When a Pound Isn’t a Pound

Or Why LBS Might Be Lying to You

We talk about pounds as if they were gospel.

“I lost 5 pounds.” “She gained 10.” “He dropped 30 in three months.”

Pound after pound—we throw around these numbers like they’re the final word on success or failure. But here’s the truth: they’re not. Not even close.

Because when it comes to your body, your well-being, and your actual progress, one pound isn’t always what you think it is. Not all pounds are equal. Not all bodies process those pounds the same way. And not all victories—or setbacks—should be measured by a single, lonely number on a bathroom scale.

And I learned that in the most unforgettable way possible: on national television, in front of millions, with a camera zooming in as the numbers rolled like a Vegas slot machine.

The Misleading Simplicity of the LBS

Every week on The Biggest Loser, there was one moment we all knew was coming: the weigh-in.

One by one, we’d step onto that giant platform. The numbers would spin. The dramatic music would build. And when the weight flashed up on the screen, the whole country would react instantly—either cheering or groaning—based on the pounds lost.

But that number? That pound change? It wasn’t what determined who stayed and who went. It was the percentage of weight loss that mattered.

Why? Because 5 pounds for someone who weighs 200 is a bigger deal than 5 pounds for someone who weighs 400. The show made it fair by calculating weekly progress based on the percentage lost, not the raw pounds.

Yet in everyday life, that’s not how we see it.

We hear someone say, “I lost 10 pounds,” and we automatically think they’ve achieved a significant weight loss. But the truth? That 10 pounds could be water. It could be muscle. It could be fat. It could even be inflammation from a challenging workout.

A pound isn’t a pound—not in the way we think.

Flipping the Script: Percentages Over Pounds

What if your bathroom scale showed percentages instead of pounds?

Instead of saying, “I lost 3 pounds,” you’d say, “I lost 1.4% of my body weight this week.” That may not sound as exciting, but it’s way more meaningful. Now, we’re not comparing apples to oranges—we’re finally looking at progress that’s relative to your body, not someone else’s.

And to be clear, I’m not knocking how The Biggest Loser handled it. They were ahead of the game. Behind the scenes, they tested our hydration levels before each weigh-in to ensure nobody was manipulating the system by sweating out water weight. And most importantly, they ranked us by percentage lost, not just pounds.

But here’s what even we as contestants didn’t fully realize week to week—and what viewers never got to see:

No one talked about our body composition.

We were losing weight. But what kind of weight?

Water? Fat? Muscle?

We did get DEXA scans at the beginning and again at the end of the show—the gold standard of body composition testing. Those scans showed how much of our bodies was made up of muscle, fat, water, and bone.

But week by week? No one saw those changes in real-time.

And for me, seeing my final DEXA scan results compared to my starting point… it changed everything.

The Moment That Changed My Life

After the show ended, I couldn’t stop thinking about one thing:

Why don’t more people know what their body is made of—not just how much it weighs?

And why do we let a single number on the scale determine whether we’re succeeding or failing?

That question sparked a 15-year journey that’s still unfolding.

After our finale, I began visually journaling every day on Instagram—tracking what I eat, how much water I drink, my steps, workouts, sleep, and weight—to stay accountable and on track with myself. You can see it all for yourself at @my_last_100_lbs. There are over 29,000 posts. That number doesn’t lie—and it can’t be faked.

Then, on the 10th anniversary of our Biggest Loser finale, I met again with Dr. Huizenga (Dr. H) for my third DEXA scan. He was very pleased with my body composition results and affirmed that my “stay the course” strategy was why I’d done so well. During that visit, he shared insights I had never heard before—ones I believe you’ll find valuable if you tune in to what he shared on my Going Beyond The Scale podcast.

That conversation with Dr. H inspired me to explore a very different kind of “weigh.”
I began tracking my body composition—not just my weight—every single day.

Now, four years later, I’ve documented over 1,500 consecutive days. And on July 26, 2025, I’ll begin my fifth year of daily tracking, sharing weekly highlights every Friday on my Going Beyond The Scale podcast and YouTube channel.

Why? Because I wanted to keep learning—and keep sharing—what’s happening inside the body as it changes.

Along the way, I’ve also conducted over 10,000 one-on-one consultations, and continue to do so, with people ranging in age from 18 to 96—helping them understand how their unique body and metabolism impact their size, shape, and overall well-being.

And here’s what I’ve seen again and again:
People are doing so much right—they’re eating better, moving more, showing up for themselves…

But they still feel like they’re failing.

Because the scale isn’t telling them the whole story.

It’s Not a “Weighing” Game—It’s a Waiting Game

That’s what makes this so powerful, and so frustrating.

If all you’re looking at is the number on a scale, you’re likely going to quit—not because you’re weak or lazy, but because you’re measuring the wrong thing. You’re looking at the wrong scoreboard.

But once you start understanding body composition, and how your body changes over time—not just day-to-day—you begin to see progress differently. You stop getting crushed when the scale goes up 1.4 pounds. You stop panicking when the number doesn’t match your effort. You stay the course, because now you know: progress is happening, even if the scale isn’t showing it today.

What Women Tell Me All the Time

Before I wrap this up, I want to talk about something I’ve heard thousands of times—especially from women.

“It’s so frustrating. My husband and I go on the same plan. He drops 10 pounds in a week, and I barely lose anything.”

And yes, on the surface, it’s true. Men often lose more pounds, at least at first. But again, it’s not about the pounds. It’s about the percentage of body weight lost. That’s the only fair way to compare progress across different body types and genders.

And even on The Biggest Loser, people thought the men were always winning because their numbers looked bigger. But when the leaderboard ranked us by percentage? Women held their own—and sometimes dominated.

So, if you’ve ever felt discouraged because your progress didn’t “measure up” to someone else’s…

I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is running over.

Please remember: your body is unique. Your timeline is yours. Your success is yours.

And a pound?

It’s not always what it seems.

What’s Next?

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