Weight Tracking
Tracking Your Weight Loss Progress
The most common way in which women track their weight loss progress is by using the weighing scale. If the figures on the scale go up or stay the same, it is considered bad; if it goes down, nothing could be better. However, the scale does not give you the whole story. You must understand that a scale has many limitations. The scale cannot track the small changes that your body is making every day.
Don’t Just Track Your Weight, Track Your Body Fat Too
The figures on the weighing scale can be a useful reference point, but what is even better is tracking the percentage of your body fat. People can be overweight but they might not be over fat. Consider the simple example of a body builder. He may be overweight at two hundred and fifty pounds, according to the typical height-weight charts, but his body fat may be only eight percent.
Also, the numbers on the weighing scales can rise and fall, based not only on body fat but also changes in the muscle and fluids in your body. If you sweat a lot, your weight scale figures will go down, but this is not actual weight loss, these are just changes in the fluid levels of your body. Your scale will not tell you why you lost the weight.
Knowing the percentage of your body fat will help you get a good idea of the progress you are making and set targets based on how much fat you have to lose. Your scale cannot tell you these things.
When women are working out, they may find that their clothes have become looser, they seem to have dropped inches, but the scale weight has not gone down. This is usually because they are gaining muscle and losing body fat. This is where the weighing scale fails miserably, as it does not show the true progress you have made by losing all that body fat.
Here are some of the ways in which you can find out your body fat percentage, something which your weighing scale can never tell you.
- Bio-electrical Impedance Scales
- Calipers
- Hydrostatic Weighing
- Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
These methods actually give you the body fat percentage and also help you track your weight loss progress better. Good health clubs usually provide some method to track your body fat percentage. For women, the healthy body percentage ranges from 25% to 31%, and for men, it ranges from 18% to 25%. Also, avoid checking your body weight daily, as you will not be able to notice the small changes your body makes everyday. Instead check once a week to get a better idea of the progress you are making.
About the Author
Spark People Weight Tracker
|
|
American Weigh Black Blade Digital Pocket Scale, 1000 by 0.1 G $8.99 Product FeaturesHandy digital pocket scale includes a retractable backlit display, making the most of space-saving efficiencyWeighs up to 1000 grams in 0.1 gram increments; easy to use with a 3-key operationComes bundled with 2 sizes of expansion trays, including extra-largeIncluded carrying pouch holds everything, so taking it on the go is easyCovered by a 10-year warranty; powered by 2 AAA batte… |
|
|
EatSmart Digital Nutrition Scale – Professional Food and Nutrient Calculator $69.95 NEW FEATURES (as of February 2010) – Now features a white backlight to fully illuminate the display for easy readings. Weigh capacity has been increased to 11 lbs. to allow you to weigh most things in your kitchen! The EatSmart Digital Nutrition Scale analyzes the nutritional content of ANY food by portion size and was designed by an unparalleled team of medical professionals. The database stores… |
|
|
U2 – Vertigo 2005 – Live From Chicago $9.46 VERTIGO//2005:LIVE FROM CHICAGO – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Tripp Lite ISOBAR4ULTRA Isobar Ultra 4-Outlet Surge Protector (3330 Joules, 6ft Cord) $32.99 High-quality ponents near indestructible all-metal case and unique noise filtration systemRobust surge suppression circuits with sine-wave tracking offer extreme levels of protection against the heaviest surge conditions exceeding IEEE 587 category A & B specifications Reducing 6000V test surges to harmless levels under 35 voltsCombines large torroidal chokes ferrite rod-core inductors and HF/VHF … |
|
|
Gladiator GarageWorks GAWP082PMY GearWall Panels, 2-Pack $129.99 Gladiator GearWall panels are the ultimate in garage transformation–a heavy-duty, patent-pending slot-wall system designed to reclaim the floor and maximize storage capacity and flexibility…. |
|
|
Porter-Cable 371K 2 1/2 by 14-Inch Compact Belt Sander Kit $109.99 This must-have kit features a belt sander that won the Handy Magazine Innovation Award in 2006 for its host of winning features. First, this capable compact sander houses a 120-volt, 5 Amp motor that delivers serious power within a portable, lightweight frame that you can comfortably hold in your hand. Combined with a large rubber grip on the surface, this sander allows you the precise control you… |
|
|
Tackling Diabetes with Dr. Neal Barnard $6.97 In this informational program, Dr. Neil Barnard offers his advice on hose you can manage diabetes. The program includes suggestions on how you may be able to reduce your intake of diabetic medicine while altering your daily diet and improving your general energy levels. 150 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English…. |
|
|
Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker … |