Can someone explain "noob gains"

McCloud33

Water retention, water retention, water retention! I can't find the article right now, but I read one not that long ago that quantified just how much water your body will store from day to day. Basically every time you jump on the scale, you're +/- your actual weight because you're either holding a little water or a little dehydrated. It said that, on average, a person's range of water is -2% to +4% of their *actual* weight. So if your *actual* weight is 225, if you were dehydrated you could weigh as little at 220 and depending on your hydration the other way, you could weigh as much as 234. All of which can happen without gaining or losing a single ounce of fat. So just take a deep breath, tell yourself you're doing the right things, keep at it and just keep tracking. Eventually you'll see the trends going down. If not after a month, re-evaluate what you're doing.

CaterinaThrace

Hiya
I wouldn't put too much thought into your actual weight - you've only just started, and I am by no means an expert - the complete opposite, but I'm probably about 6 weeks ahead of you in this journey. I started running about 4/5 times a week at the start of January and I want to share with you why I'm still going having only lost 2kilos.

1. I feel amazing. Not because I've lost so much weight, but because just being on the weight loss and fitness journey makes me feel great. It feels great just KNOWING that I'm persisting with it. I had moments of despair when I was bloody hungry and tired from the exercise and just wanted a burger and some chips, but for the most part I've just felt great about finally doing what I've been considering/thinking about/being sad about for the last five years.

2. About two weeks ago (so a month in) I put on a pair of shorts that I hadn't worn for ages because they just wouldn't do up comfortably any more. I can't even remember why I put them on - I had just weighed myself and I had still lost no bloody weight, but I put them on and they fit properly!!! I couldn't believe it. I promptly went into my wardrobe and tried on a whole heap of old clothes I'd been avoiding. Not all (definitely not all) fit again, but at least half of them did! So as others have mentioned, I'd probably go more by dress size than weight.

3. There is a LOT to be said for 'runners high'. You mentioned you were trying to use the exercise to combat your depression - I think that's probably the best idea there is. There's a lot of research on this, but just personally - I think that again, don't concentrate on the weight loss as being what's going to make you happy, but on the fact that you're working towards it. The sticking with it part, along with the natural high you get from exercise, should do you a world of good. I certainly has for me. I feel re-born. Much more positive. It's no magic bullet, but it can't hurt, right?

Best of luck and hang in there - the hanging in there part is probably what's going to make you the happiest.