Declare Your Independence
From The Scale

The primary reason many women begin an exercise program is to reduce body weight. When translated into its visual equal, they're saying they want to lose inches or dress sizes.

In the past, ideal body weight has been determined without concern for body composition. Now this can get tricky!! It's not uncommon for an exerciser to lose fat weight and gain muscle weight without any change in total body weight on the scale.

So, are you really any closer to your goals if you've lost inches but little or no weight? Absolutely!! Strength training decreases stored body fat and replaces it with lean body weight. Lean body weight is actually smaller in size than an equal amount of fat body weight.

Unless you keep performing strength training exercises, you can lose more then a ½ pound of muscle every year after the age of 25. As a result, metabolism will decrease about 5 % every decade of life.

Since lean muscle mass is also what enhances your physical appearance, committing to a long-term plan of strength training is critical to achieving and maintaining the well toned, yet very feminine look that so many women strive for.

So next time you hop on the scale, remember that you're measuring two things: Body fat and lean body mass. The amount you weigh is not as important as the proportion of your body that is made up of fat - something that a scale can't tell you.

If you really want to measure just how you're body is changing, break out the tape measurer or try slipping into those jeans that you haven't been able to wear.

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