Why does the scale hate me!?!?

definitelyval

:grumble: We're doing a "Biggest Loser" challenge at work. I was already on my fitness path before it started, but I thought it would be a fun way to get fit with friends, and win some cash.

Yeah, I'm the biggest loser...of the competition. UGH, why do the numbers on the scale keep going up?! :sad:

I had to change my pants TWICE this morning because both pairs were too big. My shirt from yesterday was almost falling off! Yet, the scale continues to thwart me. Is ANYONE else having this issue? Can you give me some tips? Helpful hints? Advice?! Encouragement? :brokenheart:

MrsBully4

You're probably retaining water. If you just started an exercise program, you're going to gain some weight in water because muscles need water to repair themselves, and to maintain stores of glycogen for energy. Eating foods high in sodium may also cause water retention. Don't worry, just try to keep your sodium down and drink lots of water to stay hydrated, you should shed the extra water weight soon!

Now people are going to hop in and tell you you're transmogrifying fat into muscle, which is probably not true. When you start losing weight and exercising you may put on SOME muscle right at the beginning, but if you are eating at a calorie deficit to lose weight the most you can hope for in the long run is to maintain MOST of the muscle you already have. You can't transform fat into muscle while eating at a calorie deficit.

PhilyPhresh

So you are not losing any actual lbs, but you are losing inches... sorry, what's the problem?

Would you say your goal is to get skinny or get fit?

ninerbuff

You're probably retaining water. If you just started an exercise program, you're going to gain some weight in water because muscles need water to repair themselves, and to maintain stores of glycogen for energy. Eating foods high in sodium may also cause water retention.

Now people are going to hop in and tell you you're transmogrifying fat into muscle, which is probably not true. When you start losing weight and exercising you may put on SOME muscle right at the beginning, but if you are eating at a calorie deficit to lose weight the most you can hope for in the long run is to maintain MOST of the muscle you already have. You can't transform fat into muscle while eating at a calorie deficit.

Well physiologically you can't transform fat into muscle at ALL. Two specifically different tissues with different make ups.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

MrsBully4

Sorry if I worded that wrong, I know you can't mystically transform fat into muscle. I just wanted to emphasize that it doesn't happen, because it's something I see thrown around here a lot -- "Your weight loss has stalled for the last 2 weeks? YOUR FAT MUST BE TURNING INTO MUSCLE."

amnski

So you are not losing any actual lbs, but you are losing inches... sorry, what's the problem?

Would you say your goal is to get skinny or get fit?

Haha...true though. I believe in measurement over the scale any day...my scale is not nice to me and will tell me I gained weight one week, lose it the next (up down up down) but my measurements can be the same or smaller...trust me, the scale will follow later (and as a reference, when I added definition, the scale went up...but all my "skinny" clothes from my lightest weight were too big...so thank goodness I gave up the scale). Good luck and be happy that those pants don't fit. That is an awesome NSV! (non-scale victory)

definitelyval

So you are not losing any actual lbs, but you are losing inches... sorry, what's the problem?

Would you say your goal is to get skinny or get fit?

Truth? I have NO idea. I have always just said "I want to lose weight." I'm discovering that I don't really know what I want, or what that even means. But, I'm trying to learn!

hiker282

It hates you because it's tired of being stepped on. Just leave it alone and it will like you better.

MizSaz

It hates you because it's tired of being stepped on. Just leave it alone and it will like you better.

Probably the best way I have ever seen this put here.

Crochetluvr

It hates you because it's tired of being stepped on. Just leave it alone and it will like you better.

LOL!!! True that!!

OkieinMinny

the scale is a dirty *kitten* - if you are losing inches, clothes fitting better etc etc - you are doing it right

Behavior_Modification

It's not just you. Scales aren't very bright. They cannot tell the difference between fat, muscle, water, and waste. You know you're getting smaller. Plus it isn't all about that number. You're getting healthier & more fit!

corinnesquires

I'm having the same problem, but I'm losing inches , so I decidied to ban the scale and weigh myself every 3 weeks instead of every week

Robin_Bin

Muscle is more compact than fat... If you're exercising and getting more fit, the fat does not turn into muscle, but you may be getting rid of fat and adding muscle. When you do that, depending on how much fat you lose and how much muscle you gain, a few different things can happen.
It sounds like in your case, your adding enough muscle that your weight is staying the same or even going up, but because it's tighter or more compact (less jiggly?) than fat, your body is actually smaller. You're probably healthier. This is a Non Scale Victory or NSV. Congratulations!
In addition, there's even more good news... since muscle burns more calories even at rest than fat, having a higher proportion of muscle means that if you keep it up and control what you eat, it will be easier to lose weight as well over time.

Fat v Muscle... think of a pound of feathers and a pound of lead. The pound of feathers is much less dense and it takes up more space... probably about a pillow size? The pound of lead only takes up (without checking on the Internet) about as much space as a deck of cards. The same weight of muscle takes up less space than of fat.

meshashesha2012

I have a theory that the volume i've lost in inches without losing scale weight is somehow tied to dark matter in the universe. that mass is still is somehow attached to me on a quantum scale but not on an actual physical scale :laugh:

no seriously the way i've heard it explained is this:

when your body releases fat from the fat cells, it doesnt get rid of the actual fat cell. eventually the fat cell decreases in size but it's always there. in the meantime, you body uses water as a placeholder in the fat cell in case the famine you're going through ( the way your body is designed to see eating less calories than you need, especially if you've been eating at a deficit for months) ends and you can replace eat more and replace the fat you lost. fat takes up more space than water, so you're left with looking smaller but weighing the same

eventually if you keep eating at a deficit then your body says "fine be that way" releases the place holder water and then you lose scale weight.

not sure if this is accurate but it makes sense to me.

also i doubt it's muscle gain.. you're only going to gain some like 1-2 pounds of muscle as a newbie and 1-2 pounds is like what, 1 week's worth of weight loss?

definitelyval

It hates you because it's tired of being stepped on. Just leave it alone and it will like you better.

Hysterical!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH, that's a really good point!

definitelyval

the scale is a dirty *kitten* - if you are losing inches, clothes fitting better etc etc - you are doing it right

Awesome!

definitelyval

Thanks everyone! All this information helps a lot! I've had my pity party, and now I'm over it. :happy: Thank you so much for the support and advice!