Alright, so you’ve been working out regularly and you’ve been consistent with your diet. Summer is *just* around the corner, and you’re feeling full of energy, your clothes are fitting better, and you’re generally feeling amazing. But then you step on the scale… and you’ve gained weight. What the?! Talk about bringing your vibration down.
Now, most of us out there have heard that muscle weighs more than fat. But if this is common knowledge, why do we still let the numbers on the scale mess with our heads? Again, this isn’t the vibe we want.
Lean muscle takes up less space on your body than the same amount of fat. That’s why when you go through periods of time where you’re killing it with your workouts, it’s easy to feel frustrated by your lack of weight loss. When we’re so focused on trimming down, it can feel like a lack of progress. But to be honest, unless you’re training for an Olympic weightlifting competition, why does your weight matter? It’s all about how you feel. And my goal is always for you to have body positivity and a healthy mindset — but this can take time.
Personally, it took me years to get over the numbers. Back in the days when I didn’t work out as much, I weighed a very similar amount to what I do now — but I was 3-4 pant sizes bigger. It’s crazy to think about that now, and at the time I was super obsessed with what my scale was telling me.
If it wasn’t the number I wanted it to be, my whole day (or week!) would be ruined. I definitely had a bit of an obsession and I’m not saying that every person who steps on a scale is obsessed with their weight. But I want to share my personal experience because the emotional rollercoaster ride I’ve been on with the scale over the years was intense. Until I decided I was sick of it and decided to get off it completely.
Now, you may be thinking “Well that’s all great Jenna. Thanks for sharing, but if I can’t go by the number on the scale how am I going to keep track of my progress?” I’m not saying that you should never weigh yourself ever again — but for the sake of your mental health and overall wellbeing, I would suggest weighing yourself less. Your weight fluctuates way too much to weigh yourself every day or even every week. Weight fluctuation can occur with water retention, hormone fluctuations, and other cycles of the body.
And… much as you’re tempted to weigh yourself after a “bad” weekend… don’t do it. Your body will likely be retaining fluid because of the added salt you consumed. And it can take a few days to get your body back on track. If you must weigh yourself, I would highly suggest doing so on a bi-weekly basis.
Moral of the story? Do yourself and your mental health a favour and give yourself an emotional break from the scale. Your body takes time to change! Continue treating it right, and focus on how you feel.
As always, I am here to support you. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have about your fitness journey and to road to a healthy body mindset.