Muscle vs. Fat...this is why you should throw out the scale!

Right now you're looking at 5lbs of fat, and 5lbs of muscle.

Notice how much larger and bulkier the fat is in comparison to the muscle. This is visual proof that even if you gain muscle and lose fat, your weight probably won't change that much. However, your body will be leaner, tighter, and smaller. So which one is more important? Would you rather weigh 10lbs less and still be flabby, or the same weight, and tight, lean & toned?

For example...a woman, 5' 6" tall weighing 140lbs who does regular muscle enhancing exercise, will have a lower body fat percentage, and look slimmer, than a woman of the same height and weight who doesn't exercise and therefore has a higher ratio of body fat.

I think it's time we stop obsessing over the # on the scale, because it is so incredibly inaccurate when it comes to tracking your progress. I personally haven't weighed myself since high school. It only made my life more frustrating and discouraging...two things you definitely don't need when tackling an intense fitness program, or any fitness program for that matter.

I used to think that cardio was the best weight-loss cure...thinking that I could get the toned body I wanted just by running alone. I was so wrong! I was running 5-10 miles every day, and saw little change in my body. Yeah...that was frustrating. It happened for a few reasons.
1) Muscle burns fat, even when you're not exercising...and I didn't have enough of it.
2) My exercise routine was the same every single day - resulting in a plateau that negated pretty much any results. This is one of the reasons why INSANITY is so effective, because you are constantly switching up your work-outs, and producing maximum results in the shortest amount of time possible.

So how do you track your results? My personal favorite method is by using a body fat percentage meter. You can pick one up from Amazon for a reasonable price. Just make sure you choose one that measures fat throughout the entire body, not just the upper body (here is an article that explains how body fat percentage monitors actually work). It takes all the guesswork out of tracking your progress, and really is the only way for you to know for sure that you are losing actual fat. Another great but simple method is measuring. I would recommend measuring the areas where you carry the most fat, for women around the thickest part of the upper thighs, and for men around the bellybutton area. This can vary between different body types, so pick your own personal problem-area.

So...in conclusion...throw out that scale!!!

(me holding 10lbs of fat...if that doesn't motivate you I don't know what will!)