Important Weight Loss Tools

A digital weight scale with the word Help written across the display
Learn the important weight loss tools and behaviors you need to succeed and keep your weight loss plan on track.

Important Weight Loss Tools you Need to Succeed and Keep your Weight Loss Plan on track.

So you’ve been attempting to get in shape for some time now. You’ve started exercising regularly and cleaned up your eating habits, you’re bound to see results! The best way to stick to your weight loss plan is to regularly keep track of your progress. The only way to reach your goals is to keep track of how far you’ve come.

If you’re relying on a scale alone to gauge how you’re doing in your weight loss plan, you might not be getting the whole picture. Exploring other methods of measuring progress is necessary to get a better idea of what’s really going on. If you’re gaining muscle while you’re losing fat, your scale might lead you to believe you aren’t losing weight. The number might stay the same or even increase a little.

Important Weight Loss Tools

Tape Measure

A tape measure can show you how many inches you’re losing – or not losing. It’s important to be consistent when you’re measuring. Measure your chest, arms, waist, hips, thighs and calves, and write down the numbers in your log.

Strike a Pose

Take a picture of yourself at the beginning of your transformation and date it. Continue to take a picture each month so you can look at your body more objectively. When you reach your goal, these pictures will be a nice reminder of how far you’ve come. This important weight loss tools is one of our favorites!

Weekly Fittings

There’s probably an item of clothing in your closet that’s a bit too tight. Try it on. Notice where it’s too tight and how you feel in it. Try it on once a week and see how you feel. You’ll probably notice it getting looser and looking better on you. That’s another good way to see if you’re making changes in your body.

Bodyfat Percentage

There are many ways to measure your bodyfat percentage. If you belong to a gym, they can probably measure it for you using either calipers or bioelectrical impedance equipment. Calipers are used to measure different pinches of skin on various parts of your body. It’s important that the right areas are measured, so although you can buy your own calipers, it’s probably best to have someone who knows what they are doing do it for you.

Bioelectrical impedance measures bodyfat by placing electrodes on the hands and feet that send a small electric current through the body. The current will move faster through lean muscle tissue than it will through fat because muscle contains 70 to 75 percent water while fat contains only 10 to 20 percent water. It moves through the water in your body. This measurement, along with your height, weight and body type, can be used to calculate your bodyfat percentage.

Out of the important weight loss tools we’re sharing, this one can really show you the data and help chart your success!

Food Diary

Don’t forget to write down what you eat every day. Keeping a food diary can help you see your eating patterns and show you where you might be taking in more calories than you should. Include your portion sizes as well as how many grams of protein, carbohydrates and fat you’re eating at each meal.

Get Started

This is one of the most important important weight loss tools – actually getting started. Using methods other than just the scale will be beneficial when it comes to judging how your weight loss plan is working for you. If your plan needs some tweaking, these measurements can help you identify where you may be going wrong and steer you in the right direction.