The Scales Can Lie

There are several reasons why your weight may fluctuate.  Using the scales as the only means to measure your weight-loss success can be very misleading.  Your weight can vary up to 5 pounds in a single day.  Below are several reasons why the numbers on the scale may move around a little bit.

• ·         Water- Your water intake greatly influences your weight.  Many people are chronically dehydrated.  In this state your body tries to hold on to fluids and it retains water.  Drink, drink, drink
• ·         Clothes-When you weigh yourself try and do it at the same time of day, preferably morning, and wear the same clothes.  Your birthday suit weighs a lot less than your business suit. 
• ·         Colonic Activity- A large meal that hasn’t been fully digested will affect your weight and so will lack of bathroom activity. 
• ·         High Carb meals- Stored carbohydrates actually store water.
• ·         Hormones-Sadly this affects women more than men but hormone fluctuation can definitely add numbers to your scale.
• ·         Excess salt-  Large amount of salty foods and products will cause your body to retain water
• ·         Traveling-Lack of movement and fluid retention can cause a jump on your scale.

The scales are only one way to measure your weight-loss success.  If you try and weigh  yourself too much, it can negatively affect your motivation to get healthy.  Instead,  look at how your clothes fit, listen and notice  how much stronger your body is getting and feel  how your outlook on exercise is changing because you are working on a healthier you.