Here's what your bathroom scale isn’t telling you (and why I’m ditching mine for good)
Guest post from TC participant. This post does not constitute fitness advice. Anyone considering a fitness program should first consult a doctor.
Oh, the love affair between a woman and the bathroom scale. Some days, we hate it and we hide it so far under the sink that it’s out of reach and out of mind. Other days, we weigh ourselves completely naked at 5:00 am convinced even the lightest sleepwear or sip of water will add a pound (or is this just me??).
I’ve had weight loss and body image on my mind for at least the last 15 years of my life. I bounce between messages like “love your body like it is” and “just be healthy” and “every body is beautiful” and yet it’s inevitable that just below every body positivity message is an ad for the latest fitness gear and workout plan. Mixed messages anyone?
I digress. Before I dive into why I’m tossing the bathroom scale (and what I’m doing instead), here’s what you should know: (I think a little context for any blog or story like this is important)
I’m a 42-year-old woman
I have no known health conditions or health-related challenges
I’m 5’3” tall
For some quick background, I started Temple Challenge for the first time in 2016. I weighed 160 pounds (my heaviest ever, other than pregnancies). I’ll spare you all the measurements but let’s just say, not great.
In 2017, after one full year of Temple Challenge, I did my first Fit3D scan. This amazing machine is so much more than a scale. You step on, hold on to the handles and it spins 360 degrees to give you very precise body measurements. It also analyzes your balance, your posture, and the holy grail of numbers for me - your body fat percentage. All done, fully clothed, in the privacy of the trainer’s office with no prying eyes, in case you’re wondering.
So, here’s a snapshot of my 2017 results:
I had surpassed any goal I had for myself and was, of course, thrilled with my progress. I felt the best I had felt in my whole life and was learning so much from TC trainer, Stacy Houser, on how to eat to fuel my body, how to incorporate strength training and cardio in each workout, and how to stay motivated.
Fast-forward to 2020. After doing TC on and off for about a year and trying some other workout programs, I found myself weighing in at almost 155 and discouraged. I knew I was creeping back into territory where I wouldn’t feel good - or at least, I wouldn’t feel like myself. I hauled myself to TC class outside at the local park at the beginning of May 2020 and decided that day, I would get back to my 2017 weight.
Now, one year later, here’s the update:
I’ve done TC 60-minute workouts consistently three days a week for one year. That’s about 156 workouts!
I walk my dog about 2 miles a day during the week and 3-4 miles on the weekends
I mostly eat clean but no diets — no shakes, no powders, no pills, no “DM for more detail” products.
I use smart-portion control for all meals and eat to fuel my body, not because it’s “time to eat”
I’m mostly dairy-free, not because I’m dieting but because dairy makes me feel crappy
I have dessert when I want it. I try to buy single-serve sweets and limit to one serving when I can but if I want something, I have it.
But guess what?
I weigh 145 pounds today according to my bathroom scale. Yep. One whole year of doing “all the things” and no goal weight.
Yes, I’ve lost 10 pounds which is awesome but that scale number? It meant I still hadn’t met my goal.
And that felt really discouraging. Until it didn’t….
I did a Fit3D scan in January, March, and May of 2021. Here’s my May 2021 snapshot compared to my 2017 snapshot:
Baseline: 2017 and Current: May 2021
Let’s break this down in easy to understand terms:
Yes, I weigh about three and a half pounds more than I did in 2017
BUT! My body fat percentage is almost 4% less
My fat mass is 4 pounds less
My lean mass is 7.8 pounds more!
Guess what I’d rather have all day long — lean mass over “the goal number on the scale”! My bathroom scale number just didn’t tell the whole story.
I could have looked at that number and declared that all my work just wasn’t working.
I could have looked at that number and been very unkind to myself.
I could have looked at that number and decided to give up.
Believe it or not, this isn’t an “ad” for Fit3D and it’s not even an “ad” for Temple Challenge (though I’ll challenge anyone to find a program better than this one).
This is a reminder that your bathroom scale isn’t telling you the whole story. It’s not even telling you most of the story.
That scale has no way to measure my mental health. It doesn’t know that when I leave Temple in the morning after giving 100%, I can’t help but smile and be grateful for my health.
That scale cannot fathom the impact that consistent exercise has on my mood or the way I go about my day.
That scale could never capture the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes with doing the hard work, especially on the hardest days.
Friends, toss the scale. Schedule a Fit3D scan or at least commit to a post-it note in your bathroom that reminds you that the bathroom scale is just one tiny part of the story.
Better yet, come join me at Temple or join us online via Zoom from wherever you are. I promise you it’s the best investment you can make in yourself.
Andrea Shirey
TC Fan for life
PS) What’s your Fit3D story? We want to know! Leave a comment below.