Numbers on the Scale: Don't Be Deceived

When you step on the scale, is that numerical weight really an important number? Men and women are so focused on how much they weigh. It is almost the driving force for them to go to the gym. Let me tell you something: that number that pops up when you weigh yourself is not that important. Matter of fact, it can be very misleading because it doesn’t tell you muscle and how much fat you have.

The numerical weight you want to focus on is your true lean muscle weight after doing a body fat test. The body fat test will tell you your body-fat percentage, your fat weight, and your lean muscle weight. That is the number you want to focus on because it will truly tell you how fit and lean you are. Many people are afraid to do a body-fat test because it may reveal all of their weaknesses. However, once you get those numbers it gives you the greatest gauge on your fitness level and what you have to do to remain fit for your age.

So if you ever have a male friend ask you “how much do you weigh?” Or “I gained 5 pounds of muscle yesterday because I am now 220 as opposed 215 a week ago”. How do you know you put on 5 pounds of muscle? Was it because your weight increased 5 pounds on the scale? Well that number means nothing if you don’t have your body-fat checked and compare it with how much you weigh. You can’t know if you gained 5 pounds of muscle or fat by looking at your numerical number when you weigh yourself. Lastly, a hydrostatic body fat test is a much more accurate gauge than stepping on a scale and this applies to both men and women.

I have a great story, I had a friend that several years ago rented a room from me and he got started weight-training when he first moved into place and put on some good size rather quickly. Anyway, he comes to me and says, “Hey Obi, I almost weigh as much as you do now.” He said, “I’ve been weight-training six months and I am already at your weight.” I told him that what the scale is telling him doesn’t mean anything and that a lot of the weight he has gained is water and fat. He refused to believe me and he actually thought he was putting on muscle. He went from 185 to 205 in a matter of 4 months. Everybody that knows anything about bulking up knows it is impossible to put on 20 pounds of muscle naturally without taking something illegal.

Anyway, I told him, “Let’s do a body fat test and you will get a reality check on where you are truly at.” He agreed to do the test and he weighed 205 lbs at 14 percent body fat. I weighed 205 lbs at 5 percent body fat. He felt pretty stupid when those numbers came out and it reconfirmed what I always told him, which was that the scale is deceiving and doesn’t give you a true gauge of your fitness level.