When it comes to slimming down, many of us get very focused on what the bathroom scales are telling us.
When it comes to goals, ‘loosing weight’ is something that many of us often strive for.
However your weight is only part of the story. One kilogram of fat weighs the same as one kilogram of muscle – one kilogram is one kilogram – it’s the volume of them that’s important.
Which one of these would you rather have on your tummy or thigh?
This is an exact replica of one pound of fat and one pound of muscle, and hopefully this highlights the importance of loosing fat and having a high percentage of lean muscle tissue in your body.
Just looking at your weight gives no indication of whether your body is carrying too much fat or not. Obesity is not excessive body weight but an excessive amount of body fat. Someone who weighs 60kg with 15% of body fat will look a lot slimmer than someone who weighs 60kg and has 30% body fat.
You need to start to focus on your body composition.
How can you do this?
You can get specialist bathroom scales that show you your body composition. These work on the same principle as the Bodystat device we use in the clinic. These devices pass a small, safe electrical signal through the body.
Lean tissue, such as muscle, and blood contain water and act as conductors of the electrical signal, while fat resists it. The greater the resistance, the more body fat you have.
Healthy ranges for body fat vary depending on your age and sex but are in the region of 21%-36% for women and 18%-25% for men.
If you are at the start of a weight management programme, it is also a good idea to take circumferential measurements (of your chest, waist, hips, etc, as these give a quick and easy progress measurement of changes in your proportions caused by changes in body fat percentages.
Perhaps your best bet would be to pop along to the Drummond Clinic for a health assessment. We can take your circumferential measurements, analyse your body composition and you will also find out your Resting Metabolic Rate – another critical tool in the battle against the bulge!