4 Reasons To Ditch the Scales And Start Eating.

Have you ever dieted? Cut out this or that food group? Gone to bed hungry? Many of us have. Why do we do it? To fit back into the favourite jeans? So we can run for the bus? To improve our self esteem? There are innumerable personal reasons, but there is one factor we all share - how we measure our success:

"What do the scales say"?!

But you know, you can ditch the scales, start eating and still get into those jeans.
Here are 4 reasons why:

1) Healthy eating should never be about what you "can’t" eat. A balanced diet means just that - balance. Every food group should be represented; each group does a different job. Healthy eating is about what you do eat. Never go hungry. Reassure your body that food is plentiful, so there's no need to start stockpiling fat. Learn to distinguish between hunger and thirst. (A rumbling tum means hunger, no rumbling means thirst. Try it!)

2) Good nutrition is the key, so a colourful diet with regular protein and plenty of water is the easiest way to go. Each colour of fruit or veg represents a different blend of proteins, vitamins and minerals. If you have a number of colours on your plate, you will be on the way to balancing your diet and, therefore, your body, without even thinking about it. Clever, huh? And easy!

3) So, what do the scales say? Many of us focus first - sometimes solely - on how much weight we think we need to lose. Many diet companies are built on the foundations of weight loss. Heck, I'm a wellness and weight-loss coach - check my advert at the top right of this very site - "Want to lose weight?" Well, I'm here to tell you that our weight is not the whole story. Yes, of course it can be a key factor; and the term "weight loss" has become a quick way of referring to a complex issue. BUT using weight as our sole focus can be dangerously misleading. Weight loss does not automatically equal a reduction in body fat. The body can (and will) jettison all kinds of things before turning to its reserves of fat, leading to successful weight loss with dreadful side effects.

4) Lean muscle mass is what keeps our bodies ticking along healthily, burning body fat and giving us energy. Muscle weighs more than fat, so if your body is redressing the balance between body fat and lean muscle mass, you might actually put on a little weight. Staying off the scales will help, but if you really can't do that, know that you are only seeing half the picture. Also, muscle takes up less space under our skin (check the picture below!) So, when my clients start their intelligent nutritional programmes, I ask them to stay off the scales for up to two weeks. When they eventually do get on, they often fall off! But if the number on the dial is unexpected, they aren't discouraged. Why? Because they all know - measure regularly.. :-)

Want to bin your scales? Want to know more about Intelligent Nutrition? Want some support?
Well, I want to help. :-)
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