Don’t understand difference in mirror vs scale

zxqj5s67bm

About a month ago I started exercising daily (tracked through Fitbit) and tracking my calories and macros through MFP. I walk on the treadmill daily at an incline and the only day I didn’t do the treadmill I was on a bike ride. I also bought an Eros scale to track my body fat and other stats. I’ve ensured I’m drinking at least 64 oz water daily, and some days I’m in the 80s-90s oz. Each day I’m in a net-negative calorie, burning more than needed for my BMR.

I’m getting frustrated because I can SEE my muffin top melting away, and it’s an amazing feeling and inspires me to keep going. (My favorite thing to do directly after a workout is see how sweaty my exercise clothes are.) But my body fat percentage on the scale is not reducing. It doesn’t make sense… I can literally see in the mirror my body fat on my body is reduced but the % didn’t budge.

Also the weight is not reducing. Maybe it’s muscle, but honestly - I’m more upset about the BF % not changing. I’ve searched and searched online, every combination of ways to query, and I can’t find an answer.

I’m trying to have faith and “wait this out” and stick to my daily treadmill, knowing that something has to give - but I don’t want it to be my resolve.

Can someone explain to me why the mirror shows fat is gone, but the scale BF % says it’s still there?

JBanx256

PLEASE don't put any faith in the bodyfat % on your bathroom scale. AT BEST it can be used to establish/track some sort of trend, but as far as actual accuracy goes, they're pretty much a joke. Use your scale, your mirror, and a tape measure (or your clothes), but don't let yourself get bent out of shape over BIA.

15822

Have you tried not exercising?
My commute for example is a 40 minute 1 way walk, I'd also go to the gym 1-2 times a week. Then on Saturday I typically went out on longer walks/activities. My weight would be the same all week long. On Sundays however I would usually vegetate in front of a computer without leaving the house - and every Monday after the rest day my weight would dramatically drop up to 4 kg over the day before. Rest days make your body rest, relax and sort itself out. Take a break of a few days, see if it helps.

quiksylver296

Everyone is seeing the progress you are seeing, not the (completely false) number on your scale! Scales cannot track your body fat. It's a marketing gimmick. Let that (again, completely false) number go!

AnnPT77

15822 wrote: »

Have you tried not exercising?
My commute for example is a 40 minute 1 way walk, I'd also go to the gym 1-2 times a week. Then on Saturday I typically went out on longer walks/activities. My weight would be the same all week long. On Sundays however I would usually vegetate in front of a computer without leaving the house - and every Monday after the rest day my weight would dramatically drop up to 4 kg over the day before. Rest days make your body rest, relax and sort itself out. Take a break of a few days, see if it helps.

Exercise adds water weight for muscle repair. That's not fat.

Exercise is good for a body.

I'd not recommend that anyone stop exercising to limit water retention. Stopping exercise may drop the scale a little in the short run, but it's counterproductive for health, weight management, and fitness in the long run.

glassyo

Pardon me but:

Each day I’m in a net-negative calorie, burning more than needed for my BMR.

Splainy?

claireychn074

The scales are not accurate: I have a “good” set at home and I can lower my body fat by…having a bath. They are affected by how hydrated you are and how warm your skin is (they use bioelectrical impedance basically and it’s not exact), so don’t rely on them. As others have said, go by your clothes and how you look.

15822

AnnPT77 wrote: »

15822 wrote: »

Have you tried not exercising?
My commute for example is a 40 minute 1 way walk, I'd also go to the gym 1-2 times a week. Then on Saturday I typically went out on longer walks/activities. My weight would be the same all week long. On Sundays however I would usually vegetate in front of a computer without leaving the house - and every Monday after the rest day my weight would dramatically drop up to 4 kg over the day before. Rest days make your body rest, relax and sort itself out. Take a break of a few days, see if it helps.

Exercise adds water weight for muscle repair. That's not fat.

Exercise is good for a body.

I'd not recommend that anyone stop exercising to limit water retention. Stopping exercise may drop the scale a little in the short run, but it's counterproductive for health, weight management, and fitness in the long run.

I meant not exercising for 1-2 days, not permanently. From the post description it sounds like they're exercising every single day, which may be driving the water retention. It'll come off eventually but a few days of relaxation might give the mental satisfaction of that scale weight coming down.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

First: Congratulations on getting into such great shape. It sounds like the exercise is working as it should: You're getting stronger and you aren't gaining any weight. Nothing to be discouraged about there!

Ignore the %BF on the scale. All home methods are pretty inaccurate, but I hear the best is the old cheapo caliper. I bought one and tried it... it's humbling. Think twice before you get one and go by how you feel!

As for bodyweight not reducing: I always found that the Fitbit and Garmin calorie estimates for exercise are a little generous. I have to leave some of them "on the table" to lose weight.

Best of luck!

JBanx256

15822 wrote: »

I meant not exercising for 1-2 days, not permanently. From the post description it sounds like they're exercising every single day, which may be driving the water retention. It'll come off eventually but a few days of relaxation might give the mental satisfaction of that scale weight coming down.

But the OP isn't saying she's concerned about the scale weight; she stated she is upset about the (incorrect) bodyfat % reading the scale is giving her.

15822

JBanx256 wrote: »

15822 wrote: »

I meant not exercising for 1-2 days, not permanently. From the post description it sounds like they're exercising every single day, which may be driving the water retention. It'll come off eventually but a few days of relaxation might give the mental satisfaction of that scale weight coming down.

But the OP isn't saying she's concerned about the scale weight; she stated she is upset about the (incorrect) bodyfat % reading the scale is giving her.

The conductivity reading is probably related to water retention. It's not measuring fat content - it's reading how many ohms their body provides against the current. Which is why those scales aren't accurate in the first place

JBanx256

15822 wrote: »

JBanx256 wrote: »

15822 wrote: »

I meant not exercising for 1-2 days, not permanently. From the post description it sounds like they're exercising every single day, which may be driving the water retention. It'll come off eventually but a few days of relaxation might give the mental satisfaction of that scale weight coming down.

But the OP isn't saying she's concerned about the scale weight; she stated she is upset about the (incorrect) bodyfat % reading the scale is giving her.

The conductivity reading is probably related to water retention. It's not measuring fat content - it's reading how many ohms their body provides against the current. Which is why those scales aren't accurate in the first place

Yes, I am very well aware how BIA works. In your previous post, you specifically referenced the scale weight coming down, hence my comment.

ninerbuff

Bioimpedance scales rely on water in your body. It's why it's not that accurate in way of measuring bodyfat %.
Listen, if your clothes fit better or are looser, you are liking how you look and people are commenting postively, does it REALLY MATTER what a scale tells you?

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition