WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS
We’re diving into a topic that many of us can relate to: the journey towards achieving physique goals. Whether you're trying to build muscle, lose fat, or simply feel more confident in your own skin, it's important to remember that your approaches towards these goals can determine the sustainability of your outcomes.
Tools like the scale can be incredibly useful for tracking progress. Regular weigh-ins can provide tangible evidence of your efforts and help you stay motivated. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the number on the scale is just one measure of progress.
Sometimes, becoming overly focused on the scale can actually hinder your progress. Weight can fluctuate due to a variety of factors, such as water retention, bowel movement regularity, or even hormonal changes. These fluctuations are normal and do not necessarily reflect your true progress.
COMMON REASONS FOR WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS
Sodium intake
GI regularity
Glycogen Storage
Inflammation
Fiber Intake
Excessive Sweating
Menstrual Cycle
Illness
Stress
Sleep
Measurement Errors
Medications
Other times, getting caught up on day-to-day fluctuations can make us lose sight of the trends over time that could be showing progress in the right direction. Read more about weight trends here.
DAMAGE CONTROL
Seeing the scale jump may scare some of us and result in “damage control” or overcompensation in actions or behaviors that might not be conducive towards our goals, such as:
Purposely reducing or increasing food to offset the undesirable weigh-in
Over-exercising or being completely sedentary to offset the weigh-in
Negative self-talk and moral self-perceptions (i.e. If I see a good weigh-in, I’m doing well! If I don’t, I must be doing something wrong and should feel ashamed of that)
And if we’re all being honest here, nothing good or sustainable has ever come out of any of those things above.
Remember, your journey is about more than just numbers. It's about building healthy habits, gaining strength, and improving your overall well-being. So, while the scale can be a helpful tool, don’t let it define your success. Celebrate non-scale victories, such as increased energy levels, improved endurance, and enhanced self-confidence or use weight-neutral approaches to support your goals instead if you want to remove the scale from your life.
Stay committed to your goals, but also be kind to yourself. Embrace the journey, and trust that with consistency and patience, you will achieve the results you want. Here's to a balanced and positive approach to your physique goals!
