There are a lot of different things that can make your weight fluctuate.
What I want to know:
By: Dr. Keith Kantor
What are some specific times to ignore the scale, and why?
The scale can make people feel defeated if they are using it as a measure of fat loss, especially if they just recently started to exercise, specifically lifting weights or strength training. Muscle weighs more than fat and when someone is building muscle as they lose fat the scale can actually go up and the inches may be going down. It is best to weigh in initially at the beginning of a exercise program and you should also take circumference measurements around your chest, arms, thighs, waist, hips and neck, lastly if you can get a health professional to measure your body fat with calipers, hydrostatic weighing or a bod pod that is also a great benchmark figure that is more accurate for fat loss compared to the scale.
Why is weight only part of the equation to total health?
Weight is very unique for every person, some people naturally carry more muscle then others, some people are larger frame, smaller frame, etc. Weight is simply an individual number that should not be used to compare people according to how healthy they are. There are 200 pound bodybuilders with less than 10% body fat that are far more healthy then a 200 pound person who sits at a desk all day, eats convenience foods and has 30 % body fat.
Optimal health is a combination of biochemistry, including normal to optimal blood lab values of lipid profile, glucose, insulin, thyroid and hormone levels. Other factors of health include body composition, stress management, a healthy balanced diet rich in quality fruits, vegetables, fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Drinking enough water (one half your body weight in ounces per day) is also important. I suggest drinking natural alkaline Hydroxide water, this helps with inflammation, hydration and clearing the detoxification pathways.