Know to Grow: How Measuring Gave Me the Power to Move Forward
I started tracking my muscle mass, body fat, and more with InBody and LifeBase. Here's how using real data, not guesswork, is empowering my health and longevity journey at 73.
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” — Peter Drucker
“To know yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” — Aristotle
“You’re not guessing. You’re learning.” — Me, after my first scan
🌀 We’ve Talked About Starting Again. Now Let’s Talk About Knowing Where You’re Starting From.
As I shared in my previous posts, turning 73 sparked a new season of courage.
I began Ballroom Dance.
I recommitted to Pilates—not for posture, but for power.
I stopped asking, “What should I let go of?” and started asking, “What can I build next?”
But there was one more question I hadn’t explored:
“Where am I—really?”
Not in mood or weight or self-image.
But in measurable, actionable terms.
That’s when I stepped onto the InBody scanner.
And it changed everything.
🧬 What’s Actually Being Measured?
This isn’t your bathroom scale.
InBody body composition technology offers a detailed look into your physiological landscape:
- Skeletal Muscle Mass – Key for function, balance, and longevity
- Body Fat Percentage – A holistic indicator of metabolic health
- Visceral Fat – Strongly linked to heart disease, insulin resistance, and inflammation
- Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – The energy your body burns at rest
- Hydration & Water Balance – Reflects tissue function and energy efficiency
- Segmental Muscle Analysis – Shows left/right and upper/lower body strength patterns
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, author of Forever Strong, calls muscle
“the organ of longevity”—a phrase backed by research across metabolic, immune, and neurological health domains.
Likewise, Dr. Stacy Sims, an expert in female physiology, emphasizes that
“muscle mass is a critical buffer against hormonal decline and aging” for women over 50.
These aren’t aesthetic metrics.
They are healthspan metrics—and the sooner we track them, the better we can protect our future.
🧠 The Empowerment of Knowing
After my first scan, I didn’t feel judged.
I felt equipped.
There was no “good” or “bad.”
Just data that said:
“Here’s where you are. Now let’s work from here.”
This shift from assumption to clarity reminded me of something Dr. Peter Attia says in Outlive:
“We can’t change what we aren’t willing to confront. But when we measure, we gain power over time.”
📲 Enter: LifeBase
Of course I try to eat well.
But do I know if I’m nourishing my goals?
LifeBase connects the dots between the data and the day-to-day.
It’s a nutrition platform that transforms my InBody scan results into customized macronutrient targets based on my goal: maintaining and building lean muscle.
Dr. Stacy Sims teaches that protein needs rise as estrogen declines—yet most women over 50 are under-consuming it.
LifeBase doesn’t guess. It calculates.
And its app keeps me accountable and aligned with my body’s real needs.
💬 From Guessing to Growing
Before InBody + LifeBase, I was relying on intuition alone.
And while I trust my intuition—I now pair it with real data.
It’s not about chasing perfection.
It’s about partnering with truth.
It’s about saying:
“I see you. I believe in you. Let’s grow—together.”
🌿 The Story of One Week
In just one week of tracking with InBody + LifeBase, I noticed:
- A subtle rise in energy
- A deeper sense of agency
- A stronger sense of self-direction
Because I wasn’t guessing anymore.
I was growing—on purpose.
📣 Next Up: My First Full Week with InBody + LifeBase
In the next blog, I’ll share what changed in my first full week of using this system:
- What surprised me
- What I adjusted
- And how it’s shaping my day-to-day choices, from my studio practice to my evening meals
But for now, I’ll leave you with this:
Measurement isn’t about perfection.
It’s about direction.
And direction is everything.
📚 Citations + Resources
- Peter Attia, MD — Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity
- Gabrielle Lyon, DO — Forever Strong
- Stacy Sims, PhD — Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond
- InBody USA — inbodyusa.com
- LifeBase Nutrition Platform — lifebasenutrition.com
