Scale number will move only when good & ready

LivingtheLeanDream

Kim55555 wrote: »

Hmmm I might as well do a little experiment on my way to starting maintenance and see if I can lose eating 2200. I'll aim for 2200 for the next 6 weeks & see what happens!! I think I can still lose on 2200. A very slow loss but a loss lol.

@Kim55555 I know all about feeling burnt out, am currently experiencing signs of it and last year went through 4 weeks of almost depression from just doing too much. I heartily approve of your latest decision, eating at 2200 is sustainable yet you'll still lose albeit slowly. Keep us updated

yesterday was my day to eat high, I stopped short of 2500 which is a 400 cal saving than usual so all should be well. I am finally noticing those extra 3 lbs! Put on yoga pants yesterday to do my workout, not worn them in a while and I thought my hips were more padded looking than normal! ! I knew the scale didn't lie! My brain was trying to fool me. A few pounds is noticeable when you're a small fry lol

Wishing you great and continued success...you are doing fabulously

skinny4me2be

Hi ladies! You are all doing so well!!!

I have to keep coming back to this to remind myself to give that dumb scale TIME! I keep status on my calories eaten, my fitbit TDEE, my deficit and such, and according to my stats, I should have lost 1.8lbs. My scale is only saying .8....so this is where I need to patiently wait for the scale to move when its dang good and ready!!
This being over 40 and having hormonal changes going on sure does prove to take its time when your trying to lose... Its very frustrating. I have never had an issue with the scale swinging ups sooo much and then back down a bit, then down again, then swing up...just drives me crazy. I don't know how you gals got to that point to be at or near maintenance!!! Things are moving at a snails pace for me. I'm trying to hard to be patient.
This past weekend, I stayed under my calorie goal, although it wasn't the best choices, I had one day that was high carb, high sodium, and that scale swung up 3lbs even tho I know I didn't eat that much and was under my TDEE. Its just such a mental game!! UGH!!
Thanks for letting me vent, I know it will all work out--just exercising my patience is proving to be a challenge.

LivingtheLeanDream

@skinny_4me‌2be thanks for sharing, totally understand the need for a rant, it's horrible when you know your doing everything yet scale isn't moving like it should...be patient, it will come off and soon you'll look back and be proud of all you've achieved

Kim55555

skinny4me2be wrote: »

I don't know how you gals got to that point to be at or near maintenance!!! Things are moving at a snails pace for me. I'm trying to hard to be patient.
This past weekend, I stayed under my calorie goal, although it wasn't the best choices, I had one day that was high carb, high sodium, and that scale swung up 3lbs

How I got to the point of being close to maintainence... It's a challenge mentally that's for sure as sometimes you are not sure you feel like your progressing. I just keep/kept telling myself to be patient and it'll work. You'll get there don't worry.

@skinny4me2be‌ have you thought about just weighing once every 5 weeks? Looks like you could use a break from the scale! It is messing with your emotions!!

Kim55555

In 3 and a 1/2 weeks I lost 300 grams and 1 % body fat. I am now 25 % body fat.

My metabolic age is now 24 down from 26.


Here are the gross calories stats I ate to achieve the 1 % loss in body fat

Feb 16 - Feb 22, 2015 - 2255 gross weekly calorie average

Feb 23 - March 1, 2015 - 2025 gross weekly calorie average

March 1 - March 8, 2015 - 2156 gross weekly calorie average

March 9 - March 15, 2015 - 2282 gross weekly calorie average


I also didn't achieve this by killing myself doing heaps of cardio. Just 2-3 vigorous cardio pw and 1-2 weights. For a while there I was burnt out from my job and was injured too which meant I wasn't as active. So I can lose without having to go to extremes exercising! I walked a bit to and from work which wasn't too taxing.

Over the last 6 days I have averaged 2328. I will need to try hard to lower it today to get it closer to a 2200 average for the week. I plan to go for a long bike ride.

Kim55555

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

Kim55555 wrote: »

Hmmm I might as well do a little experiment on my way to starting maintenance and see if I can lose eating 2200. I'll aim for 2200 for the next 6 weeks & see what happens!! I think I can still lose on 2200. A very slow loss but a loss lol.

@Kim55555 I know all about feeling burnt out, am currently experiencing signs of it and last year went through 4 weeks of almost depression from just doing too much. I heartily approve of your latest decision, eating at 2200 is sustainable yet you'll still lose albeit slowly. Keep us updated

yesterday was my day to eat high, I stopped short of 2500 which is a 400 cal saving than usual so all should be well. I am finally noticing those extra 3 lbs! Put on yoga pants yesterday to do my workout, not worn them in a while and I thought my hips were more padded looking than normal! ! I knew the scale didn't lie! My brain was trying to fool me. A few pounds is noticeable when you're a small fry lol

Wishing you great and continued success...you are doing fabulously

Thanks! @RunRutheeRun‌ You too!!

LivingtheLeanDream

wooot to being 24 @kim55555 ..I love how much you can eat and still lose but you are a very active gal

skinny4me2be

Ok Ladies...I have GOT to learn to trust the scale will move when its good and ready but I sometimes thing shocking the system has got to help it along. Prior to my trip I had been sticking to my daily goal and working out six times a week with a one mile walk thrown in here and there.
As you've seen from my feeds, I was on a high school trip with my kid. My normal work out routine was thrown out the window and replaced by a TON of walking. My TDEE on my trip was between 2400-2800 so I ate between 21-2200 (and my daily goal is 2040--but being my TDEE was high-I ate) with one day going over my TDEE by 250 calories, which was my last day and a very HIGH sodium day. Upon returning home, my weight had only shown a .4 loss, which puts me on track of losing .5 a week or so. So I was pleased. However, today when I stepped on the scale, it showed another significant drop of 2lbs. WOW! Hopefully that loss is here to stay.
So a couple of things I want to point out of possibilities that I *may* have learned.
1) Learning to trust my fitbit and its numbers and eat accordingly.
2) My body was stuck in a routine with exercise, I think I shocked it by doing something different by walking many many (on avg 5.5 a day) miles.
3) Having a re-feed I think that's what they call it: (going over my calorie allotment by one day and getting back on track the next) did not kill my plan but maybe shocked my system and produced a loss.
I will continue to track and monitor and watch these types of trends and try to remember to do something different when my body gets stuck in routine. I have it all noted on my statistical spreadsheet! (data geek, I know)
I just had to type this out so that when I get frustrated with the scale not moving that I come back and see this!

@Kim55555‌ --Congrats to you! Your dedication is paying off!!!

LivingtheLeanDream

@skinny_4me‌2be you see! ! You're getting somewhere and you're learning what works for your body *high 5* hope that 2lbs keeps off, but I'm sure it will

ncscott11

Great timing for this post to come back up! My stupid scale has not budged in 3 months and it gets frustrating. Luckily though I was brought up on the mentality of go off of how your clothes fit. I have lost inches and pants size but nothing on the scale. Some days it gets so frustrating but I try to remind myself it will catch up one day. Keep on keeping on!

Kim55555

ncscott11 wrote: »

Great timing for this post to come back up! My stupid scale has not budged in 3 months and it gets frustrating. Luckily though I was brought up on the mentality of go off of how your clothes fit. I have lost inches and pants size but nothing on the scale. Some days it gets so frustrating but I try to remind myself it will catch up one day. Keep on keeping on!

Good work! Keep it up

Kim55555

Here are my findings from the past few weeks.

I gained eating 2524 calories from 23 March - 29 March

I maintained on 2334 calories the week before being 16 March - 22 March

The last 6 days - March 30 - April 4 I have averaged 2508 calories

It will be interesting to see what the scale says in the next few days.

I have been trying to eat below 2000 so as to lose the kg I put on but ATM its just not happening! It's a win for me if I eat below 2300. I'll take that! Hopefully once I am able to get my appetite under control again by eating 2200-2300 a day I can then look to doing another cut at 2000 calories. I need stability right now!

Previously I ranged between mid 57's - high 59's and now my scale range is between high 58's - 60.5 kg so I've put on a kg in weight.

I have been really down about it all until yesterday when I took my monthly progress photos. Thank god for photos!!!!! My side on shots now show clear quad definition!!!!!! definition I have never seen before (im seeing the quad teardrop!! Woohoooo) so there is no other explanation for it than I have put a little muscle on and melted fat from the quads. Lol you should have seen how excited I was on my status yesterday morning!!!!!

The past month or so I have really upped my squats and leg presses, I'm lifting extremely heavy. I keep on overloading with heavier weights! On the days I do my weights session I have had a craaaazy appetite and I've gone with it and have eaten a few hundred over my maintenance. On my cardio days some of the time I was eating below maintenance to balance my calorie average out but lately I've been eating at maintenance on my cardio days. I had a weights session yesterday and was happy to pull off 2300

I know i keep on changing my mind about what my plan is but i think from here on in I'll do a slow recomp. My body seems to want/need this. I will be fighting hard to keep my calories to below 2300 weekly average! I think I can manage this!!

I get my measurements and body fat % taken on April 8... I'm curious to see the results.

I now need to fight to stay below 60.5 kg ! Slow recomp for me now. The thing I like about the slow recomp is you are eating at or just below maintenance and you have lots of energy to get stronger and for your sports/exercise. I don't think I'll ever go into maintenance mode, it's way too dangerous for me, that kind of mindset! I need to ensure I will always eat at just a little defecit to be successful and to keep the weight off and I realise that now. I also want to get to 20 % body fat. I'm currently 25 % body fat.

Kim55555

skinny4me2be wrote: »

Ok Ladies...I have GOT to learn to trust the scale will move when its good and ready but I sometimes thing shocking the system has got to help it along. Prior to my trip I had been sticking to my daily goal and working out six times a week with a one mile walk thrown in here and there.
As you've seen from my feeds, I was on a high school trip with my kid. My normal work out routine was thrown out the window and replaced by a TON of walking. My TDEE on my trip was between 2400-2800 so I ate between 21-2200 (and my daily goal is 2040--but being my TDEE was high-I ate) with one day going over my TDEE by 250 calories, which was my last day and a very HIGH sodium day. Upon returning home, my weight had only shown a .4 loss, which puts me on track of losing .5 a week or so. So I was pleased. However, today when I stepped on the scale, it showed another significant drop of 2lbs. WOW! Hopefully that loss is here to stay.
So a couple of things I want to point out of possibilities that I *may* have learned.
1) Learning to trust my fitbit and its numbers and eat accordingly.
2) My body was stuck in a routine with exercise, I think I shocked it by doing something different by walking many many (on avg 5.5 a day) miles.
3) Having a re-feed I think that's what they call it: (going over my calorie allotment by one day and getting back on track the next) did not kill my plan but maybe shocked my system and produced a loss.
I will continue to track and monitor and watch these types of trends and try to remember to do something different when my body gets stuck in routine. I have it all noted on my statistical spreadsheet! (data geek, I know)
I just had to type this out so that when I get frustrated with the scale not moving that I come back and see this!

@Kim55555‌ --Congrats to you! Your dedication is paying off!!!

That's great... Always learning about your body arnt ya!!

Yep good idea about changing your exercise routines... It's good to do something different and also relieves boredom! After a number of weeks or when I feel my body needs it I scale right back on my intensity and have a few rest days in a row or just walk for half a week. It freshens me up. Ret is good for recovery and growth!

The refeed day is cool too every now and then, I used to like to do it once every few weeks.

LivingtheLeanDream

@Kim55555 and @skinny_4me‌2be I think we all keep changing how we do things, it's no bad thing.

I have decided just today that I want to lose a little more weight! ! 6lbs is what I'm aiming for now and I'm wanting them gone before 11Jul when we head off on vacation....that's 1/2lb a week which is surely doable! ! I just need to change up my diary and get rid of some of the rubbish! Think that's the only way for me to get results!

I'll stick to my 60 min run x 6 days/wk and 3 times x 30-40 strength training. steps average increase to 20k x 6 days, Sun's 10k walked as its a rest day.

And no more silly Fitbit challenges of trying to do 40k/20 miles in a day!! Stupidly I did 80 miles last week and was so hungry I ate all of my exercise cals! ! How daft to eat after all that activity! ! Am kicking myself as I should have lost! Instead back up to 138! 1lb gained! ! Oh well we live and learn!!

Last week average cals 2400/day!! Minimal deficit! Fitbit gave me 2800 for doing 41000 steps! And for 30k gave me 2500!! Pants to that!! My normal tdee with 17k steps is 2200! So technically I walked/ran extra 13 miles for 600 cals! Sucks as far as I'm concerned! !

Sorry for the long reply!

Hope your weekend is going awesomely

Kim55555

Hi Ruthee, good luck! it's hard in that if you end up doing heaps of activity your appetite goes into overdrive which means the defecit won't be as much, and for me it runs the real risk of me going overboard and my appetite going out of control.

So what calorie average will you aim for?

I weighed the low point of my range today. Range in the last 6 days has been 58.9 - 60.5 kg. Today I weighed 59.0 and I'm praying I didnt put weight on after averaging 2504 calories last week! That's 2 weeks now that I've eaten 2500 calories eeeek

Oh that's right I nearly forgot to mention... I'm now drinking 2 glasses of water 15 mins before eating so as to fill my tummy and just before I eat I'll drink another glass. I've noticed that I've still wanted to eat after eating a good sized dinner and I've snacked but then I've realised that I hardly drank any water before during or after eating. Maybe water is my answer to help keep me full and not eat as many calories each day. Anyway, I'll find an answer to curb my appetite lol! Do you guys find drinking water helps?

I know that if I can just be tough/strict for the first week with less calories my appetite and hunger will go down and get used to eating less. I'd gladly take 2100 calories at this stage lol. Hmmm maybe I should reach for cabbage or have some green tea.

cioube

Ha I'm thankful I've seen this post and seen I'm not the only one.
I'm WAYYYY off my goal weight, I've been at this for 96 days to be precise, I have lost 5.6kg of 30kg. So it's not like my body is happy at its weight.
I have not lost weight in the past month. But pictures show a massive difference. Usually I take a picture every month, but I was frustrated so I took a pictures two weeks after the previous one and there is a very very clear difference.
But yet, I'd still like the scales to budge, it would help mentally.

After speaking with my coach, he said that surely I'm not plateau-ing because of workouts or else pretty much everyone would plateau after a few weeks. But he has still given me new workouts so let's see if that helps

Anyways, just remember it will pay off at some point ! It's always so much better than junk food and being a couch potato haha

Kim55555

Good for you! And glad this topic has given you some hope and encouragement. Remember that new exercises cause the body to retain fluid so even if you are losing fat it won't register on the scale. Eventually it will though so you just gotta hang in there and keep plugging away.

LivingtheLeanDream

@Kim55555 thanks for your reply and nice to see your seeing a lower number and hope that despite your higher average all will be well.

I'm going to be strict, 1700 cals gross, definitely not higher than 1750....its gonna be tough! But I NEED to see a lower number as I'm starting to panic and feel I'm on the slippery slope to being fatter again!!

On Sat I'll still eat higher but no more than 2200 rather than 2500. Overall average weekly deficit should be 4500, probably a bit aggressive but I'm not getting anywhere eating 1900 cals/day ...very sad about this!!

Makes me wonder how I possibly thought I was able to maintain eating 2200!!! I still feel clueless!

I looked at my weight chart for past 6 months and despite eating basically same cals since Oct, (2000k) from Feb on my weight is slowly creeping up at 1lb per month... my body obviously has got used to my workouts and is needing less cals!! How depressing! !

Sorry to rant on but feeling disheartened! !

Each day I expect weight to drop back down but it's not. 138 is my weight!! Sighhhhh lol

Ok enough griping from me, I'm tired as we've done loads of yard work and I'm feeling sorry for myself that on such a nice day we're working instead of taking off to the seaside!!

Keep posting your updates and they spur me on

junebedson

Kim55555 wrote: »

Kim55555 wrote: »

The thing is, if the scale is not moving I find its kind of hard for me to tell if im on track as you haven't got that weekly scale clue so at times it feels like you are flying blind. I will try my grey skirt on again in 3 weeks time & see how it's fitting. From past experience I know that my fat loss sweet spot is between 1700-1900 calories for the intense exercise I do. So I'll keep the faith & patience!

Well it's been a few weeks now since I tried the skirt on. I have great news! I tried on that grey skirt and the zipper goes all the way up now!!!! Before it only went half way! So I'm happy to know that I am making progress even though the scale has not moved still. Wooohoooo, the calorie amount I'm on is working so I'll continue eating the same amount in the safe knowledge I'm losing fat eating that amount. Yey so proof that I haven't plateaued phew!!

junebedson

Hi first time poster here,so glad I read ur post as this is exactly what happening to me. I feel much fitter and my clothes look better but the scale has moved 1/2kilo in eight weeks!! I was reducing calories and not eating back exercise calories and on the verge of giving up .but now I won't weigh in every week I'm measuring instead .thanks so much for the info.

skinny4me2be

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

@Kim55555 thanks for your reply and nice to see your seeing a lower number and hope that despite your higher average all will be well.

I'm going to be strict, 1700 cals gross, definitely not higher than 1750....its gonna be tough! But I NEED to see a lower number as I'm starting to panic and feel I'm on the slippery slope to being fatter again!!

On Sat I'll still eat higher but no more than 2200 rather than 2500. Overall average weekly deficit should be 4500, probably a bit aggressive but I'm not getting anywhere eating 1900 cals/day ...very sad about this!!

Makes me wonder how I possibly thought I was able to maintain eating 2200!!! I still feel clueless!

I looked at my weight chart for past 6 months and despite eating basically same cals since Oct, (2000k) from Feb on my weight is slowly creeping up at 1lb per month... my body obviously has got used to my workouts and is needing less cals!! How depressing! !

Sorry to rant on but feeling disheartened! !

Each day I expect weight to drop back down but it's not. 138 is my weight!! Sighhhhh lol

Ok enough griping from me, I'm tired as we've done loads of yard work and I'm feeling sorry for myself that on such a nice day we're working instead of taking off to the seaside!!

Keep posting your updates and they spur me on

But haven't you been increasing your workouts too over the last six months. What has your TDEE been the last six months ? (and the full 24 hours--what did you burn--I think you need to look at that)? Hard to believe your body got used to your workouts and is needing LESS!!! That scares the heck out of me!! Wow!! We are still learning aren't we??? I'm glad I have you gals along for this process!!! We will all get there some day some how!!!

skinny4me2be

Kim55555 wrote: »

Hi Ruthee, good luck! it's hard in that if you end up doing heaps of activity your appetite goes into overdrive which means the defecit won't be as much, and for me it runs the real risk of me going overboard and my appetite going out of control.

So what calorie average will you aim for?

I weighed the low point of my range today. Range in the last 6 days has been 58.9 - 60.5 kg. Today I weighed 59.0 and I'm praying I didnt put weight on after averaging 2504 calories last week! That's 2 weeks now that I've eaten 2500 calories eeeek

Oh that's right I nearly forgot to mention... I'm now drinking 2 glasses of water 15 mins before eating so as to fill my tummy and just before I eat I'll drink another glass. I've noticed that I've still wanted to eat after eating a good sized dinner and I've snacked but then I've realised that I hardly drank any water before during or after eating. Maybe water is my answer to help keep me full and not eat as many calories each day. Anyway, I'll find an answer to curb my appetite lol! Do you guys find drinking water helps?

I know that if I can just be tough/strict for the first week with less calories my appetite and hunger will go down and get used to eating less. I'd gladly take 2100 calories at this stage lol. Hmmm maybe I should reach for cabbage or have some green tea.

@Kim55555 What a great idea to drink the glass of water with each meal! I'm going to try to remember to do this.

You gals are so inspirational!!! :-)

skinny4me2be

@kim55555 & RunRutheeRun

So Friday March 27, I weighed in at my lowest weight for the month. I was so super excited. I was finally down 3.6lbs! I took me all month, but I did it!! Then girls weekend happened. Food, cocktails, but I logged it all, I even worked out while I was gone. When I returned, well that time of the month (I've had a partial hysto) was around so the hormones flung up, its nice out so on top of my morning work out I'm walking, and the weight has never come back down. Now with the Easter Festivities over, I'm focusing on my macro's and proteins--and exercise. Saturday I worked out AND Spring Cleaned my house-burned 2900 calories that day per my fitbit. The most ever. Do I believe the thing? I don't know. :-) I didn't eat that much..but maybe I should have eaten more that day. Who knows. I'm not giving up on my weight coming down yet as I had a lot of factors play into it (hormones, started walking more, etc). Just having a hard time figuring out my TDEE for the month-so now I'm looking at it week by week. Why does losing weight have to be so hard at this age??? UGH!!! :-)

LivingtheLeanDream

@skinny_4me‌2be woohoo on a really nice loss!! 3.6 lbs in a month is excellent! I'd be extremely happy with that I think you're doing incredibly and you are getting results. More than I can say about my journey!

What do you mean the full 24 hr burn? Fitbit?I never get more than 2300. To get 2500 I have to do 30000 steps, to get 2800 I had to do 40000! Not impressed but that's my 5ft 2 and my age

And yes in last 6 months I went from doing 14k per day and 40 active mins to 18k/day/ 70 active mins minimum.

I have not changed how I eat. But I was having an extra snack and in the form of choc or a biscuit or a pack of crisps, only one of those too!

I tried drinking water before meal today @Kim55555 I think it did help so I'll keep that up.

I had a good day! 25k steps /2400 TDEE / 1758 cals in. ...now to stick to that all week! !

Thanks to you gals for your support and encouragement

skinny4me2be

@ RunRutheeRun...what I meant by 24 hour period...when we talked last week you had mentioned your numbers are a bit higher after you check your fitbit the next day. That is what your TDEE is from what I understood. I never know what my full burn is until midnight or the next day...sorry didn't mean to confuse!

LivingtheLeanDream

@skinny_4me‌2be ok I should have known what you meant lol...last night at bedtime fitbit showed me at 2280 for 23k steps this morning it showed 2400. So ok I got 2400 in that 24 hr period. I ate 1750. Now to keep that up!!

skinny4me2be

@ RunRutheeRun---that's a pretty good deficit--650cals. How are you feeling with the 1750 cals? Hungry? Doing ok?
My weight that I "gained" over my girls weekend still has not come off and I'm eating at my calorie goal. I have a cold now so my body is hanging on to something. Hopefully not working out today will shake something up. I don't like how I feel when I don't work out. Blah! Hopefully tomorrow will be better with a good nights rest.

chandramiller68

skinny4me2be wrote: »

Bumping this as I have this happening right now. No weight loss but inches lost...trying very hard to be kind to myself! :-)

I am in the same boat. I have been exercising 6x a week for about a month now and logging with MFP for 2 weeks. I just saw the scale change with a loss of 1.6 lbs. I get so discouraged not seeing the numbers decrease, but my clothes feel better and I try very hard to concentrate on that. The scale is the devil to me right now.

Oh, this may be a dumb question, but what does it mean when you "bump" someone's post?

skinny4me2be

Bumping means it will got to the top of the posts to be seen by others. This one was not looked at for a while so I bumped it hoping I would find some support here and I did. Welcome!! :-)

chandramiller68

@skinny4me2be Oh....I see now. I've seen it a few times and never knew what people were bumping. LOL Thanks for the explanation.