Stop Letting The Scales Call The Shots

19 Apr 2026Kate Ivey - Founder and CEO

"They are still telling me what they told me weeks and weeks ago. I have not lost any 'weight'."

Sound familiar?

At DediKate, we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — we’re not big fans of the scales. And if you’re a woman 35+, especially navigating peri to post menopause, there’s a very good reason why.

Because the scales? They’re only telling you a tiny fraction of the story.

The Problem With The Scales

Let’s say you’ve been showing up consistently.

✔ You’re lifting weights.
✔ You’re feeling stronger.
✔ Your clothes are fitting better.
✔ You’ve got more energy.
✔ You’re backing yourself again.

…but the scales haven’t budged 🤔

Cue frustration. Cue self-doubt. Cue that little voice saying, “What’s the point?”

Here’s the truth — nothing is wrong. In fact, this is often exactly what we want to be happening. Why you ask... keep reading!

Muscle Changes Everything (Especially After 35)

As we move through peri to post menopause, our bodies change. Hormones shift, and one of the biggest impacts is a natural decline in muscle mass (called sarcopenia).

That’s why strength training becomes so important.

And here’s the key part 👇

When you start lifting weights and training properly:

✔ You build lean muscle
✔ You improve bone density
✔ You increase metabolic health
✔ You support insulin sensitivity and energy levels

But muscle is denser than fat.

So while your body is changing shape (in all the right ways), the number on the scales might stay the same… or even go up.

That’s not failure. That’s progress.

Research continues to show that resistance training in midlife women improves body composition (more muscle, less fat), even when overall body weight doesn’t significantly change.

The scales don’t show that!

The Scales Measure Weight — Not Success

They don’t tell you:

✘ How strong you’re getting
✘ How your body is changing shape
✘ How your clothes fit
✘ How your energy feels
✘ How consistent you’ve been

👀 They don’t show your confidence.
👀 They don’t show your discipline.
👀 They don’t show your resilience.

Yet so many women let that one number decide whether they’re “doing well” or not.

The Real Risk: What The Scales Do To Your Mindset

This is where it matters most.

Because when the scales don’t move, it can:

😞 Make you feel like you’re failing
😞 Undo all the positive changes you are making
😞 Lead you to give up (right when things are actually working)

We see it all the time.

Women doing everything right… but ready to quit because of a number that doesn’t reflect reality.

What Actually Matters (Especially Now)

At this stage of life, the goal shifts.

It’s not about being the lightest version of yourself. It’s about being the strongest, healthiest, most capable version of yourself.

That looks like:

✔ Lifting heavier over time 💪
✔ Feeling more energised day to day
✔ Building consistency (not perfection)
✔ Supporting your hormones with the right kind of training
✔ Feeling confident in your body again

That’s the stuff that changes your life.

If You Do Use The Scales…

We’re not saying you can’t use them.

But if you do:

👉 Use them as one small data point
👉 Not your measure of success
👉 Not your source of self-worth

And definitely not the thing that decides whether you keep going.

A Better Way To Track Progress

If you want to actually see results, focus on:

✔ Strength (what you can lift now vs before)
✔ Measurements or how clothes fit
✔ Progress photos
✔ Energy levels
✔ Mood and confidence
✔ Consistency week to week

These tell the real story.

Final Thought

You could be getting stronger, fitter, healthier, and more confident…

…and the scales might not change.

That doesn’t mean it’s not working. It means your body is adapting in all the ways we actually want it to.

So instead of letting the scales lead the conversation, what if they just… sat in the background?

Not gone completely. Not banned.

Just no longer the thing that decides how YOU feel about your progress.

Because your progress? It’s so much bigger than a number 💙

Ready To Focus On What Actually Works?

If this resonates, this is exactly what Kate and Anna’s Ultimate Challenge is built for.

👉 Strength-first training designed for women 35+
👉 Peri to post menopause options throughout
👉 Short, effective workouts that fit into real life
👉 A clear plan so you don’t have to think — just press play

This isn’t about chasing a number on the scales. It’s about building strength, confidence, and consistency that lasts.

8-week Strength & Fitness Challenge starts Monday 27th April