Throughout my recent articles, I’ve talked about preserving muscle, prioritizing protein, and incorporating resistance training while taking a GLP-1. Those are all important, key pieces of the puzzle, but how do you actually know if everything you’re doing is working? For most people, the first thing they do is step on the scale. It’s easy, it’s convenient, and it gives you a number to compare from one day to the next. Makes sense to me, now let me help you with understanding that number. The scale only tells you how much you weigh, not what makes up that weight.
Progress Looks Different Than You Think
Ask yourself these questions:
- Have your clothes been fitting differently?
- Do you have more energy throughout the day?
- Are everyday tasks feeling a little easier?
- Have you noticed yourself getting stronger in the gym?
These are all signs that your body is changing, even if the scale isn’t moving exactly how you’d like. One weigh in doesn’t define your progress, just like one workout doesn’t define your fitness. I don’t need to tell you this, but every now and then we all need a little reminder.
Measure What Matters
Progress photos, body measurements, strength improvements, and body composition all help tell a much bigger story than the scale ever could. This is why I encourage people to track progress in more than one way. Think about it this way:
What would you rather see?
The scale drop five pounds because you lost muscle along with body fat…
Or
The scale stay the same while you’re getting stronger, losing body fat, and feeling better each week?
I’d like to think most people would choose the second option.
Maybe your weight hasn’t changed much, but your clothes are fitting better. Maybe you’re lifting more weight than you were a month ago. Maybe you’re walking up a flight of stairs without getting winded or simply have more energy throughout the day. Those are all signs that your body is adapting in a positive way, even if the scale hasn’t caught up yet.
At Training Aspects, one of the tools I use is Styku body composition scanning. It allows us to look beyond total body weight and see changes in body fat, lean muscle, posture, and body measurements over time. Instead of guessing what’s changing, we can actually measure the specific numbers and make informed decisions based on your progress. The goal has never been to chase a number on the scale. The goal is to become healthier, stronger, and more confident than when you started.
#unleashthepotential
Written by:
Dan Aquino
BS, ASFA-CPT
Take action… Now!
Voorhees Flyers Training center.
The Hollydell ice arena, in the main building.
