Remember last summer when you wished you’d done something about your weight?

Don’t let this year be the same!

With summer nearly here, people start to focus on weight related goals and think about how they will look on the beach. There is a temptation to regularly jump on the scales to see how much weight has been lost, but when this doesn’t go well it can create a negative impact. Today I wanted to highlight why being a slave to the scales might not be the best way to monitor your weight loss goals and give you some facts about how to do it sensible controlled way. I also wanted to give you a date for a free nutritional workshop that we are holding.

 

When focusing on weight loss the scales can feel less like a friend and instead become an enemy to be feared! Scales can often reflect small weight gains which are due to an increase in muscle mass and it will take time before they start to show any substantial loss of fat. According to a natural health organisation, it is physically impossible to lose more than 2lbs of pure body fat in one week. This demonstrates that, without exercise, the majority of any weight loss over 2lb will be down to the loss of muscle and lean tissue.

 

As muscle burns calories through your metabolism, losing this is not ideal. When you combine healthy eating and exercise the scales can often show an increase or a plateau in your weight. This is due to the fact that muscle is denser than fat and therefore until the fat has reduced the scales will not differentiate between fat and muscle.

 

The most effective way to monitor your weight is by how your clothes feel on a daily basis and by keeping track of circumference measurements at key areas on the body, such as around the biceps, or around your thigh muscles and just below your navel for your abdominals. Try to measure the same area each time for more accurate results.

 

As your muscles develop your body will become leaner and replace the previous fatty deposits. Your metabolism will rise and therefore at rest you will start to burn more calories, making your body more metabolically active.

 

To keep you focused try to avoid too much jumping on the scales and instead focus on increasing your exercise and monitoring how loose your jeans are feeling!

 

Watch what you are eating, and try to cut down on starchy foods, fizzy drinks, caffeine. So many of us keep up with regular exercise but are you actually eating the correct food?

 

As we get so many enquiries about what is the best diet to compliment Bootcamp we have decided to hold a workshop where you can learn about the importance of eating breakfast, how to snack in a healthy way and generally learn about how to follow a  good balanced diet. We will be there to answer any questions you may have about nutrition.

 

The workshop will take place on Tuesday 22nd April 7.30pm in the Graham Room at Thorngate hall, Gosport. There is free parking at the back of Thorngate Hall which is free. So if you would like to know more come along, this workshop is for anyone who wants to learn more.