Understanding your body composition goes beyond a number on a scale; Find out which numbers matter most and how to measure them

I may have climbed upon a soap box the other day, and I need you to know that this happens pretty much never. I would much rather hide underneath the box while someone else speaks on top of it. But the subjects of both weight-loss and scales got me all fired up. And it’s only because I care so much for you and want to deliver to you the absolute best.

It started with a question that’s frequently surfaced as of late: does muscle weigh more than fat? Here we go.

No. It’s just denser. This is a matter for imagery: a one-pound bucket of marshmallows and a one-pound bucket of marbles. Which bucket will be fuller, though they weigh the same? Marshmallows. Fat (aka marshmallows) takes up more space than muscle (aka marbles). It looks massively different on your body as well. How do you know how much bodyfat and muscle you have? I’d like you to tuck that question away for a second as I proceed.

What does 180 pounds look like?

More imagery, so concentrate: Imagine two men standing next to each other, of similar heights, both weighing exactly 180 pounds. Do they look the same? One has been working out for a long time and is on point with nutrition. The other is just starting out with no knowledge of good and bad food choices and lacks the cardio capacity to walk to the mailbox. They weigh the same, but they most certainly do not look the same. And the picture of their health is drastically different. Point of thought: Scale weight is not indicative of anything useful here*.

Soap box summary: Instead of talking weight-loss based on that number on the scale, let’s be more accurate and speak of changing our body composition – adding leanness and losing fat mass, effectively increasing our metabolism. But how can we measure it?

Introducing the InBody scanner

I’m so proud and excited to announce that my aforementioned soap box drama ended up in the purchase of an InBody Scanner for Elevate Fitness! This is amazing, you guys. I can’t even tell you how stoked I am to get you on that bad boy and put into your hands the most accurate facts about your individual body that’s available today. I can preach over and over how strong you are getting with each workout you put to rest – but I also know you want to see numbers, you want to see the graphs moving in all the right directions. Let’s get those numbers from somewhere that actually matters. In case you’re still confused, this place is absolutely not that regular old scale. Oh. Baby.

Visit this page to see an example body composition sheet of Jane Doe as well as exactly what information you can get for your fabulous and awe-inspiring body. There is no better way to measure progress. I’m totally proud and blessed to always give you the best!

*There are cases where scale weight is valuable. Sudden weight loss or weight gain can suggest disease, especially when you’re not actively trying to make lifestyle changes. But in general, don’t give that scale more weight in your psyche than it deserves.

Sincerely,

Jesse Kepka
Owner, Elevate Fitness