Mar 13, 2017 10:42 AM EDT By Anne Collins, UniversityHerald Reporter

Carleton University's Fitness Center had decided to remove weighing scales from their campus fitness center in an effort to promote positive body image. It appears to have received backlash from students who have voiced out their concerns through social media.

The Carleton University Fitness Center opened in 2013 at a cost of $2 million. There were 56 cardio machines, free weights and specialized equipment.

The university's student-run newspaper reported about the scale controversy through The Charlatan. The paper said the scales were replaced with a sign that encouraged students to keep with the current fitness trends and focus on wellness instead of weight.

The university said that measuring body weight does not provide a good indication of health. By removing the weighing scale, they encourage students not to focus solely on body weight.

CTV News reported that Carleton wellness program manager, Bruce Marshall said that there are other alternative ways to measure one's success in the gym than using weighing scales. Health and fitness is multi-faceted and one way of measuring success is on how well your body feels not through numbers.

Marshall said that there are other ways to track fitness progress by using girth measurements by measuring the torso, hips, chest, legs and arms. To measure cardio patterns, Marshal suggests keeping track of resting heart rate after waking up in the morning. Or using a cardio machine and taking notes of average heart rate, distance and time, then comparing it several weeks later to see progress according to The National Post.

For strength goals, Marshall suggests keeping track of the weight of what you are lifting instead of your body weight. Also consider different lifting exercises each week so you can see improvements and notice the areas that might need focus.

Stanley Victor, a certified Carleton University personal trainer said only two out of his 12 clients use the scale to track their progress. The school's wellness program said they stand beside the decision, but will also continue to weigh the pros and cons.

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