The Number on the Scale Doesn't Mean What You Think it Does

Jill here. Just something I'd like to relate to those who read this.

We had a patient in recently (we'll call him Maverick to protect his identity) who was in for a check up. Maverick was looking much better in recent months than when I'd first met him. He was slimmer and definitely more buff. When he stepped onto the scale, he had gained almost five pounds in three weeks. When my dad saw that, his face was disappointed. I pointed out what I had noticed (Maverick was already in the room and my dad hadn't seen him) and that caused Dad to check his fat percentage. It was down by almost 10%.

Muscle is denser than fat and will weigh more. I have to tell patients this all the time when I weigh them. They'll have worked out, lifting weights, toning muscle, jogging, biking, whatever, and then gain weight. They get upset over this, but it turns out that their fat percentage is always down and they look much better than they had previously. But the number the scale shows always disappoints them. The number isn't always that important--what's important is that they're taking care of themselves and not turning their muscle and organs into fat.

Not everyone believes me though. They just want to weigh less. It's not about being healthy to some, it's about being thin. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea. First goal should always be about being healthy. 10 overweight is better than underweight. If you get sick, this helps protect you. There's a little more cushion to break falls, run into corners, get hit by flying objects, etc. so nothing actually gets broken. And if it's all muscle, then that's even better. Except you might bruise more.

Anyway, that's all I have to say for now. Take care. Oh yeah, read my own blog. It's linked off to the left there. ^_^