Body Fat Calipers: Why They Are More Important Than Scales
Watching the scales may be the biggest mistake you can make when dieting… even if they are moving down!
It’s true. Let me explain.
When the average person goes on a diet, not only do they lose fat, but, they also lose a fair amount of muscle mass also. Loss of muscle mass is one of the key reasons why fat gains stall and become increasingly difficult. And, relying on the scales as your only measuring stick for progress means you don’t have a clue on how much actual fat you are losing – only how much overall body weight (including muscle!)
Losing muscle mass is the single most disastrous thing that can happen when trying to lose fat – because it can stop your fat gains dead!
It may sound bizarre, but it’s true. It’s all about the metabolism. Having a regular (or good) amount of muscle mass will help to keep a persons metabolism high. A high metabolism means your body can burn fat at an optimum rate.
Lose muscle mass, and your metabolism slows… and so does your fat loss.
But, truthfully, until you start using body fat calipers you have absolutely no way of knowing just how much fat you are losing. The scales will only tell you how much overall body weight you are using – and this includes muscle mass, and fluctuating water retention, bowel and stomach contents.
By taking weekly body fat measurements you can actually track your body fat going down and know you are losing fat. This is impossible with scales.
And that is why body fat calipers are far more important than scales.
