lifestyle Archives - Chape Fitness

Posted on 18 September, 2018

Calories burned by activity

The table below was first printed in the Harvard Heart Letter and lists the calories burned by activity, listed by category (such as gym activities, training and sports activities, home repair etc.) for 30 minutes. Activities and exercises include walking (casual, race, and everything in between), swimming, jogging, yoga, and even watching TV and sleeping. In each category, activities are listed from least to most calories burned.

(For more information, please go to http://www.health.harvard.edu/heart.)

	Calories burned in 30-minute activities
Gym Activities	125-pound person	155-pound person	185-pound person
Weight Lifting: general	90	112	133
Aerobics: water	120	149	178
Stretching, Hatha Yoga	120	149	178
Calisthenics: moderate	135	167	200
Riders: general	150	186	222
Aerobics: low impact	165	205	244
Stair Step Machine: general	180	223	266
Teaching aerobics	180	223	266
Weight Lifting: vigorous	180	223	266
Aerobics, Step: low impact	210	260	311
Aerobics: high impact	210	260	311
Bicycling, Stationary: moderate	210	260	311
Rowing, Stationary: moderate	210	260	311
Calisthenics: vigorous	240	298	355
Circuit Training: general	240	298	355
Rowing, Stationary: vigorous	255	316	377
Elliptical Trainer: general	270	335	400
Ski Machine: general	285	353	422
Aerobics, Step: high impact	300	372	444
Bicycling, Stationary: vigorous	315	391	466

Training and Sport Activities
Billiards	75	93	111
Bowling	90	112	133
Dancing: slow, waltz, foxtrot	90	112	133
Frisbee	90	112	133
Volleyball: non-competitive, general play	90	112	133
Water Volleyball	90	112	133
Archery: non-hunting	105	130	155
Golf: using cart	105	130	155
Hang Gliding	105	130	155
Curling	120	149	178
Gymnastics: general	120	149	178
Horseback Riding: general	120	149	178
Tai Chi	120	149	178
Volleyball: competitive, gymnasium play	120	149	178
Walking: 3.5 mph (17 min/mi)	120	149	178
Badminton: general	135	167	200
Walking: 4 mph (15 min/mi)	135	167	200
Kayaking	150	186	222
Skateboarding	150	186	222
Snorkeling	150	186	222
Softball: general play	150	186	222
Walking: 4.5 mph (13 min/mi)	150	186	222
Whitewater: rafting, kayaking	150	186	222
Dancing: disco, ballroom, square	165	205	244
Golf: carrying clubs	165	205	244
Dancing: Fast, ballet, twist	180	223	266
Fencing	180	223	266
Hiking: cross-country	180	223	266
Skiing: downhill	180	223	266
Swimming: general	180	223	266
Walk/Jog: jog <10 min.	180	223	266
Water Skiing	180	223	266
Wrestling	180	223	266
Basketball: wheelchair	195	242	289
Race Walking	195	242	289
Ice Skating: general	210	260	311
Racquetball: casual, general	210	260	311
Rollerblade Skating	210	260	311
Scuba or skin diving	210	260	311
Sledding, luge, toboggan	210	260	311
Soccer: general	210	260	311
Tennis: general	210	260	311
Basketball: playing a game	240	298	355
Bicycling: 12-13.9 mph	240	298	355
Football: touch, flag, general	240	298	355
Hockey: field & ice	240	298	355
Rock Climbing: rappelling	240	298	355
Running: 5 mph (12 min/mile)	240	298	355
Running: pushing wheelchair, marathon wheeling	240	298	355
Skiing: cross-country	240	298	355
Snow Shoeing	240	298	355
Swimming: backstroke	240	298	355
Volleyball: beach	240	298	355
Bicycling: BMX or mountain	255	316	377
Boxing: sparring	270	335	400
Football: competitive	270	335	400
Orienteering	270	335	400
Running: 5.2 mph (11.5 min/mile)	270	335	400
Running: cross-country	270	335	400
Bicycling: 14-15.9 mph	300	372	444
Martial Arts: judo, karate, kickbox	300	372	444
Racquetball: competitive	300	372	444
Rope Jumping	300	372	444
Running: 6 mph (10 min/mile)	300	372	444
Swimming: breaststroke	300	372	444
Swimming: laps, vigorous	300	372	444
Swimming: treading, vigorous	300	372	444
Water Polo	300	372	444
Rock Climbing: ascending	330	409	488
Running: 6.7 mph (9 min/mile)	330	409	488
Swimming: butterfly	330	409	488
Swimming: crawl	330	409	488
Bicycling: 16-19 mph	360	446	533
Handball: general	360	446	533
Running: 7.5 mph (8 min/mile)	375	465	555
Running: 8.6 mph (7 min/mile)	435	539	644
Bicycling: > 20 mph	495	614	733
Running: 10 mph (6 min/mile)	495	614	733

Outdoor Activities
Planting seedlings, shrubs	120	149	178
Raking Lawn	120	149	178
Sacking grass or leaves	120	149	178
Gardening: general	135	167	200
Mowing Lawn: push, power	135	167	200
Operate Snow Blower: walking	135	167	200
Plant trees	135	167	200
Gardening: weeding	139	172	205
Carrying & stacking wood	150	186	222
Digging, spading dirt	150	186	222
Laying sod / crushed rock	150	186	222
Mowing Lawn: push, hand	165	205	244
Chopping & splitting wood	180	223	266
Shoveling Snow: by hand	180	223	266

Home & Daily Life Activities
Sleeping	19	23	28
Watching TV	23	28	33
Reading: sitting	34	42	50
Standing in line	38	47	56
Cooking	75	93	111
Child-care: bathing, feeding, etc.	105	130	155
Food Shopping: with cart	105	130	155
Moving: unpacking	105	130	155
Playing w/kids: moderate effort	120	149	178
Heavy Cleaning: wash car, windows	135	167	200
Child games: hop-scotch, jacks, etc.	150	186	222
Playing w/kids: vigorous effort	150	186	222
Moving: household furniture	180	223	266
Moving: carrying boxes	210	260	311

Home Repair
Auto Repair	90	112	133
Wiring and Plumbing	90	112	133
Carpentry: refinish furniture	135	167	200
Lay or remove carpet/tile	135	167	200
Paint, paper, remodel: inside	135	167	200
Cleaning rain gutters	150	186	222
Hanging storm windows	150	186	222
Paint house: outside	150	186	222
Carpentry: outside	180	223	266
Roofing	180	223	266

Occupational Activities
Computer Work	41	51	61
Light Office Work	45	56	67
Sitting in Meetings	49	60	72
Desk Work	53	65	78
Sitting in Class	53	65	78
Truck Driving: sitting	60	74	89
Bartending/Server	75	93	111
Heavy Equip. Operator	75	93	111
Police Officer	75	93	111
Theater Work	90	112	133
Welding	90	112	133
Carpentry Work	105	130	155
Coaching Sports	120	149	178
Masseur, standing	120	149	178
Construction, general	165	205	244
Coal Mining	180	223	266
Horse Grooming	180	223	266
Masonry	210	260	311
Forestry, general	240	298	355
Heavy Tools, not power	240	298	355
Steel Mill: general	240	298	355
Firefighting	360	446	533

Posted on 8 August, 2018 5 September, 2018

How can Sports Therapy help you with your fitness goals?

Today I´m delighted to introduce you Anna Pluck, Sports Therapist and owner of Relax Therapies who is going to explain us how sports therapy can help you with your fitness goals.

Are you training regularly with a Personal Trainer? Or are you just starting an exercise plan? No matter what your level of fitness an injury could stop you exercising and be very painful. It could even force you to take time off work!

Sports Therapy might be just what you need to stay injury free or to rehabilitate an existing injury.

What is Sports Therapy?

Sports therapy takes a holistic approach to treat and prevent musculoskeletal injuries. It differs from Sports massage because although Sports Therapists use Sports Massage as a technique Sports Therapists are more qualified and trained in treatment of injuries and use other treatments in addition to massage.

In a consultation the Sports therapist will gather lots of information to find out what’s going on in your body. They might:

ask you about your pain
look at your posture and gait
ask what your current exercise regime is and what your goals are
feel for areas of tightness or tension in your muscles
measure your joint’s range of movement (ROM) using a special piece of equipment called a goniometer

Using this information they can work out which muscles are damaged or imbalanced and use a range of techniques to help you get better.

One of the main techniques is Sports Massage. Sports massage uses specialised targeted massage strokes which:

Stretch tight muscles and connective tissue
Break down scar tissue
Increase blood supply to the tissues
Promote relaxation
Improve Range of movement
Help speed up healing

Sports therapists can also advise on home treatment for your injury such as using heat or ice packs and some stretching or strengthening exercises to do. They might also suggest you work with a good personal trainer to ensure you are doing the right workout to reach your goals.

When should you see a sports therapist?

Although most people think of going for treatment only when they are in pain there are many ways sports therapy and massage can benefit you even if you don’t have pain or injuries. For example:

You could go for a tune up before training for an event or increasing your mileage or intensity. This might pick up an issue, for example, tight hamstrings. If you address this you might be able to prevent a serious injury further down the line.
Regular sessions while training. There are no set rules for this but if you are exercising very hard for a period of time, e.g. training for a marathon you might find it helpful to have frequent sports massages to keep supple
After a major event or race. We all know the aching and soreness and day or two after a really heavy gym session or an event. This is called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). A sports massage can help speed up healing and reduce the pain.
You have a job or hobby that stresses your body. Many people are at risk of Repetitive Strain injury (RSI) or other injuries from their work. Having a sports massage can relieve pain and help improve posture to reduce the risk of injury.
Some people choose to have a sports massage every month as it helps them feel good and recover faster

Anna Pluck

Anna is a Sports Therapist, Massage Therapist and founder of Relax Therapies in Wirral, England. She provides Sports Therapy and massage from her clinic in Birkenhead. She works with a wide range of people from marathon runners to desk workers with back or neck pain.

You can find out more on her website www.relaxtherapieswirral.com

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Posted on 22 May, 2018 5 September, 2018

Glenda´s fitness journey

Dear David, When Milae wrote about you in her lifexperimentblog; she gave me the motivation and information to try and win a workout contest with Chape Fitness. She’s twigged me on to several new things but I have to say that winning this contest and being able to work out and chat with you for months has changed my life forever! I want to thank you both for this golden opportunity! I might as well tell you; I’ve told everyone I know or meet about it🎉 I sent you a before and after photo. 😊🌟I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful I feel; all thanks to you and your online methods.

I wanted to share with you a couple of the things that have made all the difference in my personal success. The first one being the DAILY DIARY of food intake. Filling in the diary daily has made me study my intake of healthy food! Knowing that you were keeping up with it was like having a close friend to rely on to keep you on track. I love the variation in workouts so that every part of me was getting stronger! The weekly measurements became so exciting because I knew I was going to see improvements. I loved that you week by gave me body fat % and muscle % and improvements were on paper as well on and in me. I love that my husband and friends comment about the improvements in my size, my appearance overall and my self-confidence. I love that some of my small VERY young friends enjoy exercising with me. “Look what I can do, Gaga! ( the name little ones call me) Can you do this? “ and at close to 67; I can keep up, easily! The other amazing thing about all this that I had a minor injury before we started that we had to deal with an eye surgery, which I expected to really slow down my progress. But David, you told me how to handle my diet and changed my workout my workouts to meet my needs and my progress continued!!! I hope you can share some of my thoughts with others to encourage them to change their lives, too! THANK YOU !! THANK YOU MORE THAN I CAM EXPRESS FOR MY HEALTH!!!! ❤️Glenda K. I am sad my time is almost up BUT I plan to sign up and continue working with you in the fall!

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Posted on 1 May, 2018 5 September, 2018

Meal planning and grocery list with Evernote

Today I´d like to share some tips to save you time and make your life much easier, explaining how to meal planning and build your grocery list with Evernote.

If you have been following this blog for some time, you´re used to a monthly “30 healthy recipes” post. If not, let me show you the list of recipes available so far, in alphabetical order:

This simple list means 480 recipes, without a single paper, which proves that Evernote is a great tool to keep and search all the recipes you need. All you have to do is create a specific notebook for your recipes and save them all in there. But you can (and should) do more than just save recipes. You can plan your meals and your grocery list with just a few clicks.

First, when you´re struggling thinking about what are you going to eat next week, there is nothing easier than scroll down your recipes notebook and chose from a wide range of recipes. Then, all you need is a note called “Meal plan“, for instance.

Let´s plan your next week´s dinners. We could plan all your meals, but this post is just to give you an idea of how easy and useful is Evernote for your daily life.

You check your recipes and chose what you´d like to have for dinner next week. Right-click on the recipe and select “copy internal link” (Shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + L).

Then paste this link on your “Meal Plan” note (Shorcut: Ctrl + V).

The table, of course, is totally optional. For new Evernote users who want to know more about creating and customize tables, please read this.

Once we have our internal links on our Meal Plan note, we can easily check the instructions, losing no time searching the recipe.

To help us build our grocery list, all we have to do is copy (Shorcut: Ctrl +C) the ingredients of each recipe and paste (Ctrl + V) them right after our meal plan.

While you´re doing this, I strongly recommend you to check:

The most common ingredients, like salt, olive oil, onion, etc.
What you already have in your kitchen.

This way you won´t buy what you already have available or buy the same product twice.

As we are used to taking our phones everywhere we go, you´ll have your grocery list available anytime, and you won´t ever need a paper to remind you what to need to buy at the store.

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Posted on 4 April, 2018 5 September, 2018

Top 100 Fitness Blogs and Websites on the planet

top; fitness; blog; top fitness blog; blogger; best fitness blogger

TOP 100 FITNESS BLOGS ON THE PLANET

I am so excited by this news that my hands tremble!!! Where do I begin? At the beginning, you are right.

As you know, the fitness industry is hard and publicizing an internet business is possibly even harder. For these reasons, I am always looking for ways to promote my business. Last weekend, I found the list of the best 100 blogs and websites to follow, provided by Feedspot.

What´s Feedspot? It´s a RSS Reader. If you’re trying to keep up with news and content on multiple webs, Feedspot allows you to put all of your reading in one place.

There is an impressive amount of fitness blogs out there and this list includes the best on the planet like Men´s Fitness, Reebok Fitness Blog, MyFitnessPal Blog, ACE (American Council on Exercise), or Anytime Fitness Blog, just to name a few blogs among the top 10.

Call me foolish, but I decided to submit my blog, with little or no hope of accessing the list. I would be happy to enter the Feedspot fitness blog directory and get some more readers. That´s what I expected. What I got, so you can guess by the title of this post, was to enter the list. I am not in the position #100, or #99, not even #90 or #80. Dear friends, my blog is on the list at number 73, which is not bad if you realize that I do not have a team working on this blog. Just me!

I am so happy and proud right now… that I´m going to take the rest of the day off!! I think you will agree with me… From time to time a break is necessary to savor the achievements and victories. This news is both an achievement and a sweet victory after a long time blogging.

Don´t worry, I will return with new content and much more energy before you realize that I have taken a day off, I promise.

I’m looking forward to climbing some positions. I know I will never make #1 but, top 50? I´m going to try it.

From a small Spanish coastal town to the top 100 fitness blogs on the planet, today is a day to remember and celebrate!

Thank you all, lot of love and, as always, big hugs!!

David.

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Posted on 29 March, 2018 5 September, 2018

How Getting Active and Healthy Keeps You Strong in Addiction Recovery by Constance Ray

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a regular fitness routine does more than create visible results. Physical fitness transforms your body, inside and out, which means it’s also one of the best things you can do to facilitate addiction recovery. When you’re in recovery, creating a new life without substances involves caring for your body, mind, and soul. All of these parts of you are affected by addiction, so caring for your whole self is necessary to stay clean and sober.

How Does Being Active Help You Succeed in Recovery?

On a physical level, doing an aerobic activity that increases your heart rate changes your brain chemistry by releasing the natural feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Sometimes called a “runner’s high,” this physiological effect of exercise is an incredible mood boost. When someone is addicted, they depend on substances to get that feel-good effect, but in recovery, exercise gives your brain that same reward in a much healthier way. This may be one reason why developing a regular exercise routine helps many people in recovery manage cravings because the activity replaces the desire to use to a substance.

In addition to giving you a mood boost, physical fitness also reduces stress, making it a great coping skill for managing stressors and triggers when you’re in recovery. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exercise decreases tension, helps you sleep better, and builds self-esteem. Dealing with stress can zap your energy, but exercise gives you back the energy your body needs to make managing stress easier. Physical fitness also makes you feel good about yourself. Whether you’re just starting your first workout or you see yourself achieving your fitness goals, getting stronger is a huge accomplishment. Gaining this self-confidence builds your belief that you are capable of staying clean and sober by showing you that you have the ability to overcome challenges.

What Is the Best Type of Exercise for Recovery?

Any exercise will make you healthier, and the best exercise is something you enjoy and can commit to doing regularly. However, some types of exercise maximize the positive impacts that benefit recovery. Aerobic exercise like running gets your heart rate up to release those endorphins, and the repetitive nature of running is also meditative, which helps decrease stress and refocus your mind in a positive way. Swimming is another exercise that has the same meditative quality, and moving through water is also very relaxing. According to the Huffington Post, many people in recovery find that yoga helps them practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a powerful tool that builds awareness and self-reflection so you gain a better understanding of your habits and your choices.

How Do You Maintain a Healthy Routine for the Long Term?

The key to making both physical fitness and recovery stick long term is integrating an overall healthy lifestyle into your regular routine. You won’t get the same benefit from hitting the gym only once in a while. But when you schedule and commit to workouts as part of your daily life, it can help structure your day so that you aren’t as tempted to use drugs or alcohol. If you struggle with how to make this commitment, try different types of exercise to find something that is fulfilling for you and works with your schedule. Making good nutrition and self-care part of your wellness lifestyle will also support your fitness goals and make it easier to keep them. The great thing about starting these habits is that when you take better care of your body, you feel better about yourself, which motivates you to keep going.

The hardest part is getting started. Once you do, maintaining a healthy lifestyle gets easier as this positive cycle becomes a way of life. Creating this new way of life makes you stronger—physically, mentally, and even spiritually—for staying on the right track in recovery.

Photo credit: Pexels

Constance Ray

Constance Ray started Recoverywell.org with the goal of creating a safe place for people to share how addiction has affected them, whether they are combating it themselves or watching someone they care about work to overcome it. The goal is to share stories of hope from survivors who know that the fight against addiction is one worth having, because no matter how it affects you, life can get better.

Visit Recoverywell.org

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Posted on 15 February, 2018

The winner of the contest

For today I was planning to publish some recipes, but yesterday something interesting happened.

I can not find words to express the luck I had with the last winner of my contest, Glenda. Yesterday she received an email from Evernote that she allowed me to share with you. Maybe this gives you an idea of how useful Evernote could be for you.

Account Manager: “Hi Glenda,

Welcome to Evernote Business! I would love to connect to discuss the goals you are hoping to achieve with Evernote and learn how I can help you and your team work together more efficiently.

Please let me know when you are available for a quick call or schedule immediately on my calendar. I am happy to suggest optimal ways to set up your team, schedule a training session, and answer any questions!”

Glenda:

“I recently won a contest to work with Chape Fitness and consequently, David had me right on Evernote. Seeing what he is able to share and communicate on Evernote and how he can demonstrate and keep up with me and his clients really impressed me. Once I am better at this; I will share this with my friends who could really use this in their businesses.

I only found this site because I had won the Chape fitness workouts and one of the perks was discovering Evernote! David Neira helped me figure out my issues. Which I believe were my own lack of understanding.
At this point, I am learning how to use it through the workout and diet info from David.
In the 3 days I’ve been on it; I am amazed at all it can do. I see the potential to put my work on this platform to save and share.
I love the platform!! I am a singer, director, composer, teacher, choreographer…constantly on the move and constantly creating. Mostly, I see how useful it is and could be for my family and friends who work internationally! I can see how this would make my work easier to keep up with and share.
Thank you so much!”

New updates on Glenda’s progress soon! She is very motivated and giving her best from the first day.

As regards Evernote, it is up to you to take a look and explore how it can help you in your daily life. Prozac announced in the 60s saying that 8 million housewives could not be wrong. Maybe I should tell you that 200 million Evernote users cannot be wrong.

Posted on 29 January, 2018 5 September, 2018

Weider´s training principles: The isolation principle

Several muscles can be trained as a unit or isolated and trained individually. All muscles are involved more or less in every movement – either as stabilizers, agonist, antagonists or synergistic. If a particular muscle is to be built up, it needs to be exercised as separately as possible from the other muscles.

The isolation principle

The main focus for isolation work is to concentrate fully on using the main muscle to move the weight.

Main Muscles Worked: The muscles that are used the most during the exercise.

Secondary Muscles Worked: Muscles that assist the main muscles in the exercise.

Stabilizers: Muscles that are not worked by movement, but rather assist in stabilizing the body in addition to the weight of the exercise.

Let´s analyze the Barbell Curls, for example:

Main Muscles Worked:

Biceps Brachii

Secondary Muscles Worked:

Brachialis
Brachioradialis

Stabilizers:

Deltoid, Anterior
Trapezius, Upper
Trapezius, Middle
Levator Scapulae
Wrist Flexors

Some people often make the mistake that isolation work is useless and a full compound routine is all one needs to build muscle. While compounds are the quickest way to work your body, they fail to fully exhaust the muscles. This is where isolation work is needed.

While a compound workout is faster, isolations will better target each individual muscle, resulting in a complete workout. This puts more stress on the muscles, and thus makes them grow better than a full compound workout.

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of An All Isolation Workout?

Results: Put in simpler terms, it will give you maximum muscle growth. When body parts are neglected they won’t be able to grow. Isolation movements give you the ultimate edge. You get to hit the muscle group that couldn’t be hit with compound movements, or it wasn’t hit as good and that’s why it’s lacking.

Completely exhausting a muscle. Compounds work multiple muscles at once, yet it is impossible to work each of those muscles to its max with a single compound exercise. One muscle will tire out before the other. Thus the only way to get a complete workout with compounds would be to do a compound exercise for every muscle in your body. And that is not feasible due to energy and time. This is where isolation work shines, each muscle can be worked to its maximum potential that does not take an extreme amount of time or more energy than one has.

Fewer opportunities for injuries: Injuries can arise in all types of workouts, but they are much less common in isolation exercises. This being because compounds are more intense than isolations. They use several muscles at once, which greatly opens the door for one muscle overpowering another, thus resulting in a pulled muscle. Examples are the “Big 3”: squats, deadlifts, and bench press. Squats and deadlifts put a great deal of pressure on your spinal column while bench press puts pressure on your chest and shoulders at once, often contributing to a pulled muscle if the barbell slips.

Fitness woman doing exercises on white background

Who Would Benefit From Using An All Isolation Workout?

The people who gain the most benefit from an all isolation workout would definitely be people looking for a symmetrical body.

Others who would benefit from an all isolation workout would be older people who may not have the strength or bone support to do squats, deadlifts, bench presses or pull-ups.

Also for beginners, who may not know correct form for the big compound exercises or have enough strength to perform them, would benefit from an all isolation routine.

There are not many people that can do pull-ups on their first day in the gym or can do a set of squats in proper form. An isolation workout would give these people an introduction to weightlifting before they start doing the more advanced exercises. Whatever the reason, an all isolation routine has its place.

Do you need help to achieve your fitness goals? I still have some available spots.

Do you think any of your friends should read this? Please, share on your favorite social network.

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Posted on 24 January, 2018 22 July, 2018

Mliae´s Week 3 update

I have to say that I am very proud of this girl. After a mentally tough week with the weight fluctuations and despite all the stress, she continues doing her workouts and adjusting to the diet and we begin to see results, we lose body fat and we gain lean muscle.

The least known part of personal training is that sometimes we have to act as therapists and focus more on the mental aspects of the client rather than on diet or exercise. I know that everyone wants to do a week of diet and exercise and see instant results, but that just does not work that way. And we have to take the time to explain and make them understand it.

This week has been hard for her, even suffering from migraines she has managed to keep training and maintain her diet.

Please be nice and leave a spirited comment on her blog. via Flabby-Assed to Fabulous with Chape! Week 3 Update

Posted on 18 January, 2018 8 April, 2018

Your scale, body composition, and weight fluctuations

The biggest problem with the scale is that it only shows a number. In terms of tissue type, the body may be analyzed into water (blood, lymph, urine), fat, muscle, bone, carbs (glycogen and glucose), nervous tissue (brain and nerves), hormones, connective tissue, contents of digestive tract (including intestinal gas), air in lungs, and epithelium. The scale shows your total body weight.

Obsessing over what the scale says without considering body composition is where the trouble begins. Your ratio of fat to muscle is known as body composition and it’s one of the ideal ways to judge your progress. Instead of obsessing over the reading on the scale, shift your focus to body composition.

Body composition

The percentage of fat varies from person to person, but even an obese person has more water than fat.

The adult human body averages 53% water. This varies by age, sex, and adiposity. In a large sample of adults of all ages and both sexes, the figure for water fraction by weight was found to be 48 ±6% for females and 58 ±8% water for males. Your body weight can fluctuate 2-4 pounds a day or more from shifts in water alone.

In a lean adult, the percentages of protein and water are comparable. It’s about 16%. Muscles, including the heart, contain a lot of muscle. Hair and fingernails are protein. Skin contains a large amount of protein, too. Muscle is the weight you want to keep. Fat is the weight you want to shed. Even if you’re not an athlete or bodybuilder, you should still set goals to develop and maintain muscle not only for how it looks but also for what it does for your metabolism, your strength, your health and even your confidence.

Carbohydrates are stored in the muscle as glycogen and water are stored along with them. That’s why your weight can go up a few pounds when you eat more carbs. Add sodium (salt) and you may gain even more. Humans use glucose as an energy source, there isn’t that much of it free in the bloodstream at any given time. Sugar and other carbohydrates only account for about 1% of body mass.

Minerals account for about 6% of the body. They include salts and metals. Common minerals include sodium, chlorine, calcium, potassium, and iron.

The scale is not your enemy. It can be your friend if you know how to use the number as part of the feedback you need to progress and make course corrections. What matters the most is body composition, not just body weight.

Simply remember the difference between body weight, muscle weight, and fat weight. This knowledge will change the way you think about diet and exercise, changing the way you act. You’ll act smarter! You’ll start thinking about muscle!

Measure your body perimeters

To measure our body circumferences, all you need is a dressmaker tape. Place the tape around the body without pressing.

Neck: Relaxed, measure the circumference of your neck around your widest point.
Shoulders: Relaxed, arms at your sides, measure around the widest part of the perimeter.
Chest: Measure the circumference of your chest around your widest point.
Bíceps: With the arm relaxed and hanging beside the body, measure the horizontal circumference at the midpoint.
Abdomen: Relaxed, measure the horizontal circumference at navel level.
Forearm: Arm hanging beside the body and slightly separated from the trunk, measure the perimeter at the widest point.
Waist: Relax your abdomen, measure the narrow horizontal perimeter of the torso.
Hip/Glute: With both feet together, measure the maximum circumference of the hip.
Thigh: Standing with legs slightly apart, measure the maximum horizontal circumference just below the gluteal fold.
Calf: Standing with legs slightly apart, measure the maximum horizontal circumference between the knee and ankle.

With this measurements, calculate your body composition.

Weight fluctuations

Don’t worry if you get on the scale and find that your weight has gone up or down a few pounds from the day before. The amount of food you eat, how much water you drink, how much you exercise and how much you’ve gone to the bathroom can all temporarily influence your weight. Weight training can cause your muscles to retain water, and your body may also retain more water if you’ve eaten a lot of carbohydrates. Salty food intake, hormonal fluctuations, and constipation can also affect your weight, temporarily making you a few pounds heavier than usual.

Reasons why body weight fluctuates daily:

1) Sodium: Think of your body like a pendulum scale. If you eat more salt than usual one day, your body will react by trying to balance the scale by retaining more water. Eat less salt than usual, and you have the opposite effect. If you eat a lot of salty food, you retain fluid, causing you to feel bloated and potentially see a higher number on the scale.

If you´re trying to lose weight, avoid these salty foods:

Pretzels: Naturally low in fat, and some are made with whole wheat. But you can get a lot of sodium from them, especially if you don’t stop at a 1-ounce serving.
Pasta sauce: Many are very high in sodium, often with more than 600 milligrams of sodium per 1/2 cup serving.
Instant noodles: Instant noodle soup cups or packages are easy, inexpensive, and taste pretty good. But one serving will deliver about 750-950 milligrams of sodium (depending on the brand and the flavor).
Mixed nuts: Nuts are a smart snack, giving you “good” fats, fiber, and protein. Naturally, nuts have almost no sodium, but nut mixes often have added salt, so check the label.
Spicy chicken tenders: One order (three pieces) of spicy chicken tenders from a fast-food chain or restaurant can add more than 2,100 milligrams of sodium.
Tortilla chips: Most tortilla chips are dusted with salt, totaling at least 250 milligrams of sodium per 2-ounce serving.
Bottled Salad Dressing: Can have as much as 400 milligrams of sodium per 2-tablespoon serving, depending on the flavor and brand of the dressing.
Lunch meats: Processed meats have salt and sodium for shelf life (or food preservation) and taste. Packaged lunch meats, even when they look like they have just been carved, contain about 560 milligrams of sodium or more per 2-ounce serving.
French fries: Even the smallest size of fast-food french fries adds at least 250 milligrams of sodium.
Fast Food burger or sandwich: One fast-food burger or sandwich alone can have more sodium than you should get in a whole day.

2) Alcohol: This diuretic causes dehydration in the body, which leads to water retention. The water retention is a result of your body wanting to make up for the difference in water levels drinking alcohol has caused. Also, alcohol stimulates your appetite and wrecks your self-control regarding the amount of food that you consume.

3) Carbohydrate intake: The body turns the majority of eaten carbs into glucose for immediate energy, storing them in the liver. Glucose that is not used for immediate energy, turns to glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the muscle tissue, which can lead to water retention. To save each gram of glycogen, we need three grams of water. This is why endurance athletes who carb-load tend to gain water weight in the days leading up to their races, and why people on low-carb diets lose weight so quickly at first. Aa low-carb diet often leads to rapid weight loss, but it is not fat you’re losing, it’s the body using up the stored glycogen for energy, which causes less water to be retained, leading to weight loss (not fat loss).

4) Strength training: Lifting weights or doing body weight exercises causes trauma to muscle tissue. The muscle rebuilds itself and grows, making you stronger and more toned. Part of the body’s response when repairing microscopic tears in muscle is fluid retention.

5) Dehydration: While bodybuilders and fitness models often intentionally cut down on water before competitions or photo shoots to show off more defined muscles, depleting your body of liquids can actually make you retain water. When we don’t drink enough fluids, our bodies hold on to whatever water we do have in us to maintain fluid balance. Then, our kidneys excrete fewer fluids via urine because they’re training to maintain that balance, and that can make the scale go up.

6) Restroom usage: 1-3 pounds a day of body weight change can be seen by using or not using the restroom.

7) Hormones: Most women are probably familiar with this one already. Experts believe that water is retained when hormones fluctuate, especially about one week prior to your period.

All of these can make your body weight go up or down without causing an increase or decrease in body fat. They are not necessarily areas you need to overly concern yourself with controlling, but hopefully now that you know a little more into how and why the number on the scale is not stable, you will relax a little when you step on the scale and it’s not necessarily what you were expecting.

Sustainable fat loss

The human body is always trying to maintain water balance for our overall health.

One to two pounds of weight loss is considered to be a healthy amount of weight to lose in a week.

Why is more weight not better? If you lose more than the 1-2 pounds in a week, it most likely not just body fat. It could also be muscle tissue, water weight, etc.

Do you need help to achieve your fitness goals? I still have some available spots.

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