DAVID KIRSCH IN A NEW YORK MINUTE

Do you judge your progress by the number on the scale? Put any frustration to rest. My tip of the day: throw out your scale!

When it comes to getting the body you were born to have, BMI may not be the best indicator of your progress. Nor may it be the best motivator. Many factors affect your weight on a particular day, including the food in your belly, the time of the month, and the time of day. Sometimes the number on the scale won’t match up to your hard work, and here’s why:

Muscle Weighs More Than Fat! (and takes up much less space). Calculated by dividing one’s weight in kg by the square of one’s height in meters, your BMI fails to account for fat tissue versus lean tissue. Simply put, it shows no preference to sexy, sinewy muscles over jiggly parts. So as you shape up, your weight may not change that dramatically on the scale- even though you are looking much leaner!

So what’s the best way to judge your progress? The easiest and most reliable assessment tool is your clothing. You’ve been working hard to reshape your body in remarkable ways- redistributing weight, building lean muscle, and burning fat. But as your body’s changed for the better, it’s no surprise that your clothing has stayed the same.

Think about what’s hanging in your closet. What fits and what doesn’t? Maybe it’s time to give your wardrobe an ultimate transformation too!