SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT MY WEIGHT IF I AM DOWN THREE PANT SIZES?
Is my scale my friend or my enemy?
This question was put to us recently by one person using the WOMEN WEIGHT LOSS ANNUAL PROGRAM. The answer is actually very simple and we need to keep two thoughts in mind:
Thought number one:
Muscle weighs more than fat.
Thought number two:
Ten pounds of muscle requires 500 calories PER DAY for optimal maintenance.
Muscle weighs more than fat and muscle needs protein and calories to maintain its size and composition.
So what is your ideal body weight?
Who can say unless you have been optimally fit for your age, your height and your body shape?
So what we should consider so much more than what we want to weigh is what – or who – we want to look like. If we want to be down several pant sizes and we feel great but we weigh the same, what does it matter? (This is of course not true for someone who is morbidly obese and needs to lose a very large amount of weight. For that person the scale is a significant ally). But most people want to trim a few pounds, get fit and look great.
Here is a good thought:
Pick someone you want to look like – a triathlete maybe or a fit actor or actress. Find out or measure their height in inches and prorate their weight to your size. Then create a goal which is close to that “weight to height ratio” and you will be very near the place you want to be. And wow, if the person is super fit you will be AMAZED at the number of times you find that their weight far exceeds what you thought it would be PER INCH OF HEIGHT. Why? Because muscle weighs a great deal more than fat and lean dense muscle is the best type of muscle you can develop.
This is not body builder muscle but functional, high strength to size and weight muscle. We can first create size then strengthen that muscle for everyday use, competitive sports fitness or general good health and weight loss and weight maintenance. (Note that we also have an annual maximum size program. This is for the person who wants to gain as much size as quickly as possible).
Here are a few conclusions that you can draw from this article:
- I can eat more and stay thinner if I build muscle. Why? Muscle needs lots of calories for maintenance.
- I can tailor my appearance with resistance and proper cardiovascular training.
- The scale does not know if I have ten pounds of muscle or ten pounds of fat on my body. The scale does not know how I VALUE that weight. Is it GOOD weight – muscle and strong connective tissue or BAD weight – body fat leading to declining health and permanent health related impairment of the quality of life? (Seniors- take note and use our senior programs).
So in a general sense, the scale can be very helpful in gauging morbid weight loss. But the scale is minimally helpful to most people who are not in a specific competition that has weight limits (think wrestling) or has a penalty for excessive weight that is extracted by the sport (think jockeys or professional motocross riders). The rest of us should generally give little regard to what the scale says.
Unless you are in one of these categories – and we do use our model to train and assist these people – you should probably think a little less about what you weigh and consider these questions as the answer to the dilemma:
What do I look like? Is this what I want to look like?
How do I feel? Do I feel dynamic, strong and powerful in my body now?
If you like the answer to these important life/body questions, then the scale is meaningless.
If you do not or you want an excellent maintenance program, then use our AFITNESSADDICTION.COM individually customized program of your choice to reach your goals. Only $19.99 per month!!
