She looks nice enough, but eat some trans fats in front of her and you better watch out!
It's one thing if I keep telling you how much the scales don't matter, it's another if a decorated veteran of the weight wars tells you that. So today's post is brought to you by Tammy Beasley. Here is a little bit about her.
She is a certified eating disorder registered dietitian (CEDRD) through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals since 1993, and was the first Alabama dietitian certified in sports dietetics with the American Dietetic Association in 2006. She is an active member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Human Sciences, Auburn University. She is the founder and creator of Rev It Up! (you will be hearing some good news pertaining to you on this program in the near future), which originated in 2001 and has been or is currently offered in a class format in 25 states within the U.S.
Pretty impressive huh? Plus she is one of my boot campers so she practices what she preaches. Nutritionally and exerciserly (it's a word dude, look it up). Here is her take on scales.
Have you ever asked yourself, “WHY does the scale seem to fluctuate so much? How can I gain 2 or 3 pounds overnight, even if I haven’t done anything to justify it? You have discovered how fickle the scales can be. They never really tell the whole story. Did you know that an overcast or stormy day can actually add several pounds to the scale? Low pressure keeps water in your tissues, and since our bodies are mostly water, an overcast day can make us “gain weight”…that is, fluid! Did you know (well, at least most women do!) that hormones can add 2 to 6 pounds over a three to seven day length of time? Anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, or steroid type drugs for allergies may cause temporary fluid retention, resulting in temporary weight gain. Even not getting enough sleep may slow down your body’s ability to burn carbohydrates, which makes more glucose available for fat storage, and increases the stress hormone cortisol, which stimulates your appetite for rich, high-fat foods. And did you realize that just three shakes of salt, or ½ teaspoon, can add 1 pound of body weight? One gram of sodium can hold onto 16 ounces of water, and that equals a pound. So that dinner at the local Japanese restaurant may explain why your clothes fit tighter the next day-salt!
So try not to obsess about the pounds on that scale. Remind yourself that your body’s weight is a combination of water, muscle, bone, fat, and body tissues…so any change on that scale is not just a reflection of fat alone. About 65% of our body weight comes from water, so most quick body weight fluctuations are a result of water changes only. Don’t get on the scale more often than once a week. Keep following healthy habits of eating regular meals and snacks, balancing your fuel choices, moving your body. Enjoy how your body feels, the increasing self-confidence you are gaining, the changes you see in your strength and aerobic ability, the way your clothes fit, and the power that comes from taking charge of your wellness and health. Don’t let a single number take that away from you.