scale vs self image

Tay617

Do you ever feel like your scale is telling you lies, I stopped weighing myself for 2-3 months, been workings out some of my clothes looked looser, pass myself in the mirror stomach smaller, waist looked thinner, and then today, why? i dont know but I weigh myself and i'm stunned to find there is no difference? how ? why?

how do you deal with this? do you just ignore the scale and keep working out ? or analyze all that went wrong and what you should change ? I'm so lost.

I just wrote a blog post about some of my feelings along with some photos :

http://somethinglikeawriter.com/post/21874730560/i-did-a-body-simulation-on-this-website

FoodieGal09

I'm seriously debating throwing my scale out. Or just using it to weigh out dog food!
I'm going more by my clothes and a measuring tape these days, so I barely use it anyway.
As long as you feel good in your clothes, forget what the stupid scale says!

VanGroovyBear

Have you been doing any strength training, even mild? If you have then lean muscle replaces the fat, but it weighs more than fat does. So your scale will say you weigh the same, but your body will be in better shape and you will notice the definition that way.....just one theory

Tay617

The funny thing is I tell people that all the time, and I barely weigh myself but for some reason stepping on that thing made me so mad today ..

but thanx a lot I'm going to go back to ignoring the scale and keeping it under my bed.

Tay617

yes I have been incorporating strength into my workout, to help burn some fat, I just wish I seen a different number that's all, but i'm not giving up :flowerforyou:

MashaSK

Maybe you shall try different scales? In one gym 3 scales can show different numbers. Anyway best measure is seize of your clothes.

Ella112

A friend of mine who is a personal trainer once told me that it can be better to measure yourself (for example around your waist or stomach), than it is to weigh yourself....if it is difficult to get an accurate indication of your process with weighing maybe it's worth a shot?

celebrity328

Did you happen to measure yourself before you started weight training?
I had the exact same problem you are having and had them remeasure me and come to find out I "gained' 4 pounds of muscle lol

mogletdeluxe

I echo what everybody else says. I'm prone to being a slave to the scales, but as my weight loss has slowed I have learned to appreciate non-scale victories - clothes feeling looser, compliments about my figure, firmer muscles etc. I'm relying on these to boost my motivation as the needle stays resolutely stuck

I've stepped up my strength training over the past week, and it's probably coincidence but the needle has stayed put although several people from my zumba classes have said I'd lost more weight - bloody mysterious thing, this weight loss!

nightsrainfall

I prefer measuring tape, how much farther I've run, how many more sets I could do, or how much stronger I've become over the scale any day. The scale doesn't quite "lie" we just tend to assume that all increases and decreases are due to us gaining fat or are healthy/unhealthy and that's not how it is. I personally tend to replace fat with muscle and water so my weight stays the same or goes up, but my inches go down and my clothing will fit looser - and sometimes I can even see it in the mirror. The scale's good in terms of over time, once a week (maybe), once a month. Every day, not so much because we retain water, our bodies might be stressed, we might have upped sodium, might be gaining muscle, or if it says we lost weight it could be muscle or water and not fat. I don't believe the scale to be an accurate picture of what is all going on.

Love4MN

Have you been doing any strength training, even mild? If you have then lean muscle replaces the fat, but it weighs more than fat does. So your scale will say you weigh the same, but your body will be in better shape and you will notice the definition that way.....just one theory

agreed...don't be discouraged! I try not to get on the scale because it upsets me if I do not see progress

Tay617

yeah I'm usually more into the measuring tape than the scale anyway so I may do away with the scale, all together.

Tay617

I prefer measuring tape, how much farther I've run, how many more sets I could do, or how much stronger I've become over the scale any day. The scale doesn't quite "lie" we just tend to assume that all increases and decreases are due to us gaining fat or are healthy/unhealthy and that's not how it is. I personally tend to replace fat with muscle and water so my weight stays the same or goes up, but my inches go down and my clothing will fit looser - and sometimes I can even see it in the mirror. The scale's good in terms of over time, once a week (maybe), once a month. Every day, not so much because we retain water, our bodies might be stressed, we might have upped sodium, might be gaining muscle, or if it says we lost weight it could be muscle or water and not fat. I don't believe the scale to be an accurate picture of what is all going on.

Tay617

Maybe you shall try different scales? In one gym 3 scales can show different numbers. Anyway best measure is seize of your clothes.

I was actually thinking about trying the scale at the gym but, now I'm thinking i'll just wait it out a littl longer to repair my mental lol .
but thanx