Tape Measure, bioelectrical impedance,
body mass index, skinfold calipers, and underwater testing
may be better than your bathroom scales
The term "weight loss"
implies that our only goal is to lose weight when in fact
our goal is to lose fat and preserve or increase lean
tissue.
A bathroom scale can sometimes deceive you
especially if you are incorporating activities that will
help you preserve or increase lean tissue.
An alternative to
tracking your weight is tracking your body fat with a body
composition analysis. Here are some of the better known ways
of doing just that:
The tape measure: One of
the cheapest ways to measure problem areas. You can get an
idea of inches lost but it does not give you a measurement
of body fat lost. Measure your arms, legs, and waste and
keep track of your progress.
Bioelectrical impedance:
A harmless electrical current travels through your body and
determines the amount of your body weight that is fat and
the amount that is lean. You can now purchase this feature
with your bathroom scales.
Body Mass Index or BMI:
A fairly simple calculation that takes into account your
height and weight and delivers a "normal" "overweight" or
"obese"
You can find a free BMI
calculation here: 
Skinfold calipers: A
caliper measures by "pinching" locations such as upper arm,
stomach, thigh, etc. This can usually be done at a health
club but accuracy is determined by the person performing the
assessment. Try to have it done by the same person each
time.
Underwater testing: You
are lowered into a tank of water and your body fat can be
determined by this. This can be done at universities and can
sometimes be costly. It is costly so if you are tracking
your progress over time it could get quite expensive.
Any of these ways offer
convenient benefits but you want to find the one that best
fits your lifestyle and your schedule for measuring
progress. Try to measure at the same time of day no matter
what your schedule, (weekly or monthly – daily seems to be a
bit much) stay positive and reach your fat loss goals!
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