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Do you weigh yourself daily or even multiple times a day? Do you find that your emotions are closely linked to the number you see on that scale? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, you may want to re-evaluate how you think about weight loss. Here are a few points to consider:
You may be getting healthier even though you weigh more.
Your body is a complex machine. If you have begun a more intense exercise program that involves weight lifting and/or cardio, your body is building muscle, but has not yet had time to enjoy the benefits that come with that. Increasing your muscle mass will increase your metabolism, but it can’t work magic over night. If you are patient, you will notice your body adjust. A sudden increase to the intensity of your workouts can cause inflammation. Those sore muscles are a great sign that you’ve pushed your body and it will respond with increased muscle mass, but it will initially retain water while it deals with the inflammation. Water retention can add numbers to a person’s body weight. Be sure to drink a lot of water which will flush out toxins and get adequate sleep and recovery time. Eventually, your body will find its new normal and the weight will come down.
Improving your health takes time
Our personal trainers will tell you that their clients who are compliant with their new exercise program and also patient with the process are the ones that see the best results. When it comes to improving your health there is no ‘easy’ button. It takes time and probably more time than you want or think it should. The best thing you can do is get up each morning and continue with the process of becoming a healthier you. If you have a bad day, don’t let it become a bad week, turn it around quickly.
Crazy hard workouts aren’t necessary but you DO need to have some intensity
If you can read a book while you are working out, you are probably not reaping any major health benefits. Being uncomfortable is a prerequisite to improving your health. But you don’t have to be out of breath the entire workout either. The middle ground where you push yourself to higher heart rates and hold it for a few minutes, then recover and repeat is the sweet spot. 20 minute workouts three times a week alternating between high intensity and recovery should do the trick. Don’t be afraid of a little discomfort, that’s when you get rewarded with an endorphin rush when the workout is over.
If you think you may be weighing yourself too often or overly emotional about the number you see on the scale, the best thing to do might be to focus on these two things: Set realistic goals with progression and look for positive results like clothes fitting more loosely.
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/should-you-weigh-yourself-3-signs-to-step-off-the-scale/
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