Article: Weight - Is my Scale a Reliable Measure?

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Article: Weight - Is my Scale a Reliable Measure?
I’ve been working out and watching what I’m eating to lose weight. Is the scale a reliable method to measure weight loss?

While the scales can fluctuate on your weight loss progress, one of the better methods to use is to go by how your clothes fit and measuring yourself.

If you are working out, the scale won’t accurately read if you have lost fat and gained muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, yet takes up less space, if the scale hasn’t moved, but your clothes fit more loosely, then you have lost fat and gained muscle! What an accomplishment!

Women shouldn’t be afraid to lift weights. As women, we don’t have the amount of testosterone that a man does, and therefore, we have a hard time gaining huge amounts of muscle. So don’t be afraid that you will look bulky. Building muscle helps you burn more fat!

Different areas to measure are:

• Chest (across fullest part of bust)
• Chest (where the strap of your bra is)
• Waist (belly button)
• Abdominal
• Hips (fullest part)
• Thighs (largest part)
• Calves (fullest part)
• Biceps (approximately 4 inches from shoulder)
• Neck

Write them all down and the date. In 4 weeks, do it again. This is a true guide of weight loss. Keep taking measures every 4 weeks until your desired weight has been lost. And even then, it's a great way to see and keep tabs on your weight to see if you are gaining it back.

The scale can be misleading. Water weight is easily lost. Fat is not. To make sure that you are measuring your weight loss, don't rely soley on the scale.