day to day.
The best part of using the way your clothes fit you is looking forward to rewarding yourself when you do come down a size. You can really motivate yourself with reasonable rewards that applaud your success one step at a time. Who doesn't love getting into those smaller sizes after bulging at the waist or hips for years? The way your clothes fit is fast, simple, and effective in measuring your results.
Remember, the average person in America is obese. The scale will never tell you the whole story. Your lean muscle mass is your metabolism and you control how much muscle is on your body by your physical activity and exertion. The scale doesn't accurately tell you how much lean muscle you really have. In conclusion, the number the scale tells you doesn't matter because your life is not dictated by a number, unless you allow it to be. You do not have to be a slave to your scale.
Marin health and fitness expert, John Spongberg is the founder of Personal Training in Marin as well as an accomplished author, speaker and life coach. He is dedicated to helping people reach their optimum level of fitness, health and body satisfaction through a unique, comprehensive whole-person approach, customized to each client.
If you're ready, you can reach Mr. Spongberg at (415) 891-8787 or visit his website at http://www.PersonalTrainingInMarin.com where you can download your free copy of his special health and fitness report, The Truth About Losing Weight.
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Weight Loss Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchRecent ArticlesThe Best Weight Loss Plan - Eliminating Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates From Your DietThe Ultimate Nutritional Diet Plan to Lose WeightHow to Lose Weight in a Healthy and All-Natural WayLifestyle Fitness Coaching - How to Get Past the Hurdle and Jump Start Your Weight Loss3 Reasons Lifting Weights Works Better Than Cardio for Fat Loss - Especially For Women!Burn Belly Fat and Other Tricks to Look More AttractiveGet Your Figure Back With These Weight Loss TipsReach a Healthy Weight by Eliminating Your Challenges One by OneLose Weight Quickly With These 5 Great IdeasYour Weight Increases Your Blood PressureSubmitted On January 24, 2012. Viewed 6 times. Word count: 553.Important Disclaimer: Articles provided are for general information purposes only and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychological, tax, accounting, legal, investment, or any other professional advice. EzineArticles.com expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed by any of our members or anywhere else within the site. Lastly, EzineArticles.com does not endorse any article. Use at your own risk.
MLA Style Citation:Spongberg, John".".24 Jan. 2012EzineArticles.com.26 Jan. 2012
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