Did you see the “spoof” news story the other week about a 32 year old man who was apparently hospitalised with a “collapsed rectum” after – and I quote – “forcing out poo before Slimming World weigh in”
Now – of course- this is a spoof story.
But despite one member of the club saying: ‘You never get anything like this at Weight Watchers, but then again they can’t eat unlimited amounts of pasta so they’re pretty regular.’ <<< which made laugh… (see the link at the “bottom” to read the spoof email)…
The amount of value that some slimming clubs place on a weigh in at a time of the day where there could be soooo many fluctuations COULD be the difference between you giving up and thinking “what the point?”…
You see, slimming clubs DO work for some. But if you don’t understand what works for you and if the number on the scales can dictate your mood for the whole week, your beliefs, mood and happiness?
Then using the scales alone may not be the right strategy for you.
And I get it because I’ve been fixated with the scales, too. And it can be disheartening. I mean, I imagine how I felt after loading up at the salad and veg bar, eating my fruit, drinking my ‘2 litres of water’ a day, a green tea to help me “burn fat” as they say and force myself to do a run even though I hates running…only to see I’d put on 3 lbs in a week!
^^^ MIND….BLOWN!!!
I mean, it was September 2013 and I’d just started all of these positive new habits at university.
So why can the scales go UP even when you’re doing the so-called “right” things?
1) You’ve started eating more fruit and vegetables –
Fibre is hard for your body to breakdown.
^^^ It can make you gassy and bloated
This also means you hold more water.
So, consider that you’re probably going to eat different amounts of fibre everyday – which can impact your weight!
The good news?
Over time, your body will probably get better at handling your increased fibre intake, you’ll feel more full and stop craving more sugary, higher fat snacks foods which could help you lose FAT so you fit your clothes better!
2) You’ve started drinking more fluids –
Yep, another positive habit could be making you put on more weight (at least in the short term)
^^^ Be it from tea, coffee, water, squash (or even diet coke…)
(One note on caffeine – it’s a diuretic so increased caffeine can mean you excrete more water)
I mean, you exercise one day and maybe not the next.
You may sweat a lot one day (weather / exercise) and not so much the next.
The good news?
Over time, your body will better regulate this increased fluid intake, you’ll feel more full and satisfied, and stop mistaking thirst for hunger (and Ben & Jerry’s time)
3) You eat more salt one day compared to another –
Perhaps you started preparing your meals?
Maybe you’ve started keeping higher protein snacks in the fridge, like smoked salmon, turkey ham, eggs, cheese, natural yoghurt?
Maybe you’ve been making some wraps with some cold meats for on-the-go?
So you’ve been trying to increase your protein intake (which helps you get that more toned, leaner look and keeps you more full up)
But by doing so you may have increased your sodium intake – making you hold more water and increasing your weight!
Or it could be as simple as swapping supermarket rotisserie chicken one-day for a home roasted chicken the next?
^^^ the salt levels may be completely different.
Perhaps you ate out at a restaurant <<< who probably don’t care about the salt intake as long as you don’t complain…
Unless you’re anything like the the wife’s grandad who complained that his gammon was ‘too salty’.
4) You ate higher carbs than normal today or a few days prior –
For every gram of carbs stored in your body…
You pull about 3-4 g of water into your muscles which can mean you gain water weight! THIS IS NOT FAT!!!
5) Sleep –
Some members of my Fat Loss Mastery Body Transformation programme will report LIGHTER body weights on the weekends.
Why?
Because they can sleep in (a bit) more
^^^ unless I’m knocking on their door at 645am as the wake up call…scary thought, I know
So consider this:
If you’re in bed for a bit longer during the night. Perhaps have a lay in. You may get up a few more times in the night and actually PEE more than normal.
AKA
Get rid of more water.
So, if during the week, you say, get only 5 hours of sleep a night…
You’ll pee less during the night (and / or first thing in the morning)
And the time between your last meal on the day before and your weigh in is shorter
^^^ Meaning your body may still be digesting the food!
6) You weren’t consistent with time and day –
Did you weight yourself at the same time?
Did you go to the bathroom before weighing yourself in the morning?
Same underwear / pyjamas?
7) You’ve started a new exercise programme –
This is a new stimulus on your muscle.
It ‘stresses’ your body.
But when you rest…
The magic happens.
Your body repairs the muscles (you may feel a bit achey in the process but your body will adapt with a nutritional strategy suit for you and your lifestyles
Now, this process burns calories and will help you LOSE FAT!!!
YET…
This ‘magic process’ AKA muscle soreness / recovery may mean that you increase your body weight (at least in the short term)
Why?
Because you’re holding more water in the muscle to help your body REPAIR!
Which is a bit like your immune system when you’re struggling with hayfever or your skin when you’re sunburnt!!!
8) You haven’t done what you said you would do –
This one HURTS. It makes us reflect on what WE have (or have not) actually done.
Have you done the work?
Have you done what you said you would do?
9) Menstrual cycle –
You know better than me…
That pre-menstrual phase ‘bloat’ can leave you holding more water (and craving carbs…)
To sum up:
It’s for these 9 reasons why the scale is NOT your dictator (it’s one of many) and not your boss.
And why – in my opinion – :
* Progress pictures (for your own personal reference, even if you scroll back through your Facebook photos)
* How you feel (energy, digestion, exercise habits)
* How you feel when you look in the mirror
* How you fit your clothes
Are the best tools you can possibly have…
Which is exactly what we do in my Fat Loss Mastery Body Transformation Programme
Because…
‘Who cares how much I weigh if I feel confident on my holiday
^^^ As body transformation member, Karen mentioned last week!
And as I’ve learned through coaching more and more…
If you do the work, make small – manageable – adjustments along the way, you’ll learn exactly what your body needs to lose FAT (not just weight) and feel more confident in your favourite clothes
And at times…The journey will be tough. I’ve been there many times, too…Where I’ve weighed myself, phoned up Specsavers and asked for a full refund.
Which is why we use a scoring system in my Fat Loss Mastery Body Transformation Programme to keep you accountable and guarantee you do the things you say you need to do to get the things you say you want.
Matt ‘requesting an eye test’ Fruci
Fruci Fit
Helping Busy Ladies Get Their Bodies Back Without Giving Up Their Favourite Foods Or Spending Hours In The Gym
Ps. If you want a laugh, here’s the link to the spoof article http://southendnewsnetwork.com/news/man-taken-to-hospital-after-forcing-out-poo-before-slimming-world-weigh-in/
