One of my main objections about the big weight loss clubs is their focus on weight.

That's the point of them though, I hear you say.

And you're right to some degree.  Their main focus is profit and to keep people returning to be weighed in, all businesses need to make profit so that's not my concern.

Focussing on weight negates all of the important stuff that improving your health includes.  And the number on the scales is largely inaccurate, I've written lots about this in the past.

Last Sunday, we had our Team Achieve measuring session.  Each month, we take measurements for all of our members to see how they are getting on.  The main ones being chest, waist and hips; along with some others that give us a picture of hormonal health long term, more on that another day.

During the first 4 weeks some members lose lots of weight on the scales and do okay on the measurements, other do amazing on the tape measure but not so well on the scales.

The reasons for this is down to where they are starting from; hormonally, nutritionally, psychologically and most often hydration.

When I worked in a big fitness club, I used to test peoples hydration levels.  It became a waste of 15 minutes, as pretty much everyone was dehydrated from a health point of view.  

Pick up a full bottle of water, tip out some, and feel the difference in weight.

Most people are walking around lighter than they actually are because their bottle isn't full.  When you fill that bottle back up it doesn't change shape it just becomes heavier.

This is what happens with our members who lose the inches but not much off the scales.  When we first measure and weigh them they are often in a state of dehydration.  We focus on improving health which includes drinking the correct amount of water for them specifically, 2 litres isn't enough for most of us.

Their bottle becomes topped up, meaning they become heavier in one way.  They also lose fat over the 4 weeks which makes them lighter.  So one weight is going down while the other is rising, thus not much change on the scales.

The difference on the tape measure is the important one because it tells us how much body fat is going.  And really that is all that is important to lose from a health point of view.

Unfortunately, wombs magazines only focus on weight, which has lead to a false psychology around the scales.  Slowly but surely I'm changing that attitude. 

Your weight does not define you.  How you feel and look has nothing to do with the number on the scales.

Our focus will always be to help our members to be the best that they can be and that rarely has anything to do with their weight.

Darren 'not defined by a number' Checkley