3 Reasons Why Weight Doesn’t Matter

Ditch the scale and track your progress through measurements and pictures instead.

Do you have a scale sitting on your bathroom floor right now? Throw it out. I mean it. Right now. Why? Because the numbers are absolutely meaningless.

I used to own a gym, so I had a ton of different clients come in to see me. As part of the process, I used to record their weight, measurements and body-fat percentage. But one of my biggest pet peeves were my female clients who were fixated on the scale. They truly believed that the scale was the biggest factor in determining whether they were hitting the goals they wanted to hit. They were looking great and feeling great — but they’d still obsess over their weight.

So how did I combat this behavior? I decided I was no longer going to weigh any of my clients anymore. I ditched the scale and instead took pictures and measurements to track their progress.

Here’s why the scale sucks:

1. Composition matters. People often incorrectly say that muscle weighs more than fat, but that’s not true at all. Muscle and fat weigh exactly the same — but it’s their composition that differs. So if you look at pictures of 5 pounds of fat, there’s a lot of it. It’s big and bulky. On the other hand, 5 pounds of muscle is condensed and much stronger and tighter looking. Fat takes up more space. Most scales can’t tell the difference — but your eyes can. And your clothes can. You want more muscle so you look leaner and tighter, of course.
2. Daily fluctuations. Your weight fluctuates, depending on a multitude of factors. For instance, you may be retaining some water weight — especially when you travel. There might be hormonal factors at play. You may look in the mirror at the beginning of the day and feel good and look lean, but at the end of the day, you look a little fluffier. Well, that’s only because of water weight. It has nothing to do with gaining fat that quickly.
3. BMI is BS. Look, my BMI (body mass index) tells me I’m obese because of all my muscle. So definitely don’t concern yourself with your BMI because it can’t distinguish between fat and muscle.

What can you do instead? You’ll see so much more of a difference if you track your progress with pictures and measurements. You’ll see the definition come out in your muscles. Your clothes will fit better. And as you burn fat and build muscle, your body will change shape.

In my eight-week Warrior Shred program, we won’t be using a scale — so this will be a good time to practice. Instead, you’ll do measurements and strength testing (which consists of a 1-mile run, pull-ups, push-ups, planks, squats, a sprint or row, bar hangs and dips). You’ll know exactly how well the program is working because you will not only see a difference in your body but also in your improved strength and endurance. By focusing on your strength, trust me: You’ll lean out with no problem.

Are you ready to transform your workouts, crush your fitness goals and get shredded? Check out our new eight-week Warrior Shred program, which requires such minimal equipment that it can be completed entirely at home. Designed exclusively for Oxygen— by three-time American Ninja Warriorcompetitor, fitness model, FAP fitness competitor, certified personal trainer and former NCAA gymnast Angela Gargano — you’ll build strength and endurance while working your way up to Warrior Week, where you will prove just how far you’ve come. Plus, you’ll be entered into a grand-prize drawing for Angela’s Awesome Fitness Adventure. So what are you waiting for? Join Warrior Shred today!