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The Truth About the Scales: Why Do You Use Them?

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The Truth About the Scales: Why Do You Use Them?


Let’s talk about that little square on the bathroom floor that holds far too much power over how many of us feel about ourselves — the scales.


Be honest — how often have you stepped on them, seen a number you didn’t like, and instantly felt deflated? 😣

But here’s a question I really want you to think about…

👉 Why are you using them?


🕰️ Growing Up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s: The Diet Culture Decades


If you grew up in the 70s, 80s or 90s like I did, you’ll remember the diet culture that dominated our lives.

Weight Watchers, Slimming World, Rosemary Conley… the “fat-free” craze, the “special” diet bars, and the endless calorie counting. 🥦🍎🍗


Every women’s magazine was filled with “before and after” photos and “drop a dress size by the weekend” headlines. We were taught that smaller meant better.

And if, like me, you came from a dance background, that pressure to stay slim and “look the part” was even stronger. 💃


Many of us learned early on to associate our worth with our weight, and that relationship with food and body image can take a lifetime to unpick.

Even now, I know so many women who still have that voice in the back of their head — the one that says, “You’ve been good this week,” or “You shouldn’t eat that.”


Sound familiar? You’re not alone ❤️



🚫 Why the Scales Don’t Tell the Whole Story


When we say we want to “lose weight,” what we usually mean is we want to lose fat, feel lighter, move more freely, and feel good in our bodies again.

But the number on the scales doesn’t tell you that.


Here’s what it does measure:


💧 Water – shifts daily with hydration, hormones, salt, and workouts.


🍽️ Food volume – literally what’s sitting in your stomach right now.


💪 Muscle – which we absolutely want to keep (and grow!).


🦴 Bone density – vital for women in our 40s, 50s and beyond.



So that daily weight fluctuation? Totally normal. It’s not “fat gain.” It’s just your body doing what bodies do.


🧠 The Emotional Rollercoaster


How many times have you felt proud of your progress — you’ve been eating well, training consistently, feeling stronger — and then you step on the scales and boom 💥 your mood crashes?


One number suddenly wipes out all your effort and confidence.

That’s not empowerment — that’s dependence on a false measure of success.



💪 What to Track Instead


If you want to understand what’s really happening with your body, try these instead:


📸 Progress photos — the camera shows what the scales can’t.


📏 Measurements — waist, hips, thighs, arms.


💪 Strength — are you lifting more, moving better, feeling fitter?


👖 How your clothes fit — the truest everyday progress check.


🌟 How you feel — energy, sleep, mood, confidence — the real indicators of health.



Even fancy body composition scales that claim to measure fat, muscle and water can only give an estimate. Hydration, hormones, and time of day all affect results.

So don’t give them too much power either.


❤️ The Bigger Picture


For so many of us who grew up in that diet-crazed era, breaking free from the scales is part of healing our relationship with food and our bodies.

We are not that teenage girl trying to fit into a smaller leotard, or the woman comparing herself to a number.


We are strong, capable, wise women who deserve to feel good — not just look a certain way.


So next time you step on the scales, pause and ask yourself:


> “Why am I doing this?”




Because your progress isn’t measured in kilograms — it’s measured in confidence, strength, and self-worth 💫


You are so much more than a number.


YOU ARE INCREDIBLE 🙌💕💪🙂


⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️


Hey, I’m Andrea, founder of AG Fitness and Health. I help women over 40 feel strong, confident, and more like themselves again through fitness, nutrition, and self-care that actually fits into real life. I’ve been in the fitness game for 27+ years — and I get how things change in your 40s and beyond.


My style is supportive, no fluff, and always focused on helping you feel empowered and supported every step of the way. 💪


Want to get started? Grab a pair of dumbells and try this FREE at-home workout I created just for women like you:


👉 10-Minute Full Body Dumbell Workout




Let’s connect!


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📸 Instagram: @andreagaynorfitness



📘 Facebook: AG Fitness and Health https://www.facebook.com/share/1GWb3FUyZB/


📧 Email agfitnessandhealth@yahoo.com


Andrea xx










 
 
 

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