4 myths about the scale –

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It’s hard to believe that a bunch of counterweights and rods can cause so many mixed feelings. But it’s true, sometimes we go months without having the courage to go near the scale. After all, it is she who translates into numbers that innocent coxinha at snack time or the ice cream cup full of holiday toppings. Face it: the result that appears on the display is the mirror of your actions. Therefore, how about starting to see this equipment as a big sister that gives good advice and makes important alerts? Find out how it works, learn how to use it and make the scale your ally.

1. Gym scales are out of balance
It is possible. But, not because it is used by a large number of people, but because of small oversights. Any knock or fall can damage its internal circuitry. Want to do a test to see if everything is ok? Place a 4 kg weight on the platform and see how much the display shows.

2. Bodybuilding makes the scale pointer go up
And truth. “This happens because muscles are three times denser than fat”, explains Alexandre Freitas. However, those extra kilos are muscle (the lean mass) and not fat. Right after training, it is possible to gain up to 1 kilo, because the muscle tissue swells due to the effort.

3. Sauna loses weight
Sweating profusely for 1 hour in the sauna or pedaling madly in a spinning class does change your weight — by up to 2 kilos! But all you’ve lost, in both cases, is water. “Just drink a few glasses to regain hydration and get back to weight”, guarantees Alexandre.

4. Clothes justify discounts
It’s true: shoes can weigh up to 1.5 kilos (sandals are worth 0.5 kilos, high boots 1.5 kilos), winter clothes such as woolen sweaters and pants weigh an average of 1 kilo. To get an absolutely accurate measurement, there’s nothing better than always weighing yourself in the same clothes — or none at all.