By Neil O’Hanlon
Ladies and Gents, Do you ever wonder why the number on the scale doesn’t move after you’ve made so many changes to your diet and lifestyle? The first thing I’d say is don’t be disheartened and start giving yourself the respect and self love you deserve, because when the scale doesn’t move, it means you are losing body fat while gaining muscle. Your weight may stay the same, even as you lose inches, a sign that you’re moving in the right direction. Trust in the process, be consistent and good things will happen.
DON’T BE ALARMED IF THE SCALES AREN’T BUDGING BUT YOUR LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER
The fact is, you have replaced body fat with lean muscle. It is far more important to focus on fat loss rather than the number on the scale. Muscle is more compact than fat, which means that it takes up less space in your body which is why you look leaner and toned. A pound of fat is lumpy and fluffy, taking up more space. A pound of muscle is compact and dense. Muscle weighs more than the same mass of fat, which explains why you appear thinner but weigh more.
Body Weight Strength Training creates Muscle Growth which again is why you weigh more. While the number on the scale may be going up, your body composition is changing for the better. It’s best to focus on slow sustainable Fat-Loss and not rapid Weight Loss. Rapid weight loss can result in the loss of lean body mass and muscle which lowers the metabolic rate and the body goes into starvation mode. This results in holding on to fat calories and gaining the weight back again. This is the Yo-Yo effect.
The best way to determine your progress is to use how your clothes fit, photos and body measurements as a guide to see how your body is changing. Ditching the scales will help you see your progress and feel great about the changes you’re making in your body.
You can absolutely drop a size or two after one to two months of bodyweight training
The Takeaway
Remember folks that a little muscle is so important over the age of 40. It stokes your metabolism, shapes your body, and makes you strong and confident. Having muscle will make you look and feel more amazing than you already are, so don’t let what the scale says take you away from that feeling.