In Thinking in Systems, Donella Meadows shares a fascinating study in which homes with visible energy meters in the front entryway (rather than in the basement) consumed one-third less energy.

Why did this happen? The front entryway meters provided owners immediate and visible feedback on their energy use, inspiring more energy-efficient behavior.

Like a home energy meter, the prominent use of a body scale will inspire you to make wise health decisions.

INTRODUCING GARMIN SMART SCALE

The Garmin Index S2 is a smart scale that tracks seven unique metrics:

1. Bodyweight
2. Bodyweight Trend
3. Body Mass Index
4. Body Fat Percentage
5. Skeletal Muscle Mass
6. Bone Mass
7. Body Water Percentage

Scale measurements are a lagging measure of your nutrition and cardio. In other words, when you decide to improve your metrics, eating clean and hitting the gym will be your next moves.

Alternate Smart Scales

Withings Body+ ($79.00)

Renpho ($16.99)

SUPERHUMAN SCORING

In every edition of All Systems Go, I assess the featured product across four superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, maintenance, and aesthetics.

Unlike your typical product review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.

Impact (7.5/10)

Want to learn more about the power of a data-driven lifestyle? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Self-Tracking (it’s free).

Quick Summary:

1. Feedback is crucial to know whether you are making progress.
2. Knowing that you are making progress leads to motivation.
3. Motivation leads to reinvesting time/energy in the same activity, empowering you to improve further.
4. This reinforcing loop is known as a virtuous cycle.

The Garmin Smart Scale provides effortless feedback on key body metrics. You’ll enter a virtuous health cycle—in no time.

Setup (9.0/10)

Setup is quick:

1. Download the Garmin Connect mobile app (iOS, Android)
2. Pair the scale and app via Bluetooth
3. Within the app, set up a profile (height, age, etc.)
4. Sync with your home’s Wi-Fi to automatically log scale readings.
5. Done.

The app supports multiple profiles, allowing you to share the scale with friends and family. It recognizes who’s stepping on the scale (based on prior readings) and automatically logs the metrics under the right profile.

Maintenance (9.0/10)

Product upkeep is minimal effort: four AAA batteries (included) last nine months.

All that’s left is building the habit of using the scale. The frequency of your weigh-ins is crucial.

There are two common approaches:

1. Weigh yourself daily (at the same time).
2. Weigh yourself weekly (on the same day and time).

While I weigh myself daily (because it’s so easy), I only review the data on Sundays.

Taking a wider lens of the metrics helps me avoid getting distracted by day-to-day fluctuations, which are typical.

Aesthetics (9.0/10)

The Garmin Smart Scale is sleek, modern, and minimalist. The color LED display looks expensive (because it is). It even has a built-in weather display. Above all, the scale is precise.

Every time I see the scale, it reminds me that I am investing in my health (which feels good).

Garmin Connect performs well in the App Store, garnering a 4.4/5 with 30.7k reviews.

BRINGING IT HOME

You can think of feedback like a GPS that course-corrects when you stray off the path and alerts you when you’re on the quickest route.

The Garmin Index S2 is a solid GPS for your physique. You’ll know where you are and where you’re going.

All systems go,

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Resources

• Newsletter Archive: Read past issues of All Systems Go
• Energy Dashboard: Get an under-the-hood look at my self-tracking metrics for energy management (updated weekly)
• [Quick Win] Phone Charger Challenge: Save 60 hours every year with this simple morning hack