I am on a mission. I’d like straightforward answers to questions regarding food choices, exercise, and my biggest pet peeve–why we still consider antiquated scales a measure of legitimate progress.
Are any of these on your hit list too? If you’re at even the remotest point in considering weight loss, they should be. Since I’m a creature of habit (my own unique ones that is), I’ll start with the last one first.
WANT TO RUIN YOUR DAY? START HERE..
Start it off by jumping on that old-fashioned scale. Now I realize there has to be an objective means to your weight loss end. As a nurse, the words “evidence based practice” are etched in my head. But evidence can be acquired in a variety of ways. For me, trying on a top I hadn’t worn since late May, was evidence I’d lost weight. Now mid-August, I don’t recall it feeling this loose. Does it stretch you may ask? Not this material.
I’ve also noticed a change in my food choices. More on that next post.
WEIGHTS & MEASURES..
Now you may believe I am anti-scale. Not really. It remains one of the most economical & objective choices to discern progress. However, before you jump for joy or curse the ground it sits on because of a numeric value, keep this in mind: Can your scale differentiate between body fat, water weight, or muscle? If not, why bother? Don’t waste your time.
Cheaper still? Invest in a tape measure. Take your measurements. Better still let someone else take them. Loss of inches often precedes loss of weight. Still evidence based, but often encouraging and less discouraging.
By the way, how are your shoes fitting? Feet often reflect a loss of weight before your body manifests it. Also, if you wear a ring consistently, how is it feeling? The truth is in the digits; and often not those glaring up at you from beneath your feet.
As stated previously, I’m not anti-scale. Yet I do believe in the right tools for the job. The right tool here is mandatory. Saving yourself frustration and heartache, is worth the investment in a scale which differentiates between bone mass, water, muscle, and fat. At minimum, it should know what is muscle, what is water, and distinguish these from fat. Until you can swing this, my mantra is this: “measure your treasure, because the sole knows.” Measure your treasure? A loose ring is a telltale sign of weight loss. So is a declining waistline and hips. Upper arms and thighs–not so much. These may actually bulk, depending upon the exercises you perform, before they streamline. The sole knows? Again your shoes may be slipping a bit–mine did, particularly in the heel of my shoes as I lost weight.
Yes, my profession has little tolerance for all but the facts and objective data. How that data is collected however, is an entirely different matter; for better or worse. Nurses realize there is more than one way to get the job done. And as a nurse and now an American College of Sports Medicine personal trainer, bringing realistic means to an objective end is not only necessary, but my purpose.
All for now. Keep up and keep at it.
Questions? Comments? Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com
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