Did You Know?

Measure Inches Instead Of Pounds

Sometimes people find that getting on a weight scale doesn't work for them, even once per week. Measuring inches instead of keeping track pounds is a better alternative. By measuring the size of your hips, waist, thighs and arms, you can effectively follow body fat loss over several days, weeks or months.

A loss of inches in these areas can show a high correlation with body fat loss. Measuring inches is a good way to follow body fat changes, especially for those who are exercising regularly. This is because a person can muscle and lose fat at the same time and a scale could show no change.

By measuring inches instead of pounds, a person can get positive feedback that the hard work is paying off, changes the scale couldn't show. If you would like to measure waist and hips, use a tape measure around your midsection so it covers your belly button for a waist measurement. For measuring the hips, position the tape measure around your buttocks at the largest spot.

Did You Know?

Once Per Week Weigh-ins Is Enough

Weighing your self once per week at a scheduled time and with similar amounts of clothes will still catch small changes in body fat on the scale. Reducing weigh-ins to once time per week provides a more accurate reading of body fat losses and gains, since during a week the fluid shifts in your body will tend to balance out. Weekly weigh-ins can have a reinforcing effect when you are staying on track and, on the other hand, show you when it is time to restart healthy behaviors that have not been followed.

If you need daily cues to prevent regaining weight, daily exercise logs and/or food records can be effective for maintaining healthy behavioral patterns. Using these records changes the focus away from daily numbers on a scale to consistency and compliance with healthy behaviors. Making the healthy choices on a regular basis has the biggest impact on maintaining body weight balance for the long run.