Measuring with a scale is a process that must always be done in the same way, and the measurement results are not interpreted unambiguously each time.

Is the number important?

Contrary to the more common opinion, this number is not so important, but that will be the case below.

Body weight is important when considering a variety of external factors, such as how many kilos the elevator lasts, how much of the prescribed medicine to drink if it is based on body weight and the like.

Unfortunately, however, too many people still associate their sporting form and the idea of a good appearance with only the figure that shows the arrow on the scale in the bathroom.

 

More often women are affected who, under the influence of malicious councils in fashion magazines, where through stereotypes for "ideal appearance" by some media, they make the wrong idea that if they do not weigh X kilogram they will not be beautiful, there is no to feel good and even to be subject to ridicule if they do not fit into "ideal proportions" (such a thing does not exist, not all people can be put into a mold).

Another reason for the logical notion that the scales tell you everything is the old, but still applied medical standards.

The culprit number one is the so-called. “Body Mass Index”.

To calculate this index, it's enough to know your height and weight. But when you make the necessary calculations, and when compared to the results listed, it may turn out that your index drops to the "normal" column, and you still have a belly or your number falls to "out of norms," and you are more athletic and with a healthy percentage of fat than ever.

 

This is because the index does not show the composition of the body - what part is muscle, what - fat, etc.

What does not the scale tell us?

It is not possible for the scale to determine your sporting shape and appearance. Exceptions make active athletes preparing for a race in which they have to enter a certain category to be allowed to compete.

When you step on the scale, the arrow shows you a number and everything stops here. It does not show how it is about it - how much is fat, water or active weight.

Modern electronic scales can measure body composition, showing even a percentage of fat, bone mass, and fat-free mass, but this is not a 100% accurate method, and he can not figure out what your shape is, the proportions between the different parts of the body and the overall harmony of appearance.

He can not tell us whether the gained weight is from muscle or fat, and this is actually the determinant of how we feel about the appearance and the health.

The scales do not tell us whether our strength has risen or diminished, or what the waist situation is - whether the measures are increasing or vice versa, but in reality, these are some of the main indicators on which we should focus (whether we are uploading, download or maintain weight).

Let us have a look at some examples given:

* The examples are not limited to the four options mentioned - there are many other options. Interpretation is also not unique and may vary from person to person.

Now let's see how we can be wrong with the 4 cases mentioned if we were looking at the SINGLE number alone.

• 1 and 2: If someone wants to lose weight, the first option will achieve a better look and feel better in the body, while the second option will happen the opposite - the arrow will show lower value, but due to the possible removal of an active weight, the appearance will not be satisfactory.

 

• 3 and 4: If one wants to gain weight, he will look and feel better at 3 because of the bulk of the weight gained, while option 4, when picking up body fat, is likely to she does not like it, she does not feel good in her skin...

The scale does not show the ratio and the proportions between the different parts of your body, and this also contributes to the overall appearance. You can look differently on the same weight if you have a different body composition.

And is there anything at all that the scales can tell us?

Apart from the above-mentioned external factors, the scale alone can seriously deceive us.

However, if we combine the scales with other methods to monitor body parameters, it fundamentally changes the situation.

Keeping track of your weight, not counting your fat, muscle mass, tours and overall result in clothing, mirror and personal sensation (and some health indicators), is not only poorly effective but also causes serious self-deception. Misunderstandings are related to many and popular mistakes we make on scales.

Where does the scales mix, or where exactly do we mix, using the scales?

The most common error is in overly frequent monitoring in poor measurement. Once we measure clothes, sometimes with shoes, we go to bed in the evenings, in the morning.

The tendency to measure as often as possible in our desire to notice progress actually hides the latter, because the steps to the new weight look small when we follow them under the magnifying glass. The most common mistakes that are made when using a scales are:

• measuring with different scales and matching the results between them;

• measuring with a mechanical balance, which is placed in a new location each time, without monitoring its leveling;

• end-of-day measurement when lots of fluids and food have already been taken;

• matching results between fasting in the morning and measuring in the evening;

• measuring with clothing/shoes and matching data without measuring clothing/shoes;

• in women - comparison of data before/during the monthly cycle with those after the period of frequently increased water retention;

• measuring in the morning after evening overeating with more carbohydrates and/or matching the results after 5-7 days of usual eating;

• daily measurement - leads to demotion.

Practical advice on how to use the scales so that they are useful to us

In order for your balance to be useful, you must use certain rules.

 Here's what they are:

• Always measure the same scales;

• Do not move the scales or always place them in the same place, then level it;

• always measure in the morning after visiting the toilet;

• measure on a fixed term, but no more often than once every two weeks;

• When setting your future goals, do not fix the desired weight, but also specify other indicators - strength, active weight, less excess body fat, better health performance, etc .;

• if you are one of the people whose emotional state is heavily influenced by the scale indicator, it is better to get up once a month and concentrate on other form tracking indicators;

• For women: avoid measuring when you are in the week before or during the menstrual cycle;