Have you ever stepped on a bathroom scale, seen the number, and felt discouraged despite all your hard work at the gym? You’re not alone. Traditional scales tell an incomplete story, focusing solely on weight rather than body composition. This is where advanced technology like the InBody 570 scan at WNC Barbell comes into play, revolutionizing how we track fitness progress.
Body composition analysis provides a comprehensive picture of your physical health by measuring muscle, fat, and water percentages. Unlike conventional scales that treat all weight equally, InBody scans differentiate between muscle gain and fat loss, giving you meaningful metrics to track your fitness journey.
At WNC Barbell in Asheville, we believe in empowering our members with accurate information. Understanding your InBody results isn’t just about knowing numbers—it’s about gaining insights that help you set realistic goals and create effective fitness strategies. Let’s dive into what these metrics mean and how they can transform your approach to health and fitness.
1. What is an InBody Scan?
The InBody 570 is a state-of-the-art body composition analyzer that uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology to measure various aspects of your physical makeup. This non-invasive assessment sends a mild electrical current through your body to measure resistance in different tissues—since muscle, fat, and water conduct electricity differently, the device can accurately determine your body composition.
The scanning process at WNC Barbell is quick and straightforward. You’ll stand barefoot on the platform and grasp the handles. Within 45 seconds, the InBody 570 analyzes your entire body and generates a comprehensive report detailing your composition metrics. Our staff ensures proper positioning to maximize accuracy, and the process is completely painless.
WNC Barbell offers this premium service because we understand that meaningful fitness progress requires precise measurement. Unlike calipers or other manual methods that can vary based on the technician, the InBody 570 provides consistent, reliable data you can trust to track changes over time.
What sets the InBody apart from other assessment methods? While bathroom scales simply measure total weight and consumer-grade “smart scales” provide rough estimates, the InBody 570 uses a segmental multi-frequency approach that analyzes different body parts separately. This means it can identify imbalances and provide specific data about where you’re gaining muscle or losing fat.
2. Key Metrics Explained
Understanding the metrics on your InBody report is essential for making informed fitness decisions. Let’s break down the most important numbers:
Skeletal Muscle Mass
This measurement represents the amount of muscle attached to your skeleton that helps you move and function. Unlike total body weight, an increase in skeletal muscle mass is almost always positive, indicating improved strength, metabolic health, and functional capacity. On your InBody report, you’ll see both your total muscle mass and how it’s distributed throughout your body.
Your skeletal muscle mass directly influences your strength potential and metabolic rate. As you build more muscle through resistance training at WNC Barbell, you’ll notice this number increase—a victory worth celebrating even if your overall weight stays the same or increases slightly.
Body Fat Percentage & Body Fat Mass
Body fat percentage represents what portion of your total weight comes from fat tissue. This metric provides context to your weight—two people can weigh the same but have dramatically different body compositions. The InBody scan differentiates between essential fat (necessary for basic health) and excess fat that might pose health risks.
Body fat mass, measured in pounds, tells you exactly how much fat you’re carrying. This specific number helps you set concrete goals for fat loss rather than focusing solely on weight reduction. When tracking progress, seeing your body fat mass decrease while muscle mass increases represents optimal body recomposition—even if the scale weight doesn’t change much.
Visceral Fat Level
Perhaps the most critical health metric on your InBody report is your visceral fat level. Unlike subcutaneous fat that sits just under the skin, visceral fat surrounds your internal organs and is associated with increased risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious health conditions. The InBody 570 provides a visceral fat rating that helps identify potential health risks that wouldn’t be apparent from weight or BMI alone.
Monitoring your visceral fat level over time provides valuable insights into your metabolic health. At WNC Barbell, our trainers can help you develop targeted strategies to reduce visceral fat through proper strength training and complementary cardio work.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Your basal metabolic rate represents how many calories your body burns at rest just to maintain basic functions. This number is influenced heavily by your muscle mass—the more muscle you have, the higher your BMR. Understanding your personal BMR helps create more accurate nutrition plans that align with your fitness goals.
The InBody scan calculates your BMR based on your actual body composition rather than generic formulas that only consider height, weight, and age. This personalized approach provides a more accurate foundation for nutrition planning.
Body Water Balance
The InBody 570 also measures your total body water and distinguishes between intracellular water (inside your cells) and extracellular water (outside your cells). This ratio can indicate proper hydration, cell health, and even potential inflammation. Monitoring your water balance helps ensure optimal recovery and performance.
Healthy muscle tissue contains more water than fat tissue, so as you improve your body composition through training at WNC Barbell, you may notice positive changes in your water balance measurements as well.
3. Interpreting Your Results
Looking at your InBody report for the first time might feel overwhelming with all the numbers and graphs. The key is understanding these metrics in context rather than focusing on isolated figures.
Your first scan establishes a baseline—a starting point against which you’ll measure all future progress. Rather than comparing your results to generic standards, track how your personal metrics change over time. This individualized approach acknowledges that optimal body composition varies based on age, gender, genetics, and fitness goals.
When reviewing your results, look for areas that might need improvement. Perhaps your skeletal muscle mass is lower than optimal, or your visceral fat level indicates potential health concerns. These insights allow you to create targeted strategies rather than following generic fitness advice.
At WNC Barbell, we recommend regular reassessments—typically every 4-8 weeks—to track meaningful changes. Body composition changes occur gradually, and frequent measurements might show normal fluctuations rather than true progress. With consistent training and nutrition, you’ll see positive trends developing over time.
4. Using InBody Results to Set Realistic Goals
Armed with detailed body composition data, you can move beyond simplistic weight-focused goals to more meaningful targets that actually reflect health and fitness improvements.
Instead of saying “I want to lose 20 pounds,” you might set a goal to “reduce body fat by 5% while maintaining or increasing muscle mass.” This approach recognizes that one pound of muscle gained and one pound of fat lost represents tremendous progress, even though the scale wouldn’t show any change.
Your InBody results enable truly personalized goal setting. Someone with high muscle mass but also high visceral fat might prioritize metabolic health interventions, while someone with low muscle mass overall might focus primarily on strength development. At WNC Barbell, our trainers help interpret your data to create customized objectives that align with your body’s needs and your personal fitness aspirations.
Progress tracking becomes more meaningful with body composition analysis. When traditional scales show plateaus, your InBody results might reveal that you’re still losing fat and gaining muscle—a perfect scenario that indicates your program is working effectively. This detailed feedback helps maintain motivation during challenging phases of your fitness journey.
5. How WNC Barbell Supports Your Journey
At WNC Barbell, every InBody scan includes a free consultation with our knowledgeable staff. During this session, we’ll explain your results in detail, answer questions, and help you understand what the numbers mean for your specific situation. This personalized guidance ensures you know exactly how to use your data effectively.
Our expert trainers are well-versed in body composition science and can develop customized programming based on your InBody results. Whether you need to prioritize muscle building, fat loss, or metabolic health improvements, our team creates targeted plans that address your specific needs rather than generic workout routines.
We recommend scheduling regular reassessments to track your progress accurately. For most members, scanning every 6-8 weeks provides the right balance—enough time to see meaningful changes without unnecessary testing. Your trainer will help determine the optimal frequency based on your goals and rate of progress.
InBody scans at WNC Barbell represent an affordable investment in your fitness success. The insights gained from accurate body composition analysis often save months of misdirected effort by helping you focus on strategies that actually work for your unique body.
6. Real-World Applications
Understanding your body composition transforms how you approach fitness and nutrition. Here’s how WNC Barbell members use their InBody data in practical ways:
Strength Training Adjustments
Your muscle distribution data might reveal imbalances between upper and lower body or right and left sides. This information allows for targeted programming that addresses specific weaknesses. For example, if your InBody results show less muscle mass in your legs compared to your upper body, your trainer might recommend prioritizing lower body training for a period.
Many members discover through InBody scans that they have less muscle mass than expected, even if they don’t appear “skinny.” This realization often shifts their focus toward progressive strength training rather than excessive cardio—a change that dramatically improves results for many people.
Nutrition Considerations
Knowing your precise BMR helps create more accurate nutrition plans. If you’ve been underestimating your caloric needs, you might discover that eating more supports better performance and recovery without unwanted fat gain. Conversely, if fat loss is the goal, you can set a moderate caloric deficit based on your actual metabolic rate rather than guessing.
Your body composition data also helps determine appropriate macronutrient ratios. Someone with higher muscle mass typically benefits from higher protein intake to support maintenance and recovery, while someone focusing on fat loss might modify their carbohydrate intake strategically.
Recovery Strategies
Water balance measurements from your InBody scan provide insights into hydration status and potential inflammation. If your results indicate suboptimal water distribution, you might focus on improved hydration strategies or recovery techniques like contrast therapy, stretching, or massage.
Understanding your body’s current state helps you balance intensity and recovery appropriately. During periods of muscle building, recovery needs might increase, while during maintenance phases, you might handle higher training volumes with less recovery time.
Long-term Health Implications
Perhaps most importantly, regular InBody assessments help monitor health markers that impact longevity and quality of life. Tracking visceral fat levels, muscle mass preservation (especially important as you age), and overall body composition provides early indicators of potential health concerns before they become serious problems.
Many WNC Barbell members report that their physicians are impressed with the comprehensive data from their InBody reports during annual checkups. Some doctors even recommend continued monitoring through these scans as part of an overall health maintenance strategy.
7. Frequently Asked Questions About InBody Scans
How should I prepare for an InBody scan for the most accurate results?
For optimal accuracy, we recommend scheduling your scan in the morning before eating or exercising. Wear light clothing without metal components, avoid alcohol for 24 hours before testing, and maintain normal hydration levels. Women should note where they are in their menstrual cycle, as hormonal fluctuations can temporarily affect water retention. Consistency in these factors between tests ensures the most meaningful comparison over time.
How often should I get scanned?
We typically recommend scanning every 6-8 weeks for most members. This timeframe allows enough opportunity for meaningful changes in body composition while preventing obsessive tracking. If you’re making significant changes to your training or nutrition, or working toward specific event-related goals, your trainer might suggest a different schedule tailored to your situation.
Are InBody results affected by hydration levels?
Yes, hydration can influence your results, which is why consistent testing conditions are important. Severe dehydration can make body fat percentage appear higher, while overhydration might slightly lower it. The best practice is maintaining normal hydration habits before each scan. If you know you’re significantly dehydrated or overhydrated, consider rescheduling your assessment.
How do InBody scans compare to DEXA scans or other methods?
While DEXA scans are often considered the gold standard for body composition analysis, they’re expensive, require specialized facilities, and involve low-level radiation exposure. InBody 570 scans correlate very closely with DEXA results for most people, providing comparable accuracy with greater accessibility, lower cost, and no radiation. The InBody technology significantly outperforms consumer-grade scales, calipers, and other field methods in terms of accuracy and consistency.
Can I use InBody results to determine my ideal weight?
Rather than focusing on an ideal weight, InBody results help you determine ideal body composition based on your individual needs and goals. Two people of the same height might have very different optimal weights depending on their muscle mass, frame size, and activity requirements. Your InBody data helps establish personalized targets for muscle mass and body fat percentage that make arbitrary weight goals unnecessary.
8. Take Control of Your Fitness Journey
Understanding your body composition through InBody analysis transforms how you approach fitness. By moving beyond simple weight measurements to comprehensive body composition assessment, you gain the insights needed to create truly effective fitness and nutrition strategies.
At WNC Barbell, we’re committed to providing the tools, knowledge, and support you need to achieve your health and fitness goals. Our InBody 570 technology, combined with expert guidance from our training staff, offers an unparalleled advantage in your fitness journey.
Ready to discover what’s really happening with your body? Schedule your InBody scan today and take the first step toward more informed, effective fitness decisions. Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or looking to break through plateaus, body composition analysis provides the data you need to move forward with confidence.
With regular assessments and targeted training at WNC Barbell, you’ll not just change how you look—you’ll transform how your body functions from the inside out.
Want to read more? Check out our article, The Science Behind InBody Scans: Why Weight Loss Isn’t Just About the Scale.