Did you jump on the weighing scales this morning?
If you did, how it make you feel? Awesome, disappointed or confused.
More than likely is was the latter 2, stop beating yourself up. We have all been there.
Everyone, well most that step into the gym want to change the figures on the scales, (bigger or smaller), they usually begin with saying ‘‘ I want to lose 20 or 30 pounds…or I want gain 20 pounds for my sport, I’m too small ’’.
Time to take a step back and literally move away from the scales.
Why?
1. The scales doesn’t always tell a truth.
3 years ago I weighted 96 kg. Weight training 5 days a week, running 5 km every night after work and followed a very strict plain and bland diet.
Yes, of course this worked I drop 2 to 3 kg over 2 months but it was never sustainable, I burned out and ended back at square one.
Today I weigh 90kg but carrying a lot more muscle mass, I’m much stronger, leaner, training 4 days a week and no more running. Its all sustainable and I’m also feeling great! It didn’t happen over night I was patient, we all want results now….but Rome wasn’t build in a day.
So what did I change?
- Set realistic long term goals! Loosing 3 kg over 6 months and becoming leaner.
- Weight didn’t become my only focus, I also wanted to get stronger.
- Changed my nutritional habits. Starting with the basics of drinking more water, no more fizzy drinks or junk food.
- Stopped eating potatoes with every dinner, no more cereal for breakfast, and stopped having white bread.
- Changed my sleeping habits, no more tv in the bed room.Getting to bed early and up early.
- I didn’t look at the scales for months. I just looked in the mirror, this is where you will begin to see any change.
I didn’t let this take over my life. I changed all these over time until they became less effort and a habit and you will feel great.
Lift heavy weights, train hard, train smart, eat healthy.You’ll lose your fat and build the muscle.
2. Your weight can fluctuate as much as the stock market.
The human body is very complex. There is so much things going on with the body through out the day…… your body weight will fluctuate this is normal. We need to drink, eat, sleep, and function throughout the day, so get over it!
People trying to loose weight get obsessed. Jumping on the scales first thing in the morning and before they go to bed. There will be a difference of course, but this is quiet normal.
If you’re trying to lose weight in a healthy way, 1-2 pounds a weeks is a good goal to shoot for, or 3 pounds if you’re carrying more weight. If your weigh training this might not always be visible on the scales, you may even have gained a a pound this maybe muscle if you did everything else right. Don’t freak out and starve yourself for a week, or spend your night on the couch eating chinese crying about it.
It’s just a number, and it can be wildly inaccurate over a short period of time.
3. The scales does not define you.
If you set a goal of 50 pounds a year — an ambitious goal — but you only manage to lose 30 pounds, you will tell yourself straight away you are a failure. Well, technically yes, but…..
Realistically if you have been struggling for a while with your weight, with little or no success.The best way to tell that you are succeeding in weight loss is that ….
- Your pants might not fit you any more, and you may need some new clothes.
- Your belt will need to be tightened
- You are feeling much happier and energetic.
- You will also be getting comments from people that you haven’t seen in a while “you’re looking great”
- Take a look in the mirror.
This is how you should be judging your results. NOT THE SCALES!
So put everything into context. Its all about how far you have come, and accomplished. Not the numbers on the scales.
YOU’RE NOT A NUMBER AND NOT A FAILURE.
I hope this will help anyone trying to loose some weight. Don’t get obsessed with it, start by changing your lifestyle, nutritional habits and get training.
Struggling finding something nutritious to eat, why not try here for some delicious recipes.
Train hard, train smart and stay healthy……(the scales does not define you)
Leave a Reply