263 Why Your Scale Lies - The Truth About Body Fat, Wearables and Aging with Cheryl McColgan

Have you ever stepped on a scale and questioned whether the numbers truly reflect what is happening inside your body? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cheryl McColgan to unpack the confusion around body composition data, wearable devices, and the science behind tracking your health as you age. Together, they explore how to interpret trends rather than obsess over absolute numbers, and how lifestyle habits like sleep, stress management, and nutrition influence the data we see. This conversation empowers listeners to use technology wisely while focusing on the foundational habits that support vibrant, healthy aging. Cheryl McColgan is an author, coach, and the founder of Heal Nourish Grow, a wellness platform focused on nutrition, metabolic health, and sustainable lifestyle practices. With over 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction studies, fitness, yoga, and nutrition, Cheryl brings a multidisciplinary approach to health optimization. She is also the host of the Heal Nourish Grow podcast and has authored multiple books on keto nutrition and fat loss. At age 52, she became a competitive bodybuilder, demonstrating her commitment to strength, longevity, and aging powerfully.  Episode Timeline: 00:00 – Welcome and introduction  00:30 – A personal story of unexplained weight gain  Dr. Gillian shares her experience with atrial fibrillation, weight gain, and confusion over body composition data  06:35 – Cheryl's journey into health, nutrition, and bodybuilding  From early exposure to fitness to becoming a competitor in her 50s  10:48 – Can we trust wearable and scale data?  Why body composition devices vary and how to approach their accuracy  12:27 – The problem with body fat readings  Why scales may underestimate fat and how algorithms affect results  16:08 – Hydration, inflammation, and measurement variability  How fluid shifts, illness, and exercise impact bioimpedance readings  18:46 – Daily vs weekly tracking  Why trends over time matter more than isolated measurements  21:38 – How wearables measure stress, sleep, and recovery  Understanding HRV, skin signals, and algorithm-driven insights  24:16 – Are we becoming obsessed with health data?  Balancing measurement with mindset and wellbeing  29:04 – The most important habits for healthy aging  Sleep, stress management, and aligning exercise with life demands  31:32 – Rethinking productivity and rest  The importance of giving yourself permission to recover  33:18 – Keto, metabolic health, and personalized nutrition  Cheryl's journey from vegetarian to keto and evolving dietary flexibility  36:58 – Final reflections and practical takeaways  Using tools wisely while focusing on foundational health behaviors  Call to Action: Download Guide to nature's Colourful Antioxidants Find "Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably" at www.gillianlockitch.com  (N.America only)  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5 star review to help others discover the show.   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected] to book a one-on-one call.  Learn more about Cheryl's work at https://healnourishgrow.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/healnourishgrow Twitter: https://twitter.com/healnourishgrow Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/healnourishgrow YouTube: https://youtube.com/healnourishgrow Facebook: https://facebook.com/healnourishgrow