Why Scales And Fitness Apps Could Be Ruining Your Fat Loss Progress

As technology gets better, certain aspects of our lives get easier, too.

But it doesn't always work out that way.

Something I've noticed amongst the general public is the failure of fitness apps and the so-called near perfect scales - actually helping people go backwards.

Whilst they have their benefits, there are many downfalls people are not aware of!

Let's dive into them.

The Scales Aren't Great For Fat Loss Progress

Starting with the crowd favourite, the scales.

First of all, the time you weight yourself is so important. Too many people weigh themselves in an inconsistent manner. 

The clothes you wear, what you just ate, time of the day, how much water you've had, carbohydrate intake, and the last time you went to the bathroom can all wreak havoc on your final results.

Then you've got the scales in my gym, which the other day weren't starting at zero, but rather -0.3?

It's recipe for diaster; gym folks walking around scratching their heads and wondering what the hell is going wrong for them.

I'd recommend weighing in ONCE a week, same time, same place, same scales. Make sure it's only wearing underwear, for example, and after a bathroom visit. Even slight variations to this can cause a problem! 

Scales Can Be Inaccurate 

Make sure you're getting these things right. For example, putting scales on carpet or tiles will also change the reading, make sure the place is the same.

It's something I have to drill home to Fit'n'Flexed transformation clients - get these things right and STOP weighing yourself everyday!

It's inaccurate and just plays games with your head.

Personally, I'm lucky to weigh myself when on a fat loss diet once a fortnight.

I purely go off the mirror - the number on the scales means NOTHING, it's all about how I look.

Moreover, if you've just started lifting weights, the scales will drive you nuts. They are not an accurate measure of fat lost. 

This is because newbies to weight lifting can burn fat AND build muscle AT THE SAME TIME. Given the fact that you're building muscle whilst losing fat, that throws the number on the scales off big time.

So whilst you're likely making changes to your body better than you ever have before, the silly scales won't be giving you a pat on the back.

Honestly, they're the one fat loss tool people are convinced they need - but in reality, you're probably better of without them most of the time. 

Fat Loss Fitness Apps - Are They Accurate Or Worth It? 

It's frustrating - I've had to tell one Fit'n'Flexed diet plan client to DELETE one of his apps that was leading him up the garden path!

These stepper apps can be very inaccurate - and one particular app was telling the client to eat "x" amount based off the walks he was doing.

Low and behold, the recommended calorie intake it was recommending was WAY above what it should have been.

The Truth About Step Apps 

Really, I personally don't see a place for these apps.

It seems to me that a person wearing one feels like all they need to do is "hit those number of steps" and that's it.

But weight loss and an overall healthy life style goes beyond a little marketing gimmick and something you wear on your wrist.

Moreover, those wearing them seem to shun weight training and think it's all about a few steps daily. Now this is great depending on your age, but ultimately as you know, weight training is highly recommended for optimal fat loss and shape, particularly also for fighting off sarcopenia as we age. 

You're much better off having a professional calculate your estimated Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) and going from there in terms of fat loss.

That way there's no gimmicky downloads resulting from wearing a strange Star Wars looking gadget on your writst!

I feel it's an unnecessary cost and burden that at the end of the day - you really don't need. 

It's a great gadget, great gimmick, but not required.  

So remember this moving forward, and remember it's all about nailing your diet and doing the training - after that you can relax, without worrying too much about inaccurate scales or apps that will tell you the wrong information!

That being said, fitness apps that count macronutrients are terrific - I would always recommend them when you're out and about and need to track your food intake. Too often do we eat food out and about and forget to count it, which can hinder our weight loss efforts.

So think about this advice moving forward in your fat loss efforts!

"Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!" 

Only what you need to know...and how to implement it.