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Gemma Atkinson on Gaining Weight When Training + The Problem with Tracking Progress via Scales
If there's one hard-training UK celeb on whom you can always count on for honest and unpretentious insights into their healthy lifestyle it's Gemma Atkinson.
As the fact she's been on the cover of WH twice attests, we're huge fans of the Manchester-based broadcaster, fitness lover and mum-of-one.
Yes, for her give-it-all-you've-got fitness sessions (we've tried Gemma's workouts ourselves and can confirm that they're seriously intense) and contagious motivation, but also for her non-nonsense attitude towards fitness, health and living well.
Over the weekend she took to her Instagram to talk about a tricky topic: weighing scales.
With typical Gemma candour, she offered her own recent experience on the scales by way of communicating just how blunt an instrument they are when it comes to tracking your progress towards your fitness and wellness goals.
She told her 1.7m followers: 'I weighed myself a few days before Xmas [after easing off her training and relaxing her nutrition from late November] and I was 70.6kg.'
'I felt sluggish due to my relaxed regime and daily sugar snacks and I was definitely “softer” than usual,' she continued.
Then, per her usual post-Christmas kickstart, she got back on track with her fitness and nutrition on the 29th December.
'[I was] eating more, but eating correct, training daily, loads of water, all the good stuff! Despite being flat out with work this month, I’ve had more energy and better sleep than I did over Christmas. I’m no longer “soft” in the areas I was over Christmas,' she shared.
'Yesterday I went on the scale and I was 73.3kg. HEAVIER then [sic] when I was feeling a bit urgh,' she revealed.
If you've ever been disappointed by not seeing your improved healthy habits translate to a lower number on the scale, Gemma wants a word.
'Do I feel great? Yes! Am I training & moving? Yes! Setting new PB’s? Yes! Is my skin ok? Yes! Sleep ok? Yes. All because I’m fuelling right & moving regularly, NOT because of a number on the scale,' she shared.
'Please, please don’t let that number define you.'
YES, Gemma. As for those - like her - who stay motivated to pursue healthy goals by tracking their progress?
'Of course, tracking progress is important, and if you are on a mission to drop body fat and regain your health then absolutely go for it,' she shared.
Before adding: 'But health is about all of the above and not just a number. Remember that. Health is a lifestyle. And with consistency and good habits and choices, we all have a better chance of being at our best.'
Couldn't have put it better ourselves.
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