Blog posts
November 1, 2023Part 1 in a 3 Part Series
Today, more and more people are dieting and exercising in attempts to follow a weight loss program. Since the year 2000, the number of dieters in the United States alone has more than doubled. In fact, the average dieter will begin a new diet every 90 days. With so many people working to lose weight, it would be logical to think that we have the dieting and exercise game all figured out. Unfortunately, the reality is that more people continue to struggle with their weight because they continue to make vital mistakes with their weight loss regimen. To help people stay on track and be successful, I’ve created a 3 Part Series on 3 common mistakes people should never make while navigating through any weight loss program.
Mistake #1 – People Make their Sole Focus for Success the Number on the Scale.
Focusing solely on the numbers on the scale is the most common and critical mistake people make when attempting to follow a weight loss program. Each and every morning men and women worldwide get up and immediately jump on the scale. People desperately want that number to continue to fall. Their whole focus for success lies solely in the number on that scale! And why not? This is exactly what the dieting industry tells people is paramount to their success. What enormous, unfair pressure to have placed on their bodies and themselves. If the number doesn’t drop, or unfortunately increases, people become disillusioned, frustrated and give up. They then see themselves as failures and believe they just aren’t meant to be lean and mean. This could not be further from the truth.
The Scale Does Not Often Mean What You Think
The reality is, if people are to follow a well devised weight loss program, they will need to increase their lean muscle mass. By increasing lean muscle, people will increase their metabolism on a daily basis. The muscles need to be fed constantly, and will use fat stored in the body when it is fed correctly. This means individuals become a fat burning machine, instead of a fat storing machine. In effect, people can exchange or replace that pound of fat for a pound of muscle. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always reflect well on the scale. It also make people feel they aren’t getting any results because the scale isn’t dropping.
The best practice then would be to have both one’s lean body mass and body fat accurately measured at various times through the program they are following. These numbers will articulate the true value of a nutrition and fitness program much more accurately than the scale.
Health Professionals also know that the human body changes in weight by as much as 3 to 6 lbs on a daily basis. There are a myriad of factors that affect one’s daily weight, including: hormonal fluctuations; sleep patterns; stress; dehydration; the accumulation of lean muscle; body type; exercise; illness; gender and age. In addition, when it comes to weight loss, the body never loses weight in a steady, linear fashion day after day, week after week, month after month.
Focus on the Positives
There are several, very positive, concrete ways to monitor progress that does not use a scale. They include: Improvements in daily energy; a reduction in food cravings; a consistent hearty appetite.; decreased inches all over the body, more loosely fitting clothes; noticeably leaner looking in the mirror and to others; body fat percentage is dropping. These are all key markers of success and each one of these deserves an individual’s focusedattention. After all, when people feel better, look better, are happier, and have made this a permanent lifestyle, who cares what the scale says?
Put the scale away. Use it only one time per week maximally! The number on the scale isn’t a representation of your current health, a measure of your lean muscle, a reflection of your self-worth, or a measure of how well you are following the program. Even the most acclaimed weight loss programshave ebbs and flows in them, so step away from the Scale! You’ll find your commitment to success and subsequent rewards will be “off the scale”.
For great testimonials of people who learned their health was far more than just a number on the scale, please go to https://markjregan.ca/testimonials/
I hope you found value from part 1 of 3 in Common Mistakes in trying to Lose Weight. Be sure to read more soon for common mistakes Number Two and Three. You’ll discover more important guidance that will help you move seamlessly through any healthy lifestyle change you are making.
If you have any questions, please contact me. I’d love to help you to look and feel your very best and discover the true pleasure of living your very best health.
In the meantime, keep making your health a daily priority and be an inspiration to others! [...]