If you’ve ever cranked-up your workout only to be “dissed” by the scale, this is for you: The scale is not an effective way to measure your progress. Seeing a lower number on the scale always feels good, but lasting success is muscle accrued and inches lost. Since muscle weighs more than fat, it’s more condensed, and why you may lose a couple sizes before you lose a single pound. Celebrate! More muscle makes you curvier, stronger and less prone to injury. It also raises your metabolism to burn fat at a faster pace so you can reap rewards for years to come. Losing lots of weight quickly (more than 1 to 2 lbs a week) may mean you’re losing water weight and possibly even muscle – which can make you gain more weight in the long run.
Case in point: Ann Marie Marburg came to Mojo a year ago and quickly evolved into a 3/4 time a week Mojo regular. A young mom of three, Ann Marie’s athletic approach (she’s intense) provides a physical and mental release that has become a non-negotiable part of their family’s lifestyle. It’s common to see her adorable kids waiting (or dancing) patiently while mom gets her Mojo. Last week, a couple of us were sharing “scale tales”, and Ann Marie calmly stated that she had lost a couple sizes and lots of inches but “not a single pound.” However, since we were talking about it, Ann Marie went home and stepped on the scale – and discovered she had, in actuality, lost 10lbs!
She shared this thought, “I think it is important for us all to be reminded that our bodies lose weight and build muscle differently. Which is one reason why I enjoy reading your emails each week. It’s true the scale did not move as fast in the direction as I would have liked, but I have seen many benefits to getting back in shape and I continually remind myself of those.” Congrats Ann Marie and thanks for sharing!
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