This comes from the Oct 2006 issue of Fitness. For anyone who's ever been scale-obsessed...here are ten reasons not to be.
Can you believe what you see? Not always. Ten things that can skew your reading, from what you're wearing to how much fun you had last night. By Cynthia Sass, R.D.
Good news for every woman who's ever had a total scale meltdown: The number staring back at you might not be quite right. "Depending on a variety of factors that have nothing to do with body fat or even the scale's accuracy, your weight can vary by several pounds from day to day," says Andrea Giancoli, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. In fact, experts agree that your body-fat percentage and your physical measurements, rather than your weight, provide a more accurate picture of your health. So before you freak out over the digital readout, keep in mind: a) It's just a number, people! and b) It will yo-yo. Here's why:
1) You're wearing something other than your birthday suit.
Adds: up to 6 pounds.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but how much can you realistically deduct? We tested a few different outfits and found that a sports bra and running shorts probably won't nudge the needle, but sneakers can cause a two-pound jump. Didn't make it into your workout wear this morning? A light bathrobe will up the number by one, a heavy terry-cloth robe by two and a complete outfit (jeans, T-shirt, blazer and boots) by about six.
2)You just took a seriously sweat-inducing cardio class.
Subtracts: up to 5 pounds.
When you work out at a high intensity, whether in a Spinning class or on a hard run, most of the calories you burn come from glycogen (a form of carbohydrate stored in muscle). The depletion of this high-energy fuel can show up as a dramatic shift in weight. But don't mistake the sharp drop in pounds for a loss of bodyfat. "Glycogen accounts for much of the weight you've lost directly after exercise. The rest is cause by water loss through sweat, says Bob Seebohar, R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Florida. But hey, if seeing that lower number on the scale keeps you motivated to put the bike shorts back on tomorrow, forget you just read that!
3. You polished off a big bottle of water five minutes ago.
Adds: more than 2 pounds.
Water has no calories, so it can't cause fat gain. But a liter of H2O weighs more than two pounds, so after you down a standard bottle of water, the scale will automatically go up by that much. "Most small weight fluctuations are due to shifts in body water," says Giancoli. The full two pounds will register on the scale only during the first few minutes after you drink it; then, as it's depeleted via perspiration, breathing and other bodily functions, your weight will inch down accordingly (that's why it never hurts to hit the loo before hopping on the scale).
4. You had a few drinks last night.
Subtracts: 3 to 5 pounds.
Alcohol depletes your body of water. (Dehydration is what gives you morning-after cotton mouth and a splitting headache.) Alcohol also irritates the digestive system and can cause diarrhea. This diuretic/laxative combo makes some women look and feel leaner the day after a night out, but while the scale readout will drop, it won't stay down for long. "Your weight will bounce back to normal as soon as you replenish lost fluids," says ADA spokesperson Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D.
5. You had a "light" lunch.
Adds: up to 3 pounds.
Often, the healthiest meals are the heaviest in terms of weight. Filling, diet-friendly foods such as broth-based vegetable soup or salad loaded with veggies are full of fiber and water, both of which have zero calories but add bulk to your plate and, for a brief time, your stomach. So eating them can cause a short-term rise in the number on the scale, even though they'll actually help you reduce body fat over time. Depending on your rate of digestion, the added weight of a large but diet-friendly lunch won't stick to you longer than 12 to 24 hours.
6. You skimped on carbs today.
Subtracts: 3 to 5 pounds.
If you eat nothing but egg whites for breakfast and a protein shake for lunch, your weight on the scale will fall by late afternoon -- but not because protein magically melts away body fat. Like a tough workout, high-protein diets that leave you short on whole grains and fruits can cause your muscles to use up glycogen. They can also generate extra waste products, which makes you pee a lot, pulling more water out of your body. "Carbs stored as glycogen are like sponges that hold water. When you eat fewer cabrs, you lose water; when you eat more carbs, you retain water," says Giancoli. But to lose a pound of fat, you much cut 3,500 calories through either diet or exercise, so losing one or more pounds in a single day is a sure sign that you are shedding water instead of fat.
7. You indulged a salt craving.
Adds: 4 to 5 pounds.
If you wake up feeling puffy and your rings and watch are fused to your skin, you're experiencing a full-on bloat. Consuming salty foods, such as canned soup, frozen meals or Chinese takeout with plenty of soy sauce, can cause your body to retain water in order to dilute excess sodium. "Drinking more water will help flush both the sodium and the excess fluids from your body and will normalize your weight," says Amy Gerardo, a registered nurse and American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer in St. Petersburg, Florida.
8. You're sick.
Subtracts: up to 5 pounds.
Cold and flu symptoms like sneezing and coughing can cause temporary dehydration, and a loss of fluids means a drop on the scale. "In the first day or two of being sick, you will probably get a lower reading, but the truth is that almost none of the weight you lose is body fat -- it's nearly all water," says Giancoli. So don't be too disappointed when you quickly regain as you recover.
9. You can't, ahem, "go".
Adds: 2 to 6 pounds.
When you're constipated, you have excess solid waste in your GI tract, which carries weight. "'Going' at least every other day is considered normal; any less than that can temporarily affect the number on the scale," says Dr. Gerbstadt. Several not-so-ideal dieting practices, such as low-carb dieting, drastically reducing calories, skipping meals and restricting fluids, can lead to constipation. This means that some weight-loss attempts (albeit unhealthy ones) may actually lead to a temporary rise in weight rather than a drop. "Whether or not it's due to a fad diet, consuming insufficient fiber and/or water can lead to dense stool, which can weigh two to six pounds," says Dr. Gerbstadt. Ease constipation by gradually increasing your intake of water and soluble [sic], fiber-rich foods (such as oatmeal, citrus fruit, pears and beans).
10. You had a few extra cups of joe.
Subtracts: about 2 pounds.
Guzzling coffee during the morning meeting might not be as much fun as guzzling cocktails at happy hour, but the effects are similar. Caffeine is a mild diuretic; it also stimulates the digestive tract and bowel movements, and it can suppress your appetite. Between the extra trips to the bathroom and the smaller helpings, your weight may drop. "But once that lost water is replaced, your weight will return to normal fairly quickly," says Dr. Gerbstadt.
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