Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This is a good article on how the scale can sometimes fool people when it comes to getting healthier/fit. Its a tool that has a part in every fitness/health plan, but its much much better to use fitness goals (i.e., benchmark tests) as a true measure of getting fit/improving health. Its why I like to track my fitness levels with timed workouts like:
5k Run time
100 squats as fast as possible time
Tabata scores
100 pullups as fast as possible time
You get the picture.
The "Screw the Scale Transformations" article is below:
There are people who can do 100 pull ups? I can do twelve in a row and if I stacked sets, can maybe make it to somewhere between 40-50 before reaching my limit.
I'm not a scale-lover but for most morbidly obese people, it's the most important tool to measure progress. Since reaching my own goals mid-year 2017 though I find that the scale has lost most of its value, but it was essential during my active losing period.
No running (hurts my back)
No squats (also hurts my back)
Tabata scores (never heard of it)
No pullups (bad shoulders from playing ball for a quarter century)
I use the scale!
And my blood sugar meter + A1C numbers.
This is a good article on how the scale can sometimes fool people when it comes to getting healthier/fit. Its a tool that has a part in every fitness/health plan, but its much much better to use fitness goals (i.e., benchmark tests) as a true measure of getting fit/improving health. Its why I like to track my fitness levels with timed workouts like:
5k Run time
100 squats as fast as possible time
Tabata scores
100 pullups as fast as possible time
You get the picture.
The "Screw the Scale Transformations" article is below:
Every time I see squats I think of a friend who had two knee replacements and deals with issues and blames his doing squats too much in his life.
I tried doing one of those Les Mills cardio classes. They did a lot of squats.
Then one day my back went out doing them. Missed three weeks.
That was the end of the squats.
I tried doing one of those Les Mills cardio classes. They did a lot of squats.
Then one day my back went out doing them. Missed three weeks.
That was the end of the squats.
I started a new workout program about three years ago and one of the featured exercises was squats (while holding dumbbells). My legs were so sore after the first day that I literally couldn't walk up/down stairs for nearly a week. I honestly believe that we should only mimic natural and normal motions when exercising, not putting odd strains on specific muscle groups (it's why I won't use a prayer bench when curling). I think of it as the Karate Kid training mentality (wax on, wax off).
I started a new workout program about three years ago and one of the featured exercises was squats (while holding dumbbells). My legs were so sore after the first day that I literally couldn't walk up/down stairs for nearly a week. I honestly believe that we should only mimic natural and normal motions when exercising, not putting odd strains on specific muscle groups (it's why I won't use a prayer bench when curling). I think of it as the Karate Kid training mentality (wax on, wax off).
I feel the same way - I do squats, but only body squats now. I injured myself badly using a heavy kettlebell doing squats. Squats are a good exercise, but no one needs to be doing 100s of them daily. I do a couple sets a few times per week along with walking lunges. At 69 y.o. my only fitness goal is to be functionally fit. I keep my weight at a healthy level, ride bike daily, quit going to the gym. For me, using those weights was unnatural - at home the only thing I use is my Total Trainer, for sets of rows - very good for my back, arms and posture.
As to the scale, I quit weighing daily - it just does not tell the whole story.
I feel the same way - I do squats, but only body squats now. I injured myself badly using a heavy kettlebell doing squats. Squats are a good exercise, but no one needs to be doing 100s of them daily. I do a couple sets a few times per week along with walking lunges. At 69 y.o. my only fitness goal is to be functionally fit. I keep my weight at a healthy level, ride bike daily, quit going to the gym. For me, using those weights was unnatural - at home the only thing I use is my Total Trainer, for sets of rows - very good for my back, arms and posture.
As to the scale, I quit weighing daily - it just does not tell the whole story.
I'm 54 myself and my short-term goal is to maintain muscle tone (minimal jiggly-bits). But longer term, movement and balanced exercise is what I'm aiming for. I don't need to be buff at 65, only fit enough to enjoy a hike or maybe an occasional slow jog.
Measurements, measurements, measurements. My trainer told me to throw out the scale. Stop with the scale obsession. Just STOP. I am a 40 something petite woman, and so many things can cause the scale not to budge: hormones, salt, stress, and just being a 40 something petite woman that no matter what I do, it can be extremely difficult to lose weight. Therefore, eat right, keep the calorie deficit going, and lift. I will notice the change in my clothes and my measurements. Women can't get the scale out of their heads, and that can sabotage progress.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
