The Scale is Stuck!

You’ve been adhering to your diet and exercise program since January. You’ve been doing everything right! Pounds were just melting away…until now. Why isn’t the scale moving anymore?

If you’ve added weight training to your exercise program, you are replacing body fat with muscle. With only a small amount of weight to lose (because you’ve been such a superstar!), your weight on the scale may actually go up, but you’ll look thinner. This is because muscle is much denser than fat and occupies less space. So, even if the scale is stuck, you’ve probably noticed a change in how your clothes fit.

One way to check your progress, besides getting on the scale, is to measure yourself. Just use a sewing tape measure and measure your chest, waist, hips and one thigh (upper arm and calf, too, if you’d like). This will give you an easy way to chart your progress in inches lost instead of pounds. Do this once a week and you’ll be able to "see" your body shrink.

You may also want to visit your local gym and ask if they will do a body fat analysis (or composition report). Most gyms will do this free for members and may charge a small fee for nonmembers. The body fat analysis will show your current total weight and percentage of body fat (along with the breakdown of water weight and lean muscle). Do this every few months and you will see your body composition change dramatically!