And on the other hand, there are diet programs and diet books that focus only on the scale, and sell you on quick weight loss based on nothing but the scale.

We tend to be focused on the scale, because it is such an easy thing to measure, and it is easy to compare the numbers. You read that your favorite celebrity lost 25 pounds—you can easily understand that. You read, “Lose 15 pounds in 2 days!" Who wouldn’t want that?The scale gives us a number that we can use to compare ourselves to others and to set goals for ourselves. It is simple.

And we know that when we lose weight we get these things. So we get hooked on the scale. But the scale is just one part of it.

You can lose weight but instead of losing fat you lose muscle. This happens all the time with quick weight loss diets.

You lost muscle and you are out of shape.

Here is the most important part: Muscle burns up calories. Muscle burns up fat. And since you don’t have as much muscle to burn up calories, you gain the weight back faster than ever.

If you became really lean, really firm, with sleek, strong muscles, and you saw your trim abs in the mirror, the strong arms, and the sexy butt, you wouldn’t care what the scale said.

Not the people who lose some of their excess weight, or who get almost to the goal. No, the people who keep the weight off are people who actually reached their goal weight.

So you see, there are two sides to the weight loss coin. There is more to losing weight and getting the body you want than the scale. And on the other hand, having a goal and reaching it will dramatically increase your odds of staying lean forever.

Make the scale one part of your weight loss plan. Keep at it and you will see. You can get the body you want.