Someone please explain what's happening?

CeeBeeSlim

Hi, Everyone. I'm 51, 5'3, and 132 lbs. Twice I got to my goal weight of around 125 - at 126 and 123, respectively -but couldn't stay there. I was eating no more than 1200 calories per day and strength training an hour or two, 5 days a week. Both times though, stressful family situations coincided with my weight loss, so I honestly don't know if i couldn't maintain my goal weight because 1200 was just not sustainable or because I overate to relieve the stress, so maybe i could've maintained it but simply overate. This time around - again - I'm at 132 trying I get to 125 - but I'm eating 1400 calories a day, strength training 5 days a week, and have lost maybe a pound in a month. I wasn't going to panic or get frustrated and go back to 1200, but out of curiosity, I put on my "test" size 4 pants and I was shocked to see that they fit almost the same as when I weighed 126 and 123; 6-9 pounds heavier!! What gives? I'm still want to reach my goal weight of 125 but wondering how I would look then? My neurotic self is saying keep going! While the pants fit, I can still see I'd like to lose this pouch. Confused about what's happening and what to do next.

jeepinshawn

Well you could have put the weight back on anywhere(boobs, for instance), but my pants will fit the same with a 5lb weight gain too.

CeeBeeSlim

The thing is that when I gained the weight and tried on the pants I couldn't even zip them at 132. Now at still 132, they fit like they did when I was lighter. Does that make sense?

rosebette

I found that with strength training, I lost inches, even though I plateau'd in my weight loss. I don't know how long you've been strength training. It usually takes time for this to happen -- at least a few months, not a couple of weeks. With the strength training, you are gaining muscle mass, so you might lose inches in fattier areas like your hips. I ended up being a smaller bottom size, but bigger top size because I gained some muscle in the upper back and chest.

jeepinshawn

You probably have recompositioned your body a bit and have added some muscle?

Christine_72

CeeBeeSlim wrote: »

The thing is that when I gained the weight and tried on the pants I couldn't even zip them at 132. Now at still 132, they fit like they did when I was lighter. Does that make sense?

The only way I could explain this would be if you lost fat but gained muscle.
Not sure how possible the latter is whilst being in a deficit? ?

rmac815

Muscle weighs more than fat. Chances are that with all of the strength training you are doing, you are losing fat but gaining muscle.

singingflutelady

rmac815 wrote: »

Muscle weighs more than fat. Chances are that with all of the strength training you are doing, you are losing fat but gaining muscle.

She's eating at deficit so not realistically gaining muscle

rosebette

For someone who is only 5'1" and not overweight, eating 1400 is not a huge deficit. I'm 5'1.5" and 120 and wear a Fitbit HR that gives me the burn for the day. If I do strength training and very moderate cardio, my total calories used by the end of the day are between 1400-1500. The only time I go over 1600 is if I do really heavy cardio like kickboxing. Strength training doesn't burn the massive amount of calories that cardio does. OP could actually be eating at maintenance (very easy for a petite person to do, especially if her food tracking is off). I don't completely understand the idea that you can't "gain muscle" on a deficit, which is somewhat discouraging. Does that mean it's a waste of time for someone who is eating at a deficit to do strength training? What about people who are in a "cutting phase"? Aren't they eating at a deficit? How can you explain the changes that happen to our bodies when we lose inches in "fatty" places and become more solid and sometimes bigger in other places after strength training for several months?

Joanna2012B

You are strength training, building muscle. You are changing the way your body looks. Don't focus on the number on the scale that will just deter you. Muscle is not heavier than fat. 1lb of muscle weighs the same as 1lb of fat, the fat takes up more space than muscle. 1200 calories is too little especially when you add in weight training. Choose foods that will boost your metabolism Avacado, Legumes, Edamme, Greek Yogurt, Spinach, Fish, Eggs....so many others. If you eat too few calories you will go into starvation mode and your metabolism will slow right down. You need to consume calories to burn calories...just make sure you are eating the right calories. I hope this helps!

singingflutelady

Strength training on a deficit is for muscle retention. People who are cutting are trying to lose the fat they gained to reveal their muscle definition. This usually follows a bulk which involves eating at a surplus to gain weight (muscle and fat). It's really hard to grow new tissue (muscle) if you are not feeding it enough. If you are new to training you can grow some muscle on a deficit but not a huge amount. A woman is only able to gain maybe 1/2 lb to 1 lbs of muscle a month on a surplus doing a heavy lifting progressive overload program.

A lot of what women refer to "toning" is actually fat loss around the muscles that make them look more defined.

It sucks to be a woman and trying to gain muscle. Guys have it much easier. If it was easy I'd look like a bodybuilder by now.

singingflutelady

BTW starvation mode is a myth.

singingflutelady

Oh you can recomp which is basically eating at a small deficit and gain muscle and lose fat at the same time but it is very, very slow

CeeBeeSlim

Thanks, Everyone. Hmmm. So I can gain a little muscle even at a deficit albeit slight, lose inches, and lose fat slowly, and none of this will be reflected on the scale?! Grrrrr!

singingflutelady

The thing is that your muscles retain fluid like crazy which can mask weight loss

Rocknut53

CeeBeeSlim wrote: »

Thanks, Everyone. Hmmm. So I can gain a little muscle even at a deficit albeit slight, lose inches, and lose fat slowly, and none of this will be reflected on the scale?! Grrrrr!

If you're losing inches and fat, I wouldn't worry so much about the scale. I'm guessing you look great.

Christine_72

@Joanna2012B You might want to have a read of this

http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/

Rocknut53

Christine_72 wrote: »

@Joanna2012B You might want to have a read of this

http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/

Thank you for this link!

kgirlhart

If you're losing inches and fat, I wouldn't worry so much about the scale. I'm guessing you look great.
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This is what I think. The number on the scale is just a guideline. If you feel good and look good and your clothes fit better then it sounds like you are at a really good weight regardless of what the actual number says.