The Scales - To Use or Not to Use?

When you are looking to manage your weight it is important to have some way of gauging your progress. One of the ways you can do this is by using scales. It is ONE way or measuring progress - it is not the ONLY way.

And for you, it may not be suitable at all.

How do you know if you should use the scales? Molly Galbraith, founder of Girls Gone Strong, has a very simple test - a straight forward “Yes” or “No” question. And what is that question?

“Does the scales turn you into a crazy person?”

If “Yes” then ditch them. If “No” then go ahead and use them - ideally in conjunction with other progress measures. These include:

• Progress photos

• Measurements (using a tape)

• Clothes (ideally an item of clothing that is just that bit too tight)

By using a range of progress measures you get a lot more information. And the more information you have, the clearer the picture you get.

Only if there is NO POSITIVE CHANGE, in ANY of the progress measures you use, can you say you are not making progress. If this is the case, then you make adjustments to your calorie intake.

Change is a gradual process that takes place over weeks, months and years. Because of this, paying too much attention to the normal daily fluctuations in weight that we all experience can cause unnecessary frustration.